Psalm 31 Emotional

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In YHWH's Hand

Psalm 31

Please note: Resources for Psalm 31 are in the process of being reformatted for visual consistency and improved functionality.

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Emotional Analysis

  What is Emotional Analysis?

This layer explores the emotional dimension of the biblical text and seeks to uncover the clues within the text itself that are part of the communicative intent of its author. The goal of this analysis is to chart the basic emotional tone and/or progression of the psalm.

For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Emotional Analysis Creator Guidelines.

• Analysis
• Think-Feel-Do

Emotional Analysis Chart

  Legend

If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.

Emendations/Revocalizations legend
*Emended text*	Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation.
*Revocalized text*	Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization.

Verse	Text (Hebrew)	Text (CBC)	Proposition (Emotional Analysis)	The Psalmist Feels	Emotional Analysis Notes
1	לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃	For the director. A psalm by David.
2	בְּךָ֖ יְהוָ֣ה חָ֭סִיתִי	I have taken shelter in you, YHWH.	David trusts YHWH.	• David is afraid for his safety. • David is afraid he will be shamed forever.	• YHWH acts in a way that is consistent with his divine law and results in prosperity (SDBH) • This psalm appears to be referring to a specific situation, but the details provided do not allow the reader to know which event might be in view. David often faced physical danger (cf. 1-2 Samuel). • For the relationship between the word for "rescue" and fear, see the Lexical Notes for פלט. • YHWH is righteous (Deut 32:4; Ps 145:17)
	אַל־אֵב֣וֹשָׁה לְעוֹלָ֑ם	Do not let my shame continue forever!	David's shame continues.
	בְּצִדְקָתְךָ֥ פַלְּטֵֽנִי׃	Rescue me in your righteousness!	YHWH rescues David.
3	הַטֵּ֤ה אֵלַ֨י ׀ אָזְנְךָ֮	Listen to me!	YHWH listens to David.	• David worries YHWH won't listen to him. • David feels anxious.	• People who are in distress ask God to turn his ear to them (Ps 71:2; cf. Hezekiah's prayer in 2 Kgs 19:16). • People who are in distress worry that God might not listen (Lam 3:55) • People who are in distress or feeling anxious need refuge/protection.
	מְהֵרָ֪ה הַצִּ֫ילֵ֥נִי	Rescue me quickly!	YHWH rescues David.
	הֱיֵ֤ה לִ֨י ׀ לְֽצוּר־מָ֭עוֹז	Be a rock of refuge for me,	YHWH protects David.
	לְבֵ֥ית מְצוּד֗וֹת לְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנִי׃	and a fortress to deliver me!
4	כִּֽי־סַלְעִ֣י וּמְצוּדָתִ֣י אָ֑תָּה	Because you are my rock and my stronghold.	YHWH protects David.	• David is confident of YHWH's ability to protect him. • David is confident that YHWH cares about YHWH's name.	• YHWH delivers the Israelites from Egypt for the sake of his name (cf. Exod 9:16; 10:2; Deut 4:4).
	וּלְמַ֥עַן שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ תַּֽנְחֵ֥נִי וּֽתְנַהֲלֵֽנִי׃	And for the sake of your name, you must carefully guide me.	YHWH leads David.
