To the director. A melody of David.

31 In you, O Jehovah,* have I taken refuge.+

O may I never be ashamed.+

In your righteousness provide escape for me.+

 ² Incline to me your ear.+

Deliver me speedily.+

Become for me a rocky stronghold,+

A house of strongholds to save me.+

 ³ For you are my crag and my stronghold;+

And for the sake of your name+ you will lead me and conduct me.+

 ⁴ You will bring me out of the net that they have hidden for me,+

For you are my fortress.+

 ⁵ Into your hand I entrust my spirit.+

You have redeemed me,+ O Jehovah* the God of truth.*+

 ⁶ I do hate those paying regard to worthless, vain idols;*+

But as for me, in Jehovah* I do trust.+

 ⁷ I will be joyful and rejoice in your loving-kindness,*+

In that you have seen my affliction;+

You have known about the distresses of my soul,+

 ⁸ And you have not surrendered me into the hand of the enemy.+

You have made my feet stand in a roomy place.+

 ⁹ Show me favor, O Jehovah,* for I am in sore straits.+

With vexation my eye has become weak,+ my soul and my belly.+

¹⁰ For with grief my life has come to an end,+

And my years in sighing.+

Because of my error my power has stumbled,+

And my very bones have become weak.+

¹¹ From the standpoint of all those showing hostility to me+ I have become a reproach,+

And to my neighbors very much so,+

And a dread to my acquaintances.+

When seeing me out of doors, they have fled from me.+

¹² Like someone dead [and] not in the heart, I have been forgotten;+

I have become like a damaged* vessel;+

¹³ For I have heard the bad report by many,+

Fright being on all sides.+

When they mass together as one against me,+

It is to take away my soul* that they do scheme.+

¹⁴ But I—in you I have put my trust, O Jehovah.+

I have said: “You are my God.”*+

¹⁵ My times are in your hand.+

Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those pursuing me.+

¹⁶ Do cause your face to shine upon your servant.+

Save me in your loving-kindness.+

¹⁷ O Jehovah, may I not be ashamed, for I have called on you.+

May the wicked ones be ashamed;+

May they keep silent in She′ol.+

¹⁸ May false lips become speechless,+

That are speaking against the righteous one,+ unrestrainedly in haughtiness and contempt.+

¹⁹ How abundant your goodness is,+ which you have treasured up for those fearing you!+

[Which] you have rendered to those taking refuge in you,

In front of the sons of men.*+

²⁰ You will conceal them in the secret place of your person*+

From the banding together of men.*+

You will hide them in your booth from the quarreling of tongues.+

²¹ Blessed be Jehovah,*+

For he has rendered wonderful loving-kindness+ to me in a city under stress.+

²² As for me, I said when I became panicky:+

“I shall certainly be exterminated from in front of your eyes.”+

Surely you have heard the voice of my entreaties when I cried to you for help.+

²³ O love Jehovah,* all YOU loyal ones of his.+

The faithful ones Jehovah* is safeguarding,+

But he is rewarding exceedingly anyone showing haughtiness.+

²⁴ Be courageous, and may YOUR heart be strong,+

All YOU who are waiting for Jehovah.*+