To the choirmaster. Of David, for the memorial offering.
[71:1] In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame!
[71:2] In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me, and save me!
[71:3] Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
[71:4] Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
[71:5] For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
[71:6] Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you.
[71:7] I have been as a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.
[71:8] My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.
[71:9] Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.
[71:10] For my enemies speak concerning me; those who watch for my life consult together
[71:11] and say, “God has forsaken him; pursue and seize him, for there is none to deliver him.”
[71:12] O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!
[71:13] May my accusers be put to shame and consumed; with scorn and disgrace may they be covered who seek my hurt.
[71:14] But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.
[71:15] My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge.
[71:16] With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.
[71:17] O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
[71:18] So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.
[71:19] Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?
[71:20] You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again.
[71:21] You will increase my greatness and comfort me again.
[71:22] I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.
[71:23] My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.
[71:24] And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long, for they have been put to shame and disappointed who sought to do me hurt.