AllPsalms
71

You Are My Hope

24 versesLament and TrustNot named in the text

Psalm 71 summary: what it means

Psalm 71 is the prayer of someone who has trusted God for a long time and is now old. It opens by taking refuge in the LORD and asking for rescue from the wicked. The speaker looks back over a whole life: God has been his hope from youth, and he has relied on him from the womb. Now his strength is failing, and enemies say God has forsaken him and no one will rescue him.

The psalm keeps returning to hope and praise. The speaker asks not to be forsaken while he is old and gray, until he has told the next generation about God's strength. He trusts that God, who has shown him bitter troubles, will bring him up again from the depths. It ends with harp and lyre, and his enemies put to shame.

Psalm 71: You Are My Hope

World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-71

Psalm 71 commentary: explained verse by verse

In you, LORD, I take refuge.Never let me be disappointed.

The psalm opens with the same words as Psalm 31: in you, LORD, I take refuge. The first request is never to be disappointed, never to have that trust come to nothing.

Also read Psalm 31:1-3, Psalm 125:1, Jeremiah 17:18, 1 Chronicles 5:20

Deliver me in your righteousness, and rescue me.Turn your ear to me, and save me.

Also read Psalm 43:1, Psalm 116:1-2, Psalm 17:6, Psalm 31:1

Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go.Give the command to save me,for you are my rock and my fortress.

Also read Revelation 7:2-3, Psalm 91:9, Psalm 31:2-3, Ezekiel 9:6

Rescue me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,from the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

Also read 2 Samuel 17:12-14, Psalm 59:1-2, Psalm 17:8-9, Psalm 140:1-4

For you are my hope, Lord GOD,my confidence from my youth.

God is called my hope and my confidence from my youth. The speaker is not hoping for the first time. He is leaning on a trust that has lasted his whole life.

Also read Psalm 119:81, Jeremiah 17:7, Psalm 39:7, Psalm 22:9-10

I have relied on you from the womb.You are he who took me out of my mother’s womb.I will always praise you.

The trust goes back further than youth, to the womb. The speaker says God took him out of his mother's womb, and responds with a promise of constant praise.

Also read Ephesians 5:20, Psalm 22:9-10, Isaiah 46:3-4, Psalm 139:15-16

I am a marvel to many,but you are my strong refuge.

Also read 2 Corinthians 6:8-10, Psalm 61:3, Zechariah 3:6, Isaiah 8:18

My mouth shall be filled with your praise,with your honor all day long.

The speaker wants his mouth filled with praise and with God's honor all day long. Speaking about God runs through the whole psalm, and this is its first full statement.

Also read Psalm 71:15, Psalm 51:14-15, Psalm 146:2, Psalm 63:5

Don’t reject me in my old age.Don’t forsake me when my strength fails.

This is the plainest request in the psalm: don't reject me in my old age, don't forsake me when my strength fails. The fear is of being set aside at the point of weakness.

Also read 2 Samuel 21:15-17, Psalm 73:26, 2 Timothy 4:18, Psalm 92:13-15

For my enemies talk about me.Those who watch for my soul conspire together,

Also read Psalm 37:32-33, 1 Samuel 19:11, Psalm 31:13, 2 Samuel 17:1-14

saying, “God has forsaken him.Pursue and take him, for no one will rescue him.”

Also read Psalm 3:2, Matthew 27:49, Matthew 27:42-43, Daniel 3:15

God, don’t be far from me.My God, hurry to help me.

Also read Psalm 143:7, Psalm 69:18, Psalm 70:5, Psalm 70:1-2

Let my accusers be disappointed and consumed.Let them be covered with disgrace and scorn who want to harm me.

Also read Psalm 35:26, Psalm 109:29, Jeremiah 20:11, Psalm 6:10

But I will always hope,and will add to all of your praise.

After the enemies' taunt and his own call for help, the speaker says: but I will always hope. He promises to add to all of God's praise, as if praise can keep growing.

Also read Philippians 1:9, Hebrews 10:35, 1 Peter 1:13, Psalm 43:5

My mouth will tell about your righteousness,and of your salvation all day,though I don’t know its full measure.

