Psalms — Chapter 62

Loading ESV text...

1Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.

2He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

3How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.

4They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.

5My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

6He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

7In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

8Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

9Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.

10Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

11God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

12Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

1My soul waiteth in silence for God only: From him [cometh] my salvation.

2He only is my rock and my salvation: [He is] my high tower; I shall not be greatly moved.

3How long will ye set upon a man, That ye may slay [him], all of you, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?

4They only consult to thrust him down from his dignity; They delight in lies; They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah

5My soul, wait thou in silence for God only; For my expectation is from him.

6He only is my rock and my salvation: [He is] my high tower; I shall not be moved.

7With God is my salvation and my glory: The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

8Trust in him at all times, ye people; Pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah

9Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: In the balances they will go up; They are together lighter than vanity.

10Trust not in oppression, And become not vain in robbery: If riches increase, set not your heart [thereon].

11God hath spoken once, Twice have I heard this, That power belongeth unto God.

12Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth lovingkindness; For thou renderest to every man according to his work. Psalm 63 A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

1For the music director, Jeduthun; a psalm of David. For God alone I patiently wait; he is the one who delivers me.

2He alone is my protector and deliverer. He is my refuge; I will not be upended.

3How long will you threaten a man like me? All of you are murderers, as dangerous as a leaning wall or an unstable fence.

4They spend all their time planning how to bring their victim down. They love to use deceit; they pronounce blessings with their mouths, but inwardly they utter curses. (Selah)

5Patiently wait for God alone, my soul! For he is the one who gives me hope.

6He alone is my protector and deliverer. He is my refuge; I will not be shaken.

7God delivers me and exalts me; God is my strong protector and my shelter.

8Trust in him at all times, you people! Pour out your hearts before him. God is our shelter. (Selah)

9Men are nothing but a mere breath; human beings are unreliable. When they are weighed in the scales, all of them together are lighter than air.

10Do not trust in what you can gain by oppression. Do not put false confidence in what you can gain by robbery. If wealth increases, do not become attached to it.

11God has declared one principle; two principles I have heard: God is strong,

12and you, O Lord, demonstrate loyal love. For you repay men for what they do.

1My soul rests in God alone. My salvation is from him.

2He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress— I will never be greatly shaken.

3How long will you assault a man, would all of you throw him down, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?

4They fully intend to throw him down from his lofty place. They delight in lies. They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.

5My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from him.

6He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken.

7With God is my salvation and my honor. The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

8Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Selah.

9Surely men of low degree are just a breath, and men of high degree are a lie. In the balances they will go up. They are together lighter than a breath.

10Don’t trust in oppression. Don’t become vain in robbery. If riches increase, don’t set your heart on them.

11God has spoken once; twice I have heard this, that power belongs to God.

12Also to you, Lord, belongs loving kindness, for you reward every man according to his work.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Videos
Reflection

Summary

A psalm of quiet trust — 'My soul waiteth only upon God; from him cometh my salvation'; men are but a breath, trust not in extortion or riches; power and steadfast love belong to God alone.

Authorship & Background

Author: Multiple authors — primarily David (73 psalms attributed), plus Asaph (12), Sons of Korah (11), Solomon (2), Moses (1), Heman (1), Ethan (1), and anonymous. The Psalter was compiled over approximately 1000 years and served as Israel's hymnal and prayer book. The book is divided into five 'books' (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150), paralleling the five books of Moses. Key themes: worship, lament, praise, trust, kingship, creation, wisdom, Messianic prophecy, and the full range of human emotion brought before God.
Classification: Trust / Confidence Psalm Attributed Author: David (directed to Jeduthun, a worship leader) Key Themes: Waiting on God alone, soul silence before God, God as rock and fortress, the vanity of human trust, power and mercy belong to God
Historical Context: This psalm is directed "to Jeduthun" (one of David's three chief musicians — 1 Chronicles 16:41-42). It may date from Absalom's rebellion when David faced both political conspiracy (v.4) and personal betrayal (v.4b — "they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly"). The repeated word "only" (Hebrew "ak") appears six times, making it the psalm's key word. David insists that God ALONE is sufficient — not human alliances, not wealth, not power. The psalm moves from personal testimony (vv.1-7) to public exhortation (vv.8-12) and concludes with one of Scripture's clearest statements about God's nature: power and mercy belong to Him.
Structure:
  • David's Soul Waits in Silence (vv.1-2)
  • Rebuke of Enemies (vv.3-4)
  • Renewed Declaration of Trust (vv.5-7)
  • Exhortation to Trust God (v.8)
  • The Vanity of Human Trust (vv.9-10)
  • God's Final Word: Power and Mercy (vv.11-12)

Map & Geography

  • No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.

Videos

The Bible Project — Psalms Overview

Reflection

  • 1. Silence before God is strength, not weakness (v.1). In a world that rewards noise and hustle, choosing stillness before God is radical trust. It says "I don't need to manipulate outcomes — God is enough."
  • 2. You may be shaken but you won't be destroyed (v.2). "Not GREATLY moved" — faith doesn't promise zero turbulence. It promises you won't be overthrown. The rock sways in the storm but doesn't crumble.
  • 3. Pour out your heart without editing (v.8). God doesn't need polished prayers. He wants raw honesty. Pour it out — the anger, the fear, the confusion, the grief. He is big enough to receive it all.
  • 4. No human being can bear the weight of being your God (v.9). Don't put people on God's throne — they are lighter than breath. People will disappoint. Only God can bear the weight of your ultimate trust.
  • 5. God is both powerful AND merciful (vv.11-12). This is the gospel in two words. If God were only powerful, we would be terrified. If only merciful, we would doubt His ability. He is both — and that changes everything.