Psalm 31
Biblical psalm
title: "Psalm 31" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["6th-century-bc-literature", "5th-century-bc-literature", "psalms"] description: "Biblical psalm" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalm_31" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Biblical psalm ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox musical composition"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Psalm 31 |
| subtitle | "In thee, O , do I put my trust" |
| image | St. Johann (W.) - Upfingen - Marienkirche - Sonnenuhr.jpg |
| image_upright | 1.2 |
| caption | German words from Psalms 31:15 ("My times are in thy hand") on a sundial on the tower of the Marienkirche in St. Johann |
| language | Hebrew (original) |
| other_name | {{plainlist |
| related | "In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr" |
| :: |
| name = Psalm 31 | subtitle = "In thee, O , do I put my trust" | type = | image = St. Johann (W.) - Upfingen - Marienkirche - Sonnenuhr.jpg | image_upright = 1.2 | alt = | caption = German words from Psalms 31:15 ("My times are in thy hand") on a sundial on the tower of the Marienkirche in St. Johann | language = Hebrew (original) | other_name = {{plainlist|
- Psalm 30 (Vulgate)
- "In te Domine speravi" | related = "In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr" | published =
Psalm 31 is the 31st psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "In thee, O , do I put my trust". In Latin, it is known as "In te Domine speravi". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint version of the Bible, and in its Latin translation, the Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 30. The first verse in the Hebrew text indicates that it was composed by David.
The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. Metrical hymns in English and German were derived from the psalm, such as "In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr" and "Blest be the name of Jacob's God". The psalm has often been set to music, both completely and using specific sections such as "Illumina faciem tuam" (Make thy face to shine). Vocal settings were written by Johann Crüger, Heinrich Schütz, Joseph Haydn, and Felix Mendelssohn, among others.
"Into thine hand I commit my spirit" were the last words of many Christian figures, including Jesus, Saint Bernard, Jerome of Prague, and Martin Luther. "My times are in Thy hand" also became a frequently quoted phrase. Psalm 31:24 be strong and take heart all you who hope in the Lord.
"In te Domine speravi", the Psalm's first line in Latin, is also the final line of the ancient Te Deum hymn. Rendered in English frequently as, "O Lord, in thee have I trusted: let me never be confounded," the Te Deum in both the Latin and English texts have been set numerous times to music, notably by Hector Berlioz in Latin and John Rutter in English.
Background and themes
The author of the psalm is identified by the first verse in the Hebrew, "To the chief musician, a song of David". It was likely written while David was fleeing from Saul. On the basis of the wording of the Psalm, Charles and Emilie Briggs claim that "The author certainly knew Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and many Psalms of the Persian period. We cannot put the composition earlier than the troubles of Israel preceding the reforms of Nehemiah". The Persian period began in 539 BC, and Nehemiah's reforms are dated to about 445 BC.
In the psalm, David calls God his "rock" (which shields him from attack) and his "fortress" (which protects him on all sides). David also cites his physical ailments—"[h]is eyesight has dimmed from his troubles, and he has endured physical as well as spiritual deprivation. His life has been a continuous flow of trouble, causing him to age prematurely"—and acknowledges that these afflictions were sent by Heaven to encourage him to atone for his sins. The psalm ends on a note of hope: "The faithful should love G-d because He protects them, but He carefully repays the arrogant what they deserve".
In the New Testament, the four evangelists each cite the last words of Jesus; according to Luke the Evangelist, these last words came from verse 5 (KJV) of Psalm 31, "Into thine hand I commit my spirit". Similarly, according to nineteenth-century English Anglican bishop John James Stewart Perowne, this verse constituted the last words of many Christian figures, including Polycarp, Saint Bernard, Jerome of Prague, Martin Luther, and Philip Melanchthon. James Limburg notes that this makes the psalm suitable for preaching, and that it is often intoned at the time of death.
