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Psalms 31:4 World English Bible (WEB)

4 Pluck me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me, For you are my stronghold.

Cross Reference

Psalms 25:15 WEB

My eyes are ever on Yahweh, For he will pluck my feet out of the net.

Psalms 19:14 WEB

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in your sight, Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer.

Psalms 35:7 WEB

For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.

Psalms 57:6 WEB

They have prepared a net for my steps. My soul is bowed down. They dig a pit before me. They fall into the midst of it themselves. Selah.

Psalms 124:7 WEB

Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the fowler's snare. The snare is broken, and we have escaped.

Psalms 140:5 WEB

The proud have hidden a snare for me, They have spread the cords of a net by the path. They have set traps for me. Selah.

Proverbs 29:5 WEB

A man who flatters his neighbor, Spreads a net for his feet.

2 Corinthians 12:9 WEB

He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

2 Timothy 2:26 WEB

and they may recover themselves out of the devil's snare, having been taken captive by him to his will.

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.