TRV
Translation
Young's Literal Translation
And I on Thee--I have trusted, O Jehovah, I have said, `Thou art my God.'
In the KJVVerse 14,346 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Psalms 31 verses 9–18
9 ¶ Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.
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.
11 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.
12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
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.
14 But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.
15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.
17 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.
18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
In the foregoing verses David had appealed to God's righteousness, and pleaded his relation to him and dependence on him; here he appeals to his mercy, and pleads the greatness of his own misery, which made his case the proper object of that mercy. Observe,
I. The complaint he makes of his trouble and distress (Psa 31:9): "Have mercy upon me, O Lord! for I am in trouble, and need thy mercy." The remembrance he makes of his condition is not much unlike some even of Job's complaints. 1. His troubles had fixed a very deep impression upon his mind and made him a man of sorrows. So great was his grief that his very soul was consumed with it, and his life spent with it, and he was continually sighing, Psa 31:9, Psa 31:10. Herein he was a type of Christ, - who was intimately acquainted with grief and often in tears. We may guess by David's complexion, which was ruddy and sanguine, by his genius for music, and by his daring enterprises in his early days, that his natural disposition was both cheerful and firm, that he was apt to be cheerful, and not to lay trouble to his heart; yet here we see what he is brought to: he has almost wept out his eyes, and sighed away his breath. Let those that are airy and gay take heed of running into extremes, and never set sorrow at defiance; God can find out ways to make them melancholy if they will not otherwise learn to be serious. 2. His body was afflicted with the sorrows of his mind (Psa 31:10): My strength fails, my bones are consumed, and all because of my iniquity. As to Saul, and the quarrel he had with him, he could confidently insist upon his righteousness; but, as it was an affliction God laid upon him, he owns he had deserved it, and freely confesses his iniquity to have been the procuring cause of all his trouble; and the sense of sin touched him to the quick and wasted him more than all his calamities. 3. His friends were unkind and became shy of him. He was a fear to his acquaintance, when they saw him they fled from him, Psa 31:11. They durst not harbour him nor give him any assistance, durst not show him any countenance, nor so much as be seen in his company, for fear of being brought into trouble by it, now that Saul had proclaimed him a traitor and outlawed him. They saw how dearly Ahimelech the priest had paid for aiding and abetting him, though ignorantly; and therefore, though they could not but own he had a great deal of wrong done him, yet they had not the courage to appear for him. He was forgotten by them, as a dead man out of mind (Psa 31:12), and looked upon with contempt as a broken vessel. Those that showed him all possible respect when he was in honour at court, now that he had fallen into disgrace, though unjustly, were strange to him. Such swallow-friends the world is full of, that are gone in winter. Let those that fall on the losing side not think it strange if they be thus deserted, but make sure a friend in heaven, that will not fail them, and make use of him. 4. His enemies were unjust in their censures of him. They would not have persecuted him as they did if they had not first represented him as a bad man; he was a reproach among all his enemies, but especially among his neighbours, Psa 31:11. Those that had been the witnesses of his integrity, and could not but be convinced in their consciences that he was an honest man, were the most forward to represent him quite otherwise, that they might curry favour with Saul. Thus he heard the slander of many; every one had a stone to throw at him, because fear was in every side; that is, they durst not do otherwise, for he that would not join with his neighbours to accuse David was looked upon as disaffected to Saul. Thus the best of men have been represented under the worst characters by those that resolved to give them the worst treatment. 5. His life was aimed at and he went in continual peril of it. Fear was on every side, and he knew that, whatever counsel his enemies took against him, the design was not to take away his liberty, but to take away his life (Psa 31:13), a life so valuable, so useful, to the good services of which all Israel owed so much, and which was never forfeited. Thus, in all the plots of the Pharisees and Herodians against Christ, still the design was to take away his life, such are the enmity and cruelty of the serpent's seed.
II. His confidence in God in the midst of these troubles. Every thing looked black and dismal round about him, and threatened to drive him to despair: "But I trusted in thee, O Lord! (Psa 31:14) and was thereby kept from sinking." His enemies robbed him of his reputation among men, but they could not rob him of his comfort in God, because they could not drive him from his confidence in God. Two things he comforted himself with in his straits, and he went to God and pleaded them with him: - 1. "Thou art my God; I have chosen thee for mine, and thou hast promised to be mine;" and, if he be ours and we can by faith call him so, it is enough, when we can call nothing else ours. "Thou art my God; and therefore to whom shall I go for relief but to thee?" Those need not be straitened in their prayers who can plead this; for, if God undertake to be our God, he will do that for us which will answer the compass and vast extent of the engagement. 2. My times are in thy hand. Join this with the former and it makes the comfort complete. If God have our times in his hand, he can help us; and, if he be our God, he will help us; and then what can discourage us? It is a great support to those who have God for their God that their times are in his hand and he will be sure to order and dispose of them for the best, to all those who commit their spirits also into his hand, to suit them to their times, as David here, Psa 31:5. The time of life is in God's hands, to lengthen or shorten, embitter or sweeten, as he pleases, according to the counsel of his will. Our times (all events that concern us, and the timing of them) are at God's disposal; they are not in our own hands, for the way of man is not in himself, not in our friends' hands, nor in our enemies' hands, but in God's; every man's judgment proceedeth from him. David does not, in his prayers, prescribe to God, but subscribe to him. "Lord, my times are in thy hand, and I am well pleased that they are so; they could not be in a better hand. Thy will be done."
