This concludes Psalm 31. Please join me in a study of the Song of Songs at http://songofsongsofsolomon.blogspot.com/

The following is not a translation. It is a personally meaningful interpretation of Psalm 31.

I take refuge in reality, the ultimate reality of God. Keep me, O God, from confusion within the totality of your nature.

Listen to me. Save me. Tear me away from illusion. Strip me of delusions. Take me. Now! You are a place of refuge and source of strength lead me in your purpose and intention. Yank me from the hidden traps with your strength.

On your strength I depend. You save me with your truth and reality. I hate the illusion of self-assertion. I am confident in God’s reality. I tremble and shout with joy, overwhelmed by God’s attention and care. Reality does not constrain. Reality is expansive.

I am exhausted by my delusions and frustrations. Restore me to your reality. I am overcome with grief as my time slips away and my strength is consumed in distortions. From this distress has emerged self-doubt and those who know me are chased away. I am forgotten, lost, and useless. I listen and look but all is twisted and dark and my life seems to slip away.

But I am confident in your strength and power. You are my reality. My life is yours. Snatch me away from this confusion. Turn toward me with your light, bring me into your Love. Do not delay to bring me into your reality. May the darkness be lifted. May my self-deception and pride be ended.

What great joy you have stored away for those who turn toward you. As we turn toward one another I am freed from controversy and slander. I stand before the source of all becoming: extraordinary, embracing love.

I feared your call, but you heard and answered my call. How I love you! Prepare me to fulfill the potential you created in me. Encourage and strengthen my remaining in your reality.

In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!

For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me; you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge.

Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord. I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. For my life is spent with sorrow,and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity,and my bones waste away.

Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances;those who see me in the street flee from me. I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. For I hear the whispering of many—terror on every side!—as they scheme together against me,as they plot to take my life.

But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.”My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love! O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol. Let the lying lips be mute,which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.

Oh, how abundant is your goodness,which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.

Blessed be the Lord,for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city. I had said in my alarm, “I am cut off from your sight.”But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help.

Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. Be strong, and let your heart take courage,all you who wait for the Lord!

(English Standard Version translation)

כה חִזְקוּ, וְיַאֲמֵץ לְבַבְכֶם-- כָּל-הַמְיַחֲלִים, לַיהוָה

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all ye that wait for the Lord. (Psalm 31: 24)

Courageous, resolute, encouraging...

Will, soul, thinking...

Strong, alert, brave...

Whole, each, everything...

Expect, hope, tarry...

That which exists, becoming, ultimate reality...

We are encouraged to be strong - chazaq - and take courage - 'amats.

Chazaq is to be held tightly and is closely related to the work of our hands. 'Amats is more a state of mind.

By being bold in what we do and what we expect we can advance God's intention.

Above is from Les Belles Heures.

כד אֶהֱבוּ אֶת-יְהוָה, כָּל-חֲסִידָיו:אֱמוּנִים, נֹצֵר יְהוָה; וּמְשַׁלֵּם עַל-יֶתֶר, עֹשֵׂה גַאֲוָה

O love the Lord, all ye His godly ones; the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully repayeth him that acteth haughtily. (Psalm 31:23)

Hunger, lust, desire...
That which exists, past-present-future, ultimate reality...
Whole, every, any...
Kind, faithful, good...
That which exists, past-present-future, ultimate reality...
Watch, keep, guard...
Trustworthy, firm, uphold...
Fully, together, adjoining...
Makes whole, completes, fulfills...
Potential, growth, rising...
Doing, making, preparing...

Love what is Real, every good thing. Reality preserves the realistic: bringing to full blossom their potential.

What is Real? What is its nature? It's intent? What is our ground of being? Who is our God?

כג וַאֲנִי, אָמַרְתִּי בְחָפְזִי-- נִגְרַזְתִּי, מִנֶּגֶד עֵינֶיךָ:אָכֵן--שָׁמַעְתָּ, קוֹל תַּחֲנוּנַי; בְּשַׁוְּעִי אֵלֶיךָ

As for me, 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. (Psalm 31:22)

Answer, command, call...

Hurry, flee, fear...

Destroyed, cut, separated...

Face, presence, in front of...

Spring, mind, spirit...

Surely, truly, indeed...

Perceive, attend, understand...

