1 [[To the chief Musician, H5329 A Psalm H4210 of David.]] H1732 In thee, O LORD, H3068 do I put my trust; H2620 let me never H408 H5769 be ashamed: H954 deliver H6403 me in thy righteousness. H6666
2 Bow down H5186 thine ear H241 to me; deliver H5337 me speedily: H4120 be thou my strong H4581 rock, H6697 for an house H1004 of defence H4686 to save H3467 me.
3 For thou art my rock H5553 and my fortress; H4686 therefore for thy name's H8034 sake lead H5148 me, and guide H5095 me.
4 Pull me out H3318 of the net H7568 that H2098 they have laid privily H2934 for me: for thou art my strength. H4581
5 Into thine hand H3027 I commit H6485 my spirit: H7307 thou hast redeemed H6299 me, O LORD H3068 God H410 of truth. H571
6 I have hated H8130 them that regard H8104 lying H7723 vanities: H1892 but I trust H982 in the LORD. H3068
7 I will be glad H1523 and rejoice H8055 in thy mercy: H2617 for thou hast considered H7200 my trouble; H6040 thou hast known H3045 my soul H5315 in adversities; H6869
8 And hast not shut me up H5462 into the hand H3027 of the enemy: H341 thou hast set H5975 my feet H7272 in a large room. H4800
9 Have mercy H2603 upon me, O LORD, H3068 for I am in trouble: H6887 mine eye H5869 is consumed H6244 with grief, H3708 yea, my soul H5315 and my belly. H990
10 For my life H2416 is spent H3615 with grief, H3015 and my years H8141 with sighing: H585 my strength H3581 faileth H3782 because of mine iniquity, H5771 and my bones H6106 are consumed. H6244
11 I was a reproach H2781 among all mine enemies, H6887 but especially H3966 among my neighbours, H7934 and a fear H6343 to mine acquaintance: H3045 they that did see H7200 me without H2351 fled H5074 from me.
12 I am forgotten H7911 as a dead man H4191 out of mind: H3820 I am like a broken H6 vessel. H3627
13 For I have heard H8085 the slander H1681 of many: H7227 fear H4032 was on every side: H5439 while they took counsel H3245 together H3162 against me, they devised H2161 to take away H3947 my life. H5315
14 But I trusted H982 in thee, O LORD: H3068 I said, H559 Thou art my God. H430
15 My times H6256 are in thy hand: H3027 deliver H5337 me from the hand H3027 of mine enemies, H341 and from them that persecute H7291 me.
16 Make thy face H6440 to shine H215 upon thy servant: H5650 save H3467 me for thy mercies' H2617 sake.
17 Let me not be ashamed, H954 O LORD; H3068 for I have called H7121 upon thee: let the wicked H7563 be ashamed, H954 and let them be silent H1826 in the grave. H7585
18 Let the lying H8267 lips H8193 be put to silence; H481 which speak H1696 grievous H6277 things proudly H1346 and contemptuously H937 against the righteous. H6662
19 Oh how great H7227 is thy goodness, H2898 which thou hast laid up H6845 for them that fear H3373 thee; which thou hast wrought H6466 for them that trust H2620 in thee before the sons H1121 of men! H120
20 Thou shalt hide H5641 them in the secret H5643 of thy presence H6440 from the pride H7407 of man: H376 thou shalt keep them secretly H6845 in a pavilion H5521 from the strife H7379 of tongues. H3956
21 Blessed H1288 be the LORD: H3068 for he hath shewed me his marvellous H6381 kindness H2617 in a strong H4692 city. H5892
22 For I said H559 in my haste, H2648 I am cut off H1629 from before H5048 thine eyes: H5869 nevertheless H403 thou heardest H8085 the voice H6963 of my supplications H8469 when I cried H7768 unto thee.
23 O love H157 the LORD, H3068 all ye his saints: H2623 for the LORD H3068 preserveth H5341 the faithful, H539 and plentifully H3499 rewardeth H7999 the proud H1346 doer. H6213
24 Be of good courage, H2388 and he shall strengthen H553 your heart, H3824 all ye that hope H3176 in the LORD. H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 31
Commentary on Psalms 31 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 31
Ps 31:1-24. The prayer of a believer in time of deep distress. In the first part, cries for help are mingled with expressions of confidence. Then the detail of griefs engrosses his attention, till, in the assurance of strong but submissive faith, he rises to the language of unmingled joyful trust and exhorts others to like love and confidence towards God.
1. Expresses the general tone of feeling of the Psalm.
2-4. He seeks help in God's righteous government (Ps 5:8), and begs for an attentive hearing, and speedy and effectual aid. With no other help and no claim of merit, he relies solely on God's regard to His own perfections for a safe guidance and release from the snares of his enemies. On the terms "rock," &c., (compare Ps 17:2; 18:2, 50; 20:6; 23:3; 25:21).
5, 6. commit my spirit—my life, or myself. Our Saviour used the words on the Cross [Lu 23:46], not as prophetical, but, as many pious men have done, as expressive of His unshaken confidence in God. The Psalmist rests on God's faithfulness to His promises to His people, and hence avows himself one of them, detesting all who revere objects of idolatry (compare De 32:21; 1Co 8:4).
7. hast known my soul, &c.—had regard to me in trouble.
8. shut me up … enemy—abandon to (1Sa 23:11).
large room—place of safety (compare Ps 18:19).
9, 10. mine eye, &c.—denotes extreme weakness (compare Ps 6:7).
grief—mingled sorrow and indignation (Ps 6:7).
soul and … belly—the whole person.
10. Though the effects ascribed to grief are not mere figures of speech—
spent … consumed—must be taken in the modified sense of wasted and decayed.
iniquity—or, suffering by it (see on Ps 40:12).
11. among—or, literally, "from," or, "by" my enemies. The latter clauses describe the progress of his disgrace to the lowest degree, till,
12. he is forgotten as one dead, and contemned as a useless broken vessel.
13. For—introduces further reasons for his prayer, the unjust, deliberate, and murderous purposes of his foes.
14-18. In his profession of trust he includes the terms of the prayer expressing it.
15. times—course of life.
deliver … hand—opposed to "shut me up," &c., of Ps 31:8.
16. Make … shine—(Compare Nu 6:25; Ps 4:6). Deprecating from himself, he imprecates on the wicked God's displeasure, and prays that their virulent persecution of him may be stopped.
19-21. God displays openly His purposed goodness to His people.
20. the secret of thy presence—or, covering of Thy countenance; the protection He thus affords; compare Ps 27:5 for a similar figure; "dwelling" used there for "presence" here. The idea of security further presented by the figure of a tent and a fortified city [Ps 31:21].
22. For I said—literally, "And I said," in an adversative sense. I, thus favored, was despondent.
in my haste—in my terror.
cut off … eyes—from all the protection of Thy presence.
23, 24. the Lord … proud doer—literally, "the Lord is keeping faith," that is, with His people, and is repaying, &c. Then let none despair, but take courage; their hopes shall not be in vain.