Psalms 31

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

1LORD, I hide in you and feel safe. Do not let me be put to shame. You always do what is right, so save me.

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

2Please listen to me. Come quickly and help me. Be my safe rock and my strong walls.

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

3You are my rock and my strong tower. Lead me and show me the way, because you are who you are.

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

4People set a trap for me, like a hidden net. Pull me out of it, because you keep me safe.

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

5I place my life in your hands. You have bought me back and made me free. LORD, you are the God who always tells the truth.

Note"I commit my spirit" means "I put my whole life in your care." "Redeemed" means to pay a price to set someone free, the way a person buys back something that was taken.

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

6I hate it when people trust in fake gods that cannot help. 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;

7I will be happy and sing, because you love me and never stop. You saw my hurt. You knew how sad I felt inside.

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

8You did not hand me over to my enemy. You put my feet in a wide open place.

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

9Be kind to me, LORD, because I am in trouble. My eyes are worn out from crying. My whole body and heart are tired.

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

10My life is filled with sadness. My years are full of crying. The wrong things I did have taken away my strength. Even my bones feel weak.

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.

11All my enemies laugh at me. My neighbors laugh even more. My friends are scared of me. When they see me on the street, they run away.

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

12People forget me like a person who has died. I feel like a broken pot no one wants.

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.

13I hear many people saying untrue things about me. I am scared no matter where I look. They talk together and plan to kill me.

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

14But I trust in you, LORD. I say, "You are my God."

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

15Everything that happens to me is in your hands. Save me from my enemies. Save me from those who chase me.

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

16Smile on me, your servant. Save me because you love me so much.

Note"Make your face shine on me" is an old way of saying "be kind to me and smile at me."

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.

17LORD, do not let me be put to shame, because I called out to you. Let bad people be ashamed instead. Let them lie quiet in the place of the dead.

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

18Make lying mouths stop talking. They speak in a proud, mean way about good people.

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!

19Your goodness is so great! You keep it saved up for those who honor you. You give it to those who hide in you, and everyone can see it.

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.

20You hide them close beside you, safe from people who plan to hurt them. You keep them in your shelter, away from mean words.

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

21Thank the LORD! He showed me amazing love when my city was surrounded by enemies.

NoteThe KJV says God helped him "in a strong city." This means a city with enemy armies all around it, waiting outside the walls.

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.

22I was scared, and I said, "God cannot see me anymore!" But you heard me beg for help when I called to you.

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

23Love the LORD, all you who belong to him. The LORD keeps safe those who stay true to him. But he pays back people who act proud.

NoteThe KJV says God "plentifully rewardeth the proud doer." Here "reward" means to pay someone back fully for the wrong they did, not to give them a prize.

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

24Be strong and brave. God will make your heart strong. This is for all of you who hope in the LORD.