9 Have mercy H2603 upon me, O LORD, H3068 for I am in trouble: H6887 mine eye H5869 is consumed H6244 with grief, H3708 yea, my soul H5315 and my belly. H990
He is chastened H3198 also with pain H4341 upon his bed, H4904 and the multitude H7230 H7379 of his bones H6106 with strong H386 pain: So that his life H2416 abhorreth H2092 bread, H3899 and his soul H5315 dainty H8378 meat. H3978 His flesh H1320 is consumed away, H3615 that it cannot be seen; H7210 and his bones H6106 that were not seen H7200 stick out. H8192 H8205 Yea, his soul H5315 draweth near H7126 unto the grave, H7845 and his life H2416 to the destroyers. H4191
[[To the chief Musician H5329 on Neginoth H5058 upon Sheminith, H8067 A Psalm H4210 of David.]] H1732 O LORD, H3068 rebuke H3198 me not in thine anger, H639 neither chasten H3256 me in thy hot displeasure. H2534 Have mercy H2603 upon me, O LORD; H3068 for I am weak: H536 O LORD, H3068 heal H7495 me; for my bones H6106 are vexed. H926
I am poured out H8210 like water, H4325 and all my bones H6106 are out of joint: H6504 my heart H3820 is like wax; H1749 it is melted H4549 in the midst H8432 of my bowels. H4578 My strength H3581 is dried up H3001 like a potsherd; H2789 and my tongue H3956 cleaveth H1692 to my jaws; H4455 and thou hast brought H8239 me into the dust H6083 of death. H4194
[[A Psalm H4210 of David, H1732 to bring to remembrance.]] H2142 O LORD, H3068 rebuke H3198 me not in thy wrath: H7110 neither chasten H3256 me in thy hot displeasure. H2534 For thine arrows H2671 stick fast H5181 in me, and thy hand H3027 presseth me sore. H5181 There is no soundness H4974 in my flesh H1320 because H6440 of thine anger; H2195 neither is there any rest H7965 in my bones H6106 because H6440 of my sin. H2403 For mine iniquities H5771 are gone over H5674 mine head: H7218 as an heavy H3515 burden H4853 they are too heavy H3513 for me. My wounds H2250 stink H887 and are corrupt H4743 because H6440 of my foolishness. H200 I am troubled; H5753 I am bowed down H7817 greatly; H3966 I go H1980 mourning H6937 all the day H3117 long. For my loins H3689 are filled H4390 with a loathsome H7033 disease: and there is no soundness H4974 in my flesh. H1320 I am feeble H6313 and sore H3966 broken: H1794 I have roared H7580 by reason of the disquietness H5100 of my heart. H3820 Lord, H136 all my desire H8378 is before thee; and my groaning H585 is not hid H5641 from thee. My heart H3820 panteth, H5503 my strength H3581 faileth H5800 me: as for the light H216 of mine eyes, H5869 it H1992 also is gone H369 from me.
For my soul H5315 is full H7646 of troubles: H7451 and my life H2416 draweth nigh H5060 unto the grave. H7585 I am counted H2803 with them that go down H3381 into the pit: H953 I am as a man H1397 that hath no strength: H353 Free H2670 among the dead, H4191 like the slain H2491 that lie H7901 in the grave, H6913 whom thou rememberest H2142 no more: and they are cut off H1504 from thy hand. H3027
For my days H3117 are consumed H3615 like smoke, H6227 and my bones H6106 are burned H2787 as an hearth. H4168 My heart H3820 is smitten, H5221 and withered H3001 like grass; H6212 so that I forget H7911 to eat H398 my bread. H3899 By reason of the voice H6963 of my groaning H585 my bones H6106 cleave H1692 to my skin. H1320
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 31
Commentary on Psalms 31 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 31
Ps 31:1-24. The prayer of a believer in time of deep distress. In the first part, cries for help are mingled with expressions of confidence. Then the detail of griefs engrosses his attention, till, in the assurance of strong but submissive faith, he rises to the language of unmingled joyful trust and exhorts others to like love and confidence towards God.
1. Expresses the general tone of feeling of the Psalm.
2-4. He seeks help in God's righteous government (Ps 5:8), and begs for an attentive hearing, and speedy and effectual aid. With no other help and no claim of merit, he relies solely on God's regard to His own perfections for a safe guidance and release from the snares of his enemies. On the terms "rock," &c., (compare Ps 17:2; 18:2, 50; 20:6; 23:3; 25:21).
5, 6. commit my spirit—my life, or myself. Our Saviour used the words on the Cross [Lu 23:46], not as prophetical, but, as many pious men have done, as expressive of His unshaken confidence in God. The Psalmist rests on God's faithfulness to His promises to His people, and hence avows himself one of them, detesting all who revere objects of idolatry (compare De 32:21; 1Co 8:4).
7. hast known my soul, &c.—had regard to me in trouble.
8. shut me up … enemy—abandon to (1Sa 23:11).
large room—place of safety (compare Ps 18:19).
9, 10. mine eye, &c.—denotes extreme weakness (compare Ps 6:7).
grief—mingled sorrow and indignation (Ps 6:7).
soul and … belly—the whole person.
10. Though the effects ascribed to grief are not mere figures of speech—
spent … consumed—must be taken in the modified sense of wasted and decayed.
iniquity—or, suffering by it (see on Ps 40:12).
11. among—or, literally, "from," or, "by" my enemies. The latter clauses describe the progress of his disgrace to the lowest degree, till,
12. he is forgotten as one dead, and contemned as a useless broken vessel.
13. For—introduces further reasons for his prayer, the unjust, deliberate, and murderous purposes of his foes.
14-18. In his profession of trust he includes the terms of the prayer expressing it.
15. times—course of life.
deliver … hand—opposed to "shut me up," &c., of Ps 31:8.
16. Make … shine—(Compare Nu 6:25; Ps 4:6). Deprecating from himself, he imprecates on the wicked God's displeasure, and prays that their virulent persecution of him may be stopped.
19-21. God displays openly His purposed goodness to His people.
20. the secret of thy presence—or, covering of Thy countenance; the protection He thus affords; compare Ps 27:5 for a similar figure; "dwelling" used there for "presence" here. The idea of security further presented by the figure of a tent and a fortified city [Ps 31:21].
22. For I said—literally, "And I said," in an adversative sense. I, thus favored, was despondent.
in my haste—in my terror.
cut off … eyes—from all the protection of Thy presence.
23, 24. the Lord … proud doer—literally, "the Lord is keeping faith," that is, with His people, and is repaying, &c. Then let none despair, but take courage; their hopes shall not be in vain.