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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.

Psalm 31[a](A)

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;(B)
    let me never be put to shame;
    deliver me in your righteousness.(C)
Turn your ear to me,(D)
    come quickly to my rescue;(E)
be my rock of refuge,(F)
    a strong fortress to save me.
Since you are my rock and my fortress,(G)
    for the sake of your name(H) lead and guide me.
Keep me free from the trap(I) that is set for me,
    for you are my refuge.(J)
Into your hands I commit my spirit;(K)
    deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.(L)

I hate those who cling to worthless idols;(M)
    as for me, I trust in the Lord.(N)
I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
    for you saw my affliction(O)
    and knew the anguish(P) of my soul.
You have not given me into the hands(Q) of the enemy
    but have set my feet in a spacious place.(R)

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;(S)
    my eyes grow weak with sorrow,(T)
    my soul and body(U) with grief.
10 My life is consumed by anguish(V)
    and my years by groaning;(W)
my strength fails(X) because of my affliction,[b](Y)
    and my bones grow weak.(Z)
11 Because of all my enemies,(AA)
    I am the utter contempt(AB) of my neighbors(AC)
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
    those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as though I were dead;(AD)
    I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear many whispering,(AE)
    “Terror on every side!”(AF)
They conspire against me(AG)
    and plot to take my life.(AH)

14 But I trust(AI) in you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times(AJ) are in your hands;
    deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
    from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine(AK) on your servant;
    save me in your unfailing love.(AL)
17 Let me not be put to shame,(AM) Lord,
    for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
    and be silent(AN) in the realm of the dead.
18 Let their lying lips(AO) be silenced,
    for with pride and contempt
    they speak arrogantly(AP) against the righteous.

19 How abundant are the good things(AQ)
    that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,(AR)
    on those who take refuge(AS) in you.
20 In the shelter(AT) of your presence you hide(AU) them
    from all human intrigues;(AV)
you keep them safe in your dwelling
    from accusing tongues.

21 Praise be to the Lord,(AW)
    for he showed me the wonders of his love(AX)
    when I was in a city under siege.(AY)
22 In my alarm(AZ) I said,
    “I am cut off(BA) from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry(BB) for mercy
    when I called to you for help.

23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people!(BC)
    The Lord preserves those who are true to him,(BD)
    but the proud he pays back(BE) in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,(BF)
    all you who hope in the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 31:1 In Hebrew texts 31:1-24 is numbered 31:2-25.
  2. Psalm 31:10 Or guilt