Psalmen 71:1-6

1 Op U, o HEERE! betrouw ik; laat mij niet beschaamd worden in eeuwigheid.

2 Red mij door Uw gerechtigheid, en bevrijd mij; neig Uw oor tot mij, en verlos mij.

3 Wees mij tot een Rotssteen, om daarin te wonen, om geduriglijk daarin te gaan; Gij hebt bevel gegeven, om mij te verlossen, want Gij zijt mijn Steenrots en mijn Burg.

4 Mijn God, bevrijd mij van de hand des goddelozen, van de hand desgenen, die verkeerdelijk handelt, en des opgeblazenen.

5 Want Gij zijt mijn Verwachting, Heere, HEERE! mijn Vertrouwen van mijn jeugd aan.

6 Op U heb ik gesteund van den buik aan; van mijner moeders ingewand aan zijt Gij mijn Uithelper; mijn lof is geduriglijk van U.

Psalmen 71:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 71

This psalm is without a title, but is thought to be David's: the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, and all the Oriental ones, ascribe it to him; and both the subject and style show it to be his. According to the title of the Syriac version, it was composed by him when Saul made war against the house of David; but this is not likely, since it was written by him in his old age, Ps 71:9,18; rather, according to Kimchi and Arama, it was penned when he fled from his son Absalom: there are several things in it which incline to this. The Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions call it

``A Psalm of David, of the sons of Jonadab, and of the first that were carried captive;''

and so the Ethiopic and Arabic versions. Apollinarius says the sons of Jonadab composed it; but without any foundation for it; and the Syriac version is, it is a prophecy concerning the sufferings and resurrection of the Messiah; and so Jerom and others interpret it. The literal meaning respecting David seems best, though it may be applied to the church, and to any believer in distress. Theodoret thinks it was written by David in the person of the captives in Babylon.