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Psalm 71

1 In you, LORD, I have taken refuge;
   let me never be put to shame.
2 In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
   turn your ear to me and save me.
3 Be my 
rock of refuge,
   to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
   for you are my 
rock and my fortress
4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, 
   from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.
 5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD, 
   my confidence since my youth. 
6 From birth I have relied on you; 
   you brought me forth from my mother's womb. 
   I will ever praise you. 
7 I have become a sign to many; 
   you are my strong refuge
8 My mouth is filled with your praise
   declaring your splendor all day long.
 9 Do not cast me away when I am old;
   do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
10 For my enemies speak against me;
   those who wait to kill me conspire together.
11 They say, "God has forsaken him;
   pursue him and seize him,
   for no one will rescue him."
12 Do not be far from me, my God;
   come quickly, God, to help me.
13 May my accusers perish in shame;
   may those who want to harm me
   be covered with scorn and disgrace.
 14 As for me, I will always have hope
   I will praise you more and more.
 15 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
   of your saving acts all day long—
   though I know not how to relate them all.
16 I will come and 
proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign LORD; 
   I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. 
17 Since my youth, God, you have taught me, 
   and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds
18 Even when I am old and gray, 
   do not forsake me, my God, 
till I declare your power to the next generation, 
   your mighty acts to all who are to come.
 19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, 
   you who have done great things. 
   Who is like you, God? 
20 Though you have made me see troubles, 
   many and bitter, 
   you will restore my life again; 
from the depths of the earth 
   you will again bring me up. 
21 You will increase my honor 
   and comfort me once more.
 22 I will praise you with the harp 
   for your faithfulness, my God; 
I will sing praise to you with the lyre, 
   Holy One of Israel. 
23 My lips will shout for joy 
   when I sing praise to you— 
   I whom you have delivered. 
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts 
   all day long, 
for those who wanted to harm me 
   have been put to shame and confusion.

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