Chapter Overview
Summary
Psalm 62 (MT) / Psalm 61 (LXX) is a Davidic meditation of silent-trust-in-God alone. The Hebrew adverb 'ak ('only, alone, surely') opens six of the psalm's verses (2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10), signaling the exclusivity-of-divine-reliance as the psalm's theological-center. Verse 12 — 'you, O LORD, belong steadfast love; you will render to each according to his work' — is cited or echoed at Matthew 16:27 ('the Son of Man … will render to each according to his deeds') and Romans 2:6.
Notable Variants
62:1–2, 5 'for God alone my soul waits in silence' as contemplative-signature; 62:12 'render to each according to his work' → Matt 16:27 / Rom 2:6 / 2 Tim 4:14 / Rev 22:12 retribution-by-deeds principle.
Structural Notes
MT Ps 62 = LXX Ps 61. 13 verses (MT/LXX), 12 verses (English). Dedicated to Jeduthun (cf. Pss 39, 77).
For the director of music. According to Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
Superscription 'to the choirmaster, to Jeduthun, a Psalm of David' tracks MT.
My soul waits in silence for God alone; from him comes my deliverance.
'For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation' tracks MT. SILENCE-BEFORE-GOD contemplative-theology. The 'alone' (ak) as exclusivity-marker. Lamentations 3:26 ('it is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD') extends.
He alone is my rock and my deliverance, my high fortress — I will not be greatly shaken.
'He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken' tracks MT.
How long will all of you attack a man? You will be crushed — all of you — like a leaning wall, like a fence about to collapse.
'How long will all of you attack a man?' tracks MT. 'Leaning wall / tottering fence' — fragile-human-state imagery.
They scheme only to bring him down from his position; they take pleasure in deception. With their mouths they bless, but inside they curse. Selah.
'They only plan to thrust him down from his high position' tracks MT.
My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my hope comes from him.
'For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him' tracks MT. Self-addressing-soul imperative — Augustinian contemplative-pattern.
He alone is my rock and my deliverance, my high fortress — I will not be shaken.
'He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken' tracks MT — REFRAIN varied from v. 3 ('not greatly shaken' → 'not shaken' absolute).
On God rest my deliverance and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge, is in God.
'On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God' tracks MT.
pour out your hearts before him. Trust in him at all times, you people; God is a refuge for us. Selah.
'Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us' tracks MT. POUR-OUT-YOUR-HEART pastoral-psychological theology. 1 Peter 5:7 and Hebrews 4:16 develop open-access-to-God theology.
Common people are only a breath; important people are a lie. Placed on scales, together they rise — they weigh less than a breath.
'Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath' tracks MT. BREATH-AND-BALANCE imagery — human-weightlessness theology recurring at Psalms 144:4, Eccl 1:2 et al.
Do not trust in extortion; do not put empty hope in robbery. If wealth increases, do not set your heart on it.
'Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them' tracks MT. 1 Timothy 6:17 ('charge those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches') parallels the anti-riches-trust pastoral.
One thing God has spoken; two things I have heard: that power belongs to God,
'Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God' tracks MT. ONCE-TWICE WISDOM FORMULA (proverbial device — cf. Job 33:14, 40:5). Power-belongs-to-God monotheistic axiom.
and that faithful love belongs to you, Lord, for you repay each person according to what they have done.
Masoretic (WLC)
וּלְךָ־אֲדֹנָי חָסֶד כִּי־אַתָּה תְשַׁלֵּם לְאִישׁ כְּמַעֲשֵׂהוּ
And to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love; for you render to each according to his work
Septuagint (LXX)
καὶ σοῦ κύριε τὸ ἔλεος ὅτι σὺ ἀποδώσεις ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ
And to you, O Lord, belongs mercy; for you will render to each according to his works
RETRIBUTION-BY-WORKS PRINCIPLE. This verse — 'render to each according to his works' (apodōseis hekastō kata ta erga autou) — is the LXX-source for a widely-cited NT retribution-by-deeds formula: (a) Matthew 16:27 ('the Son of Man … will render to each person according to his deeds'); (b) Romans 2:6 ('who will render to each one according to his works'); (c) 2 Timothy 4:14 ('the Lord will repay him according to his deeds'); (d) Revelation 2:23, 20:12, 22:12 ('I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done'). The Davidic-axiom becomes the NT's standard eschatological-judgment formula.
The pairing of 'MERCY (chesed / eleos) AND RETRIBUTION' in one verse is theologically significant: the same God who shows chesed also judges-by-works. The two are not in tension but fused in divine-character.