Psalms 71
71
An Old Person's Prayer
1 LORD, I have come to you for protection;
never let me be defeated!
2Because you are righteous, help me and rescue me.
Listen to me and save me!
3Be my secure shelter
and a strong fortress#71.3 One ancient translation a strong fortress; Hebrew to go always you commanded. to protect me;
you are my refuge and defence.
4My God, rescue me from the wicked,
from the power of those who are cruel and evil.
5Sovereign LORD, I put my hope in you;
I have trusted in you since I was young.
6I have relied on you all my life;
you have protected#71.6 Some ancient translations protected; Hebrew unclear. me since the day I was born.
I will always praise you.
7My life has been an example to many,
because you have been my strong defender.
8All day long I praise you
and proclaim your glory.
9Do not reject me now that I am old;
do not abandon me now that I am feeble.
10My enemies want to kill me;
they talk and plot against me.
11They say, “God has abandoned him;
let's go after him and catch him;
there is no one to rescue him.”
12Don't stay so far away, O God;
my God, hurry to my aid!
13May those who attack me
be defeated and destroyed.
May those who try to hurt me
be shamed and disgraced.
14I will always put my hope in you;
I will praise you more and more.
15I will tell of your goodness;
all day long I will speak of your salvation,
though it is more than I can understand.
16I will go in the strength of the LORD God;
I will proclaim your goodness, yours alone.
17You have taught me ever since I was young,
and I still tell of your wonderful acts.
18Now that I am old and my hair is grey,
do not abandon me, O God!
Be with me while I proclaim your power and might
to all generations to come.
19Your righteousness, God, reaches the skies.
You have done great things;
there is no one like you.
20You have sent troubles and suffering on me,
but you will restore my strength;
you will keep me from the grave.
21You will make me greater than ever;
you will comfort me again.
22I will indeed praise you with the harp;
I will praise your faithfulness, my God.
On my harp I will play hymns to you,
the Holy One of Israel.
23I will shout for joy as I play for you;
with my whole being I will sing
because you have saved me.
24I will speak of your righteousness all day long,
because those who tried to harm me
have been defeated and disgraced.
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Psalms 71: GNBDC
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
Psalms 71
71
Prayer in Time of Old Age
I
1In you, Lord, I take refuge;#Ps 31:2–4.
let me never be put to shame.#Ps 25:2.
2In your justice rescue and deliver me;
listen to me and save me!
3Be my rock of refuge,
my stronghold to give me safety;
for you are my rock and fortress.#Ps 18:3.
4My God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked,
from the clutches of the evil and violent.#Ps 140:2.
5You are my hope, Lord;
my trust, God, from my youth.
6On you I have depended since birth;
from my mother’s womb you are my strength;#Ps 22:11.
my hope in you never wavers.
7#A portent to many: the afflictions of the sufferer are taken as a manifestation of God’s anger, cf. Dt 28:46; Ps 31:12.I have become a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge!
8My mouth shall be filled with your praise,
shall sing your glory every day.
II
9Do not cast me aside in my old age;
as my strength fails, do not forsake me.
10For my enemies speak against me;
they watch and plot against me.#Ps 3:2; 22:8.
11They say, “God has abandoned him.
Pursue, and seize him!
No one will come to the rescue!”
12God, be not far from me;
my God, hasten to help me.#Ps 22:20.
13Bring to a shameful end
those who attack me;
Cover with contempt and scorn
those who seek my ruin.#Ps 35:4; 40:15; 70:3.
14I will always hope in you
and add to all your praise.
15My mouth shall proclaim your just deeds,
day after day your acts of deliverance,
though I cannot number them all.#Ps 35:28.
16I will speak of the mighty works of the Lord;
O God, I will tell of your singular justice.
III
17God, you have taught me from my youth;
to this day I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
18Now that I am old and gray,#Is 46:3–4.
do not forsake me, God,
That I may proclaim your might
to all generations yet to come,#Ps 22:31–32; 48:14–15; 145:4.
Your power 19and justice, God,
to the highest heaven.
You have done great things;#Ps 72:18.
O God, who is your equal?#Ps 86:8.
20Whatever bitter afflictions you sent me,
you would turn and revive me.
From the watery depths of the earth
once more raise me up.
21Restore my honor;
turn and comfort me,
22That I may praise you with the lyre
for your faithfulness, my God,
And sing to you with the harp,
O Holy One of Israel!
23My lips will shout for joy as I sing your praise;
my soul, too, which you have redeemed.
24Yes, my tongue shall recount
your justice day by day.
For those who sought my ruin
have been shamed and disgraced.
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