BOOK 19 OF 66 · WISDOM & POETRY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Psalms 31

Psalms book home•Chapter 31 of 150•24 verses

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Psalms 31 Overview

David entrusts himself to God, laments grief and conspiracy, confesses that his times are in God's hand, and calls the saints to courageous hope.

PsalmsBook

31Chapter

24Verses

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Before you read Psalms 31

Coming from

Psalm 30 centered on thanksgiving for deliverance from near death. Psalms is an anthology rather than a continuous chronological story, so the connection here is canonical and thematic.

In this chapter

David entrusts himself to God, laments grief and conspiracy, confesses that his times are in God's hand, and calls the saints to courageous hope.

Leads into

Psalm 32 turns to the blessedness of forgiven sin, continuing the Psalter’s arranged movement without requiring that the two psalms describe consecutive historical events.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Psalm 31 belongs to Book I of the Psalter (Psalms 1–41). Jesus uses Psalm 31:5 on the cross, showing the prayer's ultimate expression of confident self-entrustment to the Father.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Central truth

Refuge in God through fear, slander, and abandonment.

Lament truth

In Psalm 31, biblical faith brings grief, fear, confusion, and need directly to God rather than hiding them.

Trust truth

In Psalm 31, confidence in God rests on His character and rule, not on the absence of danger.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Luke 23:46

Jesus uses Psalm 31:5 as He entrusts His spirit to the Father at death.

Lament connection

Lamentations 3 shows the same biblical freedom to bring profound affliction before God while still remembering hope. This connection helps frame Psalm 31.

Trust connection

1 Peter 5:7 calls believers to cast their care upon God because He cares for them. This connection helps frame Psalm 31.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep lament in context

Do not mistake every anguished sentence in Psalm 31 for the psalmist’s settled theological conclusion; lament often voices how the crisis feels before faith answers it.

Keep trust in context

Trust in Psalm 31 is not a promise of immunity from suffering or death; it is confidence in God through the danger.

Read Psalms 31 watching for…

rock and fortress.

into thine hand.

broken vessel.

times in thy hand.

be of good courage.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-8David takes refuge in the LORD and commits his spirit into God’s hand 9-18David describes grief, reproach, and enemies while trusting God’s times 19-24David praises God’s goodness and urges the saints to love the LORD and be courageous

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.

Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.

For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.

Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.

Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.

I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;

And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.

Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.

For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.

I 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.

I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.

For 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.

But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.

My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.

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 grave.

Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

Oh 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!

Thou 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.

Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.

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 unto thee.

O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

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Psalms 31:2

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