Psalm chapter 70
English Standard Version
1 Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me! 2Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! 3Let them turn back because of their shame who say, "Aha, Aha!" 4May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, "God is great!" 5But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!
New International Version
1For the director of music. Of David. A petition. Hasten, O God, to save me; come quickly, Lord, to help me. 2May those who want to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. 3May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" turn back because of their shame.
New American Standard Bible
1God, hurry to save me; Lord, hurry to help me! 2May those who seek my life Be put to shame and humiliated; May those who delight in my harm Be turned back and dishonored. 3May those who say, 'Aha, aha!' be turned back Because of their shame. 4May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And may those who love Your salvation say continually, 'May God be exalted!' 5But I am afflicted and needy; Hurry to me, God! You are my help and my savior; Lord, do not delay.
Christian Standard Bible
New Living Translation
1Please, God, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me. 2May those who try to kill me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace. 3Let them be horrified by their shame, for they said, 'Aha! We’ve got him now!' 4But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, 'God is great!' 5But as for me, I am poor and needy; please hurry to my aid, O God. You are my helper and my savior; O Lord, do not delay.
King James Version
New King James Version
1{To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. To bring to remembrance.} Make haste, O God, to deliver me! Make haste to help me, O Lord! 2 Let them be ashamed and confounded Who seek my life; Let them be turned back and confused Who desire my hurt. 3 Let them be turned back because of their shame, Who say, “Aha, aha!” 4Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And let those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified!” 5 But I am poor and needy; Make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.
What does Psalm chapter 70 mean?
This psalm is nearly identical to what David wrote at the end of Psalm 40 (Psalm 40:13–17). The only significant changes are in the terms used for God. Psalm 40 mostly uses YHWH, translated as "LORD" in most English versions, while Psalm 70 more often chooses Elohim, usually rendered as "God." It's likely that the end of Psalm 40 was used separately often enough that it was eventually treated as an independent psalm. Since David directly asks God to harm his enemies, this is considered one of the "imprecatory" psalms (Psalm 5; 10; 58; 69; 83; 109; 137; 140).David begins with a plea for the Lord to act quickly. Scripture doesn't connect this psalm to any specific event in David's life. However, he was often in mortal danger. Here, enemies who lie and mock him are once again seeking his death. Their words are from the Hebrew heāh, meant here in the sneering way, as in the English "hah!" David's prayer is that God would turn those efforts around: so that ridiculing, vicious attackers would be themselves ashamed when their plans are frustrated. These opening verses are like Psalm 40:13–15 (Psalm 70:1–3).
Despite danger, David is still faithful. He calls on others to praise God, in anticipation of the rescue which is to come. David has no plans to let hardship dampen his faith (Psalm 40:16–17). Yet he is also humble. David thanks God for mercifully caring for him. David has nowhere else to turn so he once again asks God to bring relief quickly (Psalm 70:4–5).
