The big picture
Psalms 71 opens in verse 1 with “In thee, O LORD , do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 12 with “O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.”, and closes in verse 24 with “My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are…” Repeated or prominent terms include righteousness, praise, continually, Deliver, LORD. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 24Psalms 71:1-8
1–8: In thee, O LORD , do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
Psalms 71:1–8 opens with “In thee, O LORD , do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.” and reaches “Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by continually, Deliver, hand.
Context that brings the passage to life
“In thee, O LORD , do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.” The line’s distinctive content terms include confusion, LORD, trust. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art…” The line’s distinctive content terms include commandment, continually, fortress. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.
Psalms 71:1-8
King James Version1In thee, O LORD , do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
2Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
3Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
4Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
5For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD : thou art my trust from my youth.
6By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.
7I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.
8Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
Psalms 71:9-16
9–16: Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength…
Psalms 71:9–16 opens with “Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.” and reaches “I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD : I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by righteousness, soul, strength.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.” Naming Cast keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.” Naming Saying keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 71:9-16
King James Version9Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
10For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,
11Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.
12O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.
13Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
14But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
15My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.
16I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD : I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.
Psalms 71:17-24
17–24: O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared…
Psalms 71:17–24 opens with “O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.” and reaches “My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by righteousness, shewed, sing.
Context that brings the passage to life
“O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
“Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!” Naming Thy keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 71:17-24
King James Version17O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
18Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.
19Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!
20Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
21Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
22I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
23My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
24My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 71:1 begins with “In thee, O LORD , do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 71:14 forms a natural hinge: “But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.”
The final note
Psalms 71:24 leaves the reader with “My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words righteousness, praise, continually, Deliver, LORD, soul help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
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.