Psalms 70:5 · Bible study
Psalms 70:5 Commentary: 'Poor and Needy' Posture of Desperate Prayer
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Psalm 70:5 repeat Psalm 40:17 but change 'the Lord thinks on me' to 'make haste'? Explore the meaning of 'poor and needy' in desperate prayer.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A desperate prayer from a place of emptiness, calling on God as helper and deliverer.
- Key words: 'poor and needy' (status of total dependence); 'make haste' (urgent plea); 'help' and 'deliverer' (God's active roles).
- Main debate: Why the change from Psalm 40:17's 'the Lord thinketh on me' to 'make haste unto me, O God', intentional adaptation for urgency, not scribal error.
- Theological theme: Vulnerability as the gateway to divine help; God honors prayers that come from honest need.
- Best use: A model for those who feel they have nothing to bring to God but their need.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
But I am poor and needy; hurry to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.
WEB World English Bible 2000
But I am poor and needy. Come to me quickly, God. You are my help and my deliverer. Yahweh, don’t delay.
KJV King James Version 1769
But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
But I am poor and needy; Make haste unto me, O God: Thou art my help and my deliverer; O Jehovah, make no tarrying.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And I am poor and needy, O God, haste to me, My help and my deliverer art Thou, O Jehovah, tarry Thou not!
Darby Darby Bible 1890
But I am afflicted and needy: make haste unto me, OGod. Thou art my help and my deliverer: O Jehovah, make no delay.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
For thou art my patience, O Lord: my hope, O Lord, from my youth.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Yo estoy afligido y menesteroso; apresúrate á mí, oh Dios: ayuda mía y mi libertador eres tú; oh Jehová, no te detengas.
Eu, porém, estou miserável e necessitado; ó Deus, apressa-te a mim; tu és meu socorro e meu libertador; não demores, SENHOR.
Que tous ceux qui te cherchent
Ich aber bin elend und arm. Gott, eile zu mir, denn du bist mein Helfer und Erretter; mein Gott verziehe nicht!
Laat in U vrolijk en verblijd zijn allen, die U zoeken; laat de liefhebbers Uws heils geduriglijk zeggen: God zij groot gemaakt! Doch ik ben ellendig en nooddruftig; o God, haast U tot mij; Gij zijt mijn Hulp en mijn Bevrijder; HEERE, vertoef niet!
Quanto a me son misero e bisognoso; o Dio, affrettati a venire a me; tu sei il mio aiuto e il mio liberatore, o Eterno, non tardare!
Ale niech się weselą i radują w tobie wszyscy, którzy cię szukają, a którzy miłują zbawienie twoje, niech mówią zawżdy: Uwielbiony bądź, Boże nasz! Jamci nędzny i ubogi; o Boże! pospiesz się ku mnie; tyś jest pomocą moją, i wybawicielem moim! Panie! nie omieszkujże.
ибо Ты - надежда моя, Господи Боже, упование мое от юности моей.
但我是 困苦 窮乏的； 神啊，求你速速 到我這裡來！你 是幫助我的，搭救我的。耶和華啊，求你不要 耽延！
But I am poor and in need; come to me quickly, O God; you are my help and my saviour; let there be no waiting, O Lord.
Verse in Context
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Psalm 70:5 is a deliberate reprise of Psalm 40:17, adapted for a new situation. The most notable change is the shift from a statement of confidence, 'the Lord thinketh on me' (Psalm 40:17), to a direct petition: 'make haste unto me, O God.' Barnes observes that the word 'make haste' is introduced here by design, turning a fact of trust into an urgent plea. The Cambridge Bible notes the change creates a tighter parallelism with the closing 'make no tarrying.' Keil and Delitzsch remark that 'the hope is turned into petition.' Adams Clarke emphasizes that the self-description 'poor and needy' (Hebrew ani ve'ebyon) means 'a poor man, and a beggar,' grounding the request in deep personal lack. All agree the variations between the two psalms are intentional and not scribal errors, though the exact reason remains uncertain. The verse models a prayer posture of honest vulnerability coupled with confident appeal to God as 'my help and my deliverer.'
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Intentional adaptation for a new crisis: Barnes, Cambridge Bible, and Keil & Delitzsch see the change from 'the Lord thinks on me' to 'make haste' as a deliberate transformation of hope into urgent petition, suited to a more desperate occasion.
