Psalms 71:8-18

8 et dominabitur a mari usque ad mare et a flumine usque ad terminos orbis terrarum

9 coram illo procident Aethiopes et inimici eius terram lingent

10 reges Tharsis et insulae munera offerent reges Arabum et Saba dona adducent

11 et adorabunt eum omnes reges omnes gentes servient ei

12 quia liberavit pauperem a potente et pauperem cui non erat adiutor

13 parcet pauperi et inopi et animas pauperum salvas faciet

14 ex usuris et iniquitate redimet animas eorum et honorabile nomen eorum coram illo

15 et vivet et dabitur ei de auro Arabiae et orabunt de ipso semper tota die benedicent ei

16 erit firmamentum in terra in summis montium superextolletur super Libanum fructus eius et florebunt de civitate sicut faenum terrae

17 sit nomen eius benedictum in saecula ante solem permanet nomen eius et benedicentur in ipso omnes tribus terrae omnes gentes beatificabunt eum

18 benedictus Dominus Deus Deus Israhel qui facit mirabilia solus

Psalms 71:8-18 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.