June 18 – Psalms 70 and 71 from the New Testament
Psalms 70 and 71 – Psalm 70
For the music director; by David; written to get God’s attention.
70:1 O God, please be willing to rescue me!
O Lord, hurry and help me!
70:2 May those who are trying to take my life
be embarrassed and ashamed!
May those who want to harm me
be turned back and ashamed!
70:3 May those who say, “Aha! Aha!”
be driven back and disgraced!
70:4 May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you!
May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually,
“May God be praised!”
70:5 I am oppressed and needy!
O God, hurry to me!
You are my helper and my deliverer!
O Lord, do not delay!
Psalm 71
71:1 In you, O Lord, I have taken shelter!
Never let me be humiliated!
71:2 Vindicate me by rescuing me!
Listen to me! Deliver me!
71:3 Be my protector and refuge,
a stronghold where I can be safe!
For you are my high ridge and my stronghold.
71:4 My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked,
from the hand of the cruel oppressor!
71:5 For you give me confidence, O Lord;
O Lord, I have trusted in you since I was young.
71:6 I have leaned on you since birth;
you pulled me from my mother’s womb.
I praise you continually.
71:7 Many are appalled when they see me,
but you are my secure shelter.
71:8 I praise you constantly
and speak of your splendor all day long.
71:9 Do not reject me in my old age!
When my strength fails, do not abandon me!
71:10 For my enemies talk about me;
those waiting for a chance to kill me plot my demise.
71:11 They say, “God has abandoned him.
Run and seize him, for there is no one who will rescue him!”
71:12 O God, do not remain far away from me!
My God, hurry and help me!
71:13 May my accusers be humiliated and defeated!
May those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace!
71:14 As for me, I will wait continually,
and will continue to praise you.
71:15 I will tell about your justice,
and all day long proclaim your salvation,
though I cannot fathom its full extent.
71:16 I will come and tell about the mighty acts of the sovereign Lord.
I will proclaim your justice – yours alone.
71:17 O God, you have taught me since I was young,
and I am still declaring your amazing deeds.
71:18 Even when I am old and gray,
O God, do not abandon me,
until I tell the next generation about your strength,
and those coming after me about your power.
71:19 Your justice, O God, extends to the skies above;
you have done great things.
O God, who can compare to you?
71:20 Though you have allowed me to experience much trouble and distress,
revive me once again!
Bring me up once again from the depths of the earth!
71:21 Raise me to a position of great honor!
Turn and comfort me!
71:22 I will express my thanks to you with a stringed instrument,
praising your faithfulness, O my God!
I will sing praises to you accompanied by a harp,
O Holy One of Israel!
71:23 My lips will shout for joy! Yes, I will sing your praises!
I will praise you when you rescue me!
71:24 All day long my tongue will also tell about your justice,
for those who want to harm me will be embarrassed and ashamed.
