PSALM 71

GOD’S HELP IN OLD AGE 

1  Lord, I seek refuge in you; let me never be disgraced. 

2  In your justice, rescue and deliver me; listen closely to me and save me. 

3  Be a rock of refuge for me, where I can always go. Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and fortress. 

4  Deliver me, my God, from the power of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and oppressive. 

5  For you are my hope, Lord God, my confidence from my youth. 

6  I have leaned on you from birth; you took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is always about you. 

7  I am like a miraculous sign to many, and you are my strong refuge. 

8  My mouth is full of praise and honor to you all day long. 

9  Don’t discard me in my old age. As my strength fails, do not abandon me. 

10  For my enemies talk about me, and those who spy on me plot together, 

11  saying, “God has abandoned him; chase him and catch him, for there is no one to rescue him.” 

12  God, do not be far from me; my God, hurry to help me. 

13  May my adversaries be disgraced and destroyed; may those who intend to harm me be covered with disgrace and humiliation. 

14  But I will hope continually and will praise you more and more. 

15  My mouth will tell about your righteousness and your salvation all day long, though I cannot sum them up. 

16  I come because of the mighty acts of the Lord God; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. 

17  God, you have taught me from my youth, and I still proclaim your wondrous works. 

18  Even while I am old and gray, God, do not abandon me, while I proclaim your power to another generation, your strength to all who are to come. 

19  Your righteousness reaches the heights, God, you who have done great things; God, who is like you? 

20 You caused me to experience many troubles and misfortunes, but you will revive me again. You will bring me up again, even from the depths of the earth. 

21  You will increase my honor and comfort me once again. 

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. 

23 My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you because you have redeemed me. 

24 Therefore, my tongue will proclaim your righteousness all day long, for those who intend to harm me will be disgraced and confounded.