Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 31:17
Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, [and] let them be silent in the grave.
17. The prayer of Psa 31:1 is repeated. While my prayers are answered, let my enemies be silenced and consigned to Sheol. A similar prayer in Psa 25:2-3; Jer 17:18.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Let me not be ashamed, O Lord, for I have called upon thee – That is, I have reposed entire confidence in thee, and in thy promises, in the time of trial; let now the result be such as to show that I had reason thus to trust in thee; that thy character is such that the persecuted and the afflicted may always find thee to be a safe and secure refuge. In other words, Let me not be disappointed, and thus be made ashamed before men, as if I had put my trust where no relief was to be found, or where there was nothing to authorize an act of unreserved confidence. See the notes at Psa 25:2-3.
Let the wicked be ashamed – Let them be disappointed in that on which they had put their trust; let it be seen that they, in their wicked plans, had no safe ground of confidence. They rely on their strength; their skill; their courage; their resources; and not on God. Let it now be seen that these things constitute no safe ground of trust, and let not others be encouraged to follow their example by any success that shall attend them in their designs.
And let them be silent in the grave – Margin, let them be cut off for the grave. Hebrew: for Sheol. The more correct translation is that which is in the text, Let them be silent. That is, let them go down to the grave – to Sheol – to the underworld – to the land of silence. On the meaning of the word used here – Sheol, the grave – see the notes at Isa 14:9; compare the notes at Job 10:21-22; and the notes at Psa 16:10. This is represented as a land of silence. This idea is derived from the grave, where the dead repose in silence; and the meaning here is, let them be cut off and consigned to that land of silence. It is a prayer that the wicked may not triumph.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 17. Let the wicked be ashamed] Those who traduce my character and lay snares for my life; let them be confounded.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I have called upon thee; and therefore thy honour will be eclipsed in my disappointment, as if thou didst not hear prayers, nor keep promise, nor make any difference between good and bad men.
Let the wicked be ashamed; frustrated in their wicked designs and carnal confidences. Seeing they are implacable in their malice and rage against innocent and good men, do thou cut them off by thy just judgment; and since either the righteous or the wicked must be cut off, let destruction fall upon them, who most deserve it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
14-18. In his profession oftrust he includes the terms of the prayer expressing it.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Let me not be ashamed, O Lord,…. The same petition as in
Ps 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 f; that is, from their evil words and works, and particularly from troubling the saints, Job 3:17.
f “Verbum est” “quod significat cessare ab aliquo opere, vel sermone”, Psal. iv. 5. Gejerus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
17. O Jehovah! let me not be ashamed. In these words, the Psalmist continues his prayer, and to strengthen his hopes, he contrasts himself with his enemies; for it would have been more than absurd to permit those who by their wickedness so openly provoked the wrath of God to escape with impunity, and that one who was innocent and relied upon God should be disappointed and made a laughing-stock. Here, accordingly, we perceive what the Psalmist’s comparison implies. Moreover, instead of speaking of his hope or trust, he now speaks of his calling upon God, saying, I have called on thee; and he does this with good reason, for he who relies on the providence of God must flee to him with prayers and strong cries. To be silent in the grave, implies that death, when it befalls the ungodly, restrains and prevents them from doing farther injury. This silence is opposed both to their deceitful and treacherous devices, and to their outrageous insolence. In the very next verse, therefore, he adds, Let lying lips be put to silence, which, in my opinion, includes both their craftiness, and the false pretences and calumnies by which they endeavor to accomplish their designs, and also the vain boasting in which they indulge themselves. For he tells us that they speak with harshness and severity against the righteous, in pride and scorn; because it was their froward conceit, which almost always begets contempt, that made David’s enemies so bold in lying. Whoever proudly arrogates to himself more than is his due, will almost necessarily treat others with contempt.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
17. Ashamed This marks the different results of a wicked and a holy life. The verb, in either case, is simply declarative. Shame is often, as here, used to represent the punishment of the wicked, in the recoil of their evil designs upon themselves.
Silent in the grave Hebrew, silent to sheol. Either silent in sheol, or silent as sheol. On sheol, see notes on Psa 6:5; Psa 9:17; Psa 16:10
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
If we consider the foregoing verses as referring to Christ and his enemies, how striking are these verses, if read with an eye to Judas and the foes of Christ. Act 1:18 . And may we not take the words still further as holding forth a sure prophecy, to all the enemies of Jesus and his church?
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 31:17 Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, [and] let them be silent in the grave.
Ver. 17. Let me not be ashamed ] i.e. Disappointed of my hopes.
Let the wicked be ashamed
Let them be silent in the grave
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha’. App-44.
the grave. Hebrew Sheol. App-35.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
grave
Heb. “Sheol,” (See Scofield “Hab 2:5”)
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Let me: Psa 31:1, Psa 25:2, Psa 25:3, Psa 34:5, Psa 69:6, Psa 69:7, Isa 50:6, Isa 50:7, Joe 2:26, Joe 2:27
wicked: Psa 6:10, Psa 35:4, Psa 35:26, Psa 40:14, Psa 40:15, Psa 70:2, Psa 70:3, Psa 71:24, Psa 83:16, Psa 83:17, Isa 41:11, Isa 41:12, Isa 45:16, Isa 45:17, Isa 65:13, Isa 65:14, Jer 20:11, Dan 12:2
them: Psa 115:17, 1Sa 2:9, Mat 22:12, Mat 22:13
silent in the grave: or, cut off for the grave
Reciprocal: Gen 2:25 – ashamed Psa 31:22 – I am Psa 94:17 – dwelt Isa 47:5 – silent
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
31:17 Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, [and] let them be {m} silent in the grave.
(m) Let death destroy them to the intent that they may hurt no more.