The big picture
Psalms 31 opens in verse 1 with “In thee, O LORD , do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 12 with “I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.”, and closes in verse 24 with “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD .” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, hand, ashamed, deliver, fear. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 24Psalms 31:1-8
1–8: In thee, O LORD , do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me…
Psalms 31:1–8 opens with “In thee, O LORD , do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.” and reaches “And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 31 develops its own movement around LORD, hand, ashamed, deliver, fear, with particular weight carried by LORD, deliver, hand.
Context that brings the passage to life
“In thee, O LORD , do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.” The line’s distinctive content terms include ashamed, deliver, LORD. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
“For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Psalms 31:1-8
King James Version1In thee, O LORD , do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
2Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
3For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.
4Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
5Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
6I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD .
7I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;
8And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.
Psalms 31:9-16
9–16: Have mercy upon me, O LORD , for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed…
Psalms 31:9–16 opens with “Have mercy upon me, O LORD , for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul…” and reaches “Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 31 develops its own movement around LORD, hand, ashamed, deliver, fear, with particular weight carried by consumed, enemies, fear.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Have mercy upon me, O LORD , for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.” Naming Have keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they…” The line’s distinctive content terms include acquaintance, enemies, especially. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.
Psalms 31:9-16
King James Version9Have mercy upon me, O LORD , for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.
10For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
11I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.
12I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
13For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
14But I trusted in thee, O LORD : I said, Thou art my God.
15My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
16Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake.
Psalms 31:17-24
17–24: Let me not be ashamed, O LORD ; for I have called upon thee: let the…
Psalms 31:17–24 opens with “Let me not be ashamed, O LORD ; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let…” and reaches “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD .” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 31 develops its own movement around LORD, hand, ashamed, deliver, fear, with particular weight carried by LORD, ashamed, Blessed.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Let me not be ashamed, O LORD ; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include ashamed, grave, LORD. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that…” The line’s distinctive content terms include fear, goodness, laid. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.
Psalms 31:17-24
King James Version17Let me not be ashamed, O LORD ; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.
18Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
19Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
20Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
21Blessed be the LORD : for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.
22For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
23O love the LORD , all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
24Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD .
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 31:1 begins with “In thee, O LORD , do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 31:14 forms a natural hinge: “But I trusted in thee, O LORD : I said, Thou art my God.”
The final note
Psalms 31:24 leaves the reader with “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD .”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, hand, ashamed, deliver, fear, trust help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Why do Rachel and Leah agree to leave?
They see themselves as alienated from their father's household and support the journey God has commanded.
What does the boundary accomplish?
It limits hostile crossing and places their future conduct under divine witness.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.