Psalm 71

¹I’ve taken refuge in you, LORD .

Don’t let me ever be put to shame!

²Deliver me and rescue me by your righteousness!

Bend your ear toward me and save me!

³Be my rock of refuge

where I can always escape.

You commanded that my life be saved

because you are my rock and my fortress.

⁴My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked;

rescue me from the grip of the wrongdoer and the oppressor

⁵because you are my hope, Lord.

You, LORD , are the one I’ve trusted since childhood.

⁶I’ve depended on you from birth—

you cut the cord when I came from my mother’s womb.

My praise is always about you.

⁷I’ve become an example to many people

because you are my strong refuge.

⁸My mouth is filled with your praise,

glorifying you all day long.

⁹Don’t cast me off in old age.

Don’t abandon me when my strength is used up!

¹⁰Yes, my enemies have been talking about me;

those who stalk me plot together:

¹¹“God has abandoned him!

Pursue him!

Grab him because no one will deliver him!”

¹²Don’t be far from me, God!

My God, hurry to help me!

¹³Let my accusers be put to shame,

completely finished off!

Let those who seek my downfall

be dressed in insults and disgrace!

¹⁴But me? I will hope. Always.

I will add to all your praise.

¹⁵My mouth will repeat your righteous acts

and your saving deeds all day long.

I don’t even know how many of those there are!

¹⁶I will dwell on your mighty acts, my Lord.

LORD , I will help others remember nothing but your righteous deeds.

¹⁷You’ve taught me since my youth, God,

and I’m still proclaiming your wondrous deeds!

¹⁸So, even in my old age with gray hair,

don’t abandon me, God!

Not until I tell generations about your mighty arm,

because you’ve done awesome things!

Who can compare to you, God?

²⁰You, who have shown me many troubles and calamities,

will revive me once more.

From the depths of the earth,

you will raise me up one more time.

²¹Please increase my honor

and comfort me all around.

²²Then I’ll give you thanks with a harp—

I will thank you for your faithfulness, my God.

²³My lips will rejoice aloud when I make music for you;

my whole being, which you saved, will do the same.

²⁴My tongue, also, will tell of your righteousness all day long,

because those who seek my downfall

have been put to shame and disgraced.