Psalm 31

Abraham Coles

Be Thou to me a rock of strength.
Where I may safely bide:
3 And so Thou art; for Thy Name's sake
Thou wilt me lead and guide.

4 Pluck from the net they've hid for me.
For Thou art my sure Friend;
5 Hast me redeemed — into Thy hand
My spirit I commend.

6 Them that vain idols serve I hate;
My soul on Thee relies,
7 I will be glad, for Thou hast seen
My woes with pitying eyes;

8 And hast not me delivered up
A prisoner to my foe;
But set my feet in a large place.
Left free to come and go.

9 Have mercy on me. Lord! mine eye
With weeping wastes away;
My powers of soul and body fail,
And fall into decay.

10 For all my life with grief is spent;
With sighing all my years:
By reason of my sins, I weep
My strength away in tears.

11 Because of all my foes, reproach
Me everywhere attends;
A scorn I to my neighbors am,
A terror to my friends.

They that did see me in the street
Immediately fled:
12 I am forgotten, out of mind.
Like one already dead.

13 I heard the many me traduce —
The envious sons of strife —
While they took counsel, and devised
To take away my life.

14 But in the Lord I trusted still:
I said: "Thou art my God;
15 My times are in Thy hand, I wait
For Thy delivering rod."

16 Upon me cause Thy Face to shine;
Save, for Thy mercies sake:
17 Let me not be ashamed, O Lord!
But so the wicked make.

Let them in Sheol silent be;
i8 Let lying lips be dumb,
From which proud words and insolent
Now 'gainst the righteous come.

19 How great Thy goodness treasured up,
Ne'er told by tongue or pen,
For those who fear and trust in Thee
Before the sons of men!

20 Thou in Thy presence wilt them hide.
From plotters 'gainst their life;
In Thy pavilion them conceal.
Safe from the tongues of strife.

21 O blessed be the Lord, for He
Strange kindness me hath shown.
In a strong city, fenced with walls,
That could not be o'erthrown.

22 In my alarm and haste, I said:
"I am cut off," but no —
For when I cried for help, Thou didst
The needed help bestow.

23 O love the Lord, all ye His saints;
The proud He will reward:
24 Be strong, take courage, O all ye.
Whose hope is in the Lord!