1In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
save me by Your righteousness.
2Incline Your ear to me;
come quickly to my rescue.
Be my rock of refuge,
the stronghold of my deliverance.
3For You are my rock and my fortress;
lead me and guide me for the sake of Your name.
4You free me from the net laid out for me,
for You are my refuge.
5Into Your hands I commit my spirit;
You have redeemed me, O LORD, God of truth.
6I hate those who cling to worthless idols,
but in the LORD I trust.
7I will be glad and rejoice in Your loving devotion,
for You have seen my affliction;
You have known the anguish of my soul.
8You have not delivered me to the enemy;
You have set my feet in the open.
9Be merciful to me, O LORD,
for I am in distress;
my eyes fail from sorrow,
my soul and body as well.
10For my life is consumed with grief
and my years with groaning;
my iniquity has drained my strength,
and my bones are wasting away.
11Among all my enemies I am a disgrace,
and among my neighbors even more.
I am dreaded by my friends—
they flee when they see me on the street.
12I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind.
I am like a broken vessel.
13For I hear the slander of many;
there is terror on every side.
They conspire against me
and plot to take my life.
14But I trust in You, O LORD;
I say, “You are my God.”
15My times are in Your hands;
deliver me from my enemies
and from those who pursue me.
16Make Your face shine on Your servant;
save me by Your loving devotion.
17O LORD, let me not be ashamed,
for I have called on You.
Let the wicked be put to shame;
let them lie silent in Sheol.
18May lying lips be silenced —
lips that speak with arrogance against the righteous,
full of pride and contempt.
19How great is Your goodness
which You have laid up for those who fear You,
which You have bestowed before the sons of men
on those who take refuge in You!
20You hide them in the secret place of Your presence
from the schemes of men.
You conceal them in Your shelter
from accusing tongues.
21Blessed be the LORD,
for He has shown me His loving devotion
in a city under siege.
22In my alarm I said,
“I am cut off from Your sight!”
But You heard my plea for mercy
when I called to You for help.
23Love the LORD, all His saints.
The LORD preserves the faithful,
but fully repays the arrogant.
24Be strong and courageous,
all you who hope in the LORD.
— Psalm 31

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