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

Psalms 71

Psalms book home•Chapter 71 of 150•24 verses

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Psalms 71 Overview

An unnamed worshipper seeks refuge, recalls dependence on God from birth, asks not to be cast off in old age, promises to teach the next generation, and praises God's righteousness.

PsalmsBook

71Chapter

24Verses

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Before you read Psalms 71

Coming from

Psalm 70 centered on an urgent plea for immediate help. Psalms is an anthology rather than a continuous chronological story, so the connection here is canonical and thematic.

In this chapter

An unnamed worshipper seeks refuge, recalls dependence on God from birth, asks not to be cast off in old age, promises to teach the next generation, and praises God's righteousness.

Leads into

Psalm 72 turns to prayer for the royal son and a reign of universal righteousness, continuing the Psalter’s arranged movement without requiring that the two psalms describe consecutive historical events.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Psalm 71 belongs to Book II of the Psalter (Psalms 42–72). The psalm has no superscription; its repeated references to youth, age, and future generations make lifelong faithfulness its distinctive setting.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Central truth

Lifelong trust from youth into old age.

Lament truth

In Psalm 71, biblical faith brings grief, fear, confusion, and need directly to God rather than hiding them.

Trust truth

In Psalm 71, confidence in God rests on His character and rule, not on the absence of danger.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Lament connection

Hebrews 4:15-16 invites believers to come boldly for mercy and grace in need. This connection helps frame Psalm 71.

Trust connection

Isaiah 26:3-4 likewise grounds steadfast peace in trusting the everlasting LORD. This connection helps frame Psalm 71.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep lament in context

Do not mistake every anguished sentence in Psalm 71 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 71 is not a promise of immunity from suffering or death; it is confidence in God through the danger.

Read Psalms 71 watching for…

never put to confusion.

hope from youth.

cast me not off old age.

show strength next generation.

praise with psaltery.

Chapter outline2 sections

1-13The psalmist seeks refuge and asks God not to forsake him in old age 14-24He continues hoping, praising God’s righteousness, and expecting renewed strength and victory

In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.

By 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.

I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.

Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.

Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,

Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.

Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.

But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.

I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

Now 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.

Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!

Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

I 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.

My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.

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.

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Psalms 71:21

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