Psalm 71's unique pairing of "protection" and "hope" appears in only one other biblical passage, creating an exceptionally rare theological combination that spans from youth to old age.
Psalms 71
Prayer for Lifelong Protection and Support
1In you, LORD, I take refuge. Never let me be disappointed.
2Deliver me in your righteousness, and rescue me. Turn your ear to me, and save me.
3Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go. Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
4Rescue me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
5For you are my hope, Lord GOD, my confidence from my youth.
6I have relied on you from the womb. You are he who took me out of my mother’s womb. I will always praise you.
7I am a marvel to many, but you are my strong refuge.
8My mouth shall be filled with your praise, with your honor all day long.
9Don’t reject me in my old age. Don’t forsake me when my strength fails.
10For my enemies talk about me. Those who watch for my soul conspire together,
11saying, “God has forsaken him. Pursue and take him, for no one will rescue him.”
12God, don’t be far from me. My God, hurry to help me.
13Let my accusers be disappointed and consumed. Let them be covered with disgrace and scorn who want to harm me.
14But I will always hope, and will add to all of your praise.
15My mouth will tell about your righteousness, and of your salvation all day, though I don’t know its full measure.
16I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord GOD. I will make mention of your righteousness, even of yours alone.
17God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wondrous works.
18Yes, even when I am old and gray-haired, God, don’t forsake me, until I have declared your strength to the next generation, your might to everyone who is to come.
19God, your righteousness also reaches to the heavens. You have done great things. God, who is like you?
20You, who have shown us many and bitter troubles, you will let me live. You will bring us up again from the depths of the earth.
21Increase my honor and comfort me again.
22I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God. I sing praises to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel.
23My lips shall shout for joy! My soul, which you have redeemed, sings praises to you!
24My tongue will also talk about your righteousness all day long, for they are disappointed, and they are confounded, who want to harm me.
Font Size 17pt
Line Spacing
Theme
Psalm 71 is an elderly believer's prayer for continued divine protection and deliverance from enemies who see old age as vulnerability. The psalmist reflects on a lifetime of God's faithfulness from birth to old age, expressing unwavering trust despite current threats and physical decline. The psalm concludes with renewed commitment to praise God and declare His righteousness to future generations, demonstrating how faith can remain vibrant even in life's final seasons.
Context
This psalm continues the collection's themes of individual lament and trust, particularly reflecting the concerns of aging believers found throughout the latter portions of the Psalter.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-4 Urgent plea for refuge and rescue The psalmist seeks God as rock and fortress against wicked oppressors
- 5-8 Testimony of lifelong trust Declares God as hope and confidence from youth, resulting in continual praise
- 9-13 Fear of abandonment in old age Pleads not to be forsaken when weak as enemies plot his downfall
- 14-18 Commitment to ongoing praise and witness Vows to continue declaring God's righteousness to the next generation
- 19-24 Confident praise and vindication Celebrates God's incomparable greatness and anticipates triumph over enemies
Prayer for Lifelong Protection and Support
71:1–71:24 poetry prayer hopeful
A psalm of personal petition seeking God's lifelong protection and deliverance from enemies, expressing unwavering trust and commitment to praise God from youth to old age.
theme_rarity
Psalm 71's unique pairing of "protection" and "hope" appears in only one other biblical passage, creating an exceptionally rare theological combination that spans from youth to old age.
Insights
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Psalms 71:2 1 reference
Psalms 71:5 3 references
Lexicals 3
Ezekiel 29:16 Lexical
It will no longer be the confidence of the house of Israel, bringing iniquity to memory, when they turn to look after th…
Ezekiel 4:14 Lexical
Then I said, “Ah Lord GOD! Behold, my soul has not been polluted; for from my youth up even until now I have not eaten o…
Ezekiel 16:43 Lexical
“‘“Because you have not remembered the days of your youth, but have raged against me in all these things; therefore, beh…
Psalms 71:6 1 reference
Psalms 71:9 1 reference
Psalms 71:13 2 references
Psalms 71:16 2 references
Psalms 71:18 2 references
Psalms 71:22 3 references
Lexicals 3
Psalms 33:2 Lexical
Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre. Sing praises to him with the harp of ten strings.
1 Chronicles 15:16 Lexical
David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers with instruments of music, stringed instrum…
1 Chronicles 16:5 Lexical
Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, an…
Psalms 71:24 1 reference
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
v. 1
v. 2
v. 3
v. 4
v. 5
v. 6
v. 7
v. 8
v. 9
v. 10
v. 11
v. 12
v. 13
v. 14
v. 15
v. 16
v. 17
v. 18
v. 19
v. 20
v. 21
v. 22
v. 23
v. 24
Lemma
Morphology
Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages