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Psalms 70

BSB·5 verses ·Old Testament
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1Make haste, O God, to deliver meלְהַצִּילֵ֑נִיlə·haṣ·ṣî·lê·nî — to rescue, deliver, or snatch awayH5337 — Full Word Study →! Hurryחֽוּשָֽׁה׃ḥū·šāh — To hurry; to hasten with eagernessH2363 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְ֝הוָ֗הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, to help meלְעֶזְרָ֥תִיlə·‘ez·rā·ṯî — help, assistance, aidH5833 — Full Word Study →! 2May those who seekמְבַקְשֵׁ֪יmə·ḇaq·šê — To seek, search for, or request earnestlyH1245 — Full Word Study → my lifeנַ֫פְשִׁ֥יnap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → be ashamedיֵבֹ֣שׁוּyê·ḇō·šū — to be ashamed; to feel shame or disgraceH954 — Full Word Study → and confoundedוְיַחְפְּרוּ֮wə·yaḥ·pə·rū — to be ashamed, brought to shameH2659 — Full Word Study →; may those who wish meחֲ֝פֵצֵ֗יḥă·p̄ê·ṣê — to delight in; to desire; to be pleased withH2655 — Full Word Study → harmרָעָתִֽי׃rā·‘ā·ṯî — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study → be repelledיִסֹּ֣גוּyis·sō·ḡū — to turn back, withdraw, or turn awayH5472 — Full Word Study → and humiliatedוְיִכָּלְמ֑וּwə·yik·kā·lə·mū — to be ashamed, humiliated, or confoundedH3637 — Full Word Study →. 3May those who sayהָ֝אֹמְרִ֗יםhā·’ō·mə·rîm — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, “Ahaהֶ֘אָ֥ח׀he·’āḥ — Exclamation of surprise, recognition, or triumphH1889 — Full Word Study →, ahaהֶאָֽח׃he·’āḥ — Exclamation of surprise, recognition, or triumphH1889 — Full Word Study →!” retreatיָ֭שׁוּבוּyā·šū·ḇū — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → because ofעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → their shameבָּשְׁתָּ֑םbā·šə·tām — shame, disgrace, dishonorH1322 — Full Word Study →. 4May allכָּֽל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → who seek Youמְבַ֫קְשֶׁ֥יךָmə·ḇaq·še·ḵā — To seek, search for, or request earnestlyH1245 — Full Word Study → rejoiceיָ֘שִׂ֤ישׂוּyā·śî·śū — To rejoice, be glad, make mirthH7797 — Full Word Study → and be gladוְיִשְׂמְח֨וּ׀wə·yiś·mə·ḥū — To rejoice, be glad, make merryH8055 — Full Word Study → in You; may those who loveאֹ֝הֲבֵ֗י’ō·hă·ḇê — To love; affection, attachment, or preferenceH157 — Full Word Study → Your salvationיְשׁוּעָתֶֽךָ׃yə·šū·‘ā·ṯe·ḵā — Deliverance, salvation, rescue from dangerH3444 — Full Word Study → alwaysתָ֭מִידṯā·mîḏ — continually, perpetually, alwaysH8548 — Full Word Study → sayוְיֹאמְר֣וּwə·yō·mə·rū — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, “Let Godאֱלֹהִ֑ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → be magnifiedיִגְדַּ֣לyiḡ·dal — to grow, become great, magnifyH1431 — Full Word Study →!” 5But I am poorעָנִ֣י‘ā·nî — Poor, afflicted, humbleH6041 — Full Word Study → and needyוְאֶבְיוֹן֮wə·’eḇ·yō·wn — Poor person in dire needH34 — Full Word Study →; hurryחֽוּשָׁ֫ה־ḥū·šāh- — To hurry; to hasten with eagernessH2363 — Full Word Study → to me, O Godאֱלֹהִ֪ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →. Youאַ֑תָּה’at·tāh — You; second-person pronoun (singular or plural)H859 — Full Word Study → are my helpעֶזְרִ֣י‘ez·rî — Helper, aid, or one who assistsH5828 — Full Word Study → and my delivererוּמְפַלְטִ֣יū·mə·p̄al·ṭî — to escape, slip away, deliver safelyH6403 — Full Word Study →; O LORDיְ֝הוָ֗הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, do notאַל־’al- — do not; negative imperative particleH408 — Full Word Study → delayתְּאַחַֽר׃tə·’a·ḥar — to delay, tarry, or postpone actionH309 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 70
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 70 is a brief but intensely personal cry for God's immediate deliverance from enemies. Written as a prayer of urgent petition, this psalm expresses the psalmist's desperation while maintaining confident faith that God is both willing and able to rescue him. The prayer moves from urgent pleas for help (verses 1–3), to intercession that God's people will rejoice (verse 4), and concludes with a personal reaffirmation of dependence on God (verse 5). Throughout, there is an underlying conviction that God's honor and the vindication of His people are inseparably linked—making this not merely a selfish cry for protection, but a passionate desire that God's name be glorified through His saving intervention.

Verses 1–3: The Urgent Plea and Prayer Against Enemies

The psalmist opens with an earnest, repeated cry: "Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD." The doubling of this request emphasizes both urgency and sincerity. The Hebrew concept behind "make haste" carries the weight of "do not delay"—reflecting a soul in genuine distress, not engaging in mere routine prayer. This is the language of someone who feels pressed upon and genuinely needs God's swift intervention.

In verses 2–3, the psalmist prays that his enemies experience shame and confusion. This is not vindictive malice, but rather a prayer that God would expose and frustrate the plans of those who seek to harm him. The phrase "let them be turned backward" suggests divine reversal—that God would overturn their schemes just as they were about to succeed. The taunt "Aha, aha" represents the mockers' contemptuous laughter, and the psalmist prays this mockery would rebound upon them as their own shame.

Application: When we face opposition or persecution for our faith, this passage gives us permission to bring those concerns directly to God with honest urgency. Rather than nursing bitterness, we can commit our cause to God and trust Him to work justice in His time and way.

Verse 4: The Prayer Expands to God's People

Here the focus shifts beautifully from the psalmist's personal plight to the broader community of God's seekers. "Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee" expands the prayer beyond self-interest. The psalmist wants not only his own deliverance but desires that all who genuinely seek God will experience joy in His presence and faithfulness. The phrase "let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified" reveals the ultimate goal: that God's name would be exalted and praised.

This verse teaches us that true prayer maturity includes interceding for others and prioritizing God's glory above our own comfort. The psalmist's confidence in God becomes contagious—his faith kindles faith in others.

Verse 5: The Personal Reaffirmation

The psalm concludes by returning to the psalmist's personal condition: "But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God." The word "but" marks a contrast—while others may rejoice, the psalmist acknowledges his vulnerable state. Yet this acknowledgment is not despair; it is honest humility. He positions himself as one who has nowhere else to turn, and therefore appeals to God on the basis of His character: "thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying."

The psalmist's poverty and need become reasons for God to act, not because God owes him, but because helping the weak and needy reflects God's compassionate character. The final plea, "make no tarrying," echoes the opening verse with fresh urgency born of renewed confidence.

Application for Today

Psalm 70 teaches us that honest, urgent prayer is not a sign of weak faith—it is the language of genuine trust. We may come before God with our real struggles, our fears, and our requests for swift help. At the same time, this psalm calls us beyond self-concern to rejoice in God's faithfulness and to magnify His name. When we face difficulty, we are invited to cry out to God without shame, to trust His character, and to remember that our deliverance ultimately serves His greater glory.

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