Psalms63

English Standard Version

TranslationKJV WEB ASV ESV NIV NASB NKJV NLT

¹A of , when he was in the of . O , you are my ; earnestly I you; my for you; my for you, as in a and where there is .

² I have upon you in the , your and .

³ your is than , my will you.

⁴ I will you as long as I ; in your I will my .

⁵My will be as with and , and my will you with ,

⁶ I you my , and on you in the watches of the ;

⁷for you have been my , and in the of your I will .

⁸My you; your me.

⁹But those who to my shall down into the of the ;

¹⁰they shall be to the of the ; they shall be a for .

¹¹But the shall in ; who by him shall , the of will be .

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 63.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: David's desire toward God. (1, 2). His satisfaction in God. (3–6). His dependence upon God, and assurance of safety. (7–11).

vv1-2

Early will I seek thee. The true Christian devotes to God the morning hour. He opens the eyes of his understanding with those of his body, and awakes each morning to righteousness. He arises with a thirst after those comforts which the world cannot give, and has immediate recourse by prayer to the Fountain of the water of life. The true believer is convinced, that nothing in this sinful world can satisfy the wants and desires of his immortal soul; he expects his happiness from God, as his portion. When faith and hope are most in exercise, the world appears a weary desert, and the believer longs for the joys of heaven, of which he has some foretastes in the ordinances of God upon earth.

vv3-6

Even in affliction we need not want matter for praise. When this is the regular frame of a believer's mind, he values the loving-kindness of God more than life. God's loving-kindness is our spiritual life, and that is better than temporal life. We must praise God with joyful lips; we must address ourselves to the duties of religion with cheerfulness, and speak forth the praises of God from a principle of holy joy. Praising lips must be joyful lips. David was in continual danger; care and fear held his eyes waking, and gave him wearisome nights; but he comforted himself with thoughts of God. The mercies of God, when called to mind in the night watches, support the soul, making darkness cheerful. How happy will be that last morning, when the believer, awaking up after the Divine likeness, shall be satisfied with all the fulness of God, and praise him with joyful lips, where there is no night, and where sorrow and sighing flee away!

vv7-11

True Christians can, in some measure, and at some times, make use of the strong language of David, but too commonly our souls cleave to the dust. Having committed ourselves to God, we must be easy and pleased, and quiet from the fear of evil. Those that follow hard after God, would soon fail, if God's right hand did not uphold them. It is he that strengthens us and comforts us. The psalmist doubts not but that though now sowing in tears, he should reap in joy. Messiah the Prince shall rejoice in God; he is already entered into the joy set before him, and his glory will be completed at his second coming. Blessed Lord, let our desire towards thee increase every hour; let our love be always upon thee; let all our enjoyment be in thee, and all our satisfaction from thee. Be thou all in all to us while we remain in the present wilderness state, and bring us home to the everlasting enjoyment of thee for ever.

Key Words

PsalmH4210Hebrew

מִזְמוֹר: properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes

DavidH1732Hebrew

דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse

wildernessH4057Hebrew

מִדְבָּר: a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs)

JudahH3063Hebrew

יְהוּדָה: Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

GodH430Hebrew

אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative

GodH410Hebrew

אֵל: strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity)

seekH7836Hebrew

שָׁחַר: properly, to dawn, i.e. (figuratively) be (up) early at any task (with the implication of earnestness); by extension, to search for (with painstaking)

soulH5315Hebrew

נֶפֶשׁ: properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)

thirstsH6770Hebrew

צָמֵא: to thirst (literally or figuratively)

fleshH1320Hebrew

בָּשָׂר: flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of aman