What does Psalm 71:15 mean?
ESV: My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge.
NIV: My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long— though I know not how to relate them all.
NASB: My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And of Your salvation all day long; For I do not know the art of writing.
CSB: My mouth will tell about your righteousness and your salvation all day long, though I cannot sum them up.
NLT: I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am not skilled with words.
KJV: My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.
NKJV: My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And Your salvation all the day, For I do not know their limits.
Verse Commentary:
Verse Context:
Psalm 71:14–24 concludes the psalm with reflection on the psalmist's life of worship. Liars and conspirators are trying to kill him (Psalm 71:9–13), but he is determined to trust in God's protection. Much of this trust is because of prior instances of danger, through which God brought the psalmist. Rather than despair, the psalmist looks ahead, expecting that he will be able to tell others about what the Lord has done for him. This will come with music and proclamations about God's greatness.
Chapter Summary:
The psalmist—possibly David—repeats a prayer for rescue resembling the opening verses of psalm 31. After a lifetime of noticeable faithfulness, the psalmist is fully confident that God will provide a rescue from his troubles. Again, the psalmist asks God to be with him despite his old age. When the expected salvation is accomplished, the psalmist plans to continue to worship the Lord and invite others to do the same.
Chapter Context:
No author or event is given for this psalm. However, the opening resembles those of psalms 31 and 35. Phrases and ideas seen in psalms 22 and 40 are echoed here, as well. Since David is credited with those, it is likely David composed this as well. A possible inspiration may have been Absalom's rebellion during David's old age (2 Samuel 15—16). As do other psalms, this one asks God for deliverance while vowing to continue praising Him.
Book Summary:
The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.
Accessed 11/23/2024 9:06:18 PM
© Copyright 2002-2024 Got Questions Ministries. All rights reserved.
Text from ESV, NIV, NASB, CSB, NLT, KJV, NKJV © Copyright respective owners, used by permission.
