Psalm 62:3-12

3 How long will you threaten a man? Will all of you attack^[a] as if he were a leaning wall or a tottering stone fence?

4 They only plan to bring him down from his high position. They take pleasure in lying; they bless with their mouths, but they curse inwardly. Selah

5 Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him.

6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken.

7 My salvation and glory depend on God; my strong rock, my refuge, is in God.

8 Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah

9 Men are only a vapor;^[b] exalted men, an illusion. On a balance scale, they go up; together they [weigh] less than a vapor.

10 Place no trust in oppression, or false hope in robbery. If wealth increases, pay no attention to it.^{[c] [d]}

11 God has spoken once; I have heard this twice: strength belongs to God,

12 and faithful love belongs to You, Lord. For You repay each according to his works.

Psalm 62:3-12 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, [A Psalm] of David. Concerning "Jeduthun," See Gill on "Ps 39:1," title. Kimchi thinks this psalm was written concerning the captivity; and Jarchi twtdh le, concerning the decrees and judgments made against Israel by their enemies; and so some of their ancient expositions {d}; but it seems to have been composed by David when in distress, either through Saul and his courtiers, or by reason of the conspiracy of Absalom. Theodoret takes it to be a prophecy of the persecution of Antiochus in the times of the Maccabees.

{d} Vid. Yalkut Simeoni in loc.

Footnotes

• [a] Other Hb mss read you be struck down
• [b] Ps 39:5-6,11
• [c] Lit increases, do not set heart
• [d] Jb 31:24-25; Mk 4:19; 1 Tm 6:10,17-19
• [e] Mt 16:27; Rm 2:6; Rv 22:12