71:1 In you, O Lord, I have taken shelter!
Never let me be humiliated!
71:2 Vindicate me by rescuing me! 2
Listen to me! 3 Deliver me! 4
71:3 Be my protector and refuge, 5
a stronghold where I can be safe! 6
For you are my high ridge 7 and my stronghold.
71:4 My God, rescue me from the power 8 of the wicked,
from the hand of the cruel oppressor!
71:5 For you give me confidence, 9 O Lord;
O Lord, I have trusted in you since I was young. 10
71:6 I have leaned on you since birth; 11
you pulled me 12 from my mother’s womb.
I praise you continually. 13
71:7 Many are appalled when they see me, 14
but you are my secure shelter.
71:8 I praise you constantly
and speak of your splendor all day long. 15
71:9 Do not reject me in my old age! 16
When my strength fails, do not abandon me!
71:10 For my enemies talk about me;
those waiting for a chance to kill me plot my demise. 17
71:11 They say, 18 “God has abandoned him.
Run and seize him, for there is no one who will rescue him!”
71:12 O God, do not remain far away from me!
My God, hurry and help me! 19
71:13 May my accusers be humiliated and defeated!
May those who want to harm me 20 be covered with scorn and disgrace!
71:14 As for me, I will wait continually,
and will continue to praise you. 21
71:15 I will tell about your justice,
and all day long proclaim your salvation, 22
though I cannot fathom its full extent. 23
71:16 I will come and tell about 24 the mighty acts of the sovereign Lord.
I will proclaim your justice – yours alone.
71:17 O God, you have taught me since I was young,
and I am still declaring 25 your amazing deeds.
71:18 Even when I am old and gray, 26
O God, do not abandon me,
until I tell the next generation about your strength,
and those coming after me about your power. 27
71:19 Your justice, O God, extends to the skies above; 28
you have done great things. 29
O God, who can compare to you? 30
71:20 Though you have allowed me to experience much trouble and distress, 31
revive me once again! 32
Bring me up once again 33 from the depths of the earth!
71:21 Raise me to a position of great honor! 34
Turn and comfort me! 35
71:22 I will express my thanks to you with a stringed instrument,
praising 36 your faithfulness, O my God!
I will sing praises to you accompanied by a harp,
O Holy One of Israel! 37
71:23 My lips will shout for joy! Yes, 38 I will sing your praises!
I will praise you when you rescue me! 39
71:24 All day long my tongue will also tell about your justice,
for those who want to harm me 40 will be embarrassed and ashamed. 41