The Lord a Fortress in Adversity
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
Let me never be ashamed;
Deliver me in Your righteousness.
2Bow down Your ear to me,
Deliver me speedily;
Be my rock of 31:2 strengthrefuge,
A 31:2 Lit. house of fortressesfortress of defense to save me.
3For You are my rock and my fortress;
Therefore, for Your name’s sake,
Lead me and guide me.
4Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me,
For You are my strength.
5Into Your hand I commit my spirit;
You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.
6I have hated those who regard useless idols;
But I trust in the Lord.
7I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy,
For You have considered my trouble;
You have known my soul in 31:7 troublesadversities,
8And have not shut31:8 given me over me up into the hand of the enemy;
You have set my feet in a wide place.
9Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble;
My eye wastes away with grief,
Yes, my soul and my 31:9 Lit. bellybody!
10For my life is spent with grief,
And my years with sighing;
My strength fails because of my iniquity,
And my bones waste away.
11I am a 31:11 despised thingreproach among all my enemies,
But especially among my neighbors,
And am repulsive to my acquaintances;
Those who see me outside flee from me.
12I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind;
I am like a 31:12 Lit. perishingbroken vessel.
13For I hear the slander of many;
Fear is on every side;
While they take counsel together against me,
They scheme to take away my life.
14But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord;
I say, “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 shine upon Your servant;
Save me for Your mercies’ sake.
17Do not let me be ashamed, O Lord, for I have called upon You;
Let the wicked be ashamed;
Let them be silent in the grave.
18Let the lying lips be put to silence,
Which speak insolent things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
19Oh, how great is Your goodness,
Which You have laid up for those who fear You,
Which You have prepared for those who trust in You
In the presence of the sons of men!
20You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence
From the plots of man;
You shall keep them secretly in a 31:20 shelterpavilion
From the strife of tongues.
For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a 31:21 fortifiedstrong city!
22For I said in my haste,
“I am cut off from before Your eyes”;
Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications
When I cried out to You.
23Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints!
For the Lord preserves the faithful,
And fully repays the proud person.
24Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the Lord.
New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
