Psalm 71
^1O Lord, my hope and confidence
is plac'd in thee alone;
Then let thy servant never be
put to confusion.
^2And let me, in thy righteousness,
from thee deliv'rance have;
Cause me escape, incline thine ear
unto me, and me save.
^3Be thou my dwelling-rock, to which
I ever may resort:
Thou gav'st commandment me to save,
for thou'rt my rock and fort.
^4Free me, my God, from wicked hands,
hands cruel and unjust:
^5For thou, O Lord God, art my hope,
and from my youth my trust.
^6Thou from the womb didst hold me up;
thou art the same that me
Out of my mother's bowels took;
I ever will praise thee.
^7To many I a wonder am;
but thou'rt my refuge strong.
^8Fill'd let my mouth be with thy praise
and honour all day long.
^9O do not cast me off, when as
old age doth overtake me;
And when my strength decayed is,
then do not thou forsake me.
^10For those that are mine enemies
against me speak with hate;
And they together counsel take
that for my soul lay wait.
^11They said, God leaves him; him pursue
and take: none will him save.
^12Be thou not far from me, my God:
thy speedy help I crave.
^13Confound, consume them, that unto
my soul are enemies:
Cloth'd be they with reproach and shame
that do my hurt devise.
^14But I with expectation
will hope continually;
And yet with praises more and more
I will thee magnify.
^15Thy justice and salvation
my mouth abroad shall show,
Ev'n all the day; for I thereof
the numbers do not know.
^16And I will constantly go on
in strength of God the Lord;
And thine own righteousness, ev'n thine
alone, I will record.
^17For even from my youth, O God,
by thee I have been taught;
And hitherto I have declar'd
the wonders thou hast wrought.
^18And now, Lord, leave me not, when I
old and gray-headed grow:
Till to this age thy strength and pow'r
to all to come I show.
^19And thy most perfect righteousness
O Lord, is very high,
Who hast so great things done: O God,
who is like unto thee?
^20Thou, Lord, who great adversities,
and sore, to me didst show,
Shalt quicken, and bring me again
from depths of earth below.
^21My greatness and my pow'r thou wilt
increase, and far extend:
On ev'ry side against all grief
thou wilt me comfort send.
^22Thee, ev'n thy truth, I'll also praise,
my God, with psaltery:
Thou Holy One of Israel,
with harp I'll sing to thee.
^23My lips shall much rejoice in thee,
when I thy praises sound;
My soul, which thou redeemed hast,
in joy shall much abound.
^24My tongue thy justice shall proclaim,
continuing all day long;
For they confounded are, and sham'd,
that seek to do me wrong.