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Psalm 71

This article is about Psalm 71 in Hebrew (Masoretic) numbering. For Psalm 71 in Greek Septuagint or Latin Vulgate numbering, see Psalm 72.
Psalm 71
"In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion"
A Bible open to Psalm 71
Other name
  • Psalmus 70
  • "In te Domine speravi"
LanguageHebrew (original)

Psalm 71 is the 71st psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion". It has no title in the Hebrew version. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 70. In Latin, it is known as "In te Domine speravi".[1]

The psalm has 24 verses in both English and Hebrew verse numbering.[2] It forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. It has been paraphrased in hymns[citation needed] and set to music.

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text[3][4] of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Verse Hebrew English translation (JPS 1917)
1 בְּךָֽ־יְהֹוָ֥ה חָסִ֑יתִי אַל־אֵב֥וֹשָׁה לְעוֹלָֽם׃‎ In Thee, O LORD, have I taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed.
2 בְּצִדְקָֽתְךָ֗ תַּצִּילֵ֥נִי וּֽתְפַלְּטֵ֑נִי הַטֵּֽה־אֵלַ֥י אׇ֝זְנְךָ֗ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנִי׃‎ Deliver me in Thy righteousness, and rescue me; Incline Thine ear unto me, and save me.
3 הֱיֵ֤ה לִ֨י ׀ לְצ֥וּר מָע֡וֹן לָב֗וֹא תָּמִ֗יד צִוִּ֥יתָ לְהוֹשִׁיעֵ֑נִי כִּֽי־סַלְעִ֖י וּמְצוּדָתִ֣י אָֽתָּה׃‎ Be Thou to me a sheltering rock, whereunto I may continually resort, Which Thou hast appointed to save me; For Thou art my rock and my fortress.
4 אֱֽלֹהַ֗י פַּ֭לְּטֵנִי מִיַּ֣ד רָשָׁ֑ע מִכַּ֖ף מְעַוֵּ֣ל וְחוֹמֵֽץ׃‎ O my God, rescue me out of the hand of the wicked, Out of the grasp of the unrighteous and ruthless man.
5 כִּֽי־אַתָּ֥ה תִקְוָתִ֑י אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱ֝הֹוִ֗ה מִבְטַחִ֥י מִנְּעוּרָֽי׃‎ For Thou art my hope; O Lord GOD, my trust from my youth.
6 עָלֶ֤יךָ ׀ נִסְמַ֬כְתִּי מִבֶּ֗טֶן מִמְּעֵ֣י אִ֭מִּי אַתָּ֣ה גוֹזִ֑י בְּךָ֖ תְהִלָּתִ֣י תָמִֽיד׃‎ Upon Thee have I stayed myself from birth; Thou art he that took me out of my mother's womb; My praise is continually of Thee.
7 כְּ֭מוֹפֵת הָיִ֣יתִי לְרַבִּ֑ים וְ֝אַתָּ֗ה מַחֲסִי־עֹֽז׃‎ I am as a wonder unto many; But Thou art my strong refuge.
8 יִמָּ֣לֵא פִ֭י תְּהִלָּתֶ֑ךָ כׇּל־הַ֝יּ֗וֹם תִּפְאַרְתֶּֽךָ׃‎ My mouth shall be filled with Thy praise, And with Thy glory all the day. .
9 אַֽל־תַּ֭שְׁלִיכֵנִי לְעֵ֣ת זִקְנָ֑ה כִּכְל֥וֹת כֹּ֝חִ֗י אַֽל־תַּעַזְבֵֽנִי׃‎ Cast me not off in the time of old age; When my strength faileth, forsake me not.
10 כִּֽי־אָמְר֣וּ אוֹיְבַ֣י לִ֑י וְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י נַ֝פְשִׁ֗י נוֹעֲצ֥וּ יַחְדָּֽו׃‎ For mine enemies speak concerning me, And they that watch for my soul take counsel together,
11 לֵ֭אמֹר אֱלֹהִ֣ים עֲזָב֑וֹ רִֽדְפ֥וּ וְ֝תִפְשׂ֗וּהוּ כִּי־אֵ֥ין מַצִּֽיל׃‎ Saying: 'God hath forsaken him; Pursue and take him; for there is none to deliver.'
12 אֱ֭לֹהִים אַל־תִּרְחַ֣ק מִמֶּ֑נִּי אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י לְעֶזְרָ֥תִי (חישה) [חֽוּשָׁה]׃‎ O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me.
13 יֵבֹ֣שׁוּ יִכְלוּ֮ שֹׂטְנֵ֢י נַ֫פְשִׁ֥י יַעֲט֣וּ חֶ֭רְפָּה וּכְלִמָּ֑ה מְ֝בַקְשֵׁ֗י רָֽעָתִֽי׃‎ Let them be ashamed and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; Let them be covered with reproach and confusion that seek my hurt.
14 וַ֭אֲנִי תָּמִ֣יד אֲיַחֵ֑ל וְ֝הוֹסַפְתִּ֗י עַל־כׇּל־תְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ׃‎ But as for me, I will hope continually, And will praise Thee yet more and more.
15 פִּ֤י ׀ יְסַפֵּ֬ר צִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ כׇּל־הַיּ֥וֹם תְּשׁוּעָתֶ֑ךָ כִּ֤י לֹ֖א יָדַ֣עְתִּי סְפֹרֽוֹת׃‎ My mouth shall tell of Thy righteousness, And of Thy salvation all the day; For I know not the numbers thereof.
16 אָב֗וֹא בִּ֭גְבֻרוֹת אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה אַזְכִּ֖יר צִדְקָתְךָ֣ לְבַדֶּֽךָ׃‎ I will come with Thy mighty acts, O Lord GOD; I will make mention of Thy righteousness, even of Thine only.
17 אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים לִמַּדְתַּ֥נִי מִנְּעוּרָ֑י וְעַד־הֵ֝֗נָּה אַגִּ֥יד נִפְלְאוֹתֶֽיךָ׃‎ O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth; And until now do I declare Thy wondrous works.
18 וְגַ֤ם עַד־זִקְנָ֨ה ׀ וְשֵׂיבָה֮ אֱלֹהִ֢ים אַֽל־תַּ֫עַזְבֵ֥נִי עַד־אַגִּ֣יד זְרוֹעֲךָ֣ לְד֑וֹר לְכׇל־יָ֝ב֗וֹא גְּבוּרָתֶֽךָ׃‎ And even unto old age and hoary hairs, O God, forsake me not; Until I have declared Thy strength unto the next generation, Thy might to every one that is to come.
19 וְצִדְקָתְךָ֥ אֱלֹהִ֗ים עַד־מָ֫ר֥וֹם אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֥יתָ גְדֹל֑וֹת אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים מִ֣י כָמֽוֹךָ׃‎ Thy righteousness also, O God, which reacheth unto high heaven; Thou who hast done great things, O God, who is like unto Thee?
20 אֲשֶׁ֤ר (הראיתנו) [הִרְאִיתַ֨נִי ׀] צָר֥וֹת רַבּ֗וֹת וְרָ֫ע֥וֹת תָּשׁ֥וּב (תחינו) [תְּחַיֵּ֑נִי] וּֽמִתְּהֹמ֥וֹת הָ֝אָ֗רֶץ תָּשׁ֥וּב תַּעֲלֵֽנִי׃‎ Thou, who hast made me to see many and sore troubles, Wilt quicken me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
21 תֶּ֤רֶב ׀ גְּֽדֻלָּתִ֗י וְתִסֹּ֥ב תְּֽנַחֲמֵֽנִי׃‎ Thou wilt increase my greatness, And turn and comfort me.
22 גַּם־אֲנִ֤י ׀ אוֹדְךָ֣ בִכְלִי־נֶבֶל֮ אֲמִתְּךָ֢ אֱלֹ֫הָ֥י אֲזַמְּרָ֣ה לְךָ֣ בְכִנּ֑וֹר קְ֝ד֗וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃‎ I also will give thanks unto Thee with the psaltery, Even unto Thy truth, O my God; I will sing praises unto Thee with the harp, O Thou Holy One of Israel.
23 תְּרַנֵּ֣נָּה שְׂ֭פָתַי כִּ֣י אֲזַמְּרָה־לָּ֑ךְ וְ֝נַפְשִׁ֗י אֲשֶׁ֣ר פָּדִֽיתָ׃‎ My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing praises unto Thee; And my soul, which Thou hast redeemed.
24 גַּם־לְשׁוֹנִ֗י כׇּל־הַ֭יּוֹם תֶּהְגֶּ֣ה צִדְקָתֶ֑ךָ כִּי־בֹ֥שׁוּ כִֽי־חָ֝פְר֗וּ מְבַקְשֵׁ֥י רָעָתִֽי׃‎ My tongue also shall tell of Thy righteousness all the day; For they are ashamed, for they are abashed, that seek my hurt.

King James Version

The following is the full English text of the Psalm from the King James Bible.

  1. In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
  2. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
  3. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art 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.
  5. For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.
  6. By 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.
  7. I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.
  8. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
  9. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
  10. For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,
  11. Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.
  12. O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.
  13. Let 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.
  15. My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.
  16. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.
  17. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
  18. Now 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.
  19. Thy 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.
  21. Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
  22. I 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.
  23. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
  24. My 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.

Commentary

Psalm 71 in the Hebrew text does not have a title, one of four such psalms in the first two books of the Psalter. However, the Greek Septuagint text bears the title: "By David, of the sons of Jonadab and the first ones taken captive".[5]

Theologian Albert Barnes suggests that it "belongs to the "class" of psalms which refer to the trials of the righteous".[6]

Verses 9, 17 and 18 suggest that the psalmist is an old man, perhaps a king towards the end of his reign, seeking relief from distress in form of severe illness or the approach of death (verse 20), as well as the taunts of his "enemies" asserting that God has abandoned him (verse 11). The writer affirms his close relationship with God as he speaks of the faith in God which has sustained him all his life (verses 5–6, cf. 17), praying that God will not reject him (verse 9), declaring his witness to God's salvation (verses 15, 18), while asking for renewed health (verses 20–21) and the discrediting of his enemies (verse 13, cf. verse 4), then he will renew his praises (verses 14–16, 22–24).[5]

Ignatius M.C. Obinwa wrote a book on this psalm, based on his doctoral thesis.[7] Obinwa uses a quantitative lexical analysis to argue that the theme of the psalm is not old age, but refuge and YHWH's righteousness.

One unique feature of this psalm is the frequent allusion to other psalms (even almost direct quotation) such as:

  • Verses 1–3 almost matches Psalm 31:1–3
  • Verses 5–6 alludes to Psalm 22:9–10
  • Verse 11 (NRSV reverses the clauses) to Psalm 22:1
  • Verses 12–13 to Psalm 35:22; 38:21; 40:13–14
  • Verse 24 to Psalm 35:4, 26; 40:14.[5]

Uses

Judaism

Book of Common Prayer

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the 14th day of the month.[9]

Musical settings

Heinrich Schütz set Psalm 71 in a metred version in German, "Auf dich, Herr, trau ich alle Zeit", SWV 168, as part of the Becker Psalter, first published in 1628.

Marc-Antoine Charpentier, "In te Domine speravi" H.228, for soloists, chorus, strings and continuo (1699)

References

  1. ^ Parallel Latin/English Psalter, Psalmus 70 (71). Archived 2017-05-07 at the Wayback Machine Medievalist.
  2. ^ Psalm 71: A Hebrew-English Bible according to the Masoretic Text and the JPS 1917 Ed.
  3. ^ "Psalms – Chapter 71". Mechon Mamre.
  4. ^ "Psalms 71 - JPS 1917". Sefaria.org.
  5. ^ a b c Rodd, C. S. (2007), "18. Psalms", in Barton, John; Muddiman, John (eds.), The Oxford Bible Commentary (paperback) (1st ed.), Oxford University Press, pp. 386–87, ISBN 978-0-19927718-6, retrieved February 6, 2019 – via Google books
  6. ^ Barnes, A. [1834], Notes, Psalm 71, Bible hub, accessed 13 December 2021.
  7. ^ Obinwa, Ignatius M. C. (2006). Yahweh my refuge : a critical analysis of Psalm 71. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang. ISBN 3-631-55903-8. OCLC 76814722 – via World cat.
  8. ^ The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 525
  9. ^ Church of England, Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter as printed by John Baskerville in 1762, pp. 196ff
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