Psalm 62 is the 62nd psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the ChristianOld Testament. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint version of the Bible and in the Latin Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 61. In Latin, it is known as "Nonne Deo subiecta erit anima mea".[1] The psalm offers a warning not to let one's power erode one's trust in God.[2]
The following table shows the Hebrew text[3][4] of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).
Also unto Thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy; For Thou renderest to every man according to his work.
King James Version
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.
They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.
Contents
Jeduthun's name stands at the head of this psalms, along with Psalms 39 and 77. In 1 Chronicles 16:41–42 he is one of the chief singers, and his sons were gatekeepers at the tent of the Ark of the Covenant. His name is mentioned, perhaps, as a special honour.[5]
Until 1912, Psalm 62 was part of the Tenebrae liturgy during the Holy Week.
Silence
St. Norbet's Arts Center anchors its views on silence in verse 1, "For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation", from Psalm 62.[8]
Musical settings
Heinrich Schütz composed a choral setting of a metred paraphrase of Psalm 62 in German, "Mein Seel ist still in meinem Gott" (My soul is still in my God) in 1628 as part of the Becker Psalter.
Max Reger composed a paraphrase of Psalm 62, "Meine Seele ist still zu Gott" (My soul is still towards God) as the second of two sacred songs (Zwei geistliche Lieder) in German for voice (mezzo-soprano or baritone) and keyboard (organ or harmonium or piano), Op. 105, in 1907, the other being "Ich sehe dich in tausend Bildern" on a poem by Novalis.[9]George S. Talbot composed a setting in English, "My soul rests in God alone". In 1921, a setting of three psalm settings by Max Gulbins [de] was published as his Op. 109. They were written for a three-part women's choir and organ, containing Psalm 62 as "Meine Seele ist stille zu Gott", and also Psalms 13 and 141.[10] In 1937, the Danish composer Vagn Holmboe set Psalm 62 for an unaccompanied children's choir. In 2000, Stephen McManus, composed a setting for unison choir, mixed choir, oboe and organ.[11]
"Psalm 62" is a track of the album Pages, the fifth studio album by the 2007 contemporary worship duo Shane & Shane. The Philippine composer Joel P. Navarro wrote a hymn setting in English, "My Soul Finds Rest", to a melody by Arnel dC Aquino, in 2011.