The Meaning of Psalms 71:1 Explained

Psalms 71:1

KJV: In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

YLT: In Thee, O Jehovah, I have trusted, Let me not be ashamed to the age.

Darby: In thee, Jehovah, do I trust: let me never be ashamed.

ASV: In thee, O Jehovah, do I take refuge: Let me never be put to shame.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

In thee, O LORD,  do I put my trust:  let me never  be put to confusion. 

What does Psalms 71:1 Mean?

Study Notes

trust
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Trust is the characteristic O.T. word for the N.T. "faith," "believe." It occurs 152 times in the O.T., and is the rendering of Heb. words signifying to take refuge (e.g. Ruth 2:12 "to lean on" (e.g.) Psalms 56:3 "to roll on" (e.g.) Psalms 22:8 "to stay upon" (e.g.) Job 35:14 .

Context Summary

Psalm 71:1-12 - "my Trust From My Youth&Rdquo
Some commentators ascribe this psalm to Jeremiah. His pensive, plaintive tone is certainly present in it. But whoever the author, he must have written in his old age, Psalms 71:9; Psalms 71:17-18. One keynote is great and greatly, Psalms 71:19-21; Psalms 71:23; another is all the day, Psalms 71:8; Psalms 71:15; Psalms 71:24.
Old men need have no failure in their buoyancy and gladness, if they will fix their thoughts where the psalmist fixed his. Other subjects will soon wear out, but they who make God's righteousness and salvation their theme will ever have material for meditation and praise. We have here an inexhaustible subject, and one which will keep us young. Let us ask for help, that we may disappoint the calculations of those who hate us, whether men or demons. It is a piteous spectacle when apparently prosperous careers" are overclouded, and age is overwhelmed in catastrophes which there is no time to surmount. But such is not God's way with His loyal servants. His rivers do not end in swamps and marshes, but broaden and deepen till they kiss the mighty ocean. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 71

1  David, in confidence of faith, and experience of God's favor, prays both for himself,
10  and against the enemies of his soul
14  He promises constancy
17  He prays for perseverance
19  He praises God, and promises to do it cheerfully

What do the individual words in Psalms 71:1 mean?

In You Yahweh I put my trust never let me be put to shame let me never
בְּךָֽ־ יְהוָ֥ה חָסִ֑יתִי אַל־ אֵב֥וֹשָׁה לְעוֹלָֽם

בְּךָֽ־  In  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
יְהוָ֥ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
חָסִ֑יתִי  I  put  my  trust 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: חָסָה  
Sense: (Qal) to seek refuge, flee for protection.
אַל־  never 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
אֵב֥וֹשָׁה  let  me  be  put  to  shame 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: בֹּושׁ 
Sense: to put to shame, be ashamed, be disconcerted, be disappointed.
לְעוֹלָֽם  let  me  never 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.