What does Psalms Chapter 31 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The psalm blesses forgiveness and describes silence under God’s heavy hand. Separate notes explain silence and offer alternate readings of turning and thorn. Acknowledgment and forgiveness lead to refuge, instruction and exhortation to joy.

Chapter breakdown

The Latin incipit is Beati quorum. The separate heading identifies the second penitential psalm; the inscription is to David himself, understanding. It blesses those whose iniquities are forgiven and sins covered and the person to whom God imputes no sin and whose spirit has no guile. The speaker says that because he was silent his bones grew old while he cried all day. The separate note interprets silence as concealing or refusing confession. Day and night God's hand was heavy and he turned in anguish with a thorn fastened.

The separate turning note offers two readings: rolling in bed for ease while divine justice's thorn pierces flesh, or conversion to God through chastisements bringing understanding. It gives the Hebrew as moisture turned to summer's droughts. These alternatives remain annotations rather than a diagnosis or one merged biographical scene. The speaker acknowledges sin without hiding injustice, says he will confess against himself and reports forgiveness of sin's wickedness. No elapsed time or restored physical health is stated.

He says holy people shall pray in seasonable time and the many waters of a flood will not approach him. Calling God refuge and joy, he still asks delivery from surrounding people. A first-person promise offers understanding, instruction in the way and fixed eyes, without an explicit new speaker label in the verse. A warning forbids becoming like uncomprehending horse and mule, with bit and bridle binding jaws of those not coming near. Many scourges attend the sinner, mercy shall encompass one hoping in God, and just and upright people are called to rejoice.

The story inside

Opening: The psalm blesses forgiveness and describes silence under God’s heavy hand. Development: Separate notes explain silence and offer alternate readings of turning and thorn. Conclusion: Acknowledgment and forgiveness lead to refuge, instruction and exhortation to joy.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The psalm blesses forgiveness and describes silence under God’s heavy hand.
2
Separate notes explain silence and offer alternate readings of turning and thorn.
3
Acknowledgment and forgiveness lead to refuge, instruction and exhortation to joy.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 59439–59443
31:1. To David himself, understanding. Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 31:2. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
Lines 59445–59453
31:3. Because I was silent my bones grew old; whilst I cried out all the day long. Because I was silent, etc.... That is, whilst I kept silence, by concealing, or refusing to confess my sins, thy hand was heavy upon me, etc. 31:4. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: I am turned in my anguish, whilst the thorn is fastened.
Lines 59462–59464
31:5. I have acknowledged my sin to thee, and my injustice I have not concealed. I said I will confess against my self my injustice to the Lord: and thou hast forgiven the wickedness of my sin.
Lines 59473–59484
31:8. I will give thee understanding, and I will instruct thee in this way, in which thou shalt go: I will fix my eyes upon thee. 31:9. Do not become like the horse and the mule, who have no understanding. With bit and bridle bind fast their jaws, who come not near unto thee. 31:10. Many are the scourges of the sinner, but mercy shall encompass him that hopeth in the Lord. 31:11. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye just, and glory, all ye right of heart.