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Psalm 31 :: Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

A Plea for Protection

For the choir director. A psalm of David.

Psa 31:1

LORD, I seek refuge in you;

let me never be disgraced.

Save me by your righteousness.

Psa 31:2

Listen closely to me; rescue me quickly.

Be a rock of refuge for me,

a mountain fortress to save me.

Psa 31:3

For you are my rock and my fortress;

you lead and guide me

for your name’s sake.

Psa 31:4

You will free me from the net

that is secretly set for me,

for you are my refuge.

Psa 31:5

Into your hand I entrust my spirit;

you have redeemed me,[fn] LORD, God of truth.

Psa 31:6

I[fn] hate those who are devoted to worthless idols,

but I trust in the LORD.

Psa 31:7

I will rejoice and be glad in your faithful love

because you have seen my affliction.

You know the troubles of my soul

Psa 31:8

and have not handed me over to the enemy.

You have set my feet in a spacious place.

Psa 31:9

Be gracious to me, LORD,

because I am in distress;

my eyes are worn out from frustration —

my whole being[fn] as well.

Psa 31:10

Indeed, my life is consumed with grief

and my years with groaning;

my strength has failed

because of my iniquity,[fn]

and my bones waste away.

Psa 31:11

I am ridiculed by all my adversaries

and even by my neighbors.

I am dreaded by my acquaintances;

those who see me in the street run from me.

Psa 31:12

I am forgotten: gone from memory

like a dead person ​— ​like broken pottery.

Psa 31:13

I have heard the gossip of many;

terror is on every side.

When they conspired against me,

they plotted to take my life.

Psa 31:14

But I trust in you, LORD;

I say, “You are my God.”

Psa 31:15

The course of my life is in your power;

rescue me from the power of my enemies

and from my persecutors.

Psa 31:16

Make your face shine on your servant;

save me by your faithful love.

Psa 31:17

LORD, do not let me be disgraced when I call on you.

Let the wicked be disgraced;

let them be quiet[fn][fn] in Sheol.

Psa 31:18

Let lying lips

that arrogantly speak against the righteous

in proud contempt be silenced.

Psa 31:19

How great is your goodness,

which you have stored up for those who fear you.

In the presence of everyone[fn] you have acted

for those who take refuge in you.

Psa 31:20

You hide them in the protection of your presence;

you conceal them in a shelter

from human schemes,

from quarrelsome tongues.

Psa 31:21

Blessed be the LORD,

for he has wondrously shown his faithful love to me

in a city under siege.

Psa 31:22

In my alarm I said,

“I am cut off from your sight.”

But you heard the sound of my pleading

when I cried to you for help.

Psa 31:23

Love the LORD, all his faithful ones.

The LORD protects the loyal,

but fully repays the arrogant.

Psa 31:24

Be strong, and let your heart be courageous,

all you who put your hope in the LORD.

CSB Footnotes
Or spirit. Redeem me
One Hb ms, LXX, Syr, Vg, Jer read You
Lit my soul and my belly
LXX, Syr, Sym read affliction
LXX reads brought down
Or them wail
Or of the descendants of Adam
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