- Liturgical variation without specific occasion: Lange and Calvin suggest the psalm was excerpted from Psalm 40 for repeated liturgical use, with minor changes to fit a different setting or to create a self-contained piece.
- Possible textual corruption (minority view): A few older commentators considered the differences could be scribal, but this is rejected by most because the pattern of changes appears systematic, not accidental.
What is clear: David prays from a posture of acknowledged poverty and need, calling on God as his help and deliverer, and asking for swift intervention.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Relationship to Psalm 40 | Psalm 70:5 is a reworking of Psalm 40:17, with intentional changes. | Why was the change made? Most commentators see an adaptation for a more urgent situation; a few consider it a separate liturgical variant. |
| Meaning of 'poor and needy' | It indicates a state of deep dependence and distress, not just material poverty. | Whether this refers primarily to economic hardship, physical danger, or spiritual bankruptcy is debated; likely all three are present. |
| Urgency in prayer | The plea for haste is a legitimate expression of trust, not irreverence. | Some traditions caution against demanding timetables from God; others see the cry for speed as a natural and faithful response to danger. |
| Divine names (Elohim and Yahweh) | Both names refer to the one true God; the alternation is deliberate. | Reformed commentators often see 'Yahweh' as emphasizing covenant relationship; others treat it as stylistic variation without theological difference. |
| Liturgical use | The title 'to bring to remembrance' suggests a specific liturgical function. | Whether it was used annually, in times of national distress, or as a personal memorial psalm is uncertain. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Psalm 70 stands as a short, intense prayer, likely designed for liturgical use. Its title, 'to bring to remembrance' (or 'to call to mind'), links it with Psalm 38 and suggests a purpose of putting God, or the worshiper, in mind of past distress and past deliverance. Matthew Henry comments that the psalm 'was designed to bring to remembrance' former afflictions and former devotions. The psalm is placed in Book Two of the Psalter, and Lange argues its position after Psalm 69 was occasioned by the thematic link between Psalm 70:5 and Psalm 69:29 ('I am in pain and distress').
The phrase 'poor and needy' recurs throughout the Psalter (Psalms 9:18; 35:10; 37:14; 86:1; 109:22), and in that ancient context it describes not only material poverty but a spiritual condition of total dependence on God. The petitioner brings no bargaining chip; he comes empty-handed. The words 'make haste' echo other cries for immediate intervention, such as Psalm 141:1 ('Yahweh, I have called on you. Come to me quickly!'). The divine names shift within the verse: 'God' (Elohim) in the plea for haste, and 'Yahweh' (LORD) in the confession of trust. Calvin and others treat this as a stylistic variation, though some see a deliberate emphasis on God's covenant faithfulness in the name Yahweh. The surrounding context adds urgency: verses 2, 3 beg for the enemy's defeat, making verse 5 the personal core of the prayer.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries note that the differences between Psalm 70:5 and Psalm 40:17 are intentional and not the result of scribal error. Barnes observes that the changes in divine names (Elohim, Yahweh, Adonai) 'could not have been made by copyists' and must be deliberate. The Cambridge Bible and Keil & Delitzsch likewise treat the variations as purposeful adaptations. No significant textual variants are discussed for this verse in the sources consulted.
Reception History
Psalm 70 has been used in Christian liturgy as a cry for help in times of distress, especially during Lent and in prayers for deliverance from enemies. The early church read it as a prayer of Christ in his suffering, drawing on the tradition that David prefigured the Messiah. Reformers like Calvin treated it as a simple reprise of Psalm 40, while Matthew Henry emphasized its role as a 'remembrance' of past mercies in order to strengthen present faith. The verse's pairing of personal poverty with confident trust in God as 'help and deliverer' has made it a touchstone for hymns of refuge, though no specific hymn titles appear in the supplied data.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Confession of need: 'I am poor and needy', the only posture that opens the door to divine help.
- Cry for speed: 'Come to me quickly; don’t delay', faith that is urgent, not demanding, because the need is real.
- Confidence in God: 'You are my help and my deliverer', the anchor that keeps desperation from becoming despair.
Five-point outline
- Honest self-assessment: David names his poverty, not his strength.
- Urgency as worship: hurrying to God is better than sulking alone.
