Psalms 71

King James Version

Full text for Psalms Chapter 71

1¶ In 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.

14¶ But 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!

20[Thou], 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The psalmist, in old age, expresses profound trust in the Lord, seeking deliverance from wicked adversaries who believe God has forsaken him. He recounts God's lifelong support and prays not to be cast off in his declining years. Despite troubles, he vows to continually praise God's righteousness and salvation, desiring to declare His power to future generations.

Medium Summary

Psalms 71 opens with the psalmist's earnest plea for deliverance and refuge, affirming his lifelong trust in the Lord as his rock and fortress. He recounts God's support from birth and expresses a desire for his mouth to be continually filled with divine praise. A central concern is the fear of being forsaken in old age, as enemies conspire, believing God has abandoned him. The psalmist fervently requests God's swift help and the confusion of his adversaries. Despite these trials, he declares an unwavering commitment to hope and to increasingly praise God's righteousness and salvation. He further prays to be preserved in old age to proclaim God's strength and wondrous works to the coming generations, acknowledging God's supreme righteousness and power to revive and comfort.

Long Summary

Psalms 71 begins with the psalmist's fervent declaration of trust in the Lord, seeking immediate deliverance from confusion and the hands of wicked and cruel men. He identifies God as his strong habitation, rock, and fortress, recounting divine support and hope from his earliest youth. The psalmist expresses a deep desire for his mouth to be perpetually filled with God's praise and honour. A significant petition is made not to be cast off in old age when strength fails, as enemies speak against him and conspire, asserting that God has forsaken him and there is none to deliver. He implores God not to be far off but to make haste to help, requesting that his adversaries be confounded, consumed, and covered with reproach. Despite these pressing dangers, the psalmist affirms his continuous hope and commitment to praise God more and more, vowing to show forth God's righteousness and salvation daily, acknowledging their immeasurable nature. He resolves to proceed in the strength of the Lord God, making mention of His righteousness alone. The psalmist recalls God's teaching from his youth and his past declarations of wondrous works. He then prays to be sustained in old age, even when grayheaded, specifically so he might declare God's strength and power to the current and future generations. He extols God's exceedingly high righteousness and great deeds, proclaiming that none is like Him. With faith, he states that God, who has shown him great troubles, will quicken him again and bring him up from the depths. The psalmist anticipates increased greatness and comfort from God on every side. He concludes with vows to praise God with musical instruments—the psaltery and harp—rejoicing with his lips and soul, which God has redeemed, and promising to speak of God's righteousness all the day long as his enemies are brought to shame.

Core Concepts

  • Lifelong TrustThe psalmist consistently declares his trust in God from his youth, affirming that God has upheld him from the womb and remains his hope and refuge into old age.
  • Plea for DeliveranceThe psalmist repeatedly implores God to deliver him from the hands of wicked and unrighteous men who conspire against him, believing God has forsaken him.
  • Old Age and Divine SupportThe psalmist expresses a deep concern about being cast off in old age when his strength fails, earnestly praying that God will not forsake him during this vulnerable period.
  • Unwavering Praise and TestimonyDespite his troubles, the psalmist vows to continually hope and praise God more and more, committing to declare God's righteousness and wondrous works to the current and future generations.
  • God's Supreme AttributesThe psalmist extols God's exceedingly high righteousness, acknowledging His great works and His unique power to quicken and comfort him even after experiencing profound troubles.
  • Confounding of AdversariesThe psalmist prays that his enemies, who seek his hurt and speak against him, will be confounded, consumed, and covered with reproach and dishonour.