Psalms 31:1-24

In You, O LORD, I have placed my trust and taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed; In Your righteousness rescue me. Incline Your ear to me, deliver me quickly; Be my rock of refuge, And a strong fortress to save me. Yes, You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me. You will draw me out of the net that they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength and my stronghold. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD, the God of truth and faithfulness. [Luke 23:46; Acts 7:59] ¶I hate those who pay regard to vain (empty, worthless) idols; But I trust in the LORD [and rely on Him with unwavering confidence]. I will rejoice and be glad in Your steadfast love, Because You have seen my affliction; You have taken note of my life’s distresses, And You have not given me into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a broad place. ¶Be gracious and compassionate to me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; My eye is clouded and weakened by grief, my soul and my body also. For my life is spent with sorrow And my years with sighing; My strength has failed because of my iniquity, And even my body has wasted away. Because of all my enemies I have become a reproach and disgrace, Especially to my neighbors, And an object of dread to my acquaintances; Those who see me on the street run from me. I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel. For I have heard the slander and whispering of many, Terror is on every side; While they schemed together against me, They plotted to take away my life. [Jer 20:10] ¶But as for me, I trust [confidently] in You and Your greatness, O LORD; I said, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hands; Rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from those who pursue and persecute me. Make Your face shine upon Your servant; Save me in Your lovingkindness. Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I call on You; Let the wicked (godless) be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead). Let the lying lips be mute, Which speak insolently and arrogantly against the [consistently] righteous With pride and contempt. ¶How great is Your goodness, Which You have stored up for those who [reverently] fear You, Which You have prepared for those who take refuge in You, Before the sons of man! In the secret place of Your presence You hide them from the plots and conspiracies of man; You keep them secretly in a shelter (pavilion) from the strife of tongues. Blessed be the LORD, For He has shown His marvelous favor and lovingkindness to me [when I was assailed] in a besieged city. As for me, I said in my alarm, “I am cut off from Your eyes.” Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications (specific requests) When I cried to You [for help]. ¶O love the LORD, all you His godly ones! The LORD preserves the faithful [those with moral and spiritual integrity] And fully repays the [self-righteousness of the] arrogant. Be strong and let your hearts take courage, All you who wait for and confidently expect the LORD.