Psalms 71

Do not cast me off in old age

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.a ²In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me.b ³Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.c

⁴Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel. ⁵For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.d ⁶From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you.e

⁷I have become a sign to many; you are my strong refuge.f ⁸My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.g ⁹Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.h

¹⁰For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill me conspire together. ¹¹They say, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue him.” ¹²Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me.

¹³May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace. ¹⁴As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. ¹⁵My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long— though I know not how to relate them all.i

¹⁶I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. ¹⁷Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. ¹⁸Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.j

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

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