Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and ruthless.
Parallel translations
- WEB Rescue me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
- KJV Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
- NKJV Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
- NASB Save me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, From the grasp of the wrongdoer and the ruthless,
- NLT My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked, from the clutches of cruel oppressors.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The psalmist prays for rescue from the grip of the wicked, unjust, and cruel. It asks God to save him from oppressors.
Overview
The psalmist pleads for deliverance from the hand of wicked, unrighteous, and ruthless people who threaten him. He looks to God alone to break their grip. This cry for rescue from the wicked reflects the believer's hope in God's protecting power, ultimately secured by Christ, who delivers his people from every evil and from the dominion of darkness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Ps 140:1–4For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence,
- Ps 59:1–2For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise against me.
- Ps 17:13Arise, O LORD, confront them! Bring them to their knees; deliver me from the wicked by Your sword,
- Ps 17:8–9Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings
- 2 Sam 17:1–2Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.
- 2 Sam 16:21–22Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”
- 2 Sam 17:12–14Then we will attack David wherever we find him, and we will descend on him like dew on the ground. And of all the men with him, not even one will remain.
- 2 Sam 17:21After the men had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed up out of the well and went to inform King David, saying, “Get up and cross over the river at once, for Ahithophel has given this advice against you.”
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 71:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.