Aa
Psalm 31
A Plea for Protection
For the choir director. A psalm of David.
1 Lord, I seek refuge in you;
let me never be disgraced.31:1 Ps 25:2
Save me by your righteousness.
2Listen closely to me; rescue me quickly.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a mountain fortress to save me.31:2 Ps 71:1–2
3For you are my rock and my fortress;31:3 Ps 18:2; 71:3
you lead and guide me
for your name’s sake.31:3 Ps 23:3; 25:11
4You will free me from the net
that is secretly set for me,
for you are my refuge.31:4 Ps 25:15; 46:1
5Into your hand I entrust my spirit;31:5 Lk 23:46
you have redeemed me,31:5 Or spirit. Redeem me Lord, God of truth.31:5 Ps 25:5

6I31:6 One Hb ms, LXX, Syr, Vg, Jer read You hate those who are devoted to worthless idols,
but I trust in the Lord.31:6 Ps 26:5; Jnh 2:8
7I will rejoice and be glad in your faithful love
because you have seen my affliction.
You know the troubles of my soul31:7 Ps 10:14
8and have not handed me over to the enemy.31:8 Dt 32:30
You have set my feet in a spacious place.31:8 Jb 36:16

9Be gracious to me, Lord,
because I am in distress;31:9 Ps 69:17
my eyes are worn out from frustration —
my whole being31:9 Lit my soul and my belly as well.31:9 Ps 6:7; 63:1
10Indeed, my life is consumed with grief
and my years with groaning;31:10 Ps 102:3
my strength has failed
because of my iniquity,31:10 LXX, Syr, Sym read affliction
and my bones waste away.31:10 Ps 32:3; 38:3
11I 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.31:11 Jb 19:13; Ps 38:11; 88:8,18
12I am forgotten: gone from memory
like a dead person — like broken pottery.31:12 Ps 88:5; Ec 9:5
13I have heard the gossip of many;
terror is on every side.31:13 Jr 6:25; 20:10; 46:5; 49:29
When they conspired against me,
they plotted to take my life.31:13 Ps 41:7; Mt 27:1

14But I trust in you, Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”31:14 Ps 140:6
15The course of my life is in your power;31:15 Jb 14:5; 24:1
rescue me from the power of my enemies
and from my persecutors.31:15 Ps 59:1
16Make your face shine on your servant;31:16 Nm 6:25
save me by your faithful love.31:16 Ps 6:4; 119:135
17 Lord, do not let me be disgraced when I call on you.31:17 Ps 25:2–3,20
Let the wicked be disgraced;
let them be quiet31:17 LXX reads brought down31:17 Or them wail in Sheol.31:17 Ps 94:17; 115:17
18Let lying lips31:18 Ps 120:2
that arrogantly speak against the righteous
in proud contempt be silenced.31:18 1Sm 2:3; Ps 94:4

19How great is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you.
In the presence of everyone31:19 Or of the descendants of Adam you have acted
for those who take refuge in you.31:19 Ps 5:11; 23:5
20You hide them in the protection of your presence;31:20 Ps 17:8
you conceal them in a shelter
from human schemes,
from quarrelsome tongues.31:20 Ps 27:5; 32:7
21Blessed be the Lord,
for he has wondrously shown his faithful love to me
in a city under siege.31:21 Ps 28:6
22In my alarm I said,
“I am cut off from your sight.”31:22 Ps 88:5; Is 38:11–12
But you heard the sound of my pleading
when I cried to you for help.31:22 Ps 66:19; 145:19

23Love the Lord, all his faithful ones.31:23 Ps 30:4
The Lord protects the loyal,
but fully repays the arrogant.31:23 Ps 94:2; Jms 4:6; 1Pt 5:5
24Be strong, and let your heart be courageous,31:24 Dt 31:23; Jos 1:9
all you who put your hope in the Lord.31:24 Ps 27:14