Psalm 71

An Old Person’s Prayer

71In you, Lord, is my protection.

Never let me be ashamed.

²Because you do what is right, save and rescue me;

listen to me and save me.

³Be my place of safety

where I can always come.

Give the command to save me,

because you are my rock and my strong, walled city.

⁴My God, save me from the power of the wicked

and from the hold of evil and cruel people.

⁵Lord, you are my hope.

Lord, I have trusted you since I was young.

⁶I have depended on you since I was born;

you helped me even on the day of my birth.

I will always praise you.

⁷I am an example to many people,

because you are my strong protection.

⁸I am always praising you;

all day long I honor you.

⁹Do not reject me when I am old;

do not leave me when my strength is gone.

¹⁰My enemies make plans against me,

and they meet together to kill me.

¹¹They say, “God has left him.

Go after him and take him,

because no one will save him.”

¹²God, don’t be far off.

My God, hurry to help me.

¹³Let those who accuse me

be ashamed and destroyed.

Let those who are trying to hurt me

be covered with shame and disgrace.

¹⁴But I will always have hope

and will praise you more and more.

¹⁵I will tell how you do what is right.

I will tell about your salvation all day long,

even though it is more than I can tell.

¹⁶I will come and tell about your powerful works, Lord God.

I will remind people that only you do what is right.

¹⁷God, you have taught me since I was young.

To this day I tell about the miracles you do.

¹⁸Even though I am old and gray,

do not leave me, God.

I will tell the children about your power;

I will tell those who live after me about your might.

¹⁹God, your justice reaches to the skies.

You have done great things;

God, there is no one like you.

²⁰You have given me many troubles and bad times,

but you will give me life again.

When I am almost dead,

you will keep me alive.

²¹You will make me greater than ever,

and you will comfort me again.

²²I will praise you with the harp.

I trust you, my God.

I will sing to you with the lyre,

Holy One of Israel.

²³I will shout for joy when I sing praises to you.

You have saved me.

²⁴I will tell about your justice all day long.

And those who want to hurt me

will be ashamed and disgraced.