Psalm 71

Prayer of an Old Man for Rescue.

1 In You, Lord, I have taken refuge;

Let me never be put to shame.

2 In Your righteousness rescue me and save me;

Extend Your ear to me and help me.

3 Be to me a rock of dwelling to which I may continually come;

You have given the commandment to save me,

For You are my rock and my fortress.

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

From the *71:4 Lit palmgrasp of the wrongdoer and the ruthless,

5 For You are my hope;

Lord *71:5 Heb YHWH, usually rendered LordGod, You are my confidence from my youth.

6 I have leaned on You since my birth;

You are He who took me from my mother’s womb;

My praise is continually *71:6 Lit inof You.

7 I have become a marvel to many,

For You are my strong refuge.

8 My mouth is filled with Your praise

And with Your glory all day long.

9 Do not cast me away at the time of my old age;

Do not abandon me when my strength fails.

10 For my enemies have spoken *71:10 Lit with reference toagainst me;

And those who watch for my *71:10 Lit soullife have consulted together,

11 Saying, "God has abandoned him;

Pursue and seize him, for there is no one to save him."

12 God, do not be far from me;

My God, hurry to my aid!

13 May those who are enemies of my soul be put to shame and consumed;

May they be covered with disgrace and dishonor, who seek *71:13 Lit my injuryto injure me.

14 But as for me, I will wait continually,

And will *71:14 Lit add upon all Your praisepraise You yet more and more.

15 My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness

And of Your salvation all day long;

For I do not know the art of writing.

16 I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord *71:16 Heb YHWH, usually rendered LordGod;

I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone.

17 God, You have taught me from my youth,

And I still declare Your wondrous deeds.

18 And even when I am old and gray, God, do not abandon me,

Until I declare Your *71:18 Lit armstrength to this generation,

Your power to all who are to come.

19 * 71:19 Or And For Your righteousness, God, reaches to the *71:19 Lit heightheavens,

You who have done great things;

God, who is like You?

20 You who have shown *71:20 Another reading is usme many troubles and distresses

Will revive *71:20 Another reading is usme again,

And will bring *71:20 Another reading is usme up again from the depths of the earth.

21 May You increase my greatness

And turn to comfort me.

22 I will also praise You with *71:22 Lit an instrument of a harpa harp,

And Your *71:22 Or faithfulnesstruth, my God;

I will sing praises to You with the lyre,

Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You;

And my soul, which You have redeemed.

24 My tongue also will tell of Your righteousness all day long;

For they are put to shame, for they are humiliated who seek *71:24 Or to injure memy harm.