Psalms 31:1-8

1 I come to you, Lord, for protection; never let me be defeated. You are a righteous God; save me, I pray!

2 Hear me! Save me now! Be my refuge to protect me; my defense to save me.

3 You are my refuge and defense; guide me and lead me as you have promised.

4 Keep me safe from the trap that has been set for me; shelter me from danger.

5 I place myself in your care. ¹ You will save me, Lord; you are a faithful God.

6 You hate those who worship false gods, but I trust in you.

7 I will be glad and rejoice because of your constant love. You see my suffering; you know my trouble.

8 You have not let my enemies capture me; you have given me freedom to go where I wish.

Psalms 31:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David. This psalm, according to Arama, was composed by David when in Keilah; but, according to Kimchi and others, when the Ziphites proposed to deliver him up into the hands of Saul; and who, upon their solicitations, came down and surrounded him with his army, from whom in haste he made his escape, and to which he is thought to refer in Psalm 31:22. Theodoret supposes it was written by David when he fled from Absalom, and that it has some respect in it to his sin against Uriah, in that verse.

Cross References

• 1. 31.5Luke 23.46.