Also read Psalm 40:12, Psalm 139:17-18, Psalm 22:22-25, Psalm 145:5-14

I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord GOD.I will make mention of your righteousness, even of yours alone.

He will come with the mighty acts of the Lord GOD and speak of God's righteousness, yours alone. The speaker points away from himself to what God has done.

Also read Zechariah 10:12, Isaiah 40:31, Romans 3:21, Romans 10:3

God, you have taught me from my youth.Until now, I have declared your wondrous works.

Also read 2 Samuel 22:1-51, Psalm 66:16, 1 Chronicles 16:4-36, Psalm 71:5

Yes, even when I am old and gray-haired, God, don’t forsake me,until I have declared your strength to the next generation,your might to everyone who is to come.

The request of verse 9 returns with a purpose attached. Even when old and gray, the speaker asks not to be forsaken until he has declared God's strength to the next generation. Old age is described as a time with work still to do.

Also read Psalm 78:6, Genesis 27:1, Isaiah 53:1, Exodus 13:14-17

God, your righteousness also reaches to the heavens.You have done great things.God, who is like you?

Also read Isaiah 40:18, Psalm 57:10, Isaiah 5:16, Psalm 126:2-3

You, who have shown us many and bitter troubles,you will let me live.You will bring us up again from the depths of the earth.

The speaker says God has shown him many and bitter troubles, and he does not hide that. The same God will let him live and bring him up again from the depths of the earth. The verse moves between me and us, as if the troubles are shared.

Also read Ezekiel 37:12-13, Revelation 7:14, 2 Samuel 12:11, Psalm 40:1-3

Increase my honorand comfort me again.

A short request: increase my honor and comfort me again. The word again implies comfort has been known before and is asked for once more.

Also read 2 Corinthians 1:4-5, Isaiah 12:1, Isaiah 9:7, 2 Corinthians 7:6

I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God.I sing praises to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel.

Also read Isaiah 5:19, Isaiah 57:15, Habakkuk 3:18-19, Psalm 56:4

My lips shall shout for joy!My soul, which you have redeemed, sings praises to you!

The speaker's lips shout for joy and his soul sings praise. He describes his soul as one God has redeemed, which is the reason for the song.

Also read Luke 1:46-47, Genesis 48:16, Revelation 5:9, Psalm 63:5

My tongue will also talk about your righteousness all day long,for they are disappointed, and they are confounded,who want to harm me.

The psalm ends with his tongue speaking of God's righteousness all day long. Those who wanted to harm him are disappointed and confounded, the outcome he asked for in verse 13.

Also read Psalm 71:15, Matthew 12:35, Psalm 37:30, Proverbs 10:20-21

A prayer from Psalm 71

In you, LORD, I take refuge. Never let me be disappointed. Turn your ear to me and save me. Be a rock of refuge to which I may always go. You have been my hope and my confidence from my youth, and I have relied on you from the womb. Do not reject me in my old age, or forsake me when my strength fails. God, do not be far from me. I will always hope, and I will add to all your praise. Even when I am old and gray-haired, let me tell the next generation of your strength. My soul, which you have redeemed, sings praises to you. Amen.

Psalm 71 Bible study questions

  1. In verses 5 and 6, how far back does the writer trace his trust in God?
  2. What do the enemies say about the writer in verse 11?
  3. Verse 9 asks God not to reject the writer in old age; what fears or hopes about growing older does this raise for you?
  4. Verse 18 wants to declare God's strength to the next generation; what would you want to pass on to someone younger?
  5. Psalm 92:14 speaks of producing fruit in old age; how does it compare with the prayer of Psalm 71:18?

Questions about Psalm 71

What does Psalm 71 mean?

It is the prayer of an older person who has trusted God since youth, asks not to be abandoned now that strength is failing, and keeps returning to hope and praise.

Who wrote Psalm 71?

The psalm has no heading and does not name its author.

What does Psalm 71:9 mean?

It asks God not to reject the speaker in old age or forsake him when his strength fails.

What do Psalm 71:20 and 21 mean?

