Psalm 71

An Old Man’s Prayer

71Lord, I have come to you for protection;

never let me be defeated!

²Because you are righteous, help me and rescue me.

Listen to me and save me!

³Be my secure shelter

and a strong fortress^y to protect me;

you are my refuge and defence.

⁴My God, rescue me from the wicked,

from the power of those who are cruel and evil.

⁵Sovereign Lord, I put my hope in you;

I have trusted in you since I was young.

⁶I have relied on you all my life;

you have protected^z me since the day I was born.

I will always praise you.

⁷My life has been an example to many,

because you have been my strong defender.

⁸All day long I praise you

and proclaim your glory.

⁹Do not reject me now that I am old;

do not abandon me now that I am feeble.

¹⁰My enemies want to kill me;

they talk and plot against me.

¹¹They say, “God has abandoned him;

let’s go after him and catch him;

there is no one to rescue him.”

¹²Don’t stay so far away, O God;

my God, hurry to my aid!

¹³May those who attack me

be defeated and destroyed.

May those who try to hurt me

be shamed and disgraced.

¹⁴I will always put my hope in you;

I will praise you more and more.

¹⁵I will tell of your goodness;

all day long I will speak of your salvation,

though it is more than I can understand.

¹⁶I will go in the strength of the Lord God;

I will proclaim your goodness, yours alone.

¹⁷You have taught me ever since I was young,

and I still tell of your wonderful acts.

¹⁸Now that I am old and my hair is grey,

do not abandon me, O God!

Be with me while I proclaim your power and might

to all generations to come.

¹⁹Your righteousness, God, reaches the skies.

You have done great things;

there is no one like you.

²⁰You have sent troubles and suffering on me,

but you will restore my strength;

you will keep me from the grave.

²¹You will make me greater than ever;

you will comfort me again.

²²I will indeed praise you with the harp;

I will praise your faithfulness, my God.

On my harp I will play hymns to you,

the Holy One of Israel.

²³I will shout for joy as I play for you;

with my whole being I will sing

because you have saved me.

²⁴I will speak of your righteousness all day long,

because those who tried to harm me

have been defeated and disgraced.