Psalm 71

God’s Help in Old Age

<1>Lord, I seek refuge in you;

let me never be disgraced.a

2In your justice, rescue and deliver me;

listen closely to me and save me.a

3Be a rock of refuge for me,

where I can always go.

Give the command to save me,

for you are my rock and fortress.a

4Deliver me, my God, from the power of the wicked,

from the grasp of the unjust and oppressive.a

5For you are my hope, Lord God,

my confidence from my youth.a

6I have leaned on you from birth;

you took me from my mother’s womb.a

My praise is always about you.b

7I am like a miraculous sign to many,

and you are my strong refuge.a

8My mouth is full of praise

and honor to you all day long.a

9Don’t discard me in my old age.

As my strength fails, do not abandon me.a

10For my enemies talk about me,

and those who spy on me plot together,a

11saying, “God has abandoned him;

chase him and catch him,

for there is no one to rescue him.”a

12God, do not be far from me;

my God, hurry to help me.a

13May my adversaries be disgraced and destroyed;

may those who intend to harm me

be covered with disgrace and humiliation.a

14But I will hope continually

and will praise you more and more.a

15My mouth will tell about your righteousness

and your salvation all day long,

though I cannot sum them up.a

16I come because of the mighty acts of the Lord God;

I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.a

17God, you have taught me from my youth,

and I still proclaim your wondrous works.a

18Even while I am old and gray,

God, do not abandon me,a

while I proclaim your power

to another generation,

your strength to all who are to come.b

19Your righteousness reaches the heights, God,

you who have done great things;

God, who is like you?a

20You caused me to experience

many troubles and misfortunes,a

but you will revive me again.b

You will bring me up again,

even from the depths of the earth.c

21You will increase my honor

and comfort me once again.a

22Therefore, I will praise you with a harp

for your faithfulness, my God;

I will sing to you with a lyre,

Holy One of Israel.a

23My lips will shout for joy

when I sing praise to you

because you have redeemed me.a

24Therefore, my tongue will proclaim

your righteousness all day long,

for those who intend to harm me

will be disgraced and confounded.a