Psalms 71

Psalm 71

Prayer for Lifelong Protection and Help

1In you, O Lord , I take refuge;[#Ps 25.2, 3]

let me never be put to shame.

2In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;[#Ps 17.6; 31.1]

incline your ear to me and save me.

3Be to me a rock of refuge,[#Ps 31.2, 3; 44.4]

a strong fortress to save me,

for you are my rock and my fortress.

4Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,[#Ps 140.1, 4]

from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.

5For you, O Lord, are my hope,[#Jer 17.7]

my trust, O Lord , from my youth.

6From my birth I have leaned upon you,[#Ps 22.9, 10; 34.1; Isa 46.3]

my protector since my mother’s womb.

My praise is continually of you.

7I have been like a portent to many,[#Ps 61.3; 1 Cor 4.9]

but you are my strong refuge.

8My mouth is filled with your praise[#Ps 35.28]

and with your glory all day long.

9Do not cast me off in the time of old age;[#v 18]

do not forsake me when my strength is spent.

10For my enemies speak concerning me,[#Ps 56.6; Mt 27.1]

and those who watch for my life consult together.

11They say, “Pursue and seize that person[#Ps 3.2; 7.2]

whom God has forsaken,

for there is no one to deliver.”

12O God, do not be far from me;[#Ps 35.22; 70.1]

O my God, make haste to help me!

13Let my accusers be put to shame and consumed;[#v 24 ; Ps 35.4; 109.29]

let those who seek to hurt me

be covered with scorn and disgrace.

14But I will hope continually

and will praise you yet more and more.

15My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,[#Ps 35.28; 40.5]

of your deeds of salvation all day long,

though their number is past my knowledge.

16I will come praising the mighty deeds of the Lord God ;[#Ps 51.14; 106.2]

I will praise your righteousness, yours alone.

17O God, from my youth you have taught me,[#Deut 4.5; 6.7; Ps 26.7]

and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

18So even to old age and gray hairs,[#v 9]

O God, do not forsake me,

until I proclaim your might

to all the generations to come.

Your power

19and your righteousness, O God,[#Ps 35.10; 57.10]

reach the high heavens.

You who have done great things,

O God, who is like you?

20You who have made me see many troubles and calamities[#Ps 60.3; Hos 6.1, 2]

will revive me again;

from the depths of the earth

you will bring me up again.

21You will increase my honor

and comfort me once again.

22I will also praise you with the harp[#Ps 33.2; 78.41]

for your faithfulness, O my God;

I will sing praises to you with the lyre,

O Holy One of Israel.

23My lips will shout for joy[#Ps 5.11; 103.4]

when I sing praises to you;

my soul also, which you have rescued.

24All day long my tongue will talk of your righteous help,[#v 13 ; Ps 35.28]

for those who tried to do me harm

have been put to shame and disgraced.

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, copyright © 2021 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Published by: National Council of the Churches of Christ