1In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2In Your justice, rescue and deliver me; incline Your ear and save me. 3Be my rock of refuge, where I can always go. Give the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress. 4Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and ruthless. 5For You are my hope, O Lord GOD, my confidence from my youth. 6I have leaned on You since birth; You pulled me from my mother’s womb. My praise is always for You. 7I have become a portent to many, but You are my strong refuge. 8My mouth is filled with Your praise and with Your splendor all day long. 9Do not discard me in my old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails. 10For my enemies speak against me, and those who lie in wait for my life conspire, 11saying, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for there is no one to rescue him.” 12Be not far from me, O God. Hurry, O my God, to help me. 13May the accusers of my soul be ashamed and consumed; may those who seek my harm be covered with scorn and disgrace. 14But I will always hope and will praise You more and more. 15My mouth will declare Your righteousness and Your salvation all day long, though I cannot know their full measure. 16I will enter in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will proclaim Your righteousness—Yours alone. 17O God, You have taught me from my youth, and to this day I proclaim Your marvelous deeds. 18Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I proclaim Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come. 19Your righteousness reaches to the heavens, O God, You who have done great things. Who, O God, is like You? 20Though You have shown me many troubles and misfortunes, You will revive me once again. Even from the depths of the earth You will bring me back up. 21You will increase my honor and comfort me once again. 22So I will praise You with the harp for Your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to You with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. 23When I sing praise to You my lips will shout for joy, along with my soul, which You have redeemed. 24My tongue will indeed proclaim Your righteousness all day long, for those who seek my harm are disgraced and confounded.
Matthew Henry's Commentary
Prayers that God would deliver and save. (1-13) Believing praises. (14-24) 1-13 David prays that he might never be made ashamed of dependence upon God. With this petition every true believer may come boldly to the throne of grace. The gracious care of Divine providence in our birth and infancy, should engage us to early piety. He that was our Help from our birth, ought to be our Hope from our youth. Let none expect ease or comfort from the world. Those who love the Lord, often are hated and persecuted; men wondered at for their principles and conduct; but the Lord has been their strong refuge. The faithful servants of God may be assured that he will not cast them off in old age, nor forsake them when their strength fails. 14-24 The psalmist declares that the righteousness of Christ, and the great salvation obtained thereby, shall be the chosen subject of his discourse. Not on a sabbath only, but on every day of the week, of the year, of his life. Not merely at stated returns of solemn devotion, but on every occasion, all the day long. Why will he always dwell on this? Because he knew not the numbers thereof. It is impossible to measure the value or the fulness of these blessings. The righteousness is unspeakable, the salvation everlasting. God will not cast off his grey-headed servants when no longer capable of labouring as they have done. The Lord often strengthens his people in their souls, when nature is sinking into decay. And it is a debt which the old disciples of Christ owe to succeeding generations, to leave behind them a solemn testimony to the advantage of religion, and the truth of God's promises; and especially to the everlasting righteousness of the Redeemer. Assured of deliverance and victory, let us spend our days, while waiting the approach of death, in praising the Holy One of Israel with all our powers. And while speaking of his righteousness, and singing his praises, we shall rise above fears and infirmities, and have earnests of the joys of heaven. The work of redemption ought, above all God's works, to be spoken of by us in our praises. The Lamb that was slain, and has redeemed us to God, is worthy of all blessing and praise.