They admit that God has shown the speaker many bitter troubles, and trust that God will let him live, bring him up again from the depths, increase his honor and comfort him again.

What does Psalm 71:18 mean?

It asks God not to forsake the speaker when he is old and gray, until he has declared God's strength to the next generation.

How does the King James Version word Psalm 71:5?

The KJV reads "For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth."

Psalm 71 KJV: the King James Version

In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.1

Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.2

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.3

Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.4

For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.5

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.6

I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.7

Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.8

Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.9

For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,10

Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.11

O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.12

Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.13

But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.14

My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.15

I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.16

O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.17

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.18

Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!19

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.20

Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.21

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.22

My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.23

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.24

Psalm 71 in Hebrew

The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.

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1 בְּךָֽ־יְהוָ֥ה חָסִ֑יתִי אַל־אֵב֥וֹשָׁה לְעוֹלָֽם׃

2 בְּצִדְקָתְךָ֗ תַּצִּילֵ֥נִי וּֽתְפַלְּטֵ֑נִי הַטֵּֽה־אֵלַ֥י אָ֝זְנְךָ֗ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנִי׃

3 הֱיֵ֤ה לִ֨י ׀ לְצ֥וּר מָע֡וֹן לָב֗וֹא תָּמִ֗יד צִוִּ֥יתָ לְהוֹשִׁיעֵ֑נִי כִּֽי־סַלְעִ֖י וּמְצוּדָתִ֣י אָֽתָּה׃

4 אֱֽלֹהַ֗י פַּ֭לְּטֵנִי מִיַּ֣ד רָשָׁ֑ע מִכַּ֖ף מְעַוֵּ֣ל וְחוֹמֵץ׃

5 כִּֽי־אַתָּ֥ה תִקְוָתִ֑י אֲדֹנָ֥י יְ֝הוִ֗ה מִבְטַחִ֥י מִנְּעוּרָֽי׃

6 עָלֶ֤יךָ ׀ נִסְמַ֬כְתִּי מִבֶּ֗טֶן מִמְּעֵ֣י אִ֭מִּי אַתָּ֣ה גוֹזִ֑י בְּךָ֖ תְהִלָּתִ֣י תָמִֽיד׃

7 כְּ֭מוֹפֵת הָיִ֣יתִי לְרַבִּ֑ים וְ֝אַתָּ֗ה מַֽחֲסִי־עֹֽז׃

8 יִמָּ֣לֵא פִ֭י תְּהִלָּתֶ֑ךָ כָּל־הַ֝יּ֗וֹם תִּפְאַרְתֶּֽךָ׃

9 אַֽל־תַּ֭שְׁלִיכֵנִי לְעֵ֣ת זִקְנָ֑ה כִּכְל֥וֹת כֹּ֝חִ֗י אַֽל־תַּעַזְבֵֽנִי׃

10 כִּֽי־אָמְר֣וּ אוֹיְבַ֣י לִ֑י וְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י נַ֝פְשִׁ֗י נוֹעֲצ֥וּ יַחְדָּֽו׃

11 לֵ֭אמֹר אֱלֹהִ֣ים עֲזָב֑וֹ רִֽדְפ֥וּ וְ֝תִפְשׂ֗וּהוּ כִּי־אֵ֥ין מַצִּֽיל׃

12 אֱ֭לֹהִים אַל־תִּרְחַ֣ק מִמֶּ֑נִּי אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י לְעֶזְרָ֥תִי חישה׃

13 יֵבֹ֣שׁוּ יִכְלוּ֮ שֹׂטְנֵ֪י נַ֫פְשִׁ֥י יַֽעֲט֣וּ חֶ֭רְפָּה וּכְלִמָּ֑ה מְ֝בַקְשֵׁ֗י רָעָתִֽי׃

14 וַ֭אֲנִי תָּמִ֣יד אֲיַחֵ֑ל וְ֝הוֹסַפְתִּ֗י עַל־כָּל־תְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ׃

15 פִּ֤י ׀ יְסַפֵּ֬ר צִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ כָּל־הַיּ֥וֹם תְּשׁוּעָתֶ֑ךָ כִּ֤י לֹ֖א יָדַ֣עְתִּי סְפֹרֽוֹת׃