Sound, tinkling, thunder...

Begging, seeking, receive grace...

Shout, scream, ask...

My fearful response is to separate from you, but your spirit perceives my seeking.

Our human nature desires and - too often - can despise the way to which we are called.

כב בָּרוּךְ יְהוָה: כִּי הִפְלִיא חַסְדּוֹ לִי, בְּעִיר מָצוֹר

Blessed be the Lord; for He hath shown me His wondrous lovingkindness in an entrenched city. (Psalm 31:21)

Praise, adore, kneel...
That which exists, becoming, past-present-future...
Marvellous, wonderful, extraordinary...
Goodness, kindness, faithfulness...
Enclosed, besieged, confined...

A camel kneeling to drink water is the same Hebrew we translate as blessed.

The Hebrew for wondrous - pala' - can also mean very difficult.

I drink deeply from the source of all becoming, extraordinary embracing love.

Above is from Les Belles Heures.

כא תַּסְתִּירֵם, בְּסֵתֶר פָּנֶיךָ-- מֵרֻכְסֵי-אִישׁ:תִּצְפְּנֵם בְּסֻכָּה; מֵרִיב לְשֹׁנוֹת

Thou hidest them in the covert of Thy presence from the plottings of man; Thou concealest them in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. (Psalm 31: 20)

Conceal, cover, make secret...
Shelter, hiding place, secret place...
Face, turn toward, show...
Conspiracies, snares, bindings...
Mortals, humankind, husbands.
Treasure, store up, hide...
Thicket, booth, tent..
Disputes, quarrels, controversy...
Language, slander, speech.

Obscurity rather than victory can be God's gift.

Yet it is to be hidden in the very presence of God. It is being hidden in the plain sight of reality.

כ מָה רַב-טוּבְךָ, אֲשֶׁר-צָפַנְתָּ לִּירֵאֶיךָ:פָּעַלְתָּ, לַחֹסִים בָּךְ; נֶגֶד, בְּנֵי אָדָם

How great is your goodness, Lord, stored up for those who fear you. You display it for those who trust you, in the sight of all the people. (Psalm 31:19)

What, wherewith, how long...
Much, strong, abounding...
Beauty, joy, excellence...
Hidden, put away, concealed...
Revere, respect, astonish...
Make, accomplish, perform...
Confide in, take refuge, hope in...
Turn toward, facing, presence of...
Son, child, young...
Man, humanity, Adam...

What excellence is hidden in fear? Remake those who hope. Turn toward us.

The translator has made an exclamation from the question. I wonder if it is an authentic question.

The tranlastor has chosen "stored up" for a word - tsaphan - more often suggesting hidden away.

I have chosen to transform the confidence of the translation into a request.

יט תֵּאָלַמְנָה, שִׂפְתֵי-שָׁקֶר: הַדֹּבְרוֹת עַל-צַדִּיק עָתָק--בְּגַאֲוָה וָבוּז

Let the lying lips be dumb, which speak arrogantly against the righteous, with pride and contempt. (Psalm 31: 18)

Deception, wrong, disappointment...
Edge, shore, border...
Bind, make silent...
Promise, warn, threaten...
Boldly, quickly, strongly...
On account of, upon, because of...
Fulfilled-in-God, completed self...
Glory, majesty, swelling...
Despise, condemn, dismiss...

These could be my lying lips, my self-deceptions, my pride as much as any others.

Above is from Les Belles Heures.

יח יְהוָה--אַל-אֵבוֹשָׁה, כִּי קְרָאתִיךָ; יֵבֹשׁוּ רְשָׁעִים, יִדְּמוּ לִשְׁאוֹל

O LORD, let me not be ashamed, for I have called upon Thee; let the wicked be ashamed, let them be put to silence in the nether-world.(Psalm 31:17)

Become dry, delayed, confounded...
Existing one, past-present-future, becoming...
Cry out, proclaim, invite...
Guilty, condemned, troubled...
Become dry, delayed, confounded...
Still, quiet, die...
Place of begging, asking, enquire...

The Hebrew sheol - nether-world - is derived from sha'al: to ask, borrow, beg.

I am dried out and I cry out. May the drought be ended. I beg for the still rain of creative reality.

יז הָאִירָה פָנֶיךָ, עַל-עַבְדֶּךָ; הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי בְחַסְדֶּךָ

Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant; save me in Thy lovingkindness. (Psalm 31:15)

Turn, turn toward, look...

Light, brighten, illumine...

Worker, laborer, slave...

Liberate, deliver, bring victory...

Goodness, kindness, faithfulness...

When I saw "save me" in the verse above I was expecting the Hebrew padah or perhaps ga'al. These are sometimes translated as save or redeem or reclaim or ransom.

But the Hebrew is yasha'. I was expecting to be retrieved from my current condition by my original master. Instead I am to be freed.

טז בְּיָדְךָ עִתֹּתָי; הַצִּילֵנִי מִיַּד-אוֹיְבַי, וּמֵרֹדְפָי

My times are in Thy hand; deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. (Psalm 31:14)

Circumstances, experience, seasons...
Strength, power, influence...
Rescue, save, snatch away, tear out...
Strength, power, influence...
Foes, adversaries, competitors...
Harass, chase after, follow, hunt...

Who or what has power over me? Whose hand do I hold? Which is it, the strength - yad - of God or the influence - yad - of my enemy, that determines my direction and state of mind?

טו וַאֲנִי, עָלֶיךָ בָטַחְתִּי יְהוָה; אָמַרְתִּי, אֱלֹהַי אָתָּה

But as for me, I have trusted in Thee, O Lord; I have said: 'Thou art my God.' (Psalm 31:14)

Confident, bold, secure, careless...

In what exists, reality, past-present-future, becoming...

Strength, power, potential, ground of being.

In the first eight verses the psalmist sets out his relationship with God: He has taken refuge and asks for God's protection. The protection he seeks is transformational. He asks God to tear him away from current preoccupations and lead him into the depth and breadth of God's intent.

The next six verses describe the current condition in need of transformation. The psalmist is constrained, confined, discouraged, exhausted, angry, fearful, ignored, dismissed, confused, and more. He is on the wrong path or no path at all.

This verse is the turning point: The psalmist is secure in the strength of ultimate reality.

יד כִּי שָׁמַעְתִּי, דִּבַּת רַבִּים-- מָגוֹר מִסָּבִיב:בְּהִוָּסְדָם יַחַד עָלַי; לָקַחַת נַפְשִׁי זָמָמוּ.

For I have heard the whispering of many, terror on every side; while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. (Psalm 31:13)

Careful hearing, attending, noting...
Inaccuracies, untruths, slanders...
Abundant, large, amazing...
Fear, anxiety, wait, to leave the path...
All around, circling, sorrounding;
Consulting, meeting, talking...
Alike, at once, united...
Plan, cause, consider...
Receive, accept, seize...
Breathing, soul, potential...

Hearing great untruths all about I left the path considering urgently how to redeem my soul.

יג נִשְׁכַּחְתִּי, כְּמֵת מִלֵּב; הָיִיתִי, כִּכְלִי אֹבֵד

I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind; I am like a useless vessel. (Psalm 31:12)

Ignore, neglect, wither...
Perish, execute, murder...

Mind, will, heart, understanding;

Coming, arising, becoming...

Confuse, lose, eliminate...

Practical and purposeful use.

Verb-verb-noun; verb-verb-noun. I am not so much translating as attempting to uncover a meaning within the poetic imagry.

The noun kelee - translated above as vessel - is very context sensitive. It is also translated as armor, baggage, clothing, goods, utensil, weapons, yoke, and more. It is a thing fulfilling a practical purpose.

To neglect is to murder what is essential, becoming lost and useless.

Above is taken from Les Belles Heures.

יב מִכָּל-צֹרְרַי הָיִיתִי חֶרְפָּה, וְלִשְׁכֵנַי מְאֹד-- וּפַחַד לִמְיֻדָּעָי:רֹאַי בַּחוּץ-- נָדְדוּ מִמֶּנִּי.

Because of all mine adversaries I am become a reproach, yea, unto my neighbours exceedingly, and a dread to mine acquaintance; they that see me without flee from me. (Psalm 31:11)

Emerging from, through, out of...

the whole, totality, each-and-every...

of my constraints, distress, boundedness...

has come, been established, continued..

Scorn, shame, contempt, humiliation...

Specifically, in particular, strongly...

by those with whom I abide, live, work;

I am fearful, intimitating, unnerving...

to those who know, learn, perceive;

Those who see, regard, observe, give attention...

to the outside, outward appearance, exterior...

Depart, are chased away, retreat.

The psalms are full of adversaries -tsarar - which is to be bound, constrained, besieged. The tsarar in my life are more often self-created.

יא כִּי כָלוּ בְיָגוֹן, חַיַּי-- וּשְׁנוֹתַי בַּאֲנָחָה:כָּשַׁל בַּעֲו‍ֹנִי כֹחִי; וַעֲצָמַי עָשֵׁשׁוּ.

For my life is spent in sorrow, and my years in sighing; my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are wasted away. (Psalm 31:10)

My living, becoming, restoration...

is completed, fulfilled, accomplished...

in grief and anguish...

And my appointed time, measure, lifetime...

with groans and mourning;

Power, might, potential...

stumbles, staggers, totters...

because of bending, twisting, distorting;

Bone, essence, substance...

is consumed, fails, falters.

Can we read - should we read - that grief is a path to fulfillment? It was for Jesus.

We so often seek to avoid sorrows. Is this a distorting of reality?

Are we called to embrace the sorrows of this world as a means of resurrection (chayay)?

י חָנֵּנִי יְהוָה, כִּי צַר-לִי:עָשְׁשָׁה בְכַעַס עֵינִי; נַפְשִׁי וּבִטְנִי

Be gracious unto me, O Lord, for I am in distress; mine eye wasteth away with vexation, yea, my soul and my body. (Psalm 31: 9)

Abide, dwell, be with me, if necessary besiege me...

Existing one, past-present-future, I am what I am, ultimate reality...

I am bound up, constrained, shut up, confined to a tight place.

My seeing, insight, perception, fountain of life...

And my motivation, passion, fundamental self...

And my physical health, strength, gut...

Have been consumed, undermined, exhausted, expended, broken...

By anger, provocation, bitterness, indignation, frustration.

There is external cause, we are often provoked. But even more important is our internal response. Do we react in anger and indignation? Or do we find a more creative response?

Above is the flogging of Jesus from Les Belles Heures.

ט וְלֹא הִסְגַּרְתַּנִי, בְּיַד-אוֹיֵב; הֶעֱמַדְתָּ בַמֶּרְחָב רַגְלָי

And Thou hast not given me over into the hand of the enemy; Thou hast set my feet in a broad place. (Psalm 31:8)

You have not constrained me, tied me down, turned me over, shut me up, imprisoned me...

To the strength, power, authority...

of adversaries, hostilities, anger;

You have caused me to stand, walk, arise, continue, abide, take a stand...

In an expansive, growing, large, open, wide open place.

Thank you.

ח אָגִילָה וְאֶשְׂמְחָה, בְּחַסְדֶּךָ:אֲשֶׁר רָאִיתָ, אֶת-עָנְיִי; יָדַעְתָּ, בְּצָרוֹת נַפְשִׁי.

I will be glad and rejoice in Thy lovingkindness; for Thou hast seen mine affliction, Thou hast taken cognizance of the troubles of my soul, (Psalm 31:7)

The Hebrew for glad (giyl) and rejoice (samach) are distinct words, but their difference is subtle. Giyl might be a kind of internal joy, even a trembling of strongly felt gratitude. Samach can be a more public expression of joy, as in a shared victory or religious experience.

I am overjoyed by God's chesed: kindness, empathy, goodness, loveliness, generosity, and grace.

God has seen, looked at, given attention to my self-generated afflictions: depression, humiliation, anxiety, and regret.

God has recognized, perceived, known intimately the confined nature, tightness, and narrowness of my fundamental condition, passions, inner life, and motivations.

We are so often ignored or dismissed. Just to be noticed is sometimes enough to generate joy.

ז שָׂנֵאתִי, הַשֹּׁמְרִים הַבְלֵי-שָׁוְא; וַאֲנִי, אֶל-יְהוָה בָּטָחְתִּי

I hate them that regard lying vanities; but I trust in the Lord. (Psalm 31:6)

I do not value, strongly oppose, fiercely dislike, hotly contest...

Watching over, promoting, remembering, celebrating, engaging...

Empty, false, worthless, undermining...

