Psalms 31:17

17 (30-18) Let me not be confounded, O Lord, for I have called upon thee. Let the wicked be ashamed, and be brought down to hell.

Psalms 31:17 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 31:17

Let me not be ashamed, O Lord
The same petition as in ( Psalms 31:1 ) ;

for I have called upon thee;
who is nigh unto all that call upon him in truth, and is rich unto them, and has promised to help and save them; which should he not do, not only he would be made ashamed, but the promise of God would seem to fail: for the psalmist does not plead any duty of his, nor make a merit of his prayers; but has respect to the promise and faithfulness of God;

let the wicked be ashamed;
as they will be, sooner or later, of their wickedness, and of their false trust and confidence; of their being incensed against Christ, and their rage against his people, and persecution of them;

[and] let them be silent in the grave;
as all are that are there; and the sense is, let them be brought to the grave, where they will be silent, or cease F6; that is, from their evil words and works, and particularly from troubling the saints, ( Job 3:17 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F6 "Verbum est" (Mmd) "quod significat cessare ab aliquo opere, vel sermone", Psal. iv. 5. Gejerus.

Psalms 31:17 In-Context

15 (30-16) My lots are in thy hands. Deliver me out of the hands of my enemies; and from them that persecute me.
16 (30-17) Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; save me in thy mercy.
17 (30-18) Let me not be confounded, O Lord, for I have called upon thee. Let the wicked be ashamed, and be brought down to hell.
18 (30-19) Let deceitful lips be made dumb. Which speak iniquity against the just, with pride and abuse.
19 (30-20) O how great is the multitude of thy sweetness, O Lord, which thou hast hidden for them that fear thee! Which thou hast wrought for them that hope in thee, in the sight of the sons of men.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.