5	תּוֹצִיאֵ֗נִי מֵרֶ֣שֶׁת	You must save me from the net	YHWH delivers David from his enemies.	• David is afraid of being caught. • David is anxious.	• A net causes anxiety and inescapable disaster (Pss 9:15; 31:4; 35:7-8; 64:5; 140:5; 142:3) (Keel 1997, 89).
	ז֭וּ טָ֣מְנוּ לִ֑י	which they hid for me,
	כִּֽי־אַ֝תָּה מָֽעוּזִּֽי׃	because you are my refuge.	YHWH is David's refuge.
6	בְּיָדְךָ֮ אַפְקִ֪יד ר֫וּחִ֥י	I entrust my spirit into your hand.	David trusts YHWH.	• David trusts YHWH.
	פָּדִ֖יתָה אוֹתִ֥י יְהוָ֗ה אֵ֣ל אֱמֶֽת׃	You have redeemed me, YHWH, God of faithfulness.	YHWH redeems David.
7	*שָׂנֵאתָ* הַשֹּׁמְרִ֥ים הַבְלֵי־שָׁ֑וְא	You hate those who worship worthless idols,	YHWH hates idol worshippers.	• David trusts YHWH.	• God is worthy of trust even when nothing is going well (Habakkuk 3:17-18) • See The Text of Psalm 31:7 for a discussion of the text-critical issue influencing this verse.
	וַ֝אֲנִ֗י אֶל־יְהוָ֥ה בָּטָֽחְתִּי׃	but I trust YHWH.	David trusts YHWH.
8	אָגִ֥ילָה וְאֶשְׂמְחָ֗ה בְּחַ֫סְדֶּ֥ךָ	I will be glad and rejoice on account of your faithfulness,	David rejoices.	• David is joyful because of YHWH's faithfulness. • David is joyful because YHWH saw his distress.	• God saves his people so they will rejoice in him (Ps 9:13).
	אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָ֭אִיתָ אֶת־עָנְיִ֑י	that you saw my affliction.	YHWH sees David's affliction.
	*הוֹשַׁעְתָּ* בְּצָר֥וֹת נַפְשִֽׁי׃	You saved my life from distress.	YHWH saves David.
9	וְלֹ֣א הִ֭סְגַּרְתַּנִי בְּיַד־אוֹיֵ֑ב	And you did not let any enemy capture me.	YHWH lets David get captured.	• David is joyful for YHWH's protection. • David is relieved because he is in a broad place.	• Just as a broad place is contrasted with a constricting net (v. 5), David's feeling relieved contrasts with his anxiety. • The joy David feels follows naturally from the previous verse because it is in the same series of events after the psalmist describes himself as rejoicing and being glad.
	הֶֽעֱמַ֖דְתָּ בַמֶּרְחָ֣ב רַגְלָֽי	You set my feet in a broad place.	YHWH gives David security.
10	חָנֵּ֥נִי יְהוָה֮ כִּ֤י צַ֫ר־לִ֥י	Be gracious to me, YHWH, because I am in distress.	YHWH is gracious to David.	• David feels distress. • David feels responsible/guilty for his physical deterioration.	• Grace is needed when one's life is in danger (Ps 6:3). • Grace is needed when one has sinned (Ps 41:5). • David's feeling of responsibility originates in his recognition that his own anger has contributed to his situation.
	עָשְׁשָׁ֖ה בְכַ֥עַס עֵינִ֗י נַפְשִׁ֥י וּבִטְנִֽי׃	My eye, my throat, and my belly waste away because of anger.	David's body deteriorates.
11	כִּ֤י כָל֪וּ בְיָג֡וֹן חַיַּי֮	Because my life fades away with grief,	David's life deteriorates.	• David feels grief. • David feels weak. • David feels responsible/guilty for his physical weakness.
	וּשְׁנוֹתַ֪י בַּאֲנָ֫חָ֥ה	and my years [fade away] with groaning.
	כָּשַׁ֣ל בַּעֲוֺנִ֣י כֹחִ֑י	My strength has failed because of my iniquity,	David's strength fails.
	וַעֲצָמַ֥י עָשֵֽׁשׁוּ׃	and my bones waste away.	David's health deteriorates.
12	מִכָּל־צֹרְרַ֨י הָיִ֪יתִי חֶרְפָּ֡ה	I have been scorned by all of my adversaries	David's enemies and neighbors scorn David.	• David feels ashamed.
	וְלִשֲׁכֵנַ֨י ׀ מְאֹד֮	and [I have] greatly [become an object of scorn] to my neighbors,
	וּפַ֪חַד לִֽמְיֻדָּ֫עָ֥י	and [I have become] an object of fear to my friends.	David's friends fear David.
	רֹאַ֥י בַּח֑וּץ נָדְד֥וּ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃	Those who see me in the street have fled from me.	Those who see David avoid David.
13	נִ֭שְׁכַּחְתִּי כְּמֵ֣ת מִלֵּ֑ב	I have been forgotten like a dead person [is forgotten] from memory.	People forget David.	• David feels sad because people have forgotten him. • David feels dejected.	• Broken vessels are the result of an enemy's victory (Jer 25:34; 48:38; Hosea 8:8; cf. Ps 2:9)
	הָ֝יִ֗יתִי כִּכְלִ֥י אֹבֵֽד׃	I have become like a broken vessel.	David is broken.
14	כִּ֤י שָׁמַ֨עְתִּי ׀ דִּבַּ֥ת רַבִּים֮	because I heard the slander of many people	David hears people speak negatively about him.	• David feels terror because of the threats against his life.
	מָג֪וֹר מִסָּ֫בִ֥יב	–terror is on every side–
	בְּהִוָּסְדָ֣ם יַ֣חַד עָלַ֑י	when they conspired together against me.	David's enemies plan to kill David.
	לָקַ֖חַת נַפְשִׁ֣י זָמָֽמוּ׃	They plotted to take my life.
15	וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ עָלֶ֣יךָ בָטַ֣חְתִּי יְהוָ֑ה	But I trust you, YHWH.	David trusts YHWH.	• David trusts YHWH.	• Declaring God as yours is related to praise for his deliverance (Isa 25:1; Ps 86:2;)
	אָ֝מַ֗רְתִּי אֱלֹהַ֥י אָֽתָּה׃	I say, “You are my God.”	David says YHWH is his God.
16	בְּיָדְךָ֥ עִתֹּתָ֑י	My times are in your hand.	YHWH controls David's life.	• David is confident YHWH is in control. • David is afraid of being captured.	• According to SDBH, נצל refers to a "causative action by which humans or deities remove (other) humans or objects from a dangerous or life-threatening situation.
	הַצִּ֘ילֵ֤נִי מִיַּד־א֝וֹיְבַ֗י וּמֵרֹדְפָֽי׃	Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from my pursuers!	YHWH rescues David from his enemies.
17	הָאִ֣ירָה פָ֭נֶיךָ עַל־עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ	Shine your face upon your servant!	YHWH gives favor to David.	• David is confident because of YHWH's faithfulness.	• The light of YHWH is the opposite of the darkness of death (Ps 13:2). • The light of YHWH's face is a sign of his grace (Ps 76:5; 80:4, 8, 20).
	ה֖וֹשִׁיעֵ֣נִי בְחַסְדֶּֽךָ׃	Save me by your faithfulness.	YHWH saves David.
18	יְֽהוָ֗ה אַל־אֵ֭בוֹשָׁה	YHWH, do not let me be ashamed	YHWH lets David be ashamed.	• David is afraid of being ashamed. • David hopes YHWH will respond positively to David. • David hopes the wicked will be punished.	• The cohortatives in this verse reflect the psalmist's desire or hope for YHWH to act on his behalf.
	כִּ֣י קְרָאתִ֑יךָ	because I have called you!	David calls YHWH.
	יֵבֹ֥שׁוּ רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים	May the evil ones be ashamed!	The wicked are shamed.
	יִדְּמ֥וּ לִשְׁאֽוֹל׃	May they go silently to Sheol!	The wicked die.
19	תֵּ֥אָלַ֗מְנָה שִׂפְתֵ֫י שָׁ֥קֶר	May lying lips be unable to speak	Liars cannot speak.	• David hopes the wicked will be punished.	• The cohortative in this verse reflects the psalmist's desire or hope for YHWH to act on his behalf. • Silence is associated with Sheol (Ps 94:17; 115:17). It is the opposite of praise of YHWH by the living (Keel 1997, 68).
