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1In you, O Lord , I have taken shelter!
Never let me be humiliated!
Vindicate me by rescuing me!
2Listen to me![#tn Heb “turn toward me your ear.”]
Quickly deliver me!
Be my protector and refuge,
a stronghold where I can be safe!
3For you are my high ridge and my stronghold;[#sn The metaphor of the high ridge pictures God as a rocky, relatively inaccessible summit, where one would be able to find protection from enemies. See 1 Sam 23:25, 28.]
for the sake of your own reputation you lead me and guide me.
4You will free me from the net they hid for me,[#tn Heb “bring me out.” The translation assumes that the imperfect verbal form expresses the psalmist’s confidence about the future. Another option is to take the form as expressing a prayer, “free me.”]
for you are my place of refuge.
5Into your hand I entrust my life;[#tn Heb “my spirit.” The noun רוּחַ (ruakh, “spirit”) here refers to the animating spirit that gives the psalmist life.]
you will rescue me, O Lord , the faithful God.
6I hate those who serve worthless idols,[#tn Heb “the ones who observe vain things of falsehood.” See Jonah 2:9.]
but I trust in the Lord .
7I will be happy and rejoice in your faithfulness,
because you notice my pain
and you are aware of how distressed I am.
8You do not deliver me over to the power of the enemy;
you enable me to stand in a wide open place.
9Have mercy on me, for I am in distress!
My eyes grow dim from suffering.
I have lost my strength.
10For my life nears its end in pain;
my years draw to a close as I groan.
My strength fails me because of my sin,
and my bones become brittle.
11Because of all my enemies, people disdain me;[#tn Heb “because of all my enemies I am a reproach.”]
my neighbors are appalled by my suffering –
those who know me are horrified by my condition;
those who see me in the street run away from me.
12I am forgotten, like a dead man no one thinks about;[#tn Heb “I am forgotten, like a dead man, from [the] heart.” The “heart” is here viewed as the center of one’s thoughts.]
I am regarded as worthless, like a broken jar.
13For I hear what so many are saying,[#tn Heb “the report of many.”]
the terrifying news that comes from every direction.
When they plot together against me,
they figure out how they can take my life.
14But I trust in you, O Lord !
I declare, “You are my God!”
15You determine my destiny![#tn Heb “in your hand [are] my times.”]
Rescue me from the power of my enemies and those who chase me.
16Smile on your servant![#tn Heb “cause your face to shine.”]
Deliver me because of your faithfulness!
17O Lord , do not let me be humiliated,
for I call out to you!
May evil men be humiliated!
May they go wailing to the grave!
18May lying lips be silenced –
lips that speak defiantly against the innocent
with arrogance and contempt!
19How great is your favor,[#tn Or “How abundant are your blessings!”]
which you store up for your loyal followers!
In plain sight of everyone you bestow it on those who take shelter in you.
20You hide them with you, where they are safe from the attacks of men;[#tn The noun רֹכֶס (rokhes) occurs only here. Its meaning is debated; some suggest “snare,” while others propose “slander” or “conspiracy.”; #tn Heb “you hide them in the hiding place of your face from the attacks of man.” The imperfect verbal forms in this verse draw attention to God’s typical treatment of the faithful.]
you conceal them in a shelter, where they are safe from slanderous attacks.
21The Lord deserves praise[#tn Heb “blessed [be] the Lord.”]
for he demonstrated his amazing faithfulness to me when I was besieged by enemies.
22I jumped to conclusions and said,[#tn Heb “and I, I said in my haste.”]
“I am cut off from your presence!”
But you heard my plea for mercy when I cried out to you for help.
23Love the Lord , all you faithful followers of his![#tn A “faithful follower” (חָסִיד, khasid) is one who does what is right in God’s eyes and remains faithful to God (see Pss 4:3; 12:1; 16:10; 31:23; 37:28; 86:2; 97:10).]
The Lord protects those who have integrity,
but he pays back in full the one who acts arrogantly.
24Be strong and confident,[#tn Heb “be strong and let your heart[s] be confident.”]
all you who wait on the Lord !