Psalms
Summary
Psalm 31 is a prayer of intense trust from a psalmist surrounded by enemies and forgotten by his neighbours "like a broken vessel." He takes refuge in the LORD, his "rock of refuge" and "house of defence," famously committing his spirit into God’s hands. David describes his deep physical and emotional distress: his eyes "consumed with grief" and his years spent with "sighing." Yet, he anchors himself in the truth that "my times are in your hand." The psalm concludes with a call for all the saints to love the LORD, who preserves the faithful and rewards the proud with their desert.
In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.
Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a house of defence to save me.
Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
Keep me free from the trap that is set secretly for me, for you are my refuge.
Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, LORD, my faithful God.
I hate those who cling to worthless idols; as for me, I trust in the LORD.
I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.
You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.
Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.
My life is consumed by anguish and my years by sighing; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.
Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbours and an object of dread to my closest friends, those who see me on the street flee from me.
I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery.
For I hear many whispering, "Terror on every side!" They conspire against me and plot to take my life.
But I trust in you, LORD; I say, "You are my God."
My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.
Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.
Let me not be put to shame, LORD, for I have cried out to you; but let the wicked be put to shame and be silent in the grave.
Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous.
How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all on those who take refuge in you.
In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of man; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues.
Praise be to the LORD, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege.
In my alarm I said, "I am cut off from your sight!" Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.
Love the LORD, all his faithful people! the LORD preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full.
Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD.