Psalm 31:1-Psalm 32:1 - A Plea For Protection

¹ For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.Lord, I seek refuge in You;
let me never be disgraced.
Save me by Your righteousness.
² Listen closely to me; rescue me quickly.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a mountain fortress to save me.
³ For You are my rock and my fortress;
You lead and guide me
because of Your name.
⁴ You will free me from the net
that is secretly set for me,
for You are my refuge.
⁵ Into Your hand I entrust my spirit;
You redeem me, Lord, God of truth.

⁶ I hate those who are devoted to worthless idols,
but I trust in the Lord.
⁷ I will rejoice and be glad in Your faithful love
because You have seen my affliction.
You have known the troubles of my life
⁸ and have not handed me over to the enemy.
You have set my feet in a spacious place.

⁹ Be gracious to me, Lord,
because I am in distress;
my eyes are worn out from angry sorrow—
my whole being as well.
¹⁰ Indeed, my life is consumed with grief
and my years with groaning;
my strength has failed
because of my sinfulness,
and my bones waste away.
¹¹ I am ridiculed by all my adversaries
and even by my neighbors.
I am dreaded by my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street run from me.
¹² I am forgotten: gone from memory
like a dead person—like broken pottery.
¹³ I have heard the gossip of many;
terror is on every side.
When they conspired against me,
they plotted to take my life.

¹⁴ But I trust in You, Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
¹⁵ The course of my life is in Your power;
deliver me from the power of my enemies
and from my persecutors.
¹⁶ Show Your favor to Your servant;
save me by Your faithful love.
¹⁷ Lord, do not let me be disgraced when I call on You.
Let the wicked be disgraced;
let them be silent in Sheol.
¹⁸ Let lying lips be quieted;
they speak arrogantly against the righteous
with pride and contempt.

¹⁹ How great is Your goodness
that You have stored up for those who fear You
and accomplished in the sight of everyone
for those who take refuge in You.
²⁰ You hide them in the protection of Your presence;
You conceal them in a shelter
from the schemes of men,
from quarrelsome tongues.
²¹ May the Lord be praised,
for He has wonderfully shown His faithful love to me
in a city under siege.
²² In my alarm I had said,
“I am cut off from Your sight.”
But You heard the sound of my pleading
when I cried to You for help.

²³ Love the Lord, all His faithful ones.
The Lord protects the loyal,
but fully repays the arrogant.
²⁴ Be strong and courageous,
all you who put your hope in the Lord.

¹ Davidic. A Maskil.How joyful is the one
whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered!