Psalm 71

Contemporary English Version

⁴ Come and save me, Lord God,
from vicious and cruel
    and brutal enemies!
⁵ I depend on you,
and I have trusted you
    since I was young.
⁶ I have relied on you^[b]
    from the day I was born.
You brought me safely
through birth,
    and I always praise you.

⁷ Many people think of me
    as something evil.
But you are my mighty protector,
⁸ and I praise and honor you
    all day long.
⁹ Don't throw me aside
    when I am old;
don't desert me
    when my strength is gone.
¹⁰ My enemies are plotting
    because they want me dead.
¹¹ They say, “Now we'll catch you!
God has deserted you,
    and no one can save you.”
¹² Come closer, God!
    Please hurry and help.
¹³ Embarrass and destroy
    all who want me dead;
disgrace and confuse
    all who want to hurt me.
¹⁴ I will never give up hope
    or stop praising you.
¹⁵ All day long I will tell
the wonderful things you do
    to save your people.
But you have done much more
    than I could possibly know.
¹⁶ I will praise you, Lord God,
for your mighty deeds
    and your power to save.

¹⁷ You have taught me
    since I was a child,
and I never stop telling about
    your marvelous deeds.
¹⁸ Don't leave me when I am old
    and my hair turns gray.
Let me tell future generations
    about your mighty power.
¹⁹ Your deeds of kindness
are known in the heavens.
    No one is like you!

²⁰ You made me suffer a lot,
    but you will bring me
back from this deep pit
    and give me new life.
²¹ You will make me truly great
    and take my sorrow away.

²² I will praise you, God,
the Holy One of Israel.
    You are faithful.
I will play the harp
    and sing your praises.
²³ You have rescued me!
    I will celebrate and shout,
singing praises to you
    with all my heart.
²⁴ All day long I will announce
    your power to save.
I will tell how you disgraced
and disappointed those
    who wanted to hurt me.