A Lifelong Refuge
An old man's prayer. He has leaned on his Father since birth, and now fears being discarded as his strength fails while enemies say he has been abandoned. What he asks for is time — to keep telling the next generation what he knows.
71 1In you, my Father, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; listen to me and save me. 3Be my rock of refuge, to which I may always come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. 4My Father, rescue me from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.
5For you are my hope, Sovereign Father, my trust from my youth. 6I have leaned on you since birth; you are the one who took me from my mother's womb. I am always praising you. 7I have become a wonder to many, but you are my strong refuge. 8My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all day long.
9Don't cast me aside in my old age; when my strength fails, don't forsake me. 10For my enemies speak against me; those who watch to take my life plot together. 11They say, "God has forsaken him; pursue and seize him, for there is no one to rescue him."
12My Father, don't be far from me; my Father, hurry to help me! 13May my accusers be put to shame and destroyed; may those who seek my harm be covered with scorn and disgrace.
14But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. 15My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I do not know its full measure. 16I will come declaring the mighty deeds of the Sovereign Father; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.
17My Father, you have taught me from my youth, and to this day I declare your wondrous deeds. 18So even when I am old and gray, my Father, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all who are to come.
19Your righteousness, my Father, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, my Father, who is like you? 20You who have shown me many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. 21You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.
22I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my Father; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel—my Father. 23My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to you, and my soul also, which you have redeemed. 24And my tongue will tell of your righteousness all day long, for those who sought my harm have been put to shame and disgraced.
