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A Prayer for Deliverance

71 In you, Lord, I take refuge;
    let me never be humiliated.
Rescue and deliver me,[a] because you are righteous.
    Turn your ear to me and save me.
Be my sheltering refuge where I may go continuously;
    command my deliverance
        for you are my rock and fortress.

My God, deliver me from the power of the wicked
    and the grasp of ruthless practicers of evil.
For you are my hope, Lord God,
    my security since I was young.
I depended on you since birth,[b]
    when you brought me[c] from my mother’s womb;
        I praise you continuously.

I have become an example to many
    that you are my strong refuge.
My mouth is filled with your praise
    and your splendor daily.
Don’t throw me away when I am old;
    do not abandon me when my strength fails.

10 For my enemies talk against me;
    those who seek to kill me plot together
11 and say, “God has abandoned him.
    Run after him and seize him,
        because there’s no deliverer.”

12 God, do not be distant from me.
    My God, come quickly to help me.
13 Let my adversaries be ashamed and consumed;[d]
    let those who seek my destruction
        be covered with scorn and disgrace.
14 As for me, I will hope continuously
    and will praise you more and more.
15 I[e] will declare your righteousness
    and your salvation every day,
though I do not fully understand
    what the outcome will be.[f]
16 Lord God, I will come in the power of[g] your mighty acts,
    remembering your righteousness—yours alone.

17 God, you taught me from my youth,
    so I am still declaring your awesome deeds.

18 Also, when I reach old age and have gray hair,
    God, do not forsake me,
until I have declared your power
    to this generation
        and your might to the next one.
19 Your many righteous deeds,[h] God, are great,

20 God, who can compare to you,
who caused me to experience[i] troubles
that were numerous and disastrous?
You will return to revive me
    and lift me up from the depths of the earth.
21 You will increase my honor
    and comfort me once again.
22 I also will praise you with the harp;
    because of your faithfulness, my God,
I will praise you with the lyre—
    Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you,
    whose life you have redeemed.
24 Moreover, my tongue will speak all day about your justice;
    for those who seek my destruction will be utterly humiliated.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 71:2 So LXX DSS 4QPsa; MT reads In your righteousness you are delivering me and rescuing me
  2. Psalm 71:6 Lit. you from the womb
  3. Psalm 71:6 So MT; LXX reads birth, it was you who sheltered me; DSS 4QPsa reads birth, you are my protector
  4. Psalm 71:13 So MT; LXX reads and let them expire; DSS 4QPsa reads and let them be consumed
  5. Psalm 71:15 Lit. My mouth
  6. Psalm 71:15 Lit. understand the sum
  7. Psalm 71:16 The Heb. lacks the power of
  8. Psalm 71:19 Lit. righteous deeds as far as the height
  9. Psalm 71:20 Lit. see

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)