Psalm 71
Psalm 71 is the 71st psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion". It has no title in the Hebrew version. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 70. In Latin, it is known as "In te Domine speravi". The psalm has 24 verses in both English and Hebrew verse numbering. It forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican  and other Protestant liturgies. It has been paraphrased in hymns and set to music. Text. Hebrew Bible version. Following is the Hebrew text of Psalm 71: King James Version. The following is the full English text of the Psalm from the King James Bible. Commentary. Psalm 71 in the Hebrew text does not have a title, one of four such psalms in the first two books of the Psalter. However, the Greek Septuagint text bears the title: 'By David, of the sons of Jonadab and the first ones taken captive'. Theologian Albert Barnes suggests that it "belongs to the 'class ' of psalms which refer to the trials of the righteous". Verses 9, 17 and 18 suggest that the psalmist is an old man, perhaps a king towards the end of his reign, seeking relief from distress in form of severe illness or the approach of death (verse 20), as well as the taunts of his 'enemies' asserting that God has abandoned him (verse 11). The writer affirms his close relationship with God as he speaks of the faith in God which has sustained him all his life (verses 5–6, cf. 17), praying that God will not reject him (verse 9 ), declaring his witness to God's salvation (verses 15, 18), while asking for renewed health (verses 20–21) and the discrediting of his enemies (verse 13, cf. verse 4), then he will renew his praises (verses 14–16, 22–24). Ignatius M.C. Obinwa is the only person to have written a book on this psalm, based on his doctoral thesis. Obinwa uses a quantitative lexical analysis to argue that the theme of the psalm is not old age, but refuge and YHWH's righteousness. One unique feature of this psalm is the frequent allusion to other psalms (even almost direct quotation) such as : Uses. Book of Common Prayer. In the Church of England's "Book of Common Prayer", this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the 14th day of the month. Musical settings. Marc-Antoine Charpentier, ""In te Domine speravi"" H.228, for soloists, chorus, strings and continuo (1699)