O LORD, in You I run for shelter.
Let me not be put to shame.
Deliver me In Your righteousness.
Fold Yourself around me,
and quickly rescue me.
Be my strong rock!
Be the stronghold that saves me
for You are my fort and fortification.
For the sake of Your Name, You lead and guide me.
You pull me from unknown traps.
You are my strength!
Into Your hand I commit my spirit.
And You, O LORD God of Truth, have brought me back!
Others may trust in worthless ideals and obsessions,
but LORD, I trust in You.
I rejoice in the kindness of Your love
and am glad, just knowing
You understand my complaint.
You understand the troubles of my soul!
You did not hand me over
into hurtful hands
but handed me a place
with ample room to stretch and grow.
Even in my distress, I can see
how gracious You are, O LORD!
My eyes closed down with grief,
my soul and my body also.
For years, sorrow upon sorrow
spent my life with sighs.
My strength failed in wrongdoings,
and my body wasted away.
I became a reproach to my adversaries,
even close neighbors –
and an object of dread to those who know me.
People in the street would see me and flee!
I am forgotten – like a person dead,
like a broken bowl.
Some spoke ill words into me.
Terror surrounded me.
People ganged up against me
and schemed to take all of me.
But I trust You, O LORD!
I want to tell everyone, “You are my God.”
What happens to me belongs in Your hand,
but, oh, deliver me from the hands
of those who harangue me.
Face me, O LORD, with Your shine.
In the kindness of Your love,
save me, and let not Your servant
be put to shame for calling on You.
Let those who never think of You
be put to shame and silenced forever.
Mute their lying lips
from speaking with pride and derision
against people who just want to do right!
Oh, how great is the goodness
You have stockpiled for Your people
and have waiting for those
who find their sanctuary in You!
In the secret place of Your presence,
You hide us away
from secret schemes.
Secretly You shelter us
in the sanctuary of Your Word –
safe from troubling words.
Blessed be the LORD!
How marvelous His loving kindness!
When I was overwhelmed, I feared
I'd be forever closed off from Your sight,
but You heard my pleas
and cries to You.
O love the LORD, all of you who are
His people!
The LORD takes care of the faithful
and compensates His people well.
Be strong!
Let your heart take courage
as you hope, as you hope in our Lord.
© 2012, Mary Harwell Sayler, prayer-a-phrase poem of Psalm 31