In this awesome prayer, King David in his old age speaks of his enemies’ desire to kill him and declares that he deserves death. David has sought help from HaShem all his life. He has now grown old and asks G-d not to be ashamed that he still asks for help. David, like a great saint, admits that he has the same fears as ordinary people. However, King David’s words give Jews the courage they need. They can follow his instructions. His level of thinking is on a different level than that of ‘ordinary’ Jews. But David’s words can be related to their own situation because their fears are the same.
- Text Psalm 71
- Hebrew text of Psalm 71 – תהילים עא
- Listen to Psalm 71
- Explanation of Psalm 71 by Rabbi Yitzchok Rubin
- Commentary by Rashi on Psalm 71
- Further explanation of the above Jewish comments
- Psalm 1 to 92
Text Psalm 71
In You, O Lord, have I taken refuge; never disgrace me. With Your charity You will save and preserve me; hear me out and save me. Be to me a shelter where I may dwell; You commanded [others] to save me because You are my rock and my fortress. My G‑d, deliver me from the hands of the wicked, from the palm of the hand of him who treats unjustly and robs.
….You will magnify my greatness, and You will turn and comfort me. I will also thank You with a stringed instrument for Your truth, my G-d; I will play music for You with a harp, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will sing praises as I play music to You, and my soul, which You have redeemed. Also my tongue will declare Your righteousness all the day long, for those who seek my evil are put to shame, yea, for they are put to shame.
Hebrew text of Psalm 71 – תהילים עא
A In you, Jehovah, I have protected you from shame forever. In your righteousness, save me and deliver me. Lean on me from your ear and save me. 3 May I create a dwelling place for you to always come and save me – my rock and I will besiege you with it. D. My God, cast me away from the wicked with a spoon full of bitterness and vinegar. Because you are my hope, Lord Jehovah, my hope from my youth. And on you I depended from my womb from my mother’s womb, you are my Gozi, in you my glory will always be. 7 I was like a talisman to many, and you are a savior. My mouth will be filled with your praise all day long. 9 Do not throw me away in my old age as the end of my strength, do not forsake me. For my enemies have said to me, and the guardians of my soul have conspired together. For God said, leave him, persecute him, and be taken away, for there is no savior. 12 O God, do not be far from me, O God, for my help is a sense. 13 Let the devils of my soul dry up, let them wear shame and reproach my evil seekers. Hand and I will always wish and add to all your praise. Let me recount your righteousness all day long, for I did not know numbers. 16 Come forth with might, O Lord Jehovah, I will remember your righteousness alone. 17 God, you have taught me from my youth and until now I will tell of your wonders. 18 And also until old age and the return of God, do not forsake me. 19 And your righteousness, O God, is so high that you have done great things, God, who is like you. As you showed us (you showed me) many and bad troubles, return to us and (beseech me) and from the pits of the earth return to me. So multiply my greatness and turn and comfort me. 22 I too will sing to you with a harp, the truth of your God will sing to you with the harp of the Holy One of Israel. 23 My lips will sing because I have promised you and my soul that you have redeemed. Let my tongue speak all day long of your righteousness, for I am ashamed that my evil petitioners have dug.
Listen to Psalm 71
Listen to Psalm 71 in Hebrew.
Explanation of Psalm 71 by Rabbi Yitzchok Rubin
David wants to have the same shelter he had when he was young. The solid rock never disappears. HaShem is always there and the Jews should not abandon Him either. They need G-d’s fortress for ultimate salvation.
The wicked are trying to drive a wedge between G-d and the Jews. But with the realization that HaShem is everything, Jews will never become desperate. When Jews are young, they rely on Hashem with youthful exuberance. That young hope can remain constant if they just let it.
David praises HaShem at all times and in all phases of his life, for he realizes that he lives only by the will of HaShem. Even in those “long days” of old age, he seeks only to glorify the glory of Hashem. David does not want G-d to leave him in a weakened old condition. It may seem nonsensical for such a spiritual giant as David to express such thoughts, but perhaps he is saying them for the Jews, says Rabbi Rubin.
Jews must understand that everything is a mighty act of G-d. They may not understand everything, but by looking back in their lives they can see a clearer pattern of the righteousness that is Hashem. Everything HaShem does has a purpose. Jews must accept that as their reality. Even in their deepest fears they will find strength, as in their youth, to go on.
