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Wisdom & Poetry · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Psalm 70

Psalm 70 is read especially through the theme of justice, within Book II (Psalms 42–72). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application.

Justice
Psalms overview
Old Testament

Psalm 70

1For the Chief Musician. By David. A reminder. Hurry, God, to deliver me. Come quickly to help me, LORD.

2Let them be disappointed and confounded who seek my soul. Let those who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.

3Let them be turned because of their shame who say, “Aha! Aha!”

4Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation continually say, “Let God be exalted!”

5But I am poor and needy. Come to me quickly, God. You are my help and my deliverer. LORD, don’t delay.

READ IN CONTEXT

Understanding Psalm 70

Psalm 70 is read especially through the theme of justice, within Book II (Psalms 42–72). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application. Read it within the complete five-book Psalms collection, then compare its prayer language with the types of prayer found across Scripture. Classification is a reading aid rather than a replacement for the Psalm's own movement and tension.

Collection

Book II (Psalms 42–72). The five-book shape of the Psalter helps readers hear individual prayers within a deliberately arranged collection.

Themes detected

Justice. Read for these themes while remaining open to tension and secondary movements.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Psalm 70

Psalm 70 contains 5 verses and about 95 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “For the Chief Musician. By David. A reminder. Hurry, God, to deliver me. Come quickly to help me, LORD.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 5 closes: “But I am poor and needy. Come to me quickly, God. You are my help and my deliverer. LORD, don’t delay.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include quickly, help, seek, turned, chief, musician. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Psalm 70

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Psalms 70:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

What kind of Psalm is this?+

Our reading profile emphasizes justice, with related themes of Justice. Many Psalms blend genres or move between moods, so this label is a guide rather than a rigid classification.

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