Psalms 31

31 ¹ In you, my Father, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness rescue me. ² Turn your ear to me; rescue me quickly. Be my rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save me. ³ For you are my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake you lead me and guide me. ⁴ You free me from the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge.

⁵ Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, my Father, faithful and true. ^a a v5 Jesus prayed these words as he died — "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46) — entrusting himself to the Father this psalm trusts. ⁶ I hate those who cling to worthless idols, but I trust in my Father. ⁷ I will rejoice and be glad in your covenant love, for you have seen my affliction; you have known the troubles of my soul, ⁸ and you have not handed me over to the enemy; you have set my feet in a spacious place. ⁹ Be gracious to me, my Father, for I am in distress; my eyes are worn out with grief, my soul and my body as well. ¹⁰ For my life is consumed with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my sin, and my bones waste away. ¹¹ Because of all my enemies I have become a disgrace, especially to my neighbors, and a terror to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. ¹² I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I have become like a broken pot.

¹³ For I hear the whispering of many — terror on every side — as they conspire together against me, scheming to take my life. ¹⁴ But I trust in you, my Father; I say, "You are my Father." ¹⁵ My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors. ¹⁶ Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your covenant love. ¹⁷ My Father, let me not be put to shame, for I call on you; let the wicked be put to shame and silenced in the grave.

¹⁸ Let the lying lips be silenced, which speak arrogantly against the righteous with pride and contempt. ¹⁹ How abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you have shown to those who take refuge in you, for all to see.

²⁰ In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the schemes of men; you keep them safe in your shelter from slanderous tongues. ²¹ Blessed be my Father, for he has shown me his wondrous covenant love when I was in a city under siege.

²² I had said in my alarm, "I am cut off from before your eyes." But you heard my cry for mercy when I called out to you for help. ²³ Love our Father, all you his faithful ones. Our Father guards the faithful, but he fully repays the one who acts in pride. ²⁴ Be strong, and take courage, all you who wait for our Father.