Psalms 71:9-19

9 Do not give me up when I am old; be my help even when my strength is gone.

10 For my haters are waiting secretly for me; and those who are watching for my soul are banded together in their evil designs,

11 Saying, God has given him up; go after him and take him, for he has no helper.

12 O God, be not far from me; O my God, come quickly to my help.

13 Let those who say evil against my soul be overcome and put to shame; let my haters be made low and have no honour.

14 But I will go on ever hoping, and increasing in all your praise.

15 My mouth will make clear your righteousness and your salvation all the day; for they are more than may be measured.

16 I will give news of the great acts of the Lord God; my words will be of your righteousness, and of yours only.

17 O God, you have been my teacher from the time when I was young; and I have been talking of your works of wonder even till now.

18 Now when I am old and grey-headed, O God, give me not up; till I have made clear your strength to this generation, and your power to all those to come.

19 Your righteousness, O God, is very high; you have done great things; O God, who is like you?

Psalms 71:9-19 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.