Psalms 71:2
Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
Original Language Analysis
בְּצִדְקָתְךָ֗
me in thy righteousness
H6666
בְּצִדְקָתְךָ֗
me in thy righteousness
Strong's:
H6666
Word #:
1 of 7
rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)
תַּצִּילֵ֥נִי
Deliver
H5337
תַּצִּילֵ֥נִי
Deliver
Strong's:
H5337
Word #:
2 of 7
to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense
וּֽתְפַלְּטֵ֑נִי
and cause me to escape
H6403
וּֽתְפַלְּטֵ֑נִי
and cause me to escape
Strong's:
H6403
Word #:
3 of 7
to slip out, i.e., escape; causatively, to deliver
הַטֵּֽה
incline
H5186
הַטֵּֽה
incline
Strong's:
H5186
Word #:
4 of 7
to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)
Cross References
Psalms 31:1In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.Psalms 17:6I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.Psalms 17:2Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.Psalms 43:1Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.Psalms 143:1Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.Psalms 143:11Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.Psalms 34:15The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.1 Corinthians 10:13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.Daniel 9:16O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
Historical Context
God's righteousness bound Him to His covenant with Israel. This gave the faithful basis for confident petition—not presuming on grace but trusting God's own character and promises.
Questions for Reflection
- How does understanding that God saves according to His righteousness, not your merit, provide assurance?
- What does it mean to ask God to 'incline his ear' to you?
- How can you cultivate humble dependence on God's character rather than confidence in your own righteousness?
Analysis & Commentary
The appeal 'Deliver me in thy righteousness' grounds rescue not in the psalmist's merit but God's character. God's righteousness includes His covenant faithfulness—He must save His people to remain true to His promises. 'Cause me to escape' acknowledges inability to self-rescue. 'Incline thine ear' asks for God's attentive hearing. 'Save me' is direct petition. Each phrase emphasizes dependence on divine initiative and character, not human worthiness or effort.