Psalms 31:13-23

13 For I have heard the defaming of many, Terror on every side: While they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

14 But I trusted in thee, O Jehovah: I said, Thou art my God.

15 My times are in thy hand: Deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: Save me in thy lovingkindness.

17 Let me not be put to shame, O Jehovah; For I have called upon thee: Let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol.

18 Let the lying lips be dumb, Which speak against the righteous insolently, With pride and contempt.

19 Oh how great is thy goodness, Which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, Which thou hast wrought for them that take refuge in thee, Before the sons of men!

20 In the covert of thy presence wilt thou hide them from the plottings of man: Thou wilt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

21 Blessed be Jehovah; For he hath showed me his marvellous lovingkindness in a strong city.

22 As for me, I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: Nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications When I cried unto thee.

23 Oh love Jehovah, all ye his saints: Jehovah preserveth the faithful, And plentifully rewardeth him that dealeth proudly.

Psalms 31:13-23 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.