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A song for old age

71 Lord, I have come to you to keep me safe.
    Never let me become ashamed.
You always do what is right,
    so please rescue me!
Listen to me, and come to save me!
Be a rock where I can hide.
    Be a strong place where I can be safe.
You are my high rock and my strong, safe place.
My God, save me from the power of wicked people,
    so that those cruel people cannot catch me.
My Lord, I trust you to help me.
I have trusted in you, Lord,
    since I was young.
Since I was born,
    you have been there to help me.
You have taken care of me
    since my mother gave birth to me.
So I will always praise you!
When people see me,
    they see trouble!
But you are a strong place to keep me safe.
I can never stop praising you!
All the time, I speak about your glory!
Do not chase me away when I am old.
When I am no longer strong,
    do not turn away from me.[a]
10 For my enemies say things against me.
    They think of ways that they can kill me.
11 They say, ‘God has turned away from him.
Run after him and catch him,
    for nobody will rescue him.’
12 God, do not stay far away from me.
    My God, come quickly to help me!
13 Make my enemies become completely ashamed.
They speak against me and they want to hurt me.
    So let them fall with great shame!
14 But as for me, I will always wait for you to help me.
    I will continue to praise you more and more.
15 I will tell people that you always do what is right.
I will always speak about your power to save people.
But you have done more than I will ever know about!
16 I will tell about the great things that you have done,
    Almighty Lord.
I will tell everyone that you are righteous.
    You, only you, are righteous.
17 God, you have taught me since I was young.
I still tell people about the great things that you have done.
18 And even when I am old and my hair is grey,
    do not turn away from me, God.
I need to tell the people still to be born
    about your great strength.
My descendants need to know about your power.
19 Your justice reaches beyond the sky above!
You have done such great things, God.
    There is nobody like you!
20 You have caused me to have many bad troubles.
    But you will make my life strong again.
You will lift me back out
    from this deep hole under the earth.[b]
21 You will make me great again,
    so that people respect me.
You will turn back to me,
    so that I feel strong.
22 I will pick up my harp
    and I will sing to thank you.
I will praise you, my God,
    because you do what you promise.
I will sing to praise you, the Holy One of Israel,
    with the music of a lyre.[c]
23 I will shout aloud with joy,
    as I praise you with music!
I will sing songs to praise you,
    because you have rescued me.
24 I will talk about your justice all the time.
The people who want to hurt me
    will become confused and ashamed.

Footnotes

  1. 71:9 When the writer is old, he wants God to continue to be with him.
  2. 71:20 This means that the writer thought that he was near to death.
  3. 71:22 The ‘Holy One of Israel’ is a name for God. He is the God that the Israelites worshipped.

Psalm 71(A)

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;(B)
    let me never be put to shame.(C)
In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
    turn your ear(D) to me and save me.
Be my rock of refuge,
    to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.(E)
Deliver(F) me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,(G)
    from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.(H)

For you have been my hope,(I) Sovereign Lord,
    my confidence(J) since my youth.
From birth(K) I have relied on you;
    you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.(L)
    I will ever praise(M) you.
I have become a sign(N) to many;
    you are my strong refuge.(O)
My mouth(P) is filled with your praise,
    declaring your splendor(Q) all day long.

Do not cast(R) me away when I am old;(S)
    do not forsake(T) me when my strength is gone.
10 For my enemies(U) speak against me;
    those who wait to kill(V) me conspire(W) together.
11 They say, “God has forsaken(X) him;
    pursue him and seize him,
    for no one will rescue(Y) him.”
12 Do not be far(Z) from me, my God;
    come quickly, God, to help(AA) me.
13 May my accusers(AB) perish in shame;(AC)
    may those who want to harm me
    be covered with scorn and disgrace.(AD)

14 As for me, I will always have hope;(AE)
    I will praise you more and more.

15 My mouth will tell(AF) of your righteous deeds,(AG)
    of your saving acts all day long—
    though I know not how to relate them all.
16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts,(AH) Sovereign Lord;
    I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
17 Since my youth, God, you have taught(AI) me,
    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.(AJ)
18 Even when I am old and gray,(AK)
    do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power(AL) to the next generation,
    your mighty acts to all who are to come.(AM)

19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,(AN)
    you who have done great things.(AO)
    Who is like you, God?(AP)
20 Though you have made me see troubles,(AQ)
    many and bitter,
    you will restore(AR) my life again;
from the depths of the earth(AS)
    you will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honor(AT)
    and comfort(AU) me once more.

22 I will praise you with the harp(AV)
    for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,(AW)
    Holy One of Israel.(AX)
23 My lips will shout for joy(AY)
    when I sing praise to you—
    I whom you have delivered.(AZ)
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
    all day long,(BA)
for those who wanted to harm me(BB)
    have been put to shame and confusion.(BC)