Psalms 31

¹To David himself, understanding. Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

²Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

³Because I was silent my bones grew old; whilst I cried out all the day long.

⁴For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: I am turned in my anguish, whilst the thorn is fastened.

⁵I have acknowledged my sin to thee, and my injustice I have not concealed. I said I will confess against my self my injustice to the Lord: and thou hast forgiven the wickedness of my sin.

⁶For this shall every one that is holy pray to thee in a seasonable time. And yet in a flood of many waters, they shall not come nigh unto him.

⁷Thou art my refuge from the trouble which hath encompassed me: my joy, deliver me from them that surround me.

⁸I will give thee understanding, and I will instruct thee in this way, in which thou shalt go: I will fix my eyes upon thee.

⁹Do not become like the horse and the mule, who have no understanding. With bit and bridle bind fast their jaws, who come not near unto thee.

¹⁰Many are the scourges of the sinner, but mercy shall encompass him that hopeth in the Lord.

¹¹Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye just, and glory, all ye right of heart.

Psalms 31

¹In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.

²Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.

³For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.

⁴Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.

⁵Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.

⁶I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the Lord.

⁷I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;

⁸And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.

⁹Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.

¹⁰For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.

¹¹I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.

¹²I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.

¹³For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

¹⁴But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God.

¹⁵My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

¹⁶Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake.

¹⁷Let me not be ashamed, O Lord; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.

¹⁸Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

¹⁹Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

²⁰Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

²¹Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.

²²For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

²³O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

²⁴Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.