CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Psalms 71
Chapter 71 of 150
Chapter Overview
What happens in Psalms 71
An unnamed psalm, likely from an elderly person looking back over a lifetime of God's faithfulness. The psalmist asks God not to abandon him in old age and promises to praise God to the next generation.
Scripture
Psalms 71
A Lifelong Trust in God
Study note
The psalmist has trusted God since birth. God has been his hope since youth. He asks for deliverance from the wicked and declares he has praised God continually.
1 Lord, you are the one I have run to for safety. Please never let me end up humiliated. In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
2 Because you are right and, come to my rescue and set me free. Bend your ear close to me and save me. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
3 Be the rock I can always run to for shelter. Give the word to save me, because you are my rock and my fortress. 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 My God, pull me out of the grip of the wicked — out of the clutches of people who are cruel and unfair. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
5 You are what I have been hoping in, Lord God — you have been my confidence ever since I was young. For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.
6 I have depended on you from the very day I was born. You are the one who brought me into this world. My praise has always been about you. 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.
Do Not Abandon Me in Old Age
Study note
The psalmist has been a sign to many. His enemies say God has abandoned him. He begs God not to cast him off when his strength fails.
7 Many people look at me and shake their heads, but you are the strong shelter I keep running to. I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is brimming with praise for you — overflowing with talk about your glory all day long. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
9 Don't throw me aside now that I am old. Don't walk away when my strength has faded. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
10 My enemies talk about me all the time. Those looking for a chance to kill me meet together and make plans. For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,
11 They say, "God has walked away from him. Go after him and grab him — no one is coming to his rescue." Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.
12 God, don't stay far from me. My God, rush to help me. O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.
13 Let those who accuse me be covered in shame and destroyed. Let those who are out to harm me be buried in disgrace and humiliation. Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
Praising God to the Next Generation
Study note
Despite troubles, the psalmist will hope continually and praise God more and more. He asks God not to forsake him until he has told the next generation about God's mighty power. His tongue will speak of God's righteousness all day long.
14 But I will never stop hoping. I will pile more and more praise on top of what I have already given. But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
15 My mouth will talk about your goodness and your saving power all through the day, even though I could never count it all. My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.
16 I will walk forward and tell everyone about the mighty things the Lord God has done. I will proclaim your goodness — yours and yours alone. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.
17 God, you have been teaching me ever since I was young, and I am still telling people about the amazing things you do. 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 gray-headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have shown your strength to this generation, and your power to every one that is to come. 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 Your goodness reaches all the way up to the heavens, God. You have accomplished incredible things. God, who is even remotely like you? Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!
20 You have put me through many troubles and bitter hardships, but you are going to bring me back to life again. You are going to pull me up again from the deepest depths of the earth. 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 You will build my honor back up even higher and wrap me in comfort once more. Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
22 I will praise you with music from a harp for how faithful you have been, my God. I will sing to you on a lyre, O Holy One of Israel. 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 will burst with joy as I sing praise to you — this soul of mine that you bought back and set free. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
24 All day long my tongue will talk about your goodness. Everyone who wanted to hurt me has been put to shame. 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.
Key Themes
Themes in Psalms 71
Lifelong trust in God from youth to old ageGod's faithfulness across a lifetimeTelling the next generation about God's deedsHope that does not fade with age
Apply This Today
Living Psalms 71
This psalm is a beautiful testimony from someone who has walked with God for decades. The psalmist asks God not to abandon Him in old age — and God does not. No matter what stage of life you are in, your story with God is not finished. And your greatest ministry may be telling the next generation what God has done for you.
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Study Psalms in Covenant Path
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