Psalm 71

1In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;

let me never be put to shame.

2In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;

turn your ear to me and save me.

3Be my rock of refuge,

to which I can always go;

give the command to save me,

for you are my rock and my fortress.

4Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,

from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.

5For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,

my confidence since my youth.

6From my birth I have relied on you;

you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.

I will ever praise you.

7I have become a sign to many;

you are my strong refuge.

8My mouth is filled with your praise,

declaring your splendour all day long.

9Do not cast me away when I am old;

do not forsake me when my strength is gone.

10For my enemies speak against me;

those who wait to kill me conspire together.

11They say, ‘God has forsaken him;

pursue him and seize him,

for no-one will rescue him.’

12Do not be far from me, my God;

come quickly, God, to help me.

13May my accusers perish in shame;

may those who want to harm me

be covered with scorn and disgrace.

14As for me, I shall always have hope;

I will praise you more and more.

15My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,

of your saving acts all day long –

though I know not how to relate them all.

16I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;

I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.

17Since my youth, God, you have taught me,

and to this day I declare your marvellous deeds.

18Even when I am old and grey,

do not forsake me, my God,

till I declare your power to the next generation,

your mighty acts to all who are to come.

19Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,

you who have done great things.

Who is like you, God?

20Though you have made me see troubles,

many and bitter,

you will restore my life again;

from the depths of the earth

you will again bring me up.

21You will increase my honour

and comfort me once more.

22I will praise you with the harp

for your faithfulness, my God;

I will sing praise to you with the lyre,

Holy One of Israel.

23My lips will shout for joy

when I sing praise to you –

I whom you have delivered.

24My tongue will tell of your righteous acts

all day long,

for those who wanted to harm me

have been put to shame and confusion.