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Psalm chapter 71

English Standard Version

1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! 2In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me, and save me! 3Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. 4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. 5For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. 6Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother 's womb. My praise is continually of you. 7I have been as a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge. 8My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day. 9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent. 10For my enemies speak concerning me; those who watch for my life consult together 11and say, "God has forsaken him; pursue and seize him, for there is none to deliver him." 12O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! 13May my accusers be put to shame and consumed; with scorn and disgrace may they be covered who seek my hurt. 14But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. 15My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. 16With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. 17O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. 18So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. 19Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you? 20You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. 21You will increase my greatness and comfort me again. 22I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. 23My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed. 24And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long, for they have been put to shame and disappointed who sought to do me hurt.
New International Version

1In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me. 3Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
4Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel. 5For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. 6From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you. 7I have become a sign to many; you are my strong refuge.
8My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long. 9Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone. 10For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill me conspire together. 11They say, "God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue him." 12Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me.
13May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace.
14As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. 15My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long— though I know not how to relate them all. 16I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. 17Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
18Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come. 19Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things. Who is like you, God? 20Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.
21You will increase my honor and comfort me once more. 22I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel. 23My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I whom you have delivered. 24My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion.
New American Standard Bible

1In You, Lord, I have taken refuge; Let me never be put to shame. 2In Your righteousness rescue me and save me; Extend Your ear to me and help me. 3Be to me a rock of dwelling to which I may continually come; You have given the commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress. 4Save me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, From the grasp of the wrongdoer and the ruthless, 5For You are my hope; Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth. 6I have leaned on you since my birth; You are He who took me from my mother’s womb; My praise is continually of You. 7I have become a marvel to many, For You are my strong refuge. 8My mouth is filled with Your praise And with Your glory all day long. 9Do not cast me away at the time of my old age; Do not abandon me when my strength fails. 10For my enemies have spoken against me; And those who watch for my life have consulted together, 11Saying, 'God has abandoned him; Pursue and seize him, for there is no one to save him.' 12God, do not be far from me; My God, hurry to my aid! 13May those who are enemies of my soul be put to shame and consumed; May they be covered with disgrace and dishonor, who seek to injure me. 14But as for me, I will wait continually, And will praise You yet more and more. 15My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And of Your salvation all day long; For I do not know the art of writing. 16I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone. 17God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous deeds. 18And even when I am old and gray, God, do not abandon me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come. 19 For Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, You who have done great things; God, who is like You? 20You who have shown me many troubles and distresses Will revive me again, And will bring me up again from the depths of the earth. 21May You increase my greatness And turn to comfort me. 22I will also praise You with a harp, And Your truth, my God; I will sing praises to You with the lyre, Holy One of Israel. 23My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You; And my soul, which You have redeemed. 24My tongue also will tell of Your righteousness all day long; For they are put to shame, for they are humiliated who seek my harm.
Christian Standard Bible

1 Lord, I seek refuge in you; let me never be disgraced. 2In your justice, rescue and deliver me; listen closely to me and save me. 3Be a rock of refuge for me, where I can always go. Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and fortress. 4Deliver me, my God, from the power of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and oppressive. 5For you are my hope, Lord God, my confidence from my youth. 6I have leaned on you from birth; you took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is always about you. 7I am like a miraculous sign to many, and you are my strong refuge.
8My mouth is full of praise and honor to you all day long. 9Don’t discard me in my old age. As my strength fails, do not abandon me. 10For my enemies talk about me, and those who spy on me plot together, 11saying, "God has abandoned him; chase him and catch him, for there is no one to rescue him." 12God, do not be far from me; my God, hurry to help me. 13May my adversaries be disgraced and destroyed; may those who intend to harm me be covered with disgrace and humiliation. 14But I will hope continually and will praise you more and more. 15My mouth will tell about your righteousness and your salvation all day long, though I cannot sum them up.
16I come because of the mighty acts of the Lord God; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. 17God, you have taught me from my youth, and I still proclaim your wondrous works. 18Even while I am old and gray, God, do not abandon me, while I proclaim your power to another generation, your strength to all who are to come. 19Your righteousness reaches the heights, God, you who have done great things; God, who is like you? 20You caused me to experience many troubles and misfortunes, but you will revive me again. You will bring me up again, even from the depths of the earth. 21You will increase my honor and comfort me once again. 22Therefore, I will praise you with a harp for your faithfulness, my God; I will sing to you with a lyre, Holy One of Israel. 23My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you because you have redeemed me. 24Therefore, my tongue will proclaim your righteousness all day long, for those who intend to harm me will be disgraced and confounded.
New Living Translation

