For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by Dawud.
1In you, Allah, I take refuge.
Let me never be disappointed:
Deliver me in your righteousness.
2Bow down your ear to me.
Deliver me speedily.
Be to me a strong rock,
A house of defense to save me.
3For you are my rock and my fortress,
Therefore for your name’s sake lead me and guide me.
4Pluck me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me,
For you are my stronghold.
5Into your hands I commit my spirit.[1]
You redeem me, Allah, God of truth.
6I hate those who regard lying vanities,
But I trust in Allah.
7I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness,
For you have seen my affliction.
You have known my soul in adversities.
8You have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy.
You have set my feet in a large place.
9Have mercy on me, Allah, for I am in distress.
My eye, my soul, and my body waste away with grief.
10For my life is spent with sorrow,
My years with sighing.
My strength fails because of my iniquity.
My bones are wasted away.
11Because of all my adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbours,
A fear to my acquaintances.
Those who saw me on the street fled from me.
12I am forgotten from their hearts like a dead man.
I am like broken pottery.
13For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side,
While they conspire together against me,
They plot to take away my life.
14But I trust in you, Allah.
I said, “You are my God.“
15My times are in your hand.
Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.
16Make your face to shine on your servant.
Save me in your loving kindness.
17Let me not be disappointed, Allah, for I have called on you.
Let the wicked be disappointed. Let them be silent in the grave.
18Let the lying lips be mute,
Which speak against the righteous insolently, with pride and contempt.
19Oh how great is your goodness,
Which you have laid up for those who fear you,
Which you have worked for those who take refuge in you,
Before the sons of men!
20In the shelter of your presence you will hide them from the plotting of man.
You will keep them secretly in a dwelling away from the strife of tongues.
21Praise be to Allah,
For he has shown me his marvelous loving kindness in a strong city.
22As for me, I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before your eyes.“
Nevertheless you heard the voice of my petitions when I cried to you.
23Oh love Allah, all you his saints!
Allah preserves the faithful,
And pays back in full him who deals proudly.
24Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
All you who hope in Allah.
[1] 31:5 Quoted in the Injil in Luke 23:46.