31 In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.

Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.

For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.

Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.

Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.

I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the Lord.

I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;

And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.

Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.

10 For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.

11 I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.

12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.

13 For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

14 But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God.

15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.

17 Let me not be ashamed, O Lord; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.

18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

21 Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.

22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

23 O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

This is a song that David wrote for the music leader.

Lord, please help me!

31 Lord, I have come to you to keep me safe.
    Never let me become ashamed.
You always do what is right
    so please save me!
Listen to me,
    and quickly send help to me.
Lord, be a rock where I can hide.
    Be a strong place to keep me safe.
You are my high rock and my strong place.
Because of your good name,
    lead me and be my guide.[a]
You are the place where I can hide,
    so keep me safe.
Do not let my enemies' traps catch me.
I put my life into your hands.
I know that you will save me, Lord,
    because you are a God that I can trust.

I hate people who worship useless idols.
As for me, I trust in the Lord.
I am very happy because of your faithful love.
You see when I suffer.
    You know when I am very upset.
You have not put me under the power of my enemies.
You have led me into an open place,
    where I can be safe.

Lord, I am very upset,
    so please be kind to me.
My eyes are tired because I weep so much.
My whole body has become very weak.
10 I am near to death, because I am so sad.
    I am crying with pain as my life comes to an end.
I have so much trouble
    that I have no strength at all.
Even my bones have become weak.
11 All my enemies hate me.
    My friends insult me.
Everyone who knows me is afraid of me.
    They run away when they see me in the street.
12 Everybody has forgotten about me.
    I might as well be dead!
They think that I am useless,
    like a broken plate.
13 I hear what many people are saying against me.
    News from everywhere makes me afraid.
They are deciding together
    how to kill me.

14 But I continue to trust you, Lord.
    I say, ‘You are my God!’[b]
15 You are the one who decides
    what will happen to me in my whole life.
Save me from the power of my enemies
    and from the people who want to catch me.
16 Turn towards me, your servant,
    and be kind to me!
Keep me safe,
    because of your faithful love.
17 Lord, do not let me become ashamed.
    I call to you for help.
Cause evil people to become ashamed.
Let them go to their graves
    and be silent there!
18 May people that tell lies become silent.
    They insult righteous people.
They are proud people,
    and they boast about themselves.

19 You have prepared many good things
    to bless people who respect you.
While everyone watches,
    you bless those who come to you for help.
20 You give them a place to hide,
    and you keep them safe with you.
When their enemies want to attack them,
    you take care of them.
When their enemies speak lies against them,
    they are safe with you.
21 Praise the Lord!
When my enemies were all around me,
    he showed me that his faithful love is very great.
22 When I was afraid, I said,
    ‘God is no longer with me!’
But I spoke too soon.
When I called to you for help,
    you heard me and you answered me.

23 Love the Lord, all you people who belong to him!
If people serve the Lord faithfully,
    he keeps them safe.
But if people are proud,
    he punishes them as they deserve.
24 All you people who trust the Lord to help you,
    you should be strong and very brave!

Footnotes

  1. 31:3 God's ‘good name’ means what people know about who he is.
  2. 31:14 David was very afraid. As a result, he became ill. He even thought that he would soon die. But David still trusted in the Lord.
'Salmenes 31 ' not found for the version: En Levende Bok.