Verse

Psalm chapter 31

English Standard Version

1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! 2Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! 3For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name 's sake you lead me and guide me; 4you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. 5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. 6I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord. 7I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, 8and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place. 9Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. 10For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away. 11Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. 12I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. 13For I hear the whispering of many — terror on every side! — as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. 14But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God." 15My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! 16 Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love! 17O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol. 18Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt. 19Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! 20In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues. 21Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city. 22I had said in my alarm, "I am cut off from your sight." But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help. 23Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. 24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!
New International Version

New American Standard Bible

1In You, Lord, I have taken refuge; Let me never be put to shame; In Your righteousness rescue me. 2Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; Be a rock of strength for me, A stronghold to save me. 3For You are my rock and my fortress; For the sake of Your name You will lead me and guide me. 4You will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength. 5Into Your hand I entrust my spirit; You have redeemed me, Lord, God of truth. 6I hate those who devote themselves to worthless idols, But I trust in the Lord. 7I will rejoice and be glad in Your faithfulness, Because You have seen my misery; You have known the troubles of my soul, 8And You have not handed me over to the enemy; You have set my feet in a large place. 9Be gracious to me, Lord, for I am in distress; My eye is wasted away from grief, my soul and my body too. 10For my life is spent with sorrow And my years with sighing; My strength has failed because of my guilt, And my body has wasted away. 11Because of all my adversaries, I have become a disgrace, Especially to my neighbors, And an object of dread to my acquaintances; Those who see me in the street flee from me. 12I am forgotten like a dead person, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel. 13For I have heard the slander of many, Terror is on every side; While they took counsel together against me, They schemed to take away my life. 14But as for me, I trust in You, Lord, I say, 'You are my God.' 15My times are in Your hand; Rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me. 16Make Your face shine upon Your servant; Save me in Your faithfulness. 17Let me not be put to shame, Lord, for I call upon You; Let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol. 18Let the lying lips be speechless, Which speak arrogantly against the righteous With pride and contempt. 19How great is Your goodness, Which You have stored up for those who fear You, Which You have performed for those who take refuge in You, Before the sons of mankind! 20You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of mankind; You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues. 21Blessed be the Lord, For He has shown His marvelous faithfulness to me in a besieged city. 22As for me, I said in my alarm, 'I am cut off from Your eyes'; Nevertheless You heard the sound of my pleadings When I called to You for help. 23Love the Lord, all His godly ones! The Lord watches over the faithful But fully repays the one who acts arrogantly. 24Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who wait for the Lord.
Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

King James Version

New King James Version

1{To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.} In You, O Lord, 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 You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name’s sake, Lead me and guide me. 4Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength. 5 Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. 6I have hated those who regard useless idols; But I trust in the Lord. 7I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, For You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, 8And have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide place. 9Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; My eye wastes away with grief, Yes, my soul and my body! 10For 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, But especially among my neighbors, And am repulsive 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; Fear is on every side; While they take counsel together against me, They scheme to take away my life. 14But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15My times are in Your hand; 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, O Lord, 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, Which speak insolent things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. 19 Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You 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. 21Blessed be the Lord, For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city! 22For 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. 23Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person. 24 Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord.

What does Psalm chapter 31 mean?

David begins this psalm with a prayer for deliverance from his enemies and for guidance. He trusts in the Lord for stability, security, and protection. Everything, including David's life, is placed in God's care (Psalm 31:1–5).

Next, David praises God for the times when he experienced divine rescue. David shuns those who worship false gods, pointing to how the One True God answered his prayers. Because of that history, David is confident that God has placed him in a position of safety and stability (Psalm 31:6–8).

Even so, David still experiences hardships. His enemies plot and lie about him. Friends and neighbors turn their backs on him. As it would for anyone, this pushes David to exhaustion and tempts him to despair. Nevertheless, he trusts in the Lord and believes his entire life is controlled and guided by God's hand (Psalm 31:9–15).

In ancient figures of speech, a shining face represented happiness and approval. Hebrew thinking also used "light" as a symbol for truth and goodness. So, when David asks God to "shine His face," he is asking for divine approval and blessing. This echoes the words God gave to Aaron to use when blessing Israel (Numbers 6:22–27). David prays that his scheming enemies be the ones to suffer loss and death (Psalm 31:16–18).

The psalm closes with expressions of amazement. God serves as a refuge of goodness for those who trust in Him. Those who follow the Lord will ultimately be rescued from all evil, including plots and accusations. Although David's natural fears made him feel alienated from the Lord, he testifies that the Lord heard his prayer. He concludes with an appeal to the Lord's people, knowing the Lord avenges the wicked. He encourages all who trust God to be purposeful, brave, and constant in their faith (Psalm 31:19–24).
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