Psalms 70
In te, Domine. A prayer for perseverance.
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:
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.
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 I shall 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, only on the power and justice of God.
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.