Psalm 31
To you, Lord, have I come for shelter
: let me never be put to shame.
O deliver me in your righteousness
: incline your ear to me and be swift to save me.
Be for me a rock of refuge, a fortress to defend me
: for you are my high rock and my stronghold.
Lead me and guide me for your name’s sake
: bring me out of the net that they have secretly laid for me,
for you are my strength.
Into your hands I commit my spirit
: you will redeem me, O Lord God of truth.
I hate those that clutch vain idols
: but my trust is in the Lord.
I will rejoice and be glad in your loving-kindness
: for you have looked on my distress and known me in adversity.
You have not given me over to the power of the enemy
: you have set my feet where I may walk at liberty.
Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble
: my eye wastes away for grief,
my throat also and my inward parts.
For my life wears out in sorrow,
and my years with sighing
: my strength fails me in my affliction,
and my bones are consumed.
I am become the scorn of all my enemies
: and my neighbours wag their heads in derision.
I am a thing of horror to my friends
: and those that see me in the street shrink from me.
I am forgotten like a dead man out of mind
: I have become like a broken vessel.
For I hear the whispering of many
: and fear is on every side;
While they plot together against me
: and scheme to take away my life.
But in you, Lord, have I put my trust
: I have said ‘You are my God.’
All my days are in your hand
: O deliver me from the power of my enemies
and from my persecutors.
Make your face to shine upon your servant
: and save me for your mercy’s sake.
O Lord, let me not be confounded,
for I have called upon you
: but let the wicked be put to shame
and brought to silence in the grave.
Let the lying lips be dumb
: that in pride and contempt
speak such insolence against the just.
O how plentiful is your goodness,
stored up for those that fear you
: and prepared in the sight of men
for all who come to you for refuge.
You will hide them in the cover of your presence
from the plots of men
: you will shelter them in your refuge
from the strife of tongues.
Blessed be the Lord our God
: for he has wonderfully shown me his steadfast love,
when I was as a city besieged.
When I was afraid, I said in my haste
: ‘I am cut off from your sight.’
But you heard the voice of my supplication
: when I cried to you for help.
Love the Lord, all you his faithful ones
: for the Lord guards the true, but fully requites the proud.
Be strong, and let your heart take courage
: all you that hope in the Lord.