16 אָב֗וֹא בִּ֭גְבֻרוֹת אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה אַזְכִּ֖יר צִדְקָתְךָ֣ לְבַדֶּֽךָ׃

17 אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים לִמַּדְתַּ֥נִי מִנְּעוּרָ֑י וְעַד־הֵ֝֗נָּה אַגִּ֥יד נִפְלְאוֹתֶֽיךָ׃

18 וְגַ֤ם עַד־זִקְנָ֨ה ׀ וְשֵׂיבָה֮ אֱלֹהִ֪ים אַֽל־תַּעַ֫זְבֵ֥נִי עַד־אַגִּ֣יד זְרוֹעֲךָ֣ לְד֑וֹר לְכָל־יָ֝ב֗וֹא גְּבוּרָתֶֽךָ׃

19 וְצִדְקָתְךָ֥ אֱלֹהִ֗ים עַד־מָ֫ר֥וֹם אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֥יתָ גְדֹל֑וֹת אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים מִ֣י כָמֽוֹךָ׃

20 אֲשֶׁ֤ר הראיתנו ׀ צָר֥וֹת רַבּ֗וֹת וְרָ֫ע֥וֹת תָּשׁ֥וּב תחיינו וּֽמִתְּהֹמ֥וֹת הָ֝אָ֗רֶץ תָּשׁ֥וּב תַּעֲלֵֽנִי׃

21 תֶּ֤רֶב ׀ גְּֽדֻלָּתִ֗י וְתִסֹּ֥ב תְּֽנַחֲמֵֽנִי׃

22 גַּם־אֲנִ֤י ׀ אוֹדְךָ֣ בִכְלִי־נֶבֶל֮ אֲמִתְּךָ֪ אֱלֹ֫הָ֥י אֲזַמְּרָ֣ה לְךָ֣ בְכִנּ֑וֹר קְ֝ד֗וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

23 תְּרַנֵּ֣נָּ֣ה שְׂ֭פָתַי כִּ֣י אֲזַמְּרָה־לָּ֑ךְ וְ֝נַפְשִׁ֗י אֲשֶׁ֣ר פָּדִֽיתָ׃

24 גַּם־לְשׁוֹנִ֗י כָּל־הַ֭יּוֹם תֶּהְגֶּ֣ה צִדְקָתֶ֑ךָ כִּי־בֹ֥שׁוּ כִֽי־חָ֝פְר֗וּ מְבַקְשֵׁ֥י רָעָתִֽי׃

Psalm 71 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible

The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 70 there.

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1 A psalm for David. Of the sons of Jonadab, and the former captives. In thee, O Lord, I have hoped, let me never be put to confusion:

2 Deliver me in thy justice, and rescue me. Incline thy ear unto me, and save me.

3 Be thou unto me a God, a protector, and a place of strength: that thou mayst make me safe. For thou art my firmament and my refuge.

4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the sinner, and out of the hand of the transgressor of the law and of the unjust.

5 For thou art my patience, O Lord: my hope, O Lord, from my youth;

6 By thee have I been confirmed from the womb: from my mother’s womb thou art my protector. Of thee shall I continually sing:

7 I run become unto many as a wonder, but thou art a strong helper.

8 Let my mouth be filled with praise, that I may sing thy glory; thy greatness all the day long.

9 Cast me not off in the time of old age: when my strength shall fail, do not thou forsake me.

10 For my enemies have spoken against me; and they that watched my soul have consulted together,

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

12 O God, be not thou far from me: O my God, make haste to my help.

13 Let them be confounded and come to nothing that detract my soul; let them be covered with confusion and shame that seek my hurt.

