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The Holy Bible
The Book of Psalms
Psalm 71

  

The Prayer of an Ageing Man

1IN You, O Lord, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.

2 Rescue me and deliver me in Your righteousness;
incline Your ear to me and save me. 3 Be my rock of refuge,
where I may always go. Give the command to save me,
for You are my rock and my fortress. 4 Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of unjust and cruel men.   5 For You are my hope, O Lord God;
my confidence since my youth. 6 I have leaned upon You from birth;
You took me from my mother’s womb. I will always praise You. 7 I have become like a portent to many,
but You are my strong refuge. 8 My mouth is filled with Your praise,
and with Your honour all day long.   9 Do not cast me off when I am old;
do not forsake me when my strength fails. 10 For my enemies speak against me;
those who wait to take my life conspire together. 11 They say, “God has forsaken him;
pursue and seize him, for there is no one to deliver him.” 12 O God, be not far from me;
O my God, make haste to help me! 13 May my adversaries be disgraced and confounded;
let those who seek my harm be covered with disgrace and dishonour.   14 But I will hope continually;
I will praise You yet more and more. 15 My mouth will tell of Your righteousness,
and of Your salvation all day long, though I do not know the end of its measure. 16 I will go in the strength of the Lord God;
I will proclaim Your righteousness, Yours alone. 17 O God, You have taught me from my youth;
to this day I declare Your wondrous deeds. 18 Even when I am old and gray,
O God, do not forsake me, until I have proclaimed Your power
to all generations; Your strength to all who are to come.   19 Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens,
You have done great things. O God, who is like You? 20 Though You have shown me many troubles and misfortunes,
yet You will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth
You will bring up again. 21 You will increase my honour,
and comfort me once again.   22 Therefore, I will praise You with the harp
for Your faithfulness, O Holy One of Israel. I will sing praises to You with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel. 23 My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to You, for You have redeemed me. 24 My tongue will talk of Your righteousness
all the day long; for those who sought to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion.