The Lord a Fortress in Adversity
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
1 InYou, OLord, I put my trust;
Let me never be ashamed;
Deliver me in Your righteousness.
2 Bow down Your ear to me,
Deliver me speedily;
Be my rock of refuge,
A fortress of defense to save me.
3 For Youaremy rock and my fortress;
# Therefore,for Your name’s sake,
Lead me and guide me.
4 Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me,
For Youaremy strength.
5 Into Your hand I commit my spirit;
# You have redeemed me, OLordGod oftruth.
6 I have hated thosewho regard useless idols;
But I trust in theLord.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy,
For You have considered my trouble;
# You haveknown my soul in adversities,
8 And have notshut me up into the hand of the enemy;
# You have set my feet in a wide place.
9 Have mercy on me, OLord, for I am in trouble;
# My eye wastes away with grief,
Yes,my soul and my body!
10 For my life is spent with grief,
And my years with sighing;
My strength fails because of my iniquity,
And my bones waste away.
11 I am a reproach among all my enemies,
# Butespecially among my neighbors,
Andamrepulsive to my acquaintances;
# Those who see me outside flee from me.
12 I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind;
I am like a broken vessel.
13 For I hear the slander of many;
# Fearison every side;
# While theytake counsel together against me,
They scheme to take away my life.
14 But as for me, I trust in You, OLord;
I say, “Youaremy God.”
15 My timesarein Yourhand;
Deliver me from the hand of my enemies,
And from those who persecute me.
16 Make Your face shine upon Your servant;
Save me for Your mercies’ sake.
17 Do not let me be ashamed, OLord, for I have called upon You;
Let the wicked be ashamed;
# Let them be silent in the grave.
18 Let the lying lips be put to silence,
# Whichspeak insolent things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
19 Oh, how greatisYour goodness,
Which You have laid up for those who fear You,
WhichYou have prepared for those who trust in You
In the presence of the sons of men!
20 You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence
From the plots of man;
# You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion
From the strife of tongues.
21 BlessedbetheLord,
# ForHe has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city!
22 For I said in my haste,
“I am cut off from before Your eyes”;
Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications
When I cried out to You.
23 Oh, love theLord, all you His saints!
FortheLordpreserves the faithful,
And fully repays the proud person.
24 Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in theLord.