Psalm 31:1–32:11

¹Lord, I have gone to you for safety.

Don’t let me ever be put to shame.

Save me, because you do what is right.

²Pay attention to me.

Come quickly to help me.

Be the rock I go to for safety.

Be the strong fort that saves me.

³You are my rock and my fort.

Lead me and guide me for the honor of your name.

⁴Free me from the trap that is set for me.

You are my place of safety.

⁵Into your hands I commit my very life.

Lord, set me free. You are my faithful God.

⁶I hate those who worship worthless statues of gods.

I trust in the Lord.

⁷I will be glad and full of joy because you love me.

You saw that I was hurting.

You took note of my great pain.

⁸You have not handed me over to the enemy.

You have put me in a wide and safe place.

⁹Lord, show me your favor. I’m in deep trouble.

I’m so sad I can hardly see.

My whole body grows weak with sadness.

¹⁰Pain has taken over my life.

My years are spent in groaning.

I have no strength because I’m hurting so much.

My body is getting weaker and weaker.

¹¹My neighbors make fun of me

because I have so many enemies.

My friends are afraid of me.

Those who see me on the street run away from me.

¹²They have forgotten me. I might as well be dead.

I have become like broken pottery.

¹³I hear the lies many people tell about me.

There is terror all around me.

Many have joined together against me.

They plan to kill me.

¹⁴But I trust in you, Lord.

I say, “You are my God.”

¹⁵My whole life is in your hands.

Save me from my enemies.

Save me from those who are chasing me.

¹⁶Let your face smile on me with favor.

Save me because your love is faithful.

¹⁷Lord, I have cried out to you.

Don’t let me be put to shame.

But let sinners be put to shame.

Let them lie silent in the grave.

¹⁸Their lips tell lies. Let them be silenced.

They speak with pride against those who do right.

They make fun of them.

¹⁹How great your goodness is!

You have stored it up for those who have respect for you.

While other people watch, you give it to those who run to you for safety.

²⁰They are safe because you are with them.

You hide them from the evil plans of their enemies.

In your house you keep them safe

from those who bring charges against them.

²¹Give praise to the Lord.

He showed me his wonderful love

when my enemies attacked the city I was in.

²²I was afraid and said,

“I’ve been cut off from you!”

But you heard my cry for your favor.

You heard me when I called out to you for help.

²³Love the Lord, all of you who are faithful to him!

The Lord watches over the faithful.

But he completely pays back those who are proud.

²⁴Be strong, all of you who put your hope in the Lord.

Never give up.

Psalm 32

A maskil of David.

¹Blessed is the one whose lawless acts are forgiven.

His sins have been taken away.

²Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord never counts against him.

He doesn’t want to cheat anyone.

³When I kept silent about my sin,

my body became weak

because I groaned all day long.

⁴Day and night

your heavy hand punished me.

I became weaker and weaker

as I do in the heat of summer. Selah

⁵Then I admitted my sin to you.

I didn’t cover up the wrong I had done.

I said, “I will admit my lawless acts to the Lord.”

And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

⁶Let everyone who is godly pray to you

while they can still look to you.

When troubles come like a flood,

they certainly won’t reach those who are godly.

⁷You are my hiding place.

You will keep me safe from trouble.

You will surround me with songs sung by those who praise you

because you save your people. Selah

⁸I will guide you and teach you the way you should go.

I will give you good advice and watch over you.

⁹Don’t be like the horse or the mule.

They can’t understand anything.

They have to be controlled by bits and bridles.

If they aren’t, they won’t come to you.

¹⁰Sinful people have all kinds of trouble.

But the Lord’s faithful love

is all around those who trust in him.

¹¹Be glad because of what the Lord has done for you.

Be joyful, you who do what is right!

Sing, all of you whose hearts are honest!