71:2 Vindicate me by rescuing me! 1
Listen to me! 2 Deliver me! 3
71:3 Be my protector and refuge, 4
a stronghold where I can be safe! 5
For you are my high ridge 6 and my stronghold.
71:4 My God, rescue me from the power 7 of the wicked,
from the hand of the cruel oppressor!
71:5 For you give me confidence, 8 O Lord;
O Lord, I have trusted in you since I was young. 9
71:6 I have leaned on you since birth; 10
you pulled me 11 from my mother’s womb.
I praise you continually. 12
71:7 Many are appalled when they see me, 13
but you are my secure shelter.
71:8 I praise you constantly
and speak of your splendor all day long. 14
71:9 Do not reject me in my old age! 15
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. 16
71:11 They say, 17 “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! 18
71:13 May my accusers be humiliated and defeated!
May those who want to harm me 19 be covered with scorn and disgrace!
71:14 As for me, I will wait continually,
and will continue to praise you. 20
71:15 I will tell about your justice,
and all day long proclaim your salvation, 21
though I cannot fathom its full extent. 22
71:16 I will come and tell about 23 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 24 your amazing deeds.
71:18 Even when I am old and gray, 25
O God, do not abandon me,
until I tell the next generation about your strength,
and those coming after me about your power. 26
71:19 Your justice, O God, extends to the skies above; 27
you have done great things. 28
O God, who can compare to you? 29
71:20 Though you have allowed me to experience much trouble and distress, 30
revive me once again! 31
Bring me up once again 32 from the depths of the earth!
71:21 Raise me to a position of great honor! 33
Turn and comfort me! 34
71:22 I will express my thanks to you with a stringed instrument,
praising 35 your faithfulness, O my God!
I will sing praises to you accompanied by a harp,
O Holy One of Israel! 36
71:23 My lips will shout for joy! Yes, 37 I will sing your praises!
I will praise you when you rescue me! 38
71:24 All day long my tongue will also tell about your justice,
for those who want to harm me 39 will be embarrassed and ashamed. 40