Psalms 71:14-24

14 But I will hope continually, And will praise thee yet more and more.

15 My mouth shall tell of thy righteousness, [And] of thy salvation all the day; For I know not the numbers [thereof].

16 I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord Jehovah: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth; And hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

18 Yea, even when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not, Until I have declared thy strength unto [the next] generation, Thy might to every one that is to come.

19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high; Thou who hast done great things, O God, who is like unto thee?

20 Thou, who hast showed us many and sore troubles, Wilt quicken us again, And wilt bring us up again from the depths of the earth.

21 Increase thou my greatness, And turn again and comfort me.

22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, [Even] thy truth, O my God: Unto thee will I sing praises with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips shall shout for joy when I sing praises unto thee; And my soul, which thou hast redeemed.

24 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long; For they are put to shame, for they are confounded, that seek my hurt.

Psalms 71:14-24 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.