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An Old Person’s Prayer

71 In you, Lord, ·is my protection [L I find refuge].
    Never let me be ashamed.
Because you ·do what is right [are righteous], ·save [protect] and rescue me;
    ·listen [L extend your ear] to me and ·save me [give me victory].
Be my ·place of safety [L rock of refuge]
    where I can always come.
Give the command to ·save me [give me victory],
    because you are my rock and my ·strong, walled city [fortress].
My God, ·save [rescue] me from the ·power [L hand] of the wicked
    and from the ·hold [grasp; L palm] of evil and cruel people.
Lord, you are my hope.
    Lord, I have ·trusted [had confidence in] you since I was young.
I have ·depended [L leaned] on you ·since I was born [L from the belly; C the womb];
    you ·helped me even on the day of my birth [brought me forth/cut off my umbilical cord from my mother’s innards].
I will always praise you.

I am an ·example [portent] to many people,
    because you are my strong ·protection [refuge].
·I am always praising you [L My mouth is filled with your praise];
    all day long I ·honor [glorify] you.
Do not ·reject me [cast me off] when I am old;
    do not ·leave [abandon; forsake] me when my strength is ·gone [exhausted].
10 My enemies ·make plans [speak] against me,
    and they ·meet [take counsel] together to kill me.
11 They say, “God has ·left [abandoned; forsaken] him.
    ·Go after [Pursue; Persecute] him and ·take [capture] him,
because no one will ·save [protect] him.”

12 God, don’t be far off.
    My God, hurry to help me.
13 Let those who accuse me
    be ashamed and ·destroyed [annihilated].
Let those who are ·trying [seeking] to hurt me
    be covered with shame and disgrace.
14 But I will always have hope
    and will praise you more and more.
15 ·I will tell how you do what is right [L My mouth will recount your righteousness].
    I will tell about your ·salvation [victory] all day long,
    even though ·it is more than I can tell [L I do not know the number].
16 I will come and tell about your powerful works, Lord God.
    I will remind people ·that only you do what is right [L that you alone are righteous].

17 God, you have taught me since I was young.
    To this day I tell ·about the miracles you do [of your wonderful works].
18 Even though I am old and gray,
    do not ·leave [abandon; forsake] me, God.
I will tell ·the children [L a generation, to all that come] about your ·power [L arm];
    I will tell of your might.

19 God, your ·justice [righteousness] reaches to the ·skies [L high heavens].
    You have done great things;
    God, there is no one like you.
20 You have ·given [L shown] me ·many troubles [much distress] and bad times,
    but you will give me life again.
·When I am almost dead [L From the depths of the earth],
    you ·will keep me alive [L again bring me up].
21 You will make me greater than ever,
    and you will comfort me again.

22 I will ·praise [thank] you with the harp.
    ·I trust you […for your faithfulness], my God.
I will ·sing to [make a psalm for] you with the lyre,
    Holy One of Israel.
23 ·I will [L My lips] shout for joy when I ·sing praises to [make a psalm for] you.
    You have ·saved [redeemed] me.
24 ·I [L My tongue] will tell about your ·justice [righteousness] all day long.
    And those who ·want [seek] to hurt me
will be ·ashamed [scorned and reproached] and disgraced.

Psalm 71(A)

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;(B)
    let me never be put to shame.(C)
In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
    turn your ear(D) to me and save me.
Be my rock of refuge,
    to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.(E)
Deliver(F) me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,(G)
    from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.(H)

For you have been my hope,(I) Sovereign Lord,
    my confidence(J) since my youth.
From birth(K) I have relied on you;
    you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.(L)
    I will ever praise(M) you.
I have become a sign(N) to many;
    you are my strong refuge.(O)
My mouth(P) is filled with your praise,
    declaring your splendor(Q) all day long.

Do not cast(R) me away when I am old;(S)
    do not forsake(T) me when my strength is gone.
10 For my enemies(U) speak against me;
    those who wait to kill(V) me conspire(W) together.
11 They say, “God has forsaken(X) him;
    pursue him and seize him,
    for no one will rescue(Y) him.”
12 Do not be far(Z) from me, my God;
    come quickly, God, to help(AA) me.
13 May my accusers(AB) perish in shame;(AC)
    may those who want to harm me
    be covered with scorn and disgrace.(AD)

14 As for me, I will always have hope;(AE)
    I will praise you more and more.

15 My mouth will tell(AF) of your righteous deeds,(AG)
    of your saving acts all day long—
    though I know not how to relate them all.
16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts,(AH) Sovereign Lord;
    I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
17 Since my youth, God, you have taught(AI) me,
    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.(AJ)
18 Even when I am old and gray,(AK)
    do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power(AL) to the next generation,
    your mighty acts to all who are to come.(AM)

19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,(AN)
    you who have done great things.(AO)
    Who is like you, God?(AP)
20 Though you have made me see troubles,(AQ)
    many and bitter,
    you will restore(AR) my life again;
from the depths of the earth(AS)
    you will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honor(AT)
    and comfort(AU) me once more.

22 I will praise you with the harp(AV)
    for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,(AW)
    Holy One of Israel.(AX)
23 My lips will shout for joy(AY)
    when I sing praise to you—
    I whom you have delivered.(AZ)
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
    all day long,(BA)
for those who wanted to harm me(BB)
    have been put to shame and confusion.(BC)