Uses
Old Testament
Verses 2–4 (in the Hebrew) are also the first 3 verses of Psalm 71. Jeremiah repeats the words magor mesaviv (, "terror on all sides") from verse 14 (in the Hebrew; verse 13 in English Bibles) in Jeremiah and Lamentations.
New Testament
Verse 5 (KJV) is quoted in Luke 23:46, as the last words of Jesus before he dies.
Saint Stephen prays a similar but modified version of Psalm 31:6 in Acts 7:59 "Lord Jesus receive my spirit". Stephen also prays for forgiveness for those causing his death, as Jesus did.
Judaism
Verse 6 (in the Hebrew) is part of Baruch Adonai L'Olam in the evening prayer. It is also part of the Bedtime Shema. starts the last verse of Adon Olam.
Verses 15 and 17 are included in the preliminary morning prayers.
Verse 20 is one of the verses said after learning Mishnayos for a deceased person.
In the Siddur Sfas Emes, this psalm is said as a prayer for the well-being of an ailing person.
Catholic
The first line of the Psalm in Latin, "In te Domine speravi", became the final line of the Te Deum, which has often been set to music. Verses 15 and 16, "Illumina faciem tuam" (Make thy face to shine), is a communion verse for Septuagesima.
Protestant
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/In_dich_hab_ich_gehoffet,Herr-_Gros_Kirchen_Gesangbuch_Strasburg_1560.jpg" caption="Text and melody of the hymn "''In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr''", from ''Das Gros Kirchen Gesangbuch'' (''The Main Church Hymnbook''), Strasburg, 1565"] ::
Adam Reusner wrote a rhymed paraphrase of the first six verses of Psalm 31, "In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr" ("literally: "For you I have hoped, Lord") as a Psalmlied, a song in the native language to be sung in place of the Latin psalm recitation in the former church, published in 1533. It was translated to English in several versions,{{cite web | url = https://hymnary.org/text/in_dich_hab_ich_gehoffet_herr | title = In dich hab' ich gehoffet, Herr | publisher = hymnary.org | access-date = 11 January 2020 | url = https://hymnary.org/text/in_thee_lord_have_i_put_my_trus | title = In Thee, Lord, have I put my trust | publisher = hymnary.org | access-date = 18 January 2020
In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the sixth day of the month. Verses 1 to 5 are used in the Church of England's Office of Night Prayer (Compline).
Other
Verse 15 (KJV), "My times are in Thy hand", became a frequently quoted phrase. A hymn with the title "My times are in thy hand" by William Freeman Lloyd was published in 1873.{{cite web | url = https://hymnary.org/text/my_times_are_in_thy_hand_my_god_i_wish | title = My Times Are in Thy Hand | publisher = hymnary.org | access-date = 7 February 2020 | last = Spurgeon | first = Charles Haddon | author-link = Charles Haddon Spurgeon | url = https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/my-times-are-in-thy-hand | title = "My Times Are In Thy Hand" | website = biblebb.com | date = 17 May 1891 | access-date = 7 February 2020 | last = Käßmann | first = Margot | author-link = Margot Käßmann | url = https://www.zeit.de/2013/17/kaessmann-buch-freiheit-entmutigungen/komplettansicht | title = Wir Weltverbesserer | newspaper = Die Zeit | date = 18 April 2013 | language = de | access-date = 7 February 2020
Musical settings
Classical
Heinrich Isaac composed a setting of verses 15 and 16, "Illumina faciem tuam" for four-part choir, published in Choralis Constantinus in 1550. Carlo Gesualdo composed a setting of these verses for five-part choir (SATTB), published in his Sacrae cantiones in 1603.
