Psalms 31; Psalms 32

1 I take refuge in you, LORD. Please never let me be put to shame. Rescue me by your righteousness!

2 Listen closely to me! Deliver me quickly; be a rock that protects me; be a strong fortress that saves me!

3 You are definitely my rock and my fortress. Guide me and lead me for the sake of your good name!

4 Get me out of this net that's been set for me because you are my protective fortress.

5 I entrust my spirit into your hands; you, LORD, God of faithfulness— you have saved me.

6 I hate those who embrace what is completely worthless. I myself trust the LORD.

7 I rejoice and celebrate in your faithful love because you saw my suffering— you were intimately acquainted with my deep distress.

8 You didn't hand me over to the enemy, but set my feet in wide-open spaces.

9 Have mercy on me, LORD, because I'm depressed. My vision fails because of my grief, as do my spirit and my body.

10 My life is consumed with sadness; my years are consumed with groaning. Strength fails me because of my suffering; my bones dry up.

11 I'm a joke to all my enemies, still worse to my neighbors. I scare my friends, and whoever sees me in the street runs away!

12 I am forgotten, like I'm dead, completely out of mind; I am like a piece of pottery, destroyed.

13 Yes, I've heard all the gossiping, terror all around; so many gang up together against me, they plan to take my life!

14 But me? I trust you, LORD! I affirm, "You are my God."

15 My future is in your hands. Don't hand me over to my enemies, to all who are out to get me!

16 Shine your face on your servant; save me by your faithful love!

17 LORD, don't let me be put to shame because I have cried out to you. Let the wicked be put to shame; let them be silenced in death's domain!

18 Let their lying lips be shut up whenever they speak arrogantly against the righteous with pride and contempt!

19 How great is the goodness that you've reserved for those who honor you, that you commit to those who take refuge in you— in the sight of everyone!

20 You hide them in the shelter of your wings, safe from human scheming. You conceal them in a shelter, safe from accusing tongues.

21 Bless the LORD, because he has wondrously revealed his faithful love to me when I was like a city under siege!

22 When I was panicked, I said, "I'm cut off from your eyes!" But you heard my request for mercy when I cried out to you for help.

23 All you who are faithful, love the LORD! The LORD protects those who are loyal, but he pays the proud back to the fullest degree.

24 All you who wait for the LORD, be strong and let your heart take courage.

1 The one whose wrongdoing is forgiven, whose sin is covered over, is truly happy!

2 The one the LORD doesn't consider guilty— in whose spirit there is no dishonesty— that one is truly happy!

3 When I kept quiet, my bones wore out; I was groaning all day long— every day, every night!—

4 because your hand was heavy upon me. My energy was sapped as if in a summer drought. Selah

5 So I admitted my sin to you; I didn't conceal my guilt. "I'll confess my sins to the LORD, " is what I said. Then you removed the guilt of my sin. Selah

6 That's why all the faithful should pray to you during troubled times, so that a great flood of water won't reach them.

7 You are my secret hideout! You protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of rescue! Selah

8 I will instruct you and teach you about the direction you should go. I'll advise you and keep my eye on you.

9 Don't be like some senseless horse or mule, whose movement must be controlled with a bit and a bridle. Don't be anything like that!

10 The pain of the wicked is severe, but faithful love surrounds the one who trusts the LORD.

11 You who are righteous, rejoice in the LORD and be glad! All you whose hearts are right, sing out in joy!