- Specific naming of God's roles: 'help' (supplier of strength) and 'deliverer' (one who rescues).
- Repeated plea for haste: 'make haste' (v.1), 'don’t delay' (v.5), echoing the whole psalm’s tone.
- From vulnerability to declaration: David moves from 'I am' to 'You are.'
Illustration hooks
- A person frantically dials 911 after an accident; the operator says 'help is on the way,' but every second feels like an hour. The psalmist knows that feeling.
- A child wakes from a nightmare and calls for a parent, not with a reasoned request but with a cry. That cry is 'poor and needy' prayer.
- Waiting for a medical test result, you pray fast, not because you are impatient, but because the waiting is unbearable.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Is it disrespectful to tell God to hurry? Does urgency in prayer show lack of trust?
- What do I do when God seems not to answer quickly, does that mean he doesn't care?
- How can I approach God when I feel I have nothing to offer, no good works, no faith strong enough?
Leading a Discussion
This verse shows us a prayer that is both raw and confident. David does not pretend to have it together. He names his poverty and his need, and he asks God to hurry. The discussion questions below invite your group to examine their own posture in prayer, especially when life feels urgent.
Discussion questions
- Look at the words 'poor and needy.' What does David mean by those words? Is he talking only about material lack?
- Compare Psalm 70:5 with Psalm 40:17. What is different about the petition, and why do you think David changed it?
- David calls God both 'my help' and 'my deliverer.' What is the difference between these two roles, and why does David use both?
- Why does the psalm open and close with a cry for haste? What does that tell us about David's emotional state?
- Have you ever prayed something like 'Don’t delay, Lord'? What situation prompted it, and what did you learn about God in that waiting?
- How does naming your need to God, honestly, without trying to hide it, change the way you pray?
- In what area of your life right now might God be inviting you to come to him as 'poor and needy' rather than as strong and self-sufficient?
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Psalms 13:1 | For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. How long, Yahweh? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? |
| Psalms 13:2 | How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart every day? How long shall my enemy triumph over me? |
| Psalms 40:17 | But I am poor and needy. May the Lord think about me. You are my help and my deliverer. Don’t delay, my God. |
| Psalms 69:29 | But I am in pain and distress. Let your salvation, God, protect me. |
| Psalms 109:22 | for I am poor and needy. My heart is wounded within me. |
| Psalms 141:1 | A Psalm by David. Yahweh, I have called on you. Come to me quickly! Listen to my voice when I call to you. |
| Hebrews 10:37 | “In a very little while, he who comes will come and will not wait. |
| Revelation of John 22:20 | He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus! |
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights the Hebrew words for poor and needy, interpreting them as a poor man and beggar driven by affliction to ask. He notes that the psalmist appeals to God’s abundance as the reason to seek help, while the urgency of many wants and great danger compels the cry
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes observes that the psalmist deliberately changed the divine names between this verse and its parallel, shifting from a statement about the Lord to a petition for God to make haste. He treats these variations as intentional, not scribal mistakes, though their exact purpose remains unclear. The changes do not alter the overall meaning.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin observes that this psalm is not a new composition but a selection of five verses taken from Psalm 40. He considers the inscription likely indicates that David reworked those verses
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that the wording in Psalm 70:5 may have been altered from an earlier version. The original likely said "the Lord will take thought for me," matching Psalm 40:17, but was changed here to create a tighter parallel with the urgent request "make no tarrying."
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The note stresses that the psalmist speaks from a place of present poverty and need, not hypothetical trouble. His plea for God to make haste and not delay is grounded in God's known character as helper and deliverer. The urgency comes from real dependence, not impatience.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes a deliberate variation between this verse and its parallel in Psalm 40. There the text says "the Lord thinketh on me" after the cry of being poor and needy; here it becomes the repeated petition "make haste unto me, O God." The closing address also shifts from "O my God" to "O Lord, make no tarrying."
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch note that the parallel verse substitutes "Elohim, make haste to me" for the earlier "Adonai will think of me," turning a statement of hope into a direct petition. The change in divine names and wording is an innovation driven by the reuse of the original "to me."
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange treats Psalm 70 as a later, deliberately altered excerpt taken from Psalm 40, not an original Davidic composition. He points to shifts in God's name and wording as evidence of a liturgical adaptation, dismissing the view that it serves as an introduction to Psalm 71.