Salmi 71

1 In te, o Eterno, io mi confido, fa’ ch’io non sia giammai confuso.

2 Per la tua giustizia, liberami, fammi scampare! Inchina a me il tuo orecchio, e salvami!

3 Siimi una ròcca, una dimora ove io possa sempre rifugiarmi! Tu hai prescritto ch’io sia salvato, perché sei la mia rupe e la mia fortezza.

4 O mio Dio, liberami dalla man dell’empio dalla man del perverso e del violento!

5 Poiché tu sei la mia speranza, o Signore, o Eterno, la mia fiducia fin dalla mia fanciullezza.

6 Tu sei stato il mio sostegno fin dal seno materno, sei tu che m’hai tratto dalle viscere di mia madre; tu sei del continuo l’oggetto della mia lode.

7 Io son per molti come un prodigio, ma tu sei il mio forte ricetto.

8 Sia la mia bocca ripiena della tua lode, e celebri ogni giorno la tua gloria!

9 Non rigettarmi al tempo della vecchiezza, non abbandonarmi quando le mie forze declinano.

10 Perché i miei nemici parlan di me, e quelli che spiano l’anima mia cospirano assieme,

11 dicendo: Iddio l’ha abbandonato; inseguitelo e prendetelo, perché non c’è alcuno che lo liberi.

12 O Dio, non allontanarti da me, mio Dio, affrettati in mio aiuto!

13 Sian confusi, siano consumati gli avversari dell’anima mia, sian coperti d’onta e di vituperio quelli che cercano il mio male!

14 Ma io spererò del continuo, e a tutte le tue lodi ne aggiungerò delle altre.

15 La mia bocca racconterà tuttodì la tua giustizia e le tue liberazioni, perché non ne conosco il numero.

16 Io mi farò innanzi a dir de’ potenti atti del Signore, dell’Eterno; ricorderò la tua giustizia, la tua soltanto.

17 O Dio, tu m’hai ammaestrato dalla mia fanciullezza, ed io, fino ad ora, ho annunziato le tue maraviglie.

18 Ed anche quando sia giunto alla vecchiaia ed alla canizie, o Dio, non abbandonarmi, finché non abbia fatto conoscere il tuo braccio a questa generazione, e la tua potenza a quelli che verranno.

19 Anche la tua giustizia, o Dio, è eccelsa; tu hai fatto cose grandi; o Dio, chi è pari a te?

20 Tu, che ci hai fatto veder molte e gravi distrette, ci darai di nuovo la vita e ci trarrai di nuovo dagli abissi della terra;

21 tu accrescerai la mia grandezza, e ti volgerai di nuovo a me per consolarmi.

22 Io altresì ti celebrerò col saltèro, celebrerò la tua verità, o mio Dio! A te salmeggerò con la cetra, o Santo d’Israele!

23 Le mie labbra giubileranno, quando salmeggerò a te e l’anima mia pure, che tu hai riscattata.

24 Anche la mia lingua parlerà tuttodì della tua giustizia, perché sono stati svergognati, sono stati confusi quelli che cercavano il mio male.

Salmi 71 Commentary

Chapter 71

Prayers that God would deliver and save. (1-13) Believing praises. (14-24)

Verses 1-13 David prays that he might never be made ashamed of dependence upon God. With this petition every true believer may come boldly to the throne of grace. The gracious care of Divine providence in our birth and infancy, should engage us to early piety. He that was our Help from our birth, ought to be our Hope from our youth. Let none expect ease or comfort from the world. Those who love the Lord, often are hated and persecuted; men wondered at for their principles and conduct; but the Lord has been their strong refuge. The faithful servants of God may be assured that he will not cast them off in old age, nor forsake them when their strength fails.

Verses 14-24 The psalmist declares that the righteousness of Christ, and the great salvation obtained thereby, shall be the chosen subject of his discourse. Not on a sabbath only, but on every day of the week, of the year, of his life. Not merely at stated returns of solemn devotion, but on every occasion, all the day long. Why will he always dwell on this? Because he knew not the numbers thereof. It is impossible to measure the value or the fulness of these blessings. The righteousness is unspeakable, the salvation everlasting. God will not cast off his grey-headed servants when no longer capable of labouring as they have done. The Lord often strengthens his people in their souls, when nature is sinking into decay. And it is a debt which the old disciples of Christ owe to succeeding generations, to leave behind them a solemn testimony to the advantage of religion, and the truth of God's promises; and especially to the everlasting righteousness of the Redeemer. Assured of deliverance and victory, let us spend our days, while waiting the approach of death, in praising the Holy One of Israel with all our powers. And while speaking of his righteousness, and singing his praises, we shall rise above fears and infirmities, and have earnests of the joys of heaven. The work of redemption ought, above all God's works, to be spoken of by us in our praises. The Lamb that was slain, and has redeemed us to God, is worthy of all blessing and praise.

Chapter Summary

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.