Psa 31:19-24 | NETfull | STEP | How great is your favor, which you store up for your loyal followers! In plain sight of everyone you bestow it on those who take shelter in you.

Psalms 31:19-24

19 How great is your favor, ^{▼▼ Or “How abundant are your blessings!”}
which you store up for your loyal followers! ^{▼▼ Heb “for those who fear you.”}
In plain sight of everyone you bestow it on those who take shelter ^{▼▼ “Taking shelter” in the Lord is an idiom for seeking his protection. Seeking his protection presupposes and even demonstrates the subject’s loyalty to the Lord. In the psalms those who “take shelter” in the Lord are contrasted with the wicked and equated with those who love, fear, and serve the Lord (Pss 2:12; 5:11–12; 34:21–22).} in you. ^{▼▼ Heb “you work [your favor] for the ones seeking shelter in you before the sons of men.”}
20 You hide them with you, where they are safe from the attacks ^{▼▼ The noun רֹכֶס (rokhes) occurs only here. Its meaning is debated; some suggest “snare,” while others propose “slander” or “conspiracy.”} of men; ^{▼▼ Heb “you hide them in the hiding place of your face from the attacks of man.” The imperfect verbal forms in this verse draw attention to God’s typical treatment of the faithful.}
you conceal them in a shelter, where they are safe from slanderous attacks. ^{▼▼ Heb “you conceal them in a shelter from the strife of tongues.”}
21 The Lord deserves praise ^{▼▼ Heb “blessed [be] the Lord.”}
for he demonstrated his amazing faithfulness to me when I was besieged by enemies. ^{▼▼ Heb “for he caused his faithfulness to be amazing to me in a besieged city.” The psalmist probably speaks figuratively here. He compares his crisis to being trapped in a besieged city, but the Lord answered his prayer for help. Verses 19–24 were apparently written after the Lord answered the prayer of vv. 1–18.}
22 I jumped to conclusions and said, ^{▼▼ Heb “and I, I said in my haste.”}
“I am cut off from your presence!” ^{▼▼ Heb “from before your eyes.”}
But you heard my plea for mercy when I cried out to you for help.
23 Love the Lord, all you faithful followers ^{▼▼ A “faithful follower” (חָסִיד, khasid) is one who does what is right in God’s eyes and remains faithful to God (see Pss 4:3; 12:1; 16:10; 31:23; 37:28; 86:2; 97:10).} of his!
The Lord protects those who have integrity,
but he pays back in full the one who acts arrogantly. ^{▼▼ The participial forms in the second and third lines characterize the Lord as one who typically protects the faithful and judges the proud.}
Be strong and confident, ^{▼▼ Heb “be strong and let your heart[s] be confident.”}
all you who wait on the Lord!

Psalm 32

^{▼▼ Psalm 32. The psalmist recalls the agony he experienced prior to confessing his sins and affirms that true happiness comes when one’s sins are forgiven. He then urges others not to be stubborn, but to turn to God while forgiveness is available, for God extends his mercy to the repentant, while the wicked experience nothing but sorrow.}

By David; a well-written song.

24 ^{▼▼ The meaning of the Hebrew term מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) is uncertain. The word is derived from a verb meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.” Various options are: “a contemplative song,” “a song imparting moral wisdom,” or “a skillful [i.e., well-written] song.” The term occurs in the superscriptions of Pss 32, 42, 44, 45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88, 89, and 142, as well as in Ps 47:7.}