Psalms 31King James Version
In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust. 'Into thine hand I commit my spirit.' The verse Jesus speaks from the cross in Luke. My times are in thy hand.
One of David's most raw and extended laments, running through fortress imagery, the commitment of his spirit, hatred of lying vanities, grief consuming his years, slander on every side, being forgotten like a dead man, a broken vessel. Then the pivot: 'But I trusted in thee, O LORD.' 'My times are in thy hand.' The final section opens into praise and pastoral instruction. A psalm of many weathers.
The life made completely fragile by grief, isolation, and slander still has one anchor: the times themselves are in God's hand, not in the hands of the enemies.
verse: "My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me." The word 'times' covers everything: seasons, circumstances, the hour of death.
Superscription: 'To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.' Likely Saul's persecution period: the net laid privily (v4), slander and conspiracy (v13), enemies plotting to take his life. Jesus's quotation of v5 at the moment of death transformed this psalm's reception permanently in Christian worship.
David as the isolated, slandered, physically broken petitioner; God as rock, fortress, redeemer, and keeper of times; the lying lips, the proud; the saints invited to love the LORD at the close.
Jesus quoted verse 5 from the cross: 'Into thine hand I commit my spirit' (Luke 23:46), making this the prayer of ultimate surrender. The expression 'broken vessel' (v12) became a central image in Christian contemplative tradition. The phrase 'fear was on every side' (v13) is repeated by Jeremiah (20:3) as the name-curse against Pashur.
For when you feel like you have been forgotten, the way a dead man is forgotten, with no one coming back to check. This psalm names that specific kind of loneliness.
1[To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.] In 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.
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.
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.