1 David prays for favour in judgment
3 He complains of his griefs
5 He strengthens his faith by meditation and prayer
7 He prays for grace
9 For deliverance
10 For sanctification
12 For destruction of his enemies

A Psalm. The LXX., Vulgate, Ethiopic, and Arabic state that this Psalm was composed by David on the rebellion of his son Absalom; and there are several passages in it which agree remarkably well with that period; for then he had most reason to fear lest God should deal with him according to his sins; which he deprecates with such a deep sense of his unworthiness, that it has hence been numbered among the penitential Psalms, of which it is the last. In it he prays to God for pardon, ver. 1; acknowledges the impossibility of being saved but by grace, ver. 2; deplores the lamentable effects of sin, ver. 3,4; comforts himself with a retrospect of God's mercies of old, ver. 5; and prays, in a variety of expressions, for remission of sin, sanctification, and redemption. ver. 6-12.

thy faithfulness Ps 31:1 71:2 2Sa 7:25 Da 9:16 1Jo 1:9

2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

enter not Ps 130:3 Job 14:3

in thy sight Ex 34:7 Job 4:17 9:2,3 15:14 25:4 Ec 7:20 Ro 3:20 Ga 2:16 1Jo 1:10

3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

the enemy Ps 7:1,2 17:9-13 35:4 54:3 142:6

smitten Ps 7:5 2Sa 2:22 18:11

made me Ps 31:12,13 88:4-6 Eze 37:11

4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.

is my spirit Ps 55:5 61:2 77:3 102:1 124:4 142:3 Job 6:27

my heart Ps 25:16 102:3,4 119:81-83 Lu 22:44

5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

remember Ps 42:6 77:5,6,10-12 111:4 De 8:2,3 1Sa 17:34-37,45-50 Isa 63:7-14 Mic 6:5

6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

stretch forth Ps 44:20 88:9 Job 11:13

my soul Ps 42:1,2 63:1 84:2 Isa 26:8,9 35:7 Joh 7:37

7 Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

hear me Ps 14:1-4 40:13,17 70:5 71:12

my spirit Ps 40:12 69:3 Isa 57:16 Lu 21:26

hide not Ps 22:24 27:9 69:17 Isa 8:17

lest I be like, etc. or, for I am become like, etc.
unto them Ps 28:1 88:4-6,10,11 Isa 38:18

8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

to hear Ps 30:5 42:8 46:5 59:16 Ho 6:3

cause me Ps 143:10 5:8 25:4,5 27:11 32:8 119:34,73 Pr 3:5,6 Isa 30:21 48:17

for I lift Ps 25:1 86:4 La 3:41

9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

flee unto thee. Heb. hide me with thee Ps 34:2-4 56:9 61:3,4 142:5 Pr 18:10 Heb 6:18

10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

teach Ps 25:4,5,8,9,12 119:5-7,12,35 139:24 Mic 4:2 Mt 28:20 Col 1:9,10 1Th 4:1,2 Heb 13:21 1Jo 2:27

for thou art Ps 22:1 31:14 63:1 118:28 140:6

thy spirit Ne 9:20 Isa 63:14 Joh 14:26 16:13-15 Ro 5:5 8:2,14-16,26 15:13,30 Ga 5:22,23 Eph 4:30 5:9 2Ti 1:7

the land Isa 29:10

11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.

quicken Ps 85:6 119:25,37,40,88,107 138:7 Hab 3:2 Eph 2:4,5

for thy righteousness Ps 143:1 9:7,8 31:1 71:2

bring Ps 25:17 34:19 37:39,40 91:15,16 Re 7:14-17

12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

of thy mercy Ps 54:5 55:23 136:15-20 1Sa 24:12-15 25:29 26:10

for I am thy Ps 116:16 119:94