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Psalms 31

Psalms 31

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 · 24

Psalms 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.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “In thee, O LORD , do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy…” By verse 4, the text has turned to “Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.” It lands on “And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 stated contrast, 2 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as LORD, deliver, hand, rock, trust, adversities tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Psalms 31 develops its own movement around LORD, hand, ashamed, deliver, fear,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Bow, God, Into, Pull. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 4: “Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: LORD, deliver, hand, rock, trust, adversities

Verse-by-verse path

  1. Psalms 31:1

    “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.

  2. Psalms 31:2

    “Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.” Naming Bow keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  3. Psalms 31:3

    “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.

  4. Psalms 31:4

    “Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.” Naming Pull keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  5. Psalms 31:5

    “Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.” Naming Into keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  6. Psalms 31:6

    “I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD .” The line’s distinctive content terms include hated, LORD, lying. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

  7. Psalms 31:7

    “I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;” The line’s distinctive content terms include adversities, considered, glad. Its relationship to verses 6 and 8 shows what work it does in this passage.

  8. Psalms 31:8

    “And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.” The line’s distinctive content terms include enemy, feet, hand. Its relationship to verses 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

Psalms 31:1-8

King James Version

1In 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.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “Have mercy upon me, O LORD , for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my…” By verse 12, the text has turned to “I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.” It lands on “Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 verse with a speech marker, 2 stated contrasts, 1 verse naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as consumed, enemies, fear, grief, hand, life tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Psalms 31 develops its own movement around LORD, hand, ashamed, deliver, fear,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include God, Have, Make, Thou. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 14: “But I trusted in thee, O LORD : I said, Thou art my God.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: consumed, enemies, fear, grief, hand, life

Verse-by-verse path

  1. Psalms 31:9

    “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.

  2. Psalms 31:10

    “For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

  3. Psalms 31:11

    “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.

  4. Psalms 31:12

    “I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.” The line’s distinctive content terms include broken, dead, forgotten. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

  5. Psalms 31:13

    “For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

  6. Psalms 31:14

    “But I trusted in thee, O LORD : I said, Thou art my God.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  7. Psalms 31:15

    “My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include hand, deliver, enemies. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

  8. Psalms 31:16

    “Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake.” Naming Make keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

Psalms 31:9-16

King James Version

9Have 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.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “Let me not be ashamed, O LORD ; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and…” By verse 20, the text has turned to “Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep…” It lands on “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD .” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 2 verses with a speech marker, 3 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as LORD, ashamed, Blessed, city, contemptuously, courage tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Psalms 31 develops its own movement around LORD, hand, ashamed, deliver, fear,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Blessed, Thou. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 22: “For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: LORD, ashamed, Blessed, city, contemptuously, courage

Verse-by-verse path

  1. Psalms 31:17

    “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.

  2. Psalms 31:18

    “Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.” The line’s distinctive content terms include contemptuously, grievous, lips. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

  3. Psalms 31:19

    “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.

  4. Psalms 31:20

    “Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  5. Psalms 31:21

    “Blessed be the LORD : for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.” Naming Blessed keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  6. Psalms 31:22

    “For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

  7. Psalms 31:23

    “O love the LORD , all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, doer, faithful. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

  8. Psalms 31:24

    “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD .” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

Psalms 31:17-24

King James Version

17Let 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 .

Questions to keep in mind while reading

  1. Follow the speaker, images, parallel lines, questions, and emotional movement.
  2. Notice where tension or suffering resists an easy answer.
  3. Read a saying as wisdom for faithful discernment, not as a mechanical promise detached from context.

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.

Questions beneath the surface

  1. What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from Psalms 31?
  2. Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
  3. What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
  4. Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?

Questions for serious personal contemplation

These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.

Observe without rushing

  1. What part of Psalms 31 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?

  2. Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?

  3. Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: Psalms 31 develops its own movement around LORD, hand, ashamed, deliver, fear?

  4. What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?

Examine your inner life honestly

  1. Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?

  2. What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?

  3. Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?

  4. If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?

Respond with wisdom and courage

  1. What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?

  2. How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?

  3. What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?

  4. What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?