Psalm 31:1–18

A Prayer of Trust in God^a

31 I come to you, Lord, for protection;

never let me be defeated.

You are a righteous God;

save me, I pray!

²Hear me! Save me now!

Be my refuge to protect me;

my defence to save me.

³You are my refuge and defence;

guide me and lead me as you have promised.

⁴Keep me safe from the trap that has been set for me;

shelter me from danger.

^5*I place myself in your care.

You will save me, Lord;

you are a faithful God.

⁶You hate those who worship false gods,

but I trust in you.

⁷I will be glad and rejoice

because of your constant love.

You see my suffering;

you know my trouble.

⁸You have not let my enemies capture me;

you have given me freedom to go where I wish.

⁹Be merciful to me, Lord,

for I am in trouble;

my eyes are tired from so much crying;

I am completely worn out.

¹⁰I am exhausted by sorrow,

and weeping has shortened my life.

I am weak from all my troubles;^b

even my bones are wasting away.

¹¹All my enemies, and especially my neighbours,

treat me with contempt;

those who know me are afraid of me;

when they see me in the street, they run away.

¹²Everyone has forgotten me, as though I were dead;

I am like something thrown away.

¹³I hear many enemies whispering;

terror is all round me.

They are making plans against me,

plotting to kill me.

¹⁴But my trust is in you, O Lord;

you are my God.

¹⁵I am always in your care;

save me from my enemies,

from those who persecute me.

¹⁶Look on your servant with kindness;

save me in your constant love.

¹⁷I call to you, Lord;

don’t let me be disgraced.

May the wicked be disgraced;

may they go silently down to the world of the dead.

¹⁸Silence those liars—

all the proud and arrogant

who speak with contempt about the righteous.