Psalm 31

Psalm 31 is the 31st psalm of the Book of Psalms.

Charles and Emilie Briggs summarized the contents of Psalm 31 in the International Critical Commentary series: "Ps. 31 is a prayer: (1) importunate plea for deliverance of the people from national enemies (v.^2-5); (2) confidence in the deliverance already accomplished (v.^6-9); (3) petition based on complain of abandonment (v.^10-13); (4) confidence, with prayer for salvation (v.^14-17); (5) praise of Yahweh for the salvation (v.^{20-21, 22-24a}). There are liturgical glosses (v.^{22, 24b-25}) and a gloss of imprecation (v.^18-19)."

On the basis of the wording of the Psalm, they claim that "The author certainly knew Jer[emiah], Is[aiah], Ez[ekiel], and many Ps[alms] of the Persian period. We cannot put the composition earlier than the troubles of Israel preceding the reforms of Nehemiah." The Persian period began in 539 BC, and Nehemiah's reforms are dated to about 445 BC.

Felix Mendelssohn set it to music a capella in English, using the King James Version.

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