Prayer for Lifelong Protection and Help

1In you, O LORD, I take refuge;

let me never be put to shame.

2In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;

incline your ear to me and save me.

3Be to me a rock of refuge,

a strong fortress,71.3 Gk Compare 31.3: Heb to come continually you have commanded to save me,

for you are my rock and my fortress.

4Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,

from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.

5For you, O Lord, are my hope,

my trust, O LORD, from my youth.

6Upon you I have leaned from my birth;

it was you who took me from my mother's womb.

My praise is continually of you.

7I have been like a portent to many,

but you are my strong refuge.

8My mouth is filled with your praise,

and with your glory all day long.

9Do not cast me off in the time of old age;

do not forsake me when my strength is spent.

10For my enemies speak concerning me,

and those who watch for my life consult together.

11They say, ‘Pursue and seize that person

whom God has forsaken,

for there is no one to deliver.’

12O God, do not be far from me;

O my God, make haste to help me!

13Let my accusers be put to shame and consumed;

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,

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,

I will praise your righteousness, yours alone.

17O God, from my youth you have taught me,

and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

18So even to old age and grey hairs,

O God, do not forsake me,

until I proclaim your might

to all the generations to come.71.18 Gk Compare Syr: Heb to a generation, to all that come

Your power 19and your righteousness, O God,

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

will revive me again;

from the depths of the earth

you will bring me up again.

21You will increase my honour,

and comfort me once again.

22I will also praise you with the harp

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

when I sing praises to you;

my soul also, which you have rescued.

24All day long my tongue will talk of your righteous help,

for those who tried to do me harm

have been put to shame, and disgraced.