Illusion, delusion, nothingness, vapour, self-assertion...

Confident, feel safe, am carefree, secure, bold...

That which exists, that which is becoming, ultimate reality.

What is not God is illusion. What is real is divine.

Above is a Centaur from Les Belles Heures.

ו בְּיָדְךָ, אַפְקִיד רוּחִי: פָּדִיתָ אוֹתִי יְהוָה--אֵל אֱמֶת.

Into Thy hand I commit my spirit; Thou hast redeemed me, O LORD, Thou God of truth. (Psalm 31:5)

Your instrument of power, active strength, creative organ...

I will seek for, attend to, visit, need...

to be ransomed, rescued, delivered...

Existing one, past-present-future, I-am...

Master of reality, pillar of the universe, mighty one...

Who is firm, faithful, sure, reliable.

According to Luke's gospel Jesus quoted from this passage just before dying on the cross.

ה תּוֹצִיאֵנִי--מֵרֶשֶׁת זוּ, טָמְנוּ לִי: כִּי-אַתָּה, מָעוּזִּי

Bring me forth out of the net that they have hidden for me; for Thou art my stronghold. (Psalm 31: 4)

Pull me out, bring forth, come out, come forth, go forth...

From the net, from the trap, from my possessing, from poverty, from destruction, from disinheritance...

Hidden, concealed, buried, with which I have hidden myself;

For you are a fortress, a harbour, a stronghold, a refuge, source of strength, a rock.

We might even read: Bring forth from hidden traps great strength.

ד כִּי-סַלְעִי וּמְצוּדָתִי אָתָּה; וּלְמַעַן שִׁמְךָ, תַּנְחֵנִי וּתְנַהֲלֵנִי.

For Thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for Thy name's sake lead me and guide me. (Psalm 31:3)

You are my crag, cliff, stronghold and my net, prey, siege works. You are my place of hiding and that which seeks to flush me out of hiding.

For the sake of your purpose, in view of your intent, in order to advance your own identity: your integrity, your place, and that which you originally conceived...

Lead me and guide me to the source of your waters, to the place of rest, to refreshment, to each of the milestones on a shared journey to the goal.

The image of God as both stronghold and siege works is a wonderful aspect of the Hebrew: A place of protection from evil and a breaking-down of barriers to experiencing God's intention.

For we must leave the rocky hiding place in order to continue toward the goal.

ג הַטֵּה אֵלַי, אָזְנְךָ-- מְהֵרָה הַצִּילֵנִי:הֱיֵה לִי, לְצוּר-מָעוֹז--לְבֵית מְצוּדוֹת לְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי.

Incline Thine ear unto me, deliver me speedily; be Thou to me a rock of refuge, even a fortress of defence, to save me. (Psalm 31:2)

Listen to me. Save me. Tear me away. Strip me. Pluck me out. Choose me. Now.

Enclose me, shut me up, if necessary besiege me with your strength. Catch me in your net, build siege-works to tear down my walls. Hunt and capture me.

The English implies a rescue. I hear in the Hebrew more of an assault.

The pslamist is invoking God's help in breaking down the barriers in which the psalmist has imprisoned himself.

ב בְּךָ-יְהוָה חָסִיתִי, אַל-אֵבוֹשָׁה לְעוֹלָם; בְּצִדְקָתְךָ פַלְּטֵנִי

In thee, O Lord, have I taken refuge; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in Thy righteousness. (Psalm 31: 1)

In you Jehovah have I taken taken refuge. In you Existing One I have taken refuge. In that which is, I have taken refuge. In ultimate reality I have taken refuge.

Let me not be ashamed. Let me not be confused. Let me not be mistaken about reality.

May your righteous self save me. Preserve me within your identity. May I escape into the wholeness of justice and fulfillment. Make me real.

א לַמְנַצֵּחַ, מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד
For the Leader. A Psalm of David.
Psalm 31 Preface

The psalms are hymns or chants. In Hebrew they are the Tehilim - praises - offered to God.

Psalm comes from the Greek meaning songs to be sung to a harp.

For several years the 31st Psalm has had particular meaning for me.

Over the next twenty-three days I will examine each verse of this psalm.

The psalm is ascribed to King David. The leader in this case is the choir director.

Above is a miniature of King David from the Glasgow Hours.