Hans Leo Hassler composed a setting of the complete psalm in Latin for three four-part choirs, published in Sacrae Symphoniae in 1598. Heinrich Schütz set the same hymn in the Becker Psalter, SWV 128, published in 1628. He set the complete psalm in Latin for solo voice and instruments, published in Symphoniae sacrae in 1629. In 1648, Johann Rosenmüller published a setting of the first six verses in Latin for two sopranos and two tenors, two violins and continuo, in Kern-Sprüche. In te Domine speravi (Johann Rosenmüller) Johann Crüger set the German rhymed version, "In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr", for four-part choir with optional instruments, published in 1649. In 1699, Marc-Antoine Charpentier composed 3e psalm du 1er nocturne du Mercredi saint, for soloists, chorus, strings and bc, H.228.
Joseph Haydn set three verses from a rhymed paraphrase in English by James Merrick, "Blest be the name of Jacob's God", for three voices, which was first published in 1794 in Improved Psalmody. Felix Mendelssohn set Psalm 31 to music a capella in English using the King James Version. Arthur Sullivan wrote an anthem for four voices and organ, setting the final two verses, "O love the Lord", first published in 1864.
Contemporary
Contemporary compositions which incorporate verses from Psalm 31 include "Two Sacred Songs" (1964) for voice and piano by Robert Starer, "In Thee O Lord Do I Put My Trust" (1964) by Jan Bender, and "Blessed be the Lord" (1973), an introit and anthem by Nancy Lupo.
In the 21st century, the hymn "Weite Räume meinen Füßen" is based on verse 8b which it uses as a refrain. Nobuaki Izawa set "Illumina faciem tuam" as a four-part motet, published in 2016. The Salisbury Cathedral Choir sang Psalm 31, with music composed by Walter Alcock, Richard Shephard, and Charles Frederick South, for a 2012 recording. The Psalms Project released its musical composition of Psalm 31 on the fourth volume of its album series in 2019.
Text
The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text come from different textual traditions.A 1917 translation directly from Hebrew to English by the Jewish Publication Society can be found here or here, and an 1844 translation directly from the Septuagint by L. C. L. Brenton can be found here. Both translations are in the public domain. In the Septuagint, this psalm is numbered Psalm 30. ::data[format=table]
| # | Hebrew | English | Greek |
|---|---|---|---|
| (To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.) | Εἰς τὸ τέλος· ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυΐδ· ἐκστάσεως. | ||
| 1 | In thee, O , do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. | ΕΠΙ σοί, Κύριε, ἤλπισα, μὴ καταισχυνθείην εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα· ἐν τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ σου ῥῦσαί με καὶ ἐξελοῦ με. | |
| 2 | Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. | κλῖνον πρός με τὸ οὖς σου, τάχυνον τοῦ ἐξελέσθαι με· γενοῦ μοι εἰς Θεὸν ὑπερασπιστὴν καὶ εἰς οἶκον καταφυγῆς τοῦ σῶσαί με. | |
| 3 | For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. | ὅτι κραταίωμά μου καὶ καταφυγή μου εἶ σὺ καὶ ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός σου ὁδηγήσεις με καὶ διαθρέψεις με· | |
| 4 | Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. | ἐξάξεις με ἐκ παγίδος ταύτης, ἧς ἔκρυψάν μοι, ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ ὑπερασπιστής μου, Κύριε. | |
| 5 | Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O God of truth. | εἰς χεῖράς σου παραθήσομαι τὸ πνεῦμά μου· ἐλυτρώσω με, Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς τῆς ἀληθείας. | |
