Refuge/Sukkah/shelter.

For the music director: a psalm of David.

I have taken refuge in You, Adonai,

please never let me be disgraced,

let Your righteousness be my deliverance.

Listen to me and quickly rescue me.

Be my safe refuge of rock,

a fortress for my deliverance.

Because You are my rock and fortress,

You guide me for the sake of Your name.

Free me from the hidden trap

others have laid for me,

because You are my stronghold.

I entrust my soul into Your hands.

You have saved me, Adonai,

God of faithfulness.

I detest those

who put their faith in worthless idols;

as for me, I rely on Adonai.

I will gladly rejoice in Your lovingkindness,

for You have beheld my affliction.

You know my soul‘s anguish

and did not turn me over to my enemies hands.

Instead, You placed me in wide-open spaces.

Show mercy to me, Adonai

because I am distressed.

My eyes are weak with grief

so too my soul and body.

My life is consumed with grief

and my years with groaning,

my anguish causes my strength to fail

and my bones to crumble.

My neighbors sneer at me

and my friends fear me

because of all my enemies.

My allies run away

when they see me on the street.

I am as forgotten as a corpse,

I am like a broken vase.

I’ve heard the many rumors

– there is terror all around

as they conspire to plot to kill me.

But I trust in You, Adonai,

saying You are my God.

My life‘s path is in Your hands,

steer me away from my enemies,

and those who chase me.

Look favorably upon me,

save me with Your mercy.

I have called upon You, Adonai,

let me not be disgraced, instead,

let the wicked feel disgrace

and be silent in the grave.

Let those who lie be silenced

for they speak against the righteous arrogantly,

with pride and contempt.

How vast is the goodness

that You have set aside

for those who revere You,

which You have openly bestowed

on those who take refuge in You.

You keep them in Your presence,

safe from people’s schemes.

You shelter them

from quarrelsome tongues.

Blessed be Adonai,

for God has shown me

God‘s wonderful love when I was

in a city under siege.

I said “I’ve been cut off, You can’t see me!”

But when I called for a help,

You heard my pleas.

All faithful people, love God!

God preserves all who are faithful,

but the arrogant are repaid in full.

Courage!

Let Your heart be strengthened,

all You who put Your hope in Adonai.