1O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced. 2Save me and rescue me, for you do what is right. Turn your ear to listen to me, and set me free. 3Be my rock of safety where I can always hide. Give the order to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. 4My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked, from the clutches of cruel oppressors. 5O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood. 6Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you!
7My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection. 8That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long. 9And now, in my old age, don’t set me aside. Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing. 10For my enemies are whispering against me. They are plotting together to kill me. 11They say, 'God has abandoned him. Let’s go and get him, for no one will help him now.'
12O God, don’t stay away. My God, please hurry to help me. 13Bring disgrace and destruction on my accusers. Humiliate and shame those who want to harm me. 14But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more. 15I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am not skilled with words. 16I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign Lord. I will tell everyone that you alone are just.
17O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. 18Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.
19Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God? 20You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. 21You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again.
22Then I will praise you with music on the harp, because you are faithful to your promises, O my God. I will sing praises to you with a lyre, O Holy One of Israel. 23I will shout for joy and sing your praises, for you have ransomed me. 24I will tell about your righteous deeds all day long, for everyone who tried to hurt me has been shamed and humiliated.
King James Version

1In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
2Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
3Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
4Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
5For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.
6By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.
7I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.
8Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
9Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
10For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,
11Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.
12O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.
13Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
14But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
15My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.
16I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.
17O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
18Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.
19Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!
20Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
21Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
22I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
23My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
24My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.
New King James Version

1In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame. 2 Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape; Incline Your ear to me, and save me. 3 Be my strong refuge, To which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress. 4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. 5For You are my hope, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth. 6 By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb. My praise shall be continually of You. 7 I have become as a wonder to many, But You are my strong refuge. 8Let my mouth be filled with Your praise And with Your glory all the day. 9Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails. 10For my enemies speak against me; And those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together, 11Saying, “God has forsaken him; Pursue and take him, for there is none to deliver him.” 12 O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! 13Let them be confounded and consumed Who are adversaries of my life; Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor Who seek my hurt. 14But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more. 15My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And Your salvation all the day, For I do not know their limits. 16I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only. 17O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works. 18Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come. 19Also Your righteousness, O God, is very high, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You? 20 You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, Shall revive me again, And bring me up again from the depths of the earth. 21You shall increase my greatness, And comfort me on every side. 22Also with the lute I will praise You— And Your faithfulness, O my God! To You I will sing with the harp, O Holy One of Israel. 23My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, And my soul, which You have redeemed. 24My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long; For they are confounded, For they are brought to shame Who seek my hurt.

What does Psalm chapter 71 mean?

David wrote psalms 22, 31, 35, and 40, among many others. The opening of this psalm is much like that of psalm 31. Specific phrases from psalms 22, 35, and 40 are also seen here. The psalmist speaks about a lifetime worshipping God, growing older, and his current challenge from murderous conspirators. For all these reasons, it seems likely that David wrote this in response to the rebellion of his son, Absalom (2 Samuel 15—16). However, the song is technically anonymous and doesn't mention any specific event.

The opening lines of psalm 71 are comparable to those of psalm 35. The psalmist expresses confidence that the Lord will deliver him from his current danger. What begins as a request quickly becomes a declaration that God has already decreed that the psalmist will be rescued. A key theme is that reliance on the Lord leads to safety and security (Psalm 71:1–4)

Trust in God has been a part of this psalmist's lifelong experience. The providence of God in every moment is emphasized when the psalmist says he relied on God even before he was born. This is symbolic in the sense that the psalmist would not have been literally aware of such things in the womb. But it's literal in that everything which happens, including to the writer of these words, is dependent on the will of God. This writer's intense faith has made him a spectacle to others, but he has maintained his faith (Psalm 71:5–8).

Apparently, this life of faith has not been brief. The psalmist again asks for the Lord's protection with a reference to aging. Perhaps enemies look at the writer's decline and think this is time to strike. That may be because of his age, or some perception that God is no longer on his side. Those who want to kill the psalmist conspire. References to aging, plotting, and pursuit are among the reasons some interpreters believe David wrote this in connection to the rebellion of his son, Absalom (2 Samuel 15—16). Instead, the psalmist prays that the Lord will turn those plans around, bringing shame and embarrassment to the plotters (Psalm 71:9–13).

Though these prayers have not yet been answered, the psalmist is committed to the Lord. His intention is to continue praise and worship of God until his last days. This is not the first time the writer has been in danger; God provided help in those times. The psalmist celebrates more than an expected rescue from danger. He also notes that the Lord has redeemed his soul. The song closes with another statement of confidence: the psalmist imagining the praise he will offer when the Lord defeats his enemies (Psalm 71:14–24).
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