III. His petitions to God, in this faith and confidence, 1. He prays that God would deliver him out of the hand of his enemies (Psa 31:15), and save him (Psa 31:16), and this for his mercies' sake, and not for any merit of his own. Our opportunities are in God's hand (so some read it), and therefore he knows how to choose the best and fittest time for our deliverance, and we must be willing to wait that time. When David had Saul at his mercy in the cave those about him said, "This is the time in which God will deliver thee," Sa1 24:4. "No," says David, "the time has not come for my deliverance till it can be wrought without sin; and I will wait for that time; for it is God's time, and that is the best time." 2. That God would give him the comfort of his favour in the mean time (Psa 31:16): "Make they face to shine upon thy servant; let me have the comfortable tokens and evidences of thy favour to me, and that shall put gladness in my heart in the midst of all my griefs." 3. That his prayers to God might be answered and his hopes in God accomplished (Psa 31:17): "Let me not be ashamed of my hopes and prayers, for I have called upon thee, who never saidst to thy people, Seek in vain, and hope in vain." 4. That shame and silence might be the portion of wicked people, and particularly of his enemies. They were confident of their success against David, and that they should run him down and ruin him. "Lord," says he, "let them be made ashamed of that confidence by the disappointment of their expectations," as those that opposed the building of the wall about Jerusalem, when it was finished, were much cast down in their own eye, Neh 6:16. Let them be silent in the grave. Note, Death will silence the rage and clamour of cruel persecutors, whom reason would not silence. In the grave the wicked cease from troubling. Particularly, he prays for (that is, he prophesies) the silencing of those that reproach and calumniate the people of God ( Psa 31:18): Let lying lips be put to silence, that speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. This is a very good prayer which, (1.) We have often occasion to put up to God; for those that set their mouth against the heavens commonly revile the heirs of heaven. Religion, in the strict and serious professors of it, are every where spoken against, [1.] With a great deal of malice: They speak grievous things, on purpose to vex them, and hoping, with what they say, to do them a real mischief. They speak hard things (so the word is), which bear hard upon them, and by which they hope to fasten indelible characters of infamy upon them. [2.] With a great deal of falsehood: They are lying lips, taught by the father of lies and serving his interest. [3.] With a great deal of scorn and disdain: They speak proudly and contemptuously, as if the righteous, whom God has honoured, were the most despicable people in the world, and not worthy to be set with the dogs of their flock. One would think they thought it no sin to tell a deliberate lie if it might but serve to expose a good man either to hatred or contempt. Hear, O our God! for we are despised. (2.) We may pray in faith; for these lying lips shall be put to silence. God has many ways of doing it. Sometimes he convinces the consciences of those that reproach his people, and turns their hearts. Sometimes by his providence he visibly confutes their calumnies, and brings forth the righteousness of his people as the light. However, there is a day coming when God will convince ungodly sinners of the falsehood of all the hard speeches that have spoken against his people and will execute judgment upon them, Jde 1:14, Jde 1:15. Then shall this prayer be fully answered, and to that day we should have an eye in the singing of it, engaging ourselves likewise by well-doing, if possible, to silence the ignorance of foolish men, Pe1 2:15.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 9–18. Public domain.
Copy as
Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 31
"But I have hoped in You, O Lord; I have said, You are my God" [Psalm 31:14]. For You have not changed, that You should not save, Who dost correct.
