Psalm 31

The author of the psalm is identified by the first verse in the Hebrew, "To the chief musician, a song of David". It was likely written while David was fleeing from Saul. On the basis of the wording of the Psalm, Charles and Emilie Briggs claim that "The author certainly knew Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and many Psalms of the Persian period. We cannot put the composition earlier than the troubles of Israel preceding the reforms of Nehemiah". The Persian period began in 539 BC, and Nehemiah's reforms are dated to about 445 BC. In the psalm, David calls God his "rock" (which shields him from attack) and his "fortress" (which protects him on all sides). David also cites his physical ailments—"[h]is eyesight has dimmed from his troubles, and he has endured physical as well as spiritual deprivation. His life has been a continuous flow of trouble, causing him to age prematurely"—and acknowledges that these afflictions were sent by Heaven to encourage him to atone for his sins. The psalm ends on a note of hope: "The faithful should love G-d because He protects them, but He carefully repays the arrogant what they deserve". In the New Testament, the four evangelists each cite the last words of Jesus; according to Luke the Evangelist, these last words came from verse 5 (KJV) of Psalm 31, "Into thine hand I commit my spirit". Similarly, according to nineteenth-century English Anglican bishop John James Stewart Perowne, this verse constituted the last words of many Christian figures, including Polycarp, Saint Bernard, Jerome of Prague, Martin Luther, and Philip Melanchthon. James Limburg notes that this makes the psalm suitable for preaching, and that it is often intoned at the time of death. ==Uses==

Old Testament Verses 2–4 (in the Hebrew) are also the first 3 verses of Psalm 71. Jeremiah repeats the words magor mesaviv (, "terror on all sides") from verse 14 (in the Hebrew; verse 13 in English Bibles) in Jeremiah and Lamentations. New Testament Verse 5 (KJV) is quoted in Luke 23:46, as the last words of Jesus before he dies. Saint Stephen prays a similar but modified version of Psalm 31:6 in Acts 7:59 "Lord Jesus receive my spirit". Stephen also prays for forgiveness for those causing his death, as Jesus did. Judaism Verse 6 (in the Hebrew) is part of ''Baruch Adonai L'Olam'' in the evening prayer. It is also part of the Bedtime Shema. starts the last verse of Adon Olam. Verses 15 and 17 are included in the preliminary morning prayers. Verse 20 is one of the verses said after learning Mishnayos for a deceased person. Protestant Adam Reusner wrote a rhymed paraphrase of the first six verses of Psalm 31, "" ("literally: "For you I have hoped, Lord") as a Psalmlied, a song in the native language to be sung in place of the Latin psalm recitation in the former church, published in 1533. It was translated to English in several versions, including "In Thee, Lord, have I put my trust" by Catherine Winkworth. In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the sixth day of the month. Verses 1 to 5 are used in the Church of England's Office of Night Prayer (Compline). Other Verse 15 (KJV), "My times are in Thy hand", became a frequently quoted phrase. A hymn with the title "My times are in thy hand" by William Freeman Lloyd was published in 1873. In 1891, the preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon based an essay on the thought. In a 2013 article in the German weekly Die Zeit, Margot Käßmann quoted "Meine Zeit steht in deinen Händen" as a call to see that a lifetime is a gift, and of unknown duration, to be used responsibly in free decision, for the community. == Musical settings ==

Classical Heinrich Isaac composed a setting of verses 15 and 16, "Illumina faciem tuam" for four-part choir, published in Choralis Constantinus in 1550. Carlo Gesualdo composed a setting of these verses for five-part choir (SATTB), published in his Sacrae cantiones in 1603. Hans Leo Hassler composed a setting of the complete psalm in Latin for three four-part choirs, published in Sacrae Symphoniae in 1598. Heinrich Schütz set the same hymn in the Becker Psalter, SWV 128, published in 1628. He set the complete psalm in Latin for solo voice and instruments, published in Symphoniae sacrae in 1629. In 1648, Johann Rosenmüller published a setting of the first six verses in Latin for two sopranos and two tenors, two violins and continuo, in Kern-Sprüche. In te Domine speravi (Johann Rosenmüller) Johann Crüger set the German rhymed version, "In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr", for four-part choir with optional instruments, published in 1649. In 1699, Marc-Antoine Charpentier composed 3e psalm du 1er nocturne du Mercredi saint, for soloists, chorus, strings and bc, H.228. Joseph Haydn set three verses from a rhymed paraphrase in English by James Merrick, "Blest be the name of Jacob's God", for three voices, which was first published in 1794 in Improved Psalmody. Felix Mendelssohn set Psalm 31 to music a capella in English using the King James Version. Arthur Sullivan wrote an anthem for four voices and organ, setting the final two verses, "O love the Lord", first published in 1864. Contemporary Contemporary compositions which incorporate verses from Psalm 31 include "Two Sacred Songs" (1964) for voice and piano by Robert Starer, "In Thee O Lord Do I Put My Trust" (1964) by Jan Bender, and "Blessed be the Lord" (1973), an introit and anthem by Nancy Lupo. In the 21st century, the hymn "Weite Räume meinen Füßen" is based on verse 8b which it uses as a refrain. Nobuaki Izawa set "Illumina faciem tuam" as a four-part motet, published in 2016. The Salisbury Cathedral Choir sang Psalm 31, with music composed by Walter Alcock, Richard Shephard, and Charles Frederick South, for a 2012 recording. The Psalms Project released its musical composition of Psalm 31 on the fourth volume of its album series in 2019. ==Text==

The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text come from different textual traditions. In the Septuagint, this psalm is numbered Psalm 30. ==Notes==