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Psalm 71

Prayer for Lifelong Protection and Help

1

In you, O L ord, I take refuge;

let me never be put to shame.

2

In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;

incline your ear to me and save me.

3

Be to me a rock of refuge,

a strong fortress, 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.

5

For you, O Lord, are my hope,

my trust, O L ord, from my youth.

6

Upon you I have leaned from my birth;

it was you who took me from my mother’s womb.

My praise is continually of you.

 

7

I have been like a portent to many,

but you are my strong refuge.

8

My mouth is filled with your praise,

and with your glory all day long.

9

Do not cast me off in the time of old age;

do not forsake me when my strength is spent.

10

For my enemies speak concerning me,

and those who watch for my life consult together.

11

They say, “Pursue and seize that person

whom God has forsaken,

for there is no one to deliver.”

 

12

O God, do not be far from me;

O my God, make haste to help me!

13

Let my accusers be put to shame and consumed;

let those who seek to hurt me

be covered with scorn and disgrace.

14

But I will hope continually,

and will praise you yet more and more.

15

My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,

of your deeds of salvation all day long,

though their number is past my knowledge.

16

I will come praising the mighty deeds of the Lord G od,

I will praise your righteousness, yours alone.

 

17

O God, from my youth you have taught me,

and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

18

So even to old age and gray hairs,

O God, do not forsake me,

until I proclaim your might

to all the generations to come.

Your power 19and your righteousness, O God,

reach the high heavens.

 

You who have done great things,

O God, who is like you?

20

You 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.

21

You will increase my honor,

and comfort me once again.

 

22

I 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.

23

My lips will shout for joy

when I sing praises to you;

my soul also, which you have rescued.

24

All day long my tongue will talk of your righteous help,

for those who tried to do me harm

have been put to shame, and disgraced.


23. My lips shall rejoice 118118     “The original word רנם expresses a brisk, vibratory motion, like that of the lips in singing a lively air, or of the feet in dancing. Hence, figuratively, it signifies to rejoice or exult In this passage, it may be understood literally of the lips, and figuratively of the soul. And the English language having no corresponding verb which may be taken literally in reference to one subject, and figuratively in reference to another, it might be better to express its sense in connection with each, by two different verbs, thus: —
   “My lips shall move briskly, when I sing unto thee,
And my soul shall rejoice, which thou, etc.”

    — Horsley.
when I sing to thee. In this verse David expresses more distinctly his resolution not to give thanks to God hypocritically, nor in a superficial manner, but to engage with unfeigned earnestness in this religious exercise. By the figures which he introduces, he briefly teaches us, that to praise God would be the source of his greatest pleasure; and thus he indirectly censures the profane mirth of those who, forgetting God, confine their congratulations to themselves in their prosperity. The scope of the last verse is to the same effect, implying that no joy would be sweet and desirable to him, but such as was connected with the praises of God, and that to celebrate his Redeemer’s praises would afford him the greatest satisfaction and delight.


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