A Prayer to God the Rock of Refuge

71 In you, O Yahweh, I have taken refuge;

let me never be put to shame.

2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;

incline your ear to me and save me.

3 Be for me a rock of refuge to resort to always;

you have ordaineda to save me,

because you are my rock and my fortress.

4 My God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked,

from the ⌊grasp⌋b of the evildoer and the oppressor,

5 because you are my hope,

O Lord Yahweh, my confidence from my youth.

6 Upon you I have leaned ⌊from birth⌋.c

It was you who ⌊took⌋d me from the womb of my mother.

My praise is of you continually.

7 I have become a wonder to many,

but you are my strong refuge.

8 My mouth is filled with your praise,

with your glory all the day.

9 Do not cast me away in the time of old age;

when my strength fails do not abandon me.

10 For my enemies talk concerning me,

and those who watch for my life conspire together,

11 saying, “His God has abandoned him.

Pursue and seize him, because there is no deliverer.”

12 O God, do not be far from me.

My God, hurry to help me.

13 Let them be ashamed; let them perish

who are ⌊my adversaries⌋.e

Let them wrap themselves with scorn and disgrace

who seek my harm.

14 But as for me, I will hope continually

and increase your praise.

15 My mouth will tell of your righteousness,

your salvation ⌊all day long⌋,f

though I do not know the full sum of them.

16 I will come in to tell the mighty deeds of Lord Yahweh.

I will ⌊make known⌋g your righteousness, yours only.

17 O God, you have taught me from my youth,

and up to now I have proclaimed your wonderful deeds.

18 And even when I am old and gray,

O God, do not abandon me

until I proclaim your ⌊strength⌋h to this generation,

your power to every one that comes after.

19 And your righteousness, O God, is to the height of heaven.

You who have done great things,

O God, who is like you?

20 You who have caused mei to see many troubles and evils,

you will again revive me.j

And from the depths of the earth

you will again bring me up.

21 You will increase my greatness,

and you will comfort me all around.k

22 On my part, I will praise you with a stringed instrument,

and your faithfulness, O my God.

I will sing praises to you with a lyre,

O Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips will sing for joy when I sing praises to you,

and my soul, which you have redeemed.

24 My tongue also

will speak of your righteousness all the day,

because they have been put to shame, because they have been humiliated

who seek my harm.