Psalms 71:20

20 Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.

Psalms 71:20 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
20 Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again.
New Living Translation (NLT)
20 You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth.
The Message Bible (MSG)
20 You, who made me stare trouble in the face, Turn me around; Now let me look life in the face. I've been to the bottom;
American Standard Version (ASV)
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.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
20 You have made me endure many terrible troubles. You restore me to life again. You bring me back from the depths of the earth.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
20 You caused me to experience many troubles and misfortunes, but You will revive me again. You will bring me up again, even from the depths of the earth.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
20 You have sent many bitter troubles my way. But you will give me new life. Even if I'm almost in the grave, you will bring me back.

Psalms 71:20 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 71:20

[Thou], which hast showed me great and sore troubles
Or, "made [him] to see" F7; that is, to experience. David had his troubles, and these were great, both as to quantity and quality; and very grievous and hard to be borne, and were very trying and afflictive: some outward, such as he endured when persecuted by Saul; and afterwards in his own family, though the incest of Ammon, the murder of him by Absalom, and Absalom's rebellion against him; the curses of Shimei, and the bickerings of the sons of Zeruiah; with many others: and some inward, arising from the corruptions of his heart, the hidings of God's face, and the temptations of Satan. His experience of all which he ascribes, not to instruments or second causes, but to God himself; who had either laid them upon him, or suffered them to befall him, for wise ends of his glory, and his servant's good. There is in this clause and the following, a "Keri" and a "Cetib"; according to the "Cetib", or writing in the text, it is, "who hast showed us"; and so the Targum renders it: but according to the "Keri" in the margin, and the points, it is as we read; so it is in the Septuagint and Oriental versions, and both may be retained; for David's troubles, and those of other saints, are much the same;

shalt quicken me again;
either raise him from so great a death of afflictions, in which he seemed to be as a dead man, both by himself and others, to a more comfortable and happy state and condition, in which he might live more free from vexation and trouble: or, in a spiritual sense, quicken him, being dead and lifeless, in the exercise of grace, and discharge of duty; which is usually done by the word and ordinances, and to purpose, by the discoveries of the love of God, which excite grace, and animate to duty. And this is God's work, and may be called a quickening again in distinction from the first quickening, when dead in trespasses and sins;

and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth;
expressive of a very low estate, either of body or mind, into which he had been brought; see ( Psalms 130:1 ) ( 88:6 ) . Could the psalm be understood of Christ, this and the preceding clause might be applied to his resurrection from the dead; see ( Ephesians 4:9 ) ; and to the resurrection of the saints; on which the faith of Christ and his people is exercised,


FOOTNOTES:

F7 (wntyarh) "fecisti me videre", Vatablus, Cocceius, Gejerus; "videre et experiri fecisti nos", Michaelis.

Psalms 71:20 In-Context

18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.
19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things. Who is like you, God?
20 Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honor and comfort me once more.
22 I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Psalms 25:17; Psalms 60:3
  • 2. Psalms 80:3,19; Psalms 85:4; Hosea 6:2
  • 3. S Psalms 63:9
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.