"In YHWH's Hand"

Purpose: To encourage others to trust YHWH despite dire circumstances.

Content: YHWH, I am in a shameful state, but I trust you to rescue me. Though my enemies try to surround me, I know you protect those who take refuge in you.

Message: Trust YHWH! His people aren't forgotten, but sheltered in him!

Author: David

Videos

Overview Video

Poetic Features Video

Video forthcoming

Exegetical Issues Video

Overview

Translation

Click 'Expand' to the right to see our Close-but-Clear translation of Psalm 31.

1. For the director. A psalm by David.

2. I have taken shelter in you, YHWH. Do not let my shame continue forever!

Rescue me in your righteousness!

3. Listen to me!

Rescue me quickly!

Be a rock of refuge for me,

and a fortress to deliver me!

4. Because you are my rock and my stronghold.

And for the sake of your name, you must carefully guide me.

5. You must save me from the net which they hid for me,

because you are my refuge.

6. I entrust my spirit into your hand.

You have redeemed me, YHWH, God of faithfulness.

7. You hate those who worship worthless idols,

but I trust YHWH.

8. I will be glad and rejoice on account of your faithfulness,

that you saw my affliction.

You saved my life from distress.

9. And you did not let any enemy capture me.

You set my feet in a broad place.

10. Be gracious to me, YHWH, because I am in distress.

My eye, my throat, and my belly waste away because of anger.

11. Because my life fades away with grief,

and my years [fade away] with groaning.

My strength has failed because of my iniquity,

and my bones waste away.

12. I have been scorned by all of my adversaries

and [I have] greatly [become an object of scorn] to my neighbors,

and [I have become] an object of fear to my friends.

Those who see me in the street have fled from me.

13. I have been forgotten like a dead person [is forgotten] from memory.

I have become like a broken vessel.

14. because I heard the slander of many people

–terror is on every side–

when they conspired together against me.

They plotted to take my life.

15. But I trust you, YHWH.

I say, “You are my God.”

16. My times are in your hand.

Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from my pursuers!

17. Shine your face upon your servant!

Save me by your faithfulness.

18. YHWH, do not let me be ashamed because I have called you!

May the evil ones be ashamed!

May they go silently to Sheol!

19. May lying lips be unable to speak

–those that speak insolence against the righteous, with arrogance and contempt.

20. How many are your good things

which you have stored up for those who fear you,

[and which] you have performed for those who take refuge in you

for all people to see!

21. You shelter them from people’s schemes in the cover of your presence;

You hide them in a shelter from contentious people.

22. Blessed is YHWH,

because he has wonderfully shown his faithfulness to me in a city under siege.

23. Even though I thought in my panic I had been cut off from your sight.

However, you heard the sound of my pleading when I cried out to you.

24. Love YHWH, all his loyal ones!

YHWH is watching over the faithful,

and he abundantly repays those who act pridefully.

25. Be strong so your hearts may take courage,

all who wait for YHWH.

The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources.

For links to other translations of Psalm 31, click here.

Verse-by-Verse

Click the link to view all of Psalm 31 Verse-by-Verse, or click on an individual verse below.

Layer-by-Layer

Psalm Overview

Exegetical Issues

Guardian: Tyler Fulcher