Psalms 71
71
1-3I run for dear life to God,
I’ll never live to regret it.
Do what you do so well:
get me out of this mess and up on my feet.
Put your ear to the ground and listen,
give me space for salvation.
Be a guest room where I can retreat;
you said your door was always open!
You’re my salvation—my vast, granite fortress.
4-7My God, free me from the grip of Wicked,
from the clutch of Bad and Bully.
You keep me going when times are tough—
my bedrock, God, since my childhood.
I’ve hung on you from the day of my birth,
the day you took me from the cradle;
I’ll never run out of praise.
Many gasp in alarm when they see me,
but you take me in stride.
8-11Just as each day brims with your beauty,
my mouth brims with praise.
But don’t turn me out to pasture when I’m old
or put me on the shelf when I can’t pull my weight.
My enemies are talking behind my back,
watching for their chance to knife me.
The gossip is: “God has abandoned him.
Pounce on him now; no one will help him.”
12-16God, don’t just watch from the sidelines.
Come on! Run to my side!
My accusers—make them lose face.
Those out to get me—make them look
Like idiots, while I stretch out, reaching for you,
and daily add praise to praise.
I’ll write the book on your righteousness,
talk up your salvation all the day long,
never run out of good things to write or say.
I come in the power of the Lord God,
I post signs marking his right-of-way.
17-24You got me when I was an unformed youth,
God, and taught me everything I know.
Now I’m telling the world your wonders;
I’ll keep at it until I’m old and gray.
God, don’t walk off and leave me
until I get out the news
Of your strong right arm to this world,
news of your power to the world yet to come,
Your famous and righteous
ways, O God.
God, you’ve done it all!
Who is quite like you?
You, who made me stare trouble in the face,
Turn me around;
Now let me look life in the face.
I’ve been to the bottom;
Bring me up, streaming with honors;
turn to me, be tender to me,
And I’ll take up the lute and thank you
to the tune of your faithfulness, God.
I’ll make music for you on a harp,
Holy One of Israel.
When I open up in song to you,
I let out lungsful of praise,
my rescued life a song.
All day long I’m chanting
about you and your righteous ways,
While those who tried to do me in
slink off looking ashamed.
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Psalms 71: MSG
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.
Psalms 71
71
An Old Person’s Prayer
1In you, Lord, is my protection.
Never let me be ashamed.
2Because you do what is right, save and rescue me;
listen to me and save me.
3Be my place of safety
where I can always come.
Give the command to save me,
because you are my rock and my strong, walled city.
4My God, save me from the power of the wicked
and from the hold of evil and cruel people.
5Lord, you are my hope.
Lord, I have trusted you since I was young.
6I have depended on you since I was born;
you helped me even on the day of my birth.
I will always praise you.
7I am an example to many people,
because you are my strong protection.
8I am always praising you;
all day long I honor you.
9Do not reject me when I am old;
do not leave me when my strength is gone.
10My enemies make plans against me,
and they meet together to kill me.
11They say, “God has left him.
Go after him and take him,
because no one will save him.”
12God, don’t be far off.
My God, hurry to help me.
13Let those who accuse me
be ashamed and destroyed.
Let those who are trying to hurt me
be covered with shame and disgrace.
14But I will always have hope
and will praise you more and more.
15I will tell how you do what is right.
I will tell about your salvation all day long,
even though it is more than I can tell.
16I will come and tell about your powerful works, Lord God.
I will remind people that only you do what is right.
17God, you have taught me since I was young.
To this day I tell about the miracles you do.
18Even though I am old and gray,
do not leave me, God.
I will tell the children about your power;
I will tell those who live after me about your might.
19God, your justice reaches to the skies.
You have done great things;
God, there is no one like you.
20You have given me many troubles and bad times,
but you will give me life again.
When I am almost dead,
you will keep me alive.
21You will make me greater than ever,
and you will comfort me again.
22I will praise you with the harp.
I trust you, my God.
I will sing to you with the lyre,
Holy One of Israel.
23I will shout for joy when I sing praises to you.
You have saved me.
24I will tell about your justice all day long.
And those who want to hurt me
will be ashamed and disgraced.
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.