Psalm 71
God’s Help in Old Age
1 LORD, I seek refuge in you;
let me never be disgraced. j
2 In your justice, rescue and deliver me;
listen closely to me and save me. k
where I can always go.
Give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and fortress. l
4 Deliver me, my God, from the power of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and oppressive. m
5 For you are my hope, Lord GOD,
my confidence from my youth. n
6 I have leaned on you from birth;
you took me from my mother’s womb. o
My praise is always about you. p
7 I am like a miraculous sign to many,
and you are my strong refuge. q
and honor to you all day long. r
9 Don’t discard me in my old age.
As my strength fails, do not abandon me. s
10 For my enemies talk about me,
and those who spy on me plot together, t
11 saying, “God has abandoned him;
chase him and catch him,
for there is no one to rescue him.” u
12 God, do not be far from me;
my God, hurry to help me. v
13 May my adversaries be disgraced and destroyed;
may those who intend to harm me
be covered with disgrace and humiliation. w
14 But I will hope continually
and will praise you more and more. x
15 My mouth will tell about your righteousness
and your salvation all day long,
though I cannot sum them up. y
16 I come because of the mighty acts of the Lord GOD;
I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. z
17 God, you have taught me from my youth,
and I still proclaim your wondrous works. a
18 Even while I am old and gray,
God, do not abandon me, b
while I proclaim your power
to another generation,
your strength to all who are to come. c
19 Your righteousness reaches the heights, God,
you who have done great things;
God, who is like you? d
20 You caused me to experience
many troubles and misfortunes, e
but you will revive me again. f
You will bring me up again,
even from the depths of the earth. g
and comfort me once again. h
22 Therefore, I will praise you with a harp
for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing to you with a lyre,
Holy One of Israel. i
when I sing praise to you
because you have redeemed me. j
24 Therefore, my tongue will proclaim
your righteousness all day long,
for those who intend to harm me
will be disgraced and confounded. k