Psalms — Chapter 71
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1In 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.
14But 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 greyheaded, 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!
20Thou, 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.
1In thee, O Jehovah, do I take refuge: Let me never be put to shame.
2Deliver me in thy righteousness, and rescue me: Bow down thine ear unto me, and save me.
3Be thou to me a rock of habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: Thou hast given commandment to save me; For thou art my rock and my fortress.
4Rescue 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 Jehovah: [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.
8My mouth shall be filled with thy praise, And with thy honor all the day.
9Cast me not off in the time of old age; Forsake me not when my strength faileth.
10For mine enemies speak concerning me; And they that watch for my soul take counsel together,
11Saying, God hath forsaken him: Pursue and take him; for there is none to deliver.
12O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me.
13Let them be put to shame [and] consumed that are adversaries to my soul; Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor that seek my hurt.
14But I will hope continually, And will praise thee yet more and more.
15My mouth shall tell of thy righteousness, [And] of thy salvation all the day; For I know not the numbers [thereof].
16I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord Jehovah: 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.
18Yea, even when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not, Until I have declared thy strength unto [the next] generation, Thy might to every one that is to come.
19Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high; Thou who hast done great things, O God, who is like unto thee?
20Thou, who hast showed us many and sore troubles, Wilt quicken us again, And wilt bring us up again from the depths of the earth.
21Increase thou my greatness, And turn again and comfort me.
22I will also praise thee with the psaltery, [Even] thy truth, O my God: Unto thee will I sing praises with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
23My lips shall shout for joy when I sing praises unto thee; And my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
24My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long; For they are put to shame, for they are confounded, that seek my hurt. Psalm 72 [A Psalm] of Solomon.
1In you, O Lord, I have taken shelter. Never let me be humiliated.
2Vindicate me by rescuing me. Listen to me. Deliver me.
3Be my protector and refuge, a stronghold where I can be safe. For you are my high ridge and my stronghold.
4My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked, from the hand of the cruel oppressor.
5For you are my hope; O Sovereign Lord, I have trusted in you since I was young.
6I have leaned on you since birth; you pulled me from my mother’s womb. I praise you continually.
7Many are appalled when they see me, but you are my secure shelter.
8I praise you constantly and speak of your splendor all day long.
9Do not reject me in my old age. When my strength fails, do not abandon me.
10For my enemies talk about me; those waiting for a chance to kill me plot my demise.
11They say, “God has abandoned him. Run and seize him, for there is no one who will rescue him.”
12O God, do not remain far away from me. My God, hurry and help me.
13May my accusers be humiliated and defeated. May those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace.
14As for me, I will wait continually, and will continue to praise you.
15I will tell about your justice, and all day long proclaim your salvation, though I cannot fathom its full extent.
16I will come and tell about the mighty acts of the Sovereign Lord. I will proclaim your justice—yours alone.
17O God, you have taught me since I was young, and I am still declaring your amazing deeds.
18Even when I am old and gray, O God, do not abandon me, until I tell the next generation about your strength and those coming after me about your power.
19Your justice, O God, extends to the skies above; you have done great things. O God, who can compare to you?
20Though you have allowed me to experience much trouble and distress, revive me once again. Bring me up once again from the depths of the earth.
21Raise me to a position of great honor. Turn and comfort me.
22I will express my thanks to you with a stringed instrument, praising your faithfulness, O my God. I will sing praises to you accompanied by a harp, O Holy One of Israel.
23My lips will shout for joy. Yes, I will sing your praises. I will praise you when you rescue me.
24All day long my tongue will also tell about your justice, for those who want to harm me will be embarrassed and ashamed.
1In you, Yahweh, I take refuge. Never let me be disappointed.
2Deliver me in your righteousness, and rescue me. Turn your ear to me, and save me.
3Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go. Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
4Rescue me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
5For you are my hope, Lord Yahweh; my confidence from my youth.
6I have relied on you from the womb. You are he who took me out of my mother’s womb. I will always praise you.
7I am a marvel to many, but you are my strong refuge.
8My mouth shall be filled with your praise, with your honor all day long.
9Don’t reject me in my old age. Don’t forsake me when my strength fails.
10For my enemies talk about me. Those who watch for my soul conspire together,
11saying, “God has forsaken him. Pursue and take him, for no one will rescue him.”
12God, don’t be far from me. My God, hurry to help me.
13Let my accusers be disappointed and consumed. Let them be covered with disgrace and scorn who want to harm me.
14But I will always hope, and will add to all of your praise.
15My mouth will tell about your righteousness, and of your salvation all day, though I don’t know its full measure.
16I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord Yahweh. I will make mention of your righteousness, even of yours alone.
17God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wondrous works.
18Yes, even when I am old and gray-haired, God, don’t forsake me, until I have declared your strength to the next generation, your might to everyone who is to come.
19Your righteousness also, God, reaches to the heavens; you have done great things. God, who is like you?
20You, who have shown us many and bitter troubles, you will let me live. You will bring us up again from the depths of the earth.
21Increase my honor, and comfort me again.
22I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God. I sing praises to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel.
23My lips shall shout for joy! My soul, which you have redeemed, sings praises to you!
24My tongue will also talk about your righteousness all day long, for they are disappointed, and they are confounded, who want to harm me.
Summary
An elderly man's lament and trust — the psalmist has trusted God from youth and the womb; now old and gray, he begs God not to forsake him but to continue his strength so he can declare God's power to the next generation.
Authorship & Background
- Cry for Refuge and Deliverance (vv.1-4)
- Lifelong Trust from the Womb (vv.5-8)
- Prayer Against Abandonment in Old Age (vv.9-13)
- Commitment to Continual Praise (vv.14-16)
- Declaration to the Next Generation (vv.17-21)
- Musical Praise and Joy (vv.22-24)
Map & Geography
- No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.
Reflection
- 1. A lifetime of faith does not eliminate the need for prayer (vv.1-4). Even after decades with God, David still cries out. Spiritual maturity doesn't mean self-sufficiency — it means deeper dependence.
- 2. Fear of being discarded in old age is human and valid (v.9). If you feel this fear — that your best years of usefulness are behind you — bring it to God honestly. He does not discard His servants.
- 3. Your purpose in old age: testify to the next generation (v.18). The elderly have something irreplaceable — lived experience of God's faithfulness. Your job is not to retire from God's service but to pass on what you've witnessed.
- 4. Past deliverances prove future faithfulness (v.20). Count them. Remember them. Every time God brought you through is evidence that He will do it again. Your history with God is your strongest argument for hope.