Psalm 71

EasyEnglish Bible

71 Lord, I have come to you to keep me safe.
    Never let me become ashamed.
² You always do what is right,
    so please rescue me!
Listen to me, and come to save me!
³ Be a rock where I can hide.
    Be a strong place where I can be safe.
You are my high rock and my strong, safe place.
⁴ My God, save me from the power of wicked people,
    so that those cruel people cannot catch me.
⁵ My Lord, I trust you to help me.
I have trusted in you, Lord,
    since I was young.
⁶ Since I was born,
    you have been there to help me.
You have taken care of me
    since my mother gave birth to me.
So I will always praise you!
⁷ When people see me,
    they see trouble!
But you are a strong place to keep me safe.
⁸ I can never stop praising you!
All the time, I speak about your glory!
⁹ Do not chase me away when I am old.
When I am no longer strong,
    do not turn away from me.^[a]
10 For my enemies say things against me.
    They think of ways that they can kill me.
¹¹ They say, ‘God has turned away from him.
Run after him and catch him,
    for nobody will rescue him.’
¹² God, do not stay far away from me.
    My God, come quickly to help me!
¹³ Make my enemies become completely ashamed.
They speak against me and they want to hurt me.
    So let them fall with great shame!
¹⁴ But as for me, I will always wait for you to help me.
    I will continue to praise you more and more.
¹⁵ I will tell people that you always do what is right.
I will always speak about your power to save people.
But you have done more than I will ever know about!
¹⁶ I will tell about the great things that you have done,
    Almighty Lord.
I will tell everyone that you are righteous.
    You, only you, are righteous.
¹⁷ God, you have taught me since I was young.
I still tell people about the great things that you have done.
¹⁸ And even when I am old and my hair is grey,
    do not turn away from me, God.
I need to tell the people still to be born
    about your great strength.
My descendants need to know about your power.
¹⁹ Your justice reaches beyond the sky above!
You have done such great things, God.
    There is nobody like you!
²⁰ You have caused me to have many bad troubles.
    But you will make my life strong again.
You will lift me back out
    from this deep hole under the earth.^[b]
21 You will make me great again,
    so that people respect me.
You will turn back to me,
    so that I feel strong.
²² I will pick up my harp
    and I will sing to thank you.
I will praise you, my God,
    because you do what you promise.
I will sing to praise you, the Holy One of Israel,
    with the music of a lyre.^[c]
23 I will shout aloud with joy,
    as I praise you with music!
I will sing songs to praise you,
    because you have rescued me.
²⁴ I will talk about your justice all the time.
The people who want to hurt me
    will become confused and ashamed.