Psalms 71:1-2

Psalm 71 ¹ 

71:1 In you, O Lord, I have taken shelter!

Never let me be humiliated!

71:2 Vindicate me by rescuing me! ² 

Listen to me! ³  Deliver me! ⁴ 

Psalms 71:18

71:18 Even when I am old and gray, ⁵ 

O God, do not abandon me,

until I tell the next generation about your strength,

and those coming after me about your power. ⁶ 

[71:1]  ¹ sn Psalm 71. The psalmist prays for divine intervention and expresses his confidence that God will protect and vindicate him. The first three verses are very similar to Ps 31:1-3a.

[71:2]  ² tn Heb “in your vindication rescue me and deliver me.” Ps 31:1 omits “and deliver me.”

[71:2]  ³ tn Heb “turn toward me your ear.”

[71:2]  ⁴ tn Ps 31:2 adds “quickly” before “deliver.”

[71:18]  ³ tn Heb “and even unto old age and gray hair.”

[71:18]  ⁴ tn Heb “until I declare your arm to a generation, to everyone who comes your power.” God’s “arm” here is an anthropomorphism that symbolizes his great strength.