The big picture
Psalms 70 opens in verse 1 with “Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD .”, reaches its middle movement near verse 3 with “Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.”, and closes in verse 5 with “But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O…” Repeated or prominent terms include haste, help, LORD, seek, turned. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 5Psalms 70:1-5
1–5: Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD .
Psalms 70:1–5 opens with “Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD .” and reaches “But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD …” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by haste, help, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD .” Naming Make keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 70:1-5
King James Version1Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD .
2Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.
3Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.
4Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.
5But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD , make no tarrying.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 70:1 begins with “Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD .”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 70:5 forms a natural hinge: “But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD , make no tarrying.”
The final note
Psalms 70:5 leaves the reader with “But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD , make no tarrying.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words haste, help, LORD, seek, turned, ashamed help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
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.