Psalms 71 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

In you, Yahweh, I have taken shelter. Don't ever let me be put to shame.

Rescue me and pull me free because you do what is right. Lean your ear down to me and save me.

Be my rock — the place I can always come to. You have given the command to save me, because you are my cliff face, my fortress.

My God, pull me free from the grip of the wicked, from the clutches of those who twist justice and act with cruelty.

Because you are my hope, Lord Yahweh — I have trusted you since I was young.

I have leaned on you since I was born. You are the one who pulled me from my mother's womb. My songs have always been about you.

I have been living proof to many people, but you — you are my fierce shelter.

My mouth is full of your praise, full of your splendor, all day long.

Don't throw me away when I'm old. When my strength is spent, don't abandon me.

Because my enemies talk about me behind my back, and those who watch for my life conspire together.

They say, "God has abandoned him. Chase him down and grab him — no one is coming to help."

God, don't stay far from me. My God, hurry — come help me.

Let those who attack me be put to shame, destroyed. Let those who want to hurt me be covered in disgrace and humiliation.

But I — I will keep hoping, always. I will pile more and more praise on top of all your praise.

My mouth will tell the story of your justice, your deliverance, all day long — even though I can't measure the half of it.

I will come telling of your powerful acts, Lord Yahweh. I will remember your justice — yours and yours alone.

God, you have taught me since I was young, and to this day I keep telling people about the extraordinary things you've done.

So even now that I'm old and grey-haired, God, don't abandon me — not until I've told the next generation about your strength, told everyone coming after me about your power.

Your justice, God, reaches to the highest places. You who have done such great things — God, who is like you?

You, who have made me see so many bitter troubles — you will bring me back to life again. You will pull me up from the depths of the earth.

You will increase my greatness and turn to comfort me again.

I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God. I will make music for you on the lyre, set-apart One of Israel.

My lips will shout for joy when I make music for you — and my whole being, which you have redeemed.

My tongue will also speak of your justice all day long, because those who wanted to hurt me have been shamed and disgraced.