	הַדֹּבְר֖וֹת עַל־צַדִּ֥יק עָתָ֗ק בְּגַאֲוָ֥ה וָבֽוּז׃	–those that speak insolence against the righteous, with arrogance and contempt.
20	מָ֤ה רַֽב־טוּבְךָ֮	How many are your good things	YHWH's goodness is abundant.	• David feels confident in YHWH's goodness.
	אֲשֶׁר־צָפַ֪נְתָּ לִּֽירֵ֫אֶ֥יךָ	which you have stored up for those who fear you,	YHWH stores up good.
	פָּ֭עַלְתָּ לַחֹסִ֣ים בָּ֑ךְ	[and which] you have performed for those who take refuge in you	YHWH does good things.
	נֶ֝֗גֶד בְּנֵ֣י אָדָם׃	for all people to see!
21	תַּסְתִּירֵ֤ם ׀ בְּסֵ֥תֶר פָּנֶיךָ֮ מֵֽרֻכְסֵ֫י אִ֥ישׁ	You shelter them from people’s schemes in the cover of your presence;	YHWH protects people. People scheme against YHWH's people.	• David feels confident in YHWH's ability to protect those who trust him.
	תִּצְפְּנֵ֥ם בְּסֻכָּ֗ה מֵרִ֥יב לְשֹׁנֽוֹת׃	You hide them in a shelter from contentious people.	YHWH hides those who fear him from their enemies.
22	בָּר֥וּךְ יְהוָ֑ה	Blessed is YHWH,	David blesses YHWH.	• David feels thankful for YHWH's protection. • David is impressed by YHWH's faithfulness.	• The word ברך refers to "causative action by which deities grant a special favor to humans, objects, or events, or by which humans invoke a deity to do the same" (SDBH). It can be translated by words that imply thankfulness (cf., to bless; to praise; to greet; to congratulate; to commend [SDBH]). • The word פלא refers to an "action by which deities perform events in an extraordinary way that inspires amazement" (SDBH).This emotion can also be captured by the idea of being impressed.
	כִּ֥י הִפְלִ֘יא חַסְדּ֥וֹ לִ֝֗י בְּעִ֣יר מָצֽוֹר׃	because he has wonderfully shown his faithfulness to me in a city under siege.	YHWH saves David.
23	וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ אָ֘מַ֤רְתִּי בְחָפְזִ֗י	Even though I thought in my panic	David speaks.	• David panics that YHWH does not see David. • David is confident that YHWH heard his pleas for mercy.	• Panic happens in battle (Deut 20:3; 2 Kgs 7:15; 48:6). • David was panicked by Saul's pursuit of him (1 Sam 23:26).
	נִגְרַזְתִּי֮ מִנֶּ֪גֶד עֵ֫ינֶ֥יךָ	I had been cut off from your sight.	YHWH does not see David.
	אָכֵ֗ן שָׁ֭מַעְתָּ ק֥וֹל תַּחֲנוּנַ֗י בְּשַׁוְּעִ֥י אֵלֶֽיךָ׃	However, you heard the sound of my pleading when I cried out to you.	YHWH hears David. David cries out to YHWH.
24	אֶֽהֱב֥וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֗ה כָּֽל־חֲסִ֫ידָ֥יו	Love YHWH, all his loyal ones!	YHWH's loyal ones love YHWH.	• David feels love for YHWH. • David is confident YHWH protects the faithful. • David is confident YHWH punishes the wicked.
	אֱ֭מוּנִים נֹצֵ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה	YHWH is watching over the faithful,	YHWH protects the faithful.
	וּמְשַׁלֵּ֥ם עַל־יֶ֝֗תֶר עֹשֵׂ֥ה גַאֲוָֽה׃	and he abundantly repays those who act pridefully.	YHWH punishes the prideful.
25	חִ֭זְקוּ וְיַאֲמֵ֣ץ לְבַבְכֶ֑ם	Be strong so your hearts may take courage,	Those who wait on YHWH take courage.	• David is confident YHWH will protect those who wait on YHWH.
	כָּל־הַ֝מְיַחֲלִ֗ים לַיהוָֽה׃	all who wait for YHWH.

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