Psalms 71:9-19

9 Do not reject me now that I am old; do not abandon me now that I am feeble.

10 My enemies want to kill me; they talk and plot against me.

11 They say, "God has abandoned him; let's go after him and catch him; there is no one to rescue him."

12 Don't stay so far away, O God; my God, hurry to my aid!

13 May those who attack me be defeated and destroyed. May those who try to hurt me be shamed and disgraced.

14 I will always put my hope in you; I will praise you more and more.

15 I will tell of your goodness; all day long I will speak of your salvation, though it is more than I can understand.

16 I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will proclaim your goodness, yours alone.

17 You have taught me ever since I was young, and I still tell of your wonderful acts.

18 Now that I am old and my hair is gray, do not abandon me, O God! Be with me while I proclaim your power and might to all generations to come.

19 Your righteousness, God, reaches the skies. You have done great things; there is no one 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.