14 But I will always hope; and will add to all thy praise.

15 My mouth shall shew forth thy justice; thy salvation all the day long. Because I have not known learning,

16 I will enter into the powers of the Lord: O Lord, I will be mindful of thy justice alone.

17 Thou hast taught me, O God, from my youth: and till now I will declare thy wonderful works.

18 And unto old age and grey hairs: O God, forsake me not, Until I shew forth thy arm to all the generation that is to come: Thy power,

19 And thy justice, O God, even to the highest great things thou hast done: O God, who is like to thee?

20 How great troubles hast thou shewn me, many and grievous: and turning thou hast brought me to life, and hast brought me back again from the depths of the earth:

21 Thou hast multiplied thy magnificence; and turning to me thou hast comforted me.

22 For I will also confess to thee thy truth with the instruments of psaltery: O God, I will sing to thee with the harp, thou holy one of Israel.

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

24 Yea and my tongue shall meditate on thy justice all the day; when they shall be confounded and put to shame that seek evils to me.

Psalm 71 in Latin

The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 70.

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1 Psalmus David, filiorum Jonadab, et priorum captivorum. In te, Domine, speravi; non confundar in æternum.

2 In justitia tua libera me, et eripe me: inclina ad me aurem tuam, et salva me.

3 Esto mihi in Deum protectorem, et in locum munitum, ut salvum me facias: quoniam firmamentum meum et refugium meum es tu.

4 Deus meus, eripe me de manu peccatoris, et de manu contra legem agentis, et iniqui:

5 quoniam tu es patientia mea, Domine; Domine, spes mea a juventute mea.

6 In te confirmatus sum ex utero; de ventre matris meæ tu es protector meus; in te cantatio mea semper.

7 Tamquam prodigium factus sum multis; et tu adjutor fortis.

8 Repleatur os meum laude, ut cantem gloriam tuam, tota die magnitudinem tuam.

9 Ne projicias me in tempore senectutis; cum defecerit virtus mea, ne derelinquas me.

10 Quia dixerunt inimici mei mihi, et qui custodiebant animam meam consilium fecerunt in unum,

11 dicentes: Deus dereliquit eum: persequimini et comprehendite eum, quia non est qui eripiat.

12 Deus, ne elongeris a me; Deus meus, in auxilium meum respice.

13 Confundantur et deficiant detrahentes animæ meæ; operiantur confusione et pudore qui quærunt mala mihi.

14 Ego autem semper sperabo, et adjiciam super omnem laudem tuam.

15 Os meum annuntiabit justitiam tuam, tota die salutare tuum. Quoniam non cognovi litteraturam,

16 introibo in potentias Domini; Domine, memorabor justitiæ tuæ solius.

17 Deus, docuisti me a juventute mea; et usque nunc pronuntiabo mirabilia tua.

18 Et usque in senectam et senium, Deus, ne derelinquas me, donec annuntiem brachium tuum generationi omni quæ ventura est, potentiam tuam,

19 et justitiam tuam, Deus, usque in altissima; quæ fecisti magnalia, Deus: quis similis tibi?

20 Quantas ostendisti mihi tribulationes multas et malas ! et conversus vivificasti me, et de abyssis terræ iterum reduxisti me.

21 Multiplicasti magnificentiam tuam; et conversus consolatus es me.

22 Nam et ego confitebor tibi in vasis psalmi veritatem tuam, Deus; psallam tibi in cithara, sanctus Israël.

23 Exsultabunt labia mea cum cantavero tibi; et anima mea quam redemisti.

24 Sed et lingua mea tota die meditabitur justitiam tuam, cum confusi et reveriti fuerint qui quærunt mala mihi.

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Psalm 71 at a glance

Verses24
Heading in the textNo heading
Attributed toNot named in the text. Psalm 71 has no heading, so it names no author.
TypeLament and Trust
Number in Greek and Latin BiblesPsalm 70

Read Psalm 71 when you are facing

hopetrusting godcomfortstrength

Psalm 71 in other translations

This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 71 in those translations at Bible Gateway.

Where Psalm 71 belongs

Book 2 of the Psalms

How this page was made

The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.

Sources

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Written by

Lucas Pradella

Last checked 25 September 2026 · How pages are checked

I built AllPsalms because I could not find one site that covered all 150 psalms properly. I am a Christian and a reader of the psalms, not a scholar or a minister. What I can do is the work: put every psalm in one place, in plain English, with the text unedited and every claim sourced.

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Psalm 70All 150Psalm 72