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. Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt. Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. But I _am_ poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou _art_ my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying. This Psalm is a prayer against the persecutors and enemies of the church and of the godly: for such instruments of the devil cease not to plot against the good, and those that fear God, with all possible machinations of craft, and with all the bitterness of Cain; and, like Satan himself, they burn with an insatiable desire and determination to destroy the church; nay, more than this, they insult the miseries and calamities of the saints. PSALM LXXI. _David, in confidence of faith, and experience of God’s favour, prayeth both for himself, and against the enemies of his soul.—He promiseth constancy.—He prayeth for perseverance.—He praiseth God, and promiseth to do it cheerfully._ In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou _art_ my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For thou _art_ my hope, O Lord GOD: _thou art_ my trust from my youth. By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise _shall be_ continually of thee. I am as a wonder unto many: but thou _art_ my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled _with_ thy praise _and with_ thy honour all the day. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for _there is_ none to deliver _him_. O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste for my help. Let them be confounded _and_ consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered _with_ reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt. But I will hope continually, and yet will praise thee more and more. My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness _and_ thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers _thereof_. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of thy righteousness, _even_ of thine only. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.