9 Have mercy on me, Yahweh, for I am in distress.
My eye, my soul, and my body waste away with grief. 10 For my life is spent with sorrow,
my years with sighing.
My strength fails because of my iniquity.
My bones are wasted away. 11 Because of all my adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbors,
A fear to my acquaintances.
Those who saw me on the street fled from me. 12 I am forgotten from their hearts like a dead man.
I am like broken pottery. 13 For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side,
while they conspire together against me,
they plot to take away my life. 14 But I trust in you, Yahweh.
I said, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hand.
Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. 16 Make your face to shine on your servant.
Save me in your loving kindness. 17 Let me not be disappointed, Yahweh, for I have called on you.
Let the wicked be disappointed.
Let them be silent in Sheol. 18 Let the lying lips be mute,
which speak against the righteous insolently, with pride and contempt.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 31:9-18
Commentary on Psalm 31:9-18
(Read Psalm 31:9-18)
David's troubles made him a man of sorrows. Herein he was a type of Christ, who was acquainted with grief. David acknowledged that his afflictions were merited by his own sins, but Christ suffered for ours. David's friends durst not give him any assistance. Let us not think it strange if thus deserted, but make sure of a Friend in heaven who will not fail. God will be sure to order and dispose all for the best, to all those who commit their spirits also into his hand. The time of life is in God's hands, to lengthen or shorten, make bitter or sweet, according to the counsel of his will. The way of man is not in himself, nor in our friend's hands, nor in our enemies' hands, but in God's. In this faith and confidence he prays that the Lord would save him for his mercies's sake, and not for any merit of his own. He prophesies the silencing of those that reproach and speak evil of the people of God. There is a day coming, when the Lord will execute judgment upon them. In the mean time, we should engage ourselves by well-doing, if possible, to silence the ignorance of foolish men.