| 6 | I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the . | ἐμίσησας τοὺς διαφυλάσσοντας ματαιότητας διακενῆς· ἐγὼ δὲ ἐπὶ τῷ Κυρίῳ ἤλπισα. | |
| 7 | I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; | ἀγαλλιάσομαι καὶ εὐφρανθήσομαι ἐπὶ τῷ ἐλέει σου, ὅτι ἐπεῖδες τὴν ταπείνωσίν μου, ἔσωσας ἐκ τῶν ἀναγκῶν τὴν ψυχήν μου | |
| 8 | And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room. | καὶ οὐ συνέκλεισάς με εἰς χεῖρας ἐχθρῶν, ἔστησας ἐν εὐρυχώρῳ τοὺς πόδας μου. | |
| 9 | Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. | ἐλέησόν με, Κύριε, ὅτι θλίβομαι· ἐταράχθη ἐν θυμῷ ὁ ὀφθαλμός μου, ἡ ψυχή μου καὶ ἡ γαστήρ μου. | |
| 10 | For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. | ὅτι ἐξέλιπεν ἐν ὀδύνῃ ἡ ζωή μου καὶ τὰ ἔτη μου ἐν στεναγμοῖς· ἠσθένησεν ἐν πτωχείᾳ ἡ ἰσχύς μου, καὶ τὰ ὀστᾶ μου ἐταράχθησαν. | |
| 11 | I was a reproach among all mine enemies,{{efn | This wording uses the past tense but the words are generally translated in the present tense in modern versions, such as the New King James Version: I am a reproach among all my enemies.{{bibleverse | |
| 12 | I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. | ἐπελήσθην ὡσεὶ νεκρὸς ἀπὸ καρδίας, ἐγενήθην ὡσεὶ σκεῦος ἀπολωλός. | |
| 13 | 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. | ὅτι ἤκουσα ψόγον πολλῶν παροικούντων κυκλόθεν· ἐν τῷ ἐπισυναχθῆναι αὐτοὺς ἅμα ἐπ᾿ ἐμὲ τοῦ λαβεῖν τὴν ψυχήν μου ἐβουλεύσαντο. | |
| 14 | But I trusted in thee, O : I said, Thou art my God. | ἐγὼ δὲ ἐπὶ σοὶ ἤλπισα, Κύριε, εἶπα· σὺ εἶ ὁ Θεός μου. | |
| 15 | My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. | ἐν ταῖς χερσί σου οἱ κλῆροί μου· ῥῦσαί με ἐκ χειρὸς ἐχθρῶν μου καὶ ἐκ τῶν καταδιωκόντων με. | |
| 16 | Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake. | ἐπίφανον τὸ πρόσωπόν σου ἐπὶ τὸν δοῦλόν σου, σῶσόν με ἐν τῷ ἐλέει σου. | |
| 17 | Let me not be ashamed, O ; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave. | Κύριε, μὴ καταισχυνθείην, ὅτι ἐπεκαλεσάμην σε· αἰσχυνθείησαν οἱ ἀσεβεῖς καὶ καταχθείησαν εἰς ᾅδου. | |
| 18 | Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. | ἄλαλα γενηθήτω τὰ χείλη τὰ δόλια τὰ λαλοῦντα κατὰ τοῦ δικαίου ἀνομίαν ἐν ὑπερηφανίᾳ καὶ ἐξουδενώσει. | |
| 19 | 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! | ὡς πολὺ τὸ πλῆθος τῆς χρηστότητός σου, Κύριε, ἧς ἔκρυψας τοῖς φοβουμένοις σε, ἐξειργάσω τοῖς ἐλπίζουσιν ἐπὶ σὲ ἐναντίον τῶν υἱῶν τῶν ἀνθρώπων. | |
| 20 | 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. | κατακρύψεις αὐτοὺς ἐν ἀποκρύφῳ τοῦ προσώπου σου ἀπὸ ταραχῆς ἀνθρώπων, σκεπάσεις αὐτοὺς ἐν σκηνῇ ἀπὸ ἀντιλογίας γλωσσῶν. | |
| 21 | Blessed be the : for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city. | εὐλογητὸς Κύριος, ὅτι ἐθαυμάστωσε τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ ἐν πόλει περιοχῆς. | |
| 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 unto thee. | ἐγὼ δὲ εἶπα ἐν τῇ ἐκστάσει μου· ἀπέῤῥιμμαι ἀπὸ προσώπου τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν σου. διὰ τοῦτο εἰσήκουσας τῆς φωνῆς τῆς δεήσεώς μου ἐν τῷ κεκραγέναι με πρὸς σέ. | |
| 23 | O love the , all ye his saints: for the preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. | ἀγαπήσατε τὸν Κύριον πάντες οἱ ὅσιοι αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἀληθείας ἐκζητεῖ Κύριος καὶ ἀνταποδίδωσι τοῖς περισσῶς ποιοῦσιν ὑπερηφανίαν. | |
| 24 | Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the . | ἀνδρίζεσθε, καὶ κραταιούσθω ἡ καρδία ὑμῶν, πάντες οἱ ἐλπίζοντες ἐπὶ Κύριον. | |
| :: |
Notes
References
Bibliography
References
- [http://medievalist.net/psalmstxt/ps30.htm Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 30 (31)] {{webarchive. link. (10 October 2016 medievalist.net)
- Henry, Matthew. (2020). "Psalms 31". Bible Study Tools.