Commentary by Rashi on Psalm 71
Per verse the commentary of Rashi, the Jewish Bible commentator who lived from 1040-1105. Rashi is considered the teacher of teachers. All traditional Jews regard Rashi as an authority on the Jewish Bible and Talmud. Hence it is important to record his commentary on the Psalms. Rashi uses new Hebrew supplemented with Old French words. His language is sometimes somewhat oracularly short. For further explanation it is wise to consult an orthodox Jewish rabbi.
Verse 3
Be to me a shelter where I can dwell; You commanded [others] to save me because You are my rock and my fortress.
where I can live : in that shelter, to save myself from the pursuer.
You commanded [others] to save me : You have saved me many times through Your messengers.
Verse 4
My God, deliver me from the hands of the wicked, from the palm of the hand of him who treats unjustly and robs.
and robs : Hebrew וחומץ, as וחומס. Likewise (Isaiah 1:17): “strengthen the bereft (חמוץ)”; the robbed.
Verse 6
I have trusted in You from my birth; You drew me from my mother’s womb; my praise is ever in You.
You drew me : You drew me and caused me to pass, as (Num. 11:31): ,and drove up quails (ויגז),; (below 90:10), ,for it is quickly cut off (גז) and we fly away.,
Verse 7
I was an example to the crowd, but You were my strong refuge.
I was an example to the crowd : Many saw my troubles and worried lest an example of my troubles would happen to them; lest I should be an example to them, “just as it happened to this one, so it will happen to us.” As the matter is said (Ezekiel 24:24), ,and Ezekiel shall be an example unto you.,
Verse 9
Do not cast me away in my old age; if my strength fails, forsake me not.
at the time of old age : If I have grown old in sins, that is, I have sinned exceedingly.
Verse 10
For my enemies spoke against me, and those who watched my soul took counsel together.
For mine enemies said of me : My enemies said of me, and took counsel together, and said, G‑d has forsaken him. We will not be punished for him because he has already stumbled in sin.
Verse 14
As for me, I will hope continually, and I will add to all Your praise.
As for me, I will hope continually : for Your salvation, and when You save me, I will add Your praise.
Verse 15
My mouth will recite Your righteousness, Your salvation all the days, for I do not know their number.
for I know not their number : of the righteousness and of the deliverances which You have done for me.
Verse 16
I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord G-d; I will mention only Your righteousness.
I will come : to give thanks and praise for Your mighty deeds.
Verse 17
O G-d, You have taught me since my youth, and until now I will recite Your wonders.
and until now : To this day, with what passed me by, and until old age and gray hairs when I reach sixty and seventy not to leave me.
Verse 18
And even to old age and gray hairs, O G-d, do not forsake me, until I declare [of] Your power to the generation, to everyone who comes – Your power to
everyone who comes – Your power : To I will tell everyone who approaches me about Your power.
Verse 19
And Your charity, O G-d, reaches to the heights, for You do great things. O G-d, who is like You?
And Your charity, O G-d : that is to the heights. The two verses are connected by ,I will declare [of] Your power to the generation.,
Verse 23
My lips will sing praises when I play music to You, and my soul which You have redeemed.
My lips will sing praises : with the music of the harp when I play the harp for You.
Further explanation of the above Jewish comments
It is not without reason that David asks G-d to help him in his old age. Judaism does not worship the youth; it honors the elderly and shows respect for the elderly. King Solomon writes, “There is a time for everything, and there is a season for everything under heaven.” Rabbi Yossi said: “Who is old (zakein)? One who (Hebrew Zeh she-kanah, cognate with the word zakein) acquired wisdom.
Jews are obliged to serve G-d all their lives. They have no pension. Especially in their old age, when the pressure of a growing family and a job disappears, Jews can study the Torah more intensively. Jews are more their own bosses in their old age and can then make time for Torah study. It is best for them to study in groups. Studying Torah at their own level. This applies to both men and women. In addition to self-study, they can also encourage their children and grandchildren to give their own children a Jewish education.
Studying Torah by the elderly does not lead to them becoming depressed, but to rather, living ‘golden years’ by absorbing the wisdom of the Torah. An old person can then be a respected member of the community, studying the Torah daily with others of the same age and enjoying every minute of it. He or she is also an expert by experience for young people who experience problems and can encourage them not to despair. The Talmud or Midrash contains many stories that give an optimistic view of life. In this role, the older Jew or Jew will feel better than when he/she was younger and had less time for other people due to work.
Psalm 1 to 92
Would you like to read more Psalms with a Jewish interpretation? Go to: Psalms 1 through 92.