Psalm 70 – In te, Domine

A prayer for perseverance.

[1] A psalm for David. Of the sons of Jonadab, and the former captives. In thee, O Lord, I have hoped, let me never be put to confusion: [2] Deliver me in thy justice, and rescue me. Incline thy ear unto me, and save me. [3] Be thou unto me a God, a protector, and a place of strength: that thou mayst make me safe. For thou art my firmament and my refuge. [4] Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the sinner, and out of the hand of the transgressor of the law and of the unjust. [5] For thou art my patience, O Lord: my hope, O Lord, from my youth; [6] By thee have I been confirmed from the womb: from my mother’s womb thou art my protector. Of thee shall I continually sing: [7] I am become unto many as a wonder, but thou art a strong helper. [8] Let my mouth be filled with praise, that I may sing thy glory; thy greatness all the day long. [9] Cast me not off in the time of old age: when my strength shall fail, do not thou forsake me. [10] For my enemies have spoken against me; and they that watched my soul have consulted together,

[11] Saying: God hath forsaken him: pursue and take him, for there is none to deliver him. [12] O God, be not thou far from me: O my God, make haste to my help. [13] Let them be confounded and come to nothing that detract my soul; let them be covered with confusion and shame that seek my hurt. [14] But I will always hope; and will add to all thy praise. [15] My mouth shall shew forth thy justice; thy salvation all the day long. Because I have not known learning,

[16] I will enter into the powers of the Lord: O Lord, I will be mindful of thy justice alone. [17] Thou hast taught me, O God, from my youth: and till now I will declare thy wonderful works. [18] And unto old age and grey hairs: O God, forsake me not, Until I shew forth thy arm to all the generation that is to come: Thy power, [19] And thy justice, O God, even to the highest great things thou hast done: O God, who is like to thee? [20] How great troubles hast thou shewn me, many and grievous: and turning thou hast brought me to life, and hast brought me back again from the depths of the earth:

[21] Thou hast multiplied thy magnificence; and turning to me thou hast comforted me. [22] For I will also confess to thee thy truth with the instruments of psaltery: O God, I will sing to thee with the harp, thou holy one of Israel. [23] My lips shall greatly rejoice, when I shall sing to thee; and my soul which thou hast redeemed. [24] Yea and my tongue shall meditate on thy justice all the day; when they shall be confounded and put to shame that seek evils to me.

Commentary

[1] “Of the sons of Jonadab”: The Rechabites, of whom see Jer. 35. By this addition of the seventy-two interpreters, we gather that this psalm was usually sung in the synagogue, in the person of the Rechabites, and of those who were first carried away into captivity.

[15] “Learning”: As much as to say, I build not upon human learning, but only on the power and justice of God.