Psaume 71:1-8

1 Eternel! je cherche en toi mon refuge: Que jamais je ne sois confondu!

2 Dans ta justice, sauve-moi et délivre-moi! Incline vers moi ton oreille, et secours-moi!

3 Sois pour moi un rocher qui me serve d'asile, Où je puisse toujours me retirer! Tu as résolu de me sauver, Car tu es mon rocher et ma forteresse.

4 Mon Dieu, délivre-moi de la main du méchant, De la main de l'homme inique et violent!

5 Car tu es mon espérance, Seigneur Eternel! En toi je me confie dès ma jeunesse.

6 Dès le ventre de ma mère je m'appuie sur toi; C'est toi qui m'as fait sortir du sein maternel; tu es sans cesse l'objet de mes louanges.

7 Je suis pour plusieurs comme un prodige, Et toi, tu es mon puissant refuge.

8 Que ma bouche soit remplie de tes louanges, Que chaque jour elle te glorifie!

Psaume 71:1-8 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.