CassiodorusAD 585
EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 31:15-16
The order of the words is wonderful and most holy. When his enemies … held on to a hope in their own strength, he says that he put his hope in the Lord, since he knew that their power was nothing and by the plots they were attempting they would kill themselves rather than him.… The Lord Christ says: “You are my God,” but he says this from the perspective of the human nature that he assumed, which, as he says later, was subject both to time and to death. He does not, as his enemies were thinking, mention that his life was going to be ended by their persecution, but he commends the times of his life to the Lord. For we exist by his work as our Creator; we are enlivened as he determines; and we also pass on when he gives the command. For this reason, it is necessary that his hope be set on the Lord, for he knew that his life and his death were under God’s control.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
Copy as
Continue studying Psalms 31:14 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Psalm 31:14 stands as a profound declaration of unwavering faith amidst intense personal suffering and external opposition. In this pivotal verse, the psalmist, likely David, articulates a deliberate and resolute choice to place his complete trust in the Lord, affirming an intimate, covenantal relationship with God as his personal deity. This declaration serves as an anchor of hope and confidence, contrasting sharply with the surrounding narrative of distress and betrayal, and highlighting the steadfastness of divine faithfulness even in the direst circumstances.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalm 31:14 effectively employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. The most prominent is Contrast, introduced by the opening "But." This conjunction sharply juxtaposes David's dire external circumstances and internal anguish (detailed in the preceding verses) with his resolute and unwavering faith in God. This contrast highlights the extraordinary nature of his trust, demonstrating that it is not circumstantial but deeply rooted in God's character. Direct Address is evident in "O LORD" and "Thou art my God," which creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy in David's prayer. This direct communication underscores the personal relationship between the psalmist and his God. Furthermore, the use of Personal Pronouns ("I," "thee," "my") emphasizes the highly individual and relational aspect of this declaration. It is David's personal testimony, making the universal truth of God's faithfulness relatable through his specific experience. The declaration "Thou art my God" also functions as a Confession of Faith, a public or private affirmation of belief and allegiance, which is a common feature in the Psalms, serving both to reinforce the speaker's faith and to instruct the listener.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 31:14 stands as a theological cornerstone, asserting the absolute reliability of God's character and the transformative power of personal trust in Him. This verse underscores that true faith is not merely intellectual assent but a profound, active reliance on the covenant-keeping God, even when all human supports crumble. It speaks to the sovereignty of God over all circumstances and the intimate relationship He desires with His people, where He is not just "a God" but "my God." This declaration of trust in YHWH, the self-existent and faithful God, provides a model for navigating life's deepest trials, demonstrating that our hope is anchored in an unchanging divine Person, not in fleeting circumstances. It is a testament to the enduring truth that God remains faithful even when we are faithless, and that His character is the ultimate ground for our confidence.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 31:14 offers a timeless blueprint for the believer facing adversity. In a world often characterized by uncertainty, fear, and betrayal, David's defiant declaration "But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God" provides a powerful antidote to despair. It calls us to consciously shift our focus from the overwhelming nature of our problems to the unchanging character of our God. This verse reminds us that trust is an active choice, a verbal and internal affirmation of God's sovereignty and faithfulness, even when our emotions or circumstances scream otherwise. By declaring Him "my God," we reaffirm our covenant relationship with Him, anchoring our identity and hope in His steadfast love and power. This act of trust is not a denial of pain but a confident assertion that God is greater than our pain, our enemies, and our fears, providing a solid foundation upon which to stand when everything else feels unstable. It invites us to speak truth to our souls, confessing God's identity and our reliance on Him, thereby strengthening our resolve and deepening our spiritual resilience.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does it mean to "trust" in the biblical sense, as seen in this verse?
Answer: In the biblical sense, particularly with the Hebrew word bâṭach used here, "trust" is far more than a passive hope or a mere intellectual belief. It signifies a deep, active reliance, a confident leaning upon, and a finding of security in someone or something. For David, trusting in the LORD meant placing his entire weight, his future, and his very life into God's hands. It implies a firm conviction in God's character, power, and faithfulness, even when circumstances are dire and human help is absent or failing. It's a deliberate act of choosing to rest in God's provision and protection, rather than succumbing to fear or despair. This kind of trust is demonstrated throughout the Psalms, such as in Psalm 62:8.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 31:14 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who embodies the perfect object and enabler of such unwavering trust. David's declaration, "But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God," foreshadows the perfect trust that Jesus Himself demonstrated during His earthly ministry, especially in the face of unimaginable suffering and betrayal. On the cross, Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46), yet even in that moment of apparent abandonment, His underlying trust in the Father remained unbroken, culminating in His final words, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" (Luke 23:46). Moreover, Christ is the very means by which believers can declare, "Thou art my God." Through His atoning sacrifice and resurrection, He has reconciled us to God, granting us adoption as sons and daughters (Galatians 4:5-7). Our trust is no longer merely in the covenant-keeping YHWH of Israel, but in YHWH revealed fully in Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He is our ultimate refuge and strength, the one in whom all the promises of God find their "Yes" and "Amen" (2 Corinthians 1:20), enabling us to confidently declare, "My God," even in the midst of life's deepest trials.