Chapter 31

  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.  

  Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.  

  For thou [art] my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.  

  Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou [art] my strength.  

  Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.  

  I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.  

  I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;  

  And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.  

  Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, [yea], my soul and my belly.  

  For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.  

  I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.  

  I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.  

  For I have heard the slander of many: fear [was] on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.  

  But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou [art] my God.  

  My times [are] in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.  

  Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.  

  Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, [and] let them be silent in the grave.  

  Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.  

  [Oh] how great [is] thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; [which] thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!  

  Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.  

  Blessed [be] the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.  

  For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.  

  O love the LORD, all ye his saints: [for] the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.  

  Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.