THE *BOOK OF
PSALMS.
Psalm 31 ©
David prays to God very fervently for preservation, according to his confidence which he puts only in Him; that he may have cause to rejoice, instead of his present bitter suffering by friends and enemies in words and deeds; and feeling the fruit of his prayer, he magnifies the provident care and tenderness of God to all the faithful, and especially to himself.
To the chief 1Musician, A Psalm of David.
IN thee, O LORD, doa I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy 2righteousness.
Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my 3strong rock, for an 4house of defence to save me.
For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake 5lead me, and guide me.
Pull me out of the net that they have 6laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
Intob thine hand I commit my 7spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of 8truth.
I have hated them that regard 9lying vanities:c but I trust in the LORD.
I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast 10considered my trouble; thou hast 11known my soul in adversities;
And hast not 12shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.d
Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed 13with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.
For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength 14faileth because of mine 15iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but 16especiallye among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without 17fled from me.
I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a 18broken vessel.
For I have heard the 19slander 20of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they 21devised to take away my 22life.
But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.
My 23times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
Make thy 24face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.
Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the 25grave.
Let the 26lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
Ohf how 27great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee 28before the sons of men!
Thou shalt hide them in the secret 29of thy presence from the 30pride 31of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the 32strife of tongues.
33Blessed be the LORD: for he hath 34shewed me his marvellous kindness in a 35strong city.
For I 36said in my 37haste, I am 38cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
O love the LORD, all ye his 39saints: for the LORD preserveth the 40faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
41Beg of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.