A Prayer to God the Rock of Refuge

¹ In you, O Yahweh, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.

² In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me and save me.

³ Be for me a rock of refuge to resort to always; you have ordained¹ to save me, because you are my rock and my fortress.

1. Or “commanded”

⁴ My God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked, from the ⌞grasp⌟¹ of the evildoer and the oppressor,

1. Literally “palm”

⁵ because you are my hope, O Lord Yahweh, my confidence from my youth.

⁶ Upon you I have leaned ⌞from birth⌟.¹ It was you who ⌞took⌟² me from the womb of my mother. My praise is of you continually.

1. Literally “from the belly”
2. Literally “cut,” that is, the umbilical cord

⁷ I have become a wonder to many, but you are my strong refuge.

⁸ My mouth is filled with your praise, with your glory all the day.

⁹ Do not cast me away in the time of old age; when my strength fails do not abandon me.

¹⁰ For my enemies talk concerning me, and those who watch for my life conspire together,

¹¹ saying, “His God has abandoned him. Pursue and seize him, because there is no deliverer.”

¹² O God, do not be far from me. My God, hurry to help me.

¹³ Let them be ashamed; let them perish who are ⌞my adversaries⌟.¹ Let them wrap themselves with scorn and disgrace who seek my harm.

1. Literally “adversaries of my soul”

¹⁴ But as for me, I will hope continually and increase your praise.

¹⁵ My mouth will tell of your righteousness, your salvation ⌞all day long⌟,¹ though I do not know the full sum of them.

1. Literally “all the day”

¹⁶ I will come in to tell the mighty deeds of Lord Yahweh. I will ⌞make known⌟¹ your righteousness, yours only.

1. Literally “bring to remembrance”

¹⁷ O God, you have taught me from my youth, and up to now I have proclaimed your wonderful deeds.

¹⁸ And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not abandon me until I proclaim your ⌞strength⌟¹ to this generation, your power to every one that comes after.

1. Literally “arm”

¹⁹ And your righteousness, O God, is to the height of heaven. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?

²⁰ You who have caused me¹ to see many troubles and evils, you will again revive me.² And from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.

1. According to the reading tradition (Qere)
2. According to the reading tradition (Qere)

²¹ You will increase my greatness, and you will comfort me all around.¹

1. A slightly different vocalization yields, “… comfort me again”; compare the LXX.

²² On my part, I will praise you with a stringed instrument, and your faithfulness, O my God. I will sing praises to you with a lyre, O Holy One of Israel.

²³ My lips will sing for joy when I sing praises to you, and my soul, which you have redeemed.

²⁴ My tongue also will speak of your righteousness all the day, because they have been put to shame, because they have been humiliated who seek my harm.