Psalm 70 5

Psalm 70:5 kjv

But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.

Psalm 70:5 nkjv

But I am poor and needy; Make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.

Psalm 70:5 niv

But as for me, I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; LORD, do not delay.

Psalm 70:5 esv

But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!

Psalm 70:5 nlt

But as for me, I am poor and needy;
please hurry to my aid, O God.
You are my helper and my savior;
O LORD, do not delay.

Psalm 70 verses

Psalm 70 5 Meaning

Psalm 70:5 expresses a heartfelt and urgent cry to God from one in a state of deep personal distress and utter helplessness. The Psalmist confesses his "poor and needy" condition, which implies not merely material destitution but a profound sense of spiritual, emotional, or physical affliction and complete dependence on divine intervention. The verse then escalates to an impassioned plea for God to "hasten" to his aid, acknowledging God as his exclusive "help" and "deliverer," and concludes with a fervent injunction for God "do not delay!" This multifaceted petition underscores the Psalmist's unwavering trust in God's power and character, even amidst desperate circumstances.

Psalm 70 5 Context

Psalm 70 is a concise lament psalm, a fervent, immediate prayer for deliverance. It is nearly identical to Psalm 40:13-17, suggesting it may have been extracted for specific liturgical or devotional use to "bring to remembrance" (lehazkir) God's attentiveness. The superscription attributes it to David, indicating its origin likely stems from a period of intense personal crisis, such as during Absalom's rebellion or his persecution by King Saul, when enemies sought his ruin and mocked his reliance on God. This psalm reflects the common Old Testament experience of the righteous enduring tribulation, compelling them to express complete reliance on Yahweh as their sole hope. Culturally, the ancient world looked to their deities for protection and sustenance, but this Psalm firmly places that ultimate hope in the covenant God of Israel, YHWH, highlighting His unique power and readiness to intervene compared to idols.

Psalm 70 5 Word analysis

• But I am poor: The Hebrew `ani` (עָנִי) signifies more than economic poverty; it denotes one who is afflicted, humble, oppressed, or lowly. This "poor" refers to a spiritual and often physical state of distress and helplessness, characterized by dependency rather than self-sufficiency, demanding divine attention.
• and needy: The Hebrew `ebyon` (אֶבְיוֹן) intensifies the idea of "poor," pointing to someone completely destitute, dependent on others, or even a beggar. The combination `ani` and `ebyon` portrays utter vulnerability, a state of complete lack and profound weakness that compels an absolute reliance on God.
• hasten to me, O God! `Hasten` is the imperative form of `chush` (חוּשׁ), meaning to hurry, rush, or make haste. It's a powerful and urgent plea for immediate, swift divine action, conveying a desperate need for prompt intervention. `O God!` uses `Elohim` (אֱלֹהִים), the general and majestic name for God, appealing to His universal power and sovereignty over all things to act decisively.
• You are my help: The Hebrew `ezrati` (עֶזְרָתִי) directly translates to "my help" or "my aid." This declarative statement identifies God as the Psalmist's singular and unfailing source of strength and support, implying that no human power or resource can provide the succor required.
• and my deliverer: The Hebrew `mephallet` (מְפַלֵּט) is an active participle meaning "my rescuer," or "one who causes me to escape." It points to God as the agent of liberation, bringing rescue from oppressive circumstances, danger, or the grip of enemies.
• O Lord, do not delay! `O Lord` uses the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יהוה), often pronounced `Adonai`. This is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal, relational faithfulness and His unchanging promises to His people. Shifting from `Elohim` to `YHWH` elevates the plea, invoking God's covenant loyalty and intimate character. `Do not delay!` uses `al-te'achar` (אַל-תֵּאחַר), a strong negative imperative, literally "do not tarry" or "do not be late." This powerfully reinforces the initial call to "hasten," underlining the immediate peril and the Psalmist's fervent desire for swift, undeniable divine intervention without any postponement.

• "But I am poor and needy": This phrase serves as the bedrock of the Psalmist's appeal. It is a humble confession of utter inability and profound dependence, highlighting that the speaker has exhausted all personal resources and acknowledges God as the only possible solution. This self-assessment is key to activating God's compassion and power.
• "hasten to me, O God! ... O Lord, do not delay!": These two desperate commands form an inclusio, a literary device that frames the entire plea and intensifies the sense of urgency. The first is a general call for swift action, while the latter is a specific prohibition against any deferral, stressing that the present distress is intolerable and requires immediate divine response. The shift in address from the powerful `Elohim` to the covenantal `YHWH` further personalizes and deepens the petition, grounding the desperate need in God's specific promises and relational character.
• "You are my help and my deliverer": This bold declaration of faith in God's character precedes and accompanies the urgent petition. It is not a request for a new quality in God, but an affirmation of who He already is to the Psalmist – the sole source of assistance and salvation. This confident acknowledgment provides the theological foundation for the expectation of swift rescue.

Psalm 70 5 Bonus section

• The near-identicality of Psalm 70 with Psalm 40:13-17 indicates that this passage held significant weight, potentially being excerpted or specifically adapted for recurrent liturgical use or personal reflection, especially during times demanding urgent remembrance of God's covenant aid.
• The psalm's title "to bring to remembrance" (Hebrew: `lehazkir`) implies not only the Psalmist bringing his need before God, but also a prayer that God Himself would 'remember' His covenant and promises to His afflicted servant, thereby acting decisively. This concept underlines the covenant relationship between God and His people.
• This verse profoundly counters human tendencies toward self-sufficiency. By confessing total inability ("poor and needy") and explicitly relying solely on God as "help and deliverer," it teaches that true strength and salvation are found not in human effort but in absolute dependence upon the Almighty.

Psalm 70 5 Commentary

Psalm 70:5 is a distilled prayer of lament and urgent dependence, showcasing the profound humility required to truly lean on God. The Psalmist's twofold self-description as "poor and needy" signifies an all-encompassing distress and a complete inability to resolve the situation independently. This spiritual poverty is the very posture that draws God's favor, as seen in Jesus' Beatitudes. The repeated cries to "hasten" and "do not delay" vividly express the depth of the crisis and the intense longing for God's immediate and tangible presence. By confidently proclaiming "You are my help and my deliverer," the Psalmist grounds his urgent plea not in his own merit or desperate need alone, but in the unwavering character of God as the reliable rescuer. This verse thus offers a timeless model for prayer: it calls for honest confession of need, fervent supplication, and unwavering faith in God's compassionate and powerful nature, reminding believers to cast their cares entirely upon the Lord, trusting in His swift and faithful intervention according to His perfect will. It's a reminder to approach God with absolute vulnerability, trusting that His active love responds to desperate dependence.