Into your hand I commit my spirit


In you, O Lord, I seek refuge;
do not let me ever be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me.

Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me.

You are indeed my rock and my fortress;
for your name’s sake lead me and guide me,
take me out of the net that is hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.

Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord,
faithful God.

You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,
but I trust in the Lord.

I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love,
because you have seen my affliction;
you have taken heed of my adversities,
and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
you have set my feet in a broad place.

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
my eye wastes away from grief,
my soul and body also.

For my life is spent with sorrow,
and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my misery,
and my bones waste away.

I am the scorn of all my adversaries,
a horror to my neighbors,
an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.

I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.

For I hear the whispering of many
— terror all around!—
as they scheme together against me,
as they plot to take my life.

But I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”

My times are in your hand;
deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.

Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love.

Do not let me be put to shame,
O Lord, for I call on you;
let the wicked be put to shame;
let them go dumbfounded to Sheol.

Let the lying lips be stilled
that speak insolently against the righteous
with pride and contempt.

O how abundant is your goodness
that you have laid up for those who fear you,
and accomplished for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of everyone!

In the shelter of your presence you hide them from human plots;
you hold them safe under your shelter from contentious tongues.

Blessed be the Lord,
for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me
when I was beset as a city under siege.

I had said in my alarm, “I am driven far from your sight.”
But you heard my supplications when I cried out to you for help.

Love the Lord, all you his saints.
The Lord preserves the faithful,
but abundantly repays the one who acts haughtily.

Be strong,
and let your heart take courage,
all you who wait for the Lord.


Psalm 31

The image is Salvador Dali's Christ of St. John of the Cross

Comments

Travis Erwin said…
A fitting and timely post.
Barbara said…
What a powerful image.
B said…
Happy Easter, Richard.
x said…
i love this psalm. =D

i hope you had a wondeful easter, richard!!!
Hope you had a good Easter and that your kids didn't get sick on all the chocolate, although I kinda think you limit what you give them.

What are you doing on Earth Hour this coming Sat. from 8:00-9:00 p.m.? We're going to this neat dinner party where you bring something that was made with low energy impact.
Sofia said…
How beautiful this psalm is! This is so meaningful for me right now. I had never seen this Salvador Dali before.
Thanks,
Richard said…
travis: thank you.

barbara: Yes, the image and text are quite powerful.

breal: thank you.

acey: I am glad you like it. It is one the more powerful psalms.

MOI: I had a good Easter. No, the kids did not OD on chocolate (Jason can't have any, since it aggravates his eczema, notwithstanding the dermatologists tell us it does not. His skin was a disaster Thursday night, he had eaten cheese ravioli and chocolate at school. Dairy, nuts and chocolate are definitely not good for him – and he knows that, but he is only 6 and he wants to enjoy what everyone else enjoys. On Saturday, we went to a sugar bush.

sofia: welcome back, it is nice to see you again after so long a sojourn. I think it is a very powerful image of the crucified Christ. Dali has some powerful images (and a lot of painting that, though technically good, are not really inspiring for me).
Richard said…
MOI: Oh jeepers, erm, I had nothing planned. I was a very environmentally bad boy in the week leading up to Earth Hour. Sofia was in Brazil and I was commuting daily between Ottawa and Montreal (for a total of 1600Km that week).

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