Psalms 31:16

16 Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

Psalms 31:16 in Other Translations

KJV
16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.
ESV
16 Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love!
NLT
16 Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me.
MSG
16 Warm me, your servant, with a smile; save me because you love me.
CSB
16 Show Your favor to Your servant; save me by Your faithful love.

Psalms 31:16 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 31:16

Make thy face to shine upon thy servant
In which he prays for the gracious presence of God, the manifestations of himself unto him, the discoveries of his love, the enjoyment of him in Christ, communion with him, the comforts of his Spirit, and joys of his salvation; see ( Numbers 6:25 Numbers 6:26 ) ;

save me for thy mercies' sake;
not for any merit and righteousness of his own, but for the sake of the grace and goodness of the Lord; which is putting salvation, whether temporal or spiritual, upon its right foot and foundation; which is never wrought out by, or is for works of righteousness done by men, but according to the grace and mercy of God.

Psalms 31:16 In-Context

14 But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.
17 Let me not be put to shame, LORD, for I have cried out to you; but let the wicked be put to shame and be silent in the realm of the dead.
18 Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous.

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Numbers 6:25; Psalms 4:6
  • 2. S Psalms 6:4
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.