- Lisa M. Wolfe. (1 November 2011). "Ruth, Esther, Song of Songs, and Judith". Wipf and Stock Publishers.
- F. Charles Fensham. (24 February 1983). "The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah". Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.
- Abramowitz, Rabbi Jack. (19 January 2015). "It's Not Paranoia If They Really Are Out to Get You". [[Orthodox Union]].
- (2020). "Psalm 31 Bible Commentary: Charles H. Spurgeon's Treasury of David". Christianity.com.
- Limburg, James. (2020). "Commentary on Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16". Luther Seminary.
- Guzik, David. (2019). "Psalm 31 – Shelter from trouble in the secret place of God's presence". Enduring Word.
- Kirkpatrick, A. F.. (1901). "The Book of Psalms: with Introduction and Notes". At the University Press.
- "C. H. Spurgeon: Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 45: 1899 - Christian Classics Ethereal Library".
- "Siddur Ashkenaz, Shabbat, Maariv, Adon Olam".
- Brauner, Reuven. (2013). "Shimush Pesukim: Comprehensive Index to Liturgical and Ceremonial Uses of Biblical Verses and Passages".
- {{CPDL. Illumina faciem tuam. Illumina faciem tuam
- Church of England, [https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/The%20Book%20of%20Common%20Prayer%201662.pdf Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter] as printed by [[John Baskerville]] in 1762, pp. 196ff
- "Night Prayer (Compline)".
- {{CPDL. Illumina faciem (Heinrich Isaac). Illumina faciem (Heinrich Isaac)
- {{CPDL. Illumina faciem tuam (Carlo Gesualdo). Illumina faciem tuam (Carlo Gesualdo)
- {{CPDL. In te Domine speravi a 12 (Hans Leo Hassler). In te Domine speravi a 12 (Hans Leo Hassler)
- {{CPDL. In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr. In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr
- {{CPDL. In te, Domine, speravi, SWV 259 (Heinrich Schütz). In te, Domine, speravi, SWV 259 (Heinrich Schütz)
- {{CPDL. In te Domine speravi (Johann Rosenmüller). In te Domine speravi (Johann Rosenmüller)
- {{CPDL. Blest be the name of Jacob's God (Joseph Haydn). Blest be the name of Jacob's God (Joseph Haydn)
- Reichwald (2008) Siegwart. Bloomington, Indiana ''Mendelssohn in Performance'' Indiana University Press. p. 234.
- {{CPDL. O love the Lord (Arthur Sullivan). O love the Lord (Arthur Sullivan)
- {{CPDL. Illumina faciem tuam (Nobuaki Izawa). Illumina faciem tuam (Nobuaki Izawa)
- (2020). "The Complete Psalms of David, Series 2, Vol. 2: Psalms 20-36". [[AllMusic]].
- "New Album Now Available". The Psalms Project.
- "Psalms – Chapter 31". Mechon Mamre.
- "Psalms 31 - JPS 1917". [[Sefaria.
- "Psalm 30 - Septuagint and Brenton's Septuagint Translation". Ellopos.
- {{bibleverse. Psalm. 31:11. NKJV: NKJV
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::