Psalm 71
Geneva Study Bible
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
In {a} thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

(a) He prays to God with full assurance of faith, that he will deliver him from his adversaries.

Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
Deliver me in thy {b} righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

(b) By declaring yourself true to your promises.

Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou {c} hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

(c) You have infinite means and all creatures are at your commandment; therefore show some sign by which I will be delivered.

Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand {d} of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

(d) That is, from Absalom, Ahithophel and that conspiracy.

For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.
For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my {e} trust from my youth.

(e) He strengthens his faith by the experience of God's benefits, who not only preserved him in his mother's womb, but took him from there, and ever since has preserved him.

By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.
By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.
I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.
I am as a {f} wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.

(f) All the world wonders at me because of my miseries: both those in authority and the common people, yet being assured of your favour, I remain steadfast.

Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
Cast me not off in the time of {g} old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

(g) You who helped me in my youth when I had more strength, help me now even more in my old age and weakness.

For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,
For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,
Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.
Saying, {h} God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

(h) Thus the wicked both blaspheme God and triumph against his saints, as though he had forsaken them if he permits them to fall into their hands.

O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.
O God, be not far from me: O {i} my God, make haste for my help.

(i) In calling him his God, he puts back the false reports of the adversaries who said God had forsaken him.

Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.
My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; {k} for I know not the numbers thereof.

(k) Because your benefits toward me are innumerable, I cannot but continually meditate and rehearse them.

I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.
I will {l} go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

(l) I will remain steadfast, being upheld by the power of God.

O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.
{m} Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

(m) He desires that as he has begun, he would so continue his benefits, that his liberality may have perfect praise.

Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!
Thy {n} righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!

(n) Your just performance of your promise.

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.
Thou, which hast shewed me great and {p} sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

(p) As he confesses that God is the only author of his deliverance, so he acknowledges that these evils were sent to him by God's providence.

Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy {q} truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.

(q) He confesses that his long delay was well recompensed, when God performed his promise.

My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my {r} soul, which thou hast redeemed.

(r) For there is no true praising of God, unless it comes from the heart: and therefore he promises to delight in nothing, except that in which God is glorified.

My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.
My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.
The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599]

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