🎵WEB · Psalms 31:20
What does Psalms 31:20 mean?
"In the shelter of your presence you will hide them from the plotting of man. You will keep them secretly in a dwelling away from the strife of tongues."
— Psalms 31:20 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
Let me not be disappointed, Yahweh, for I have called on you. Let the wicked be disappointed. Let them be silent in Sheol.
Let the lying lips be mute, which speak against the righteous insolently, with pride and contempt.
Oh how great is your goodness, which you have laid up for those who fear you, which you have worked for those who take refuge in you, before the sons of men!
In the shelter of your presence you will hide them from the plotting of man. You will keep them secretly in a dwelling away from the strife of tongues.
Praise be to Yahweh, for he has shown me his marvelous loving kindness in a strong city.
As for me, I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before your eyes.” Nevertheless you heard the voice of my petitions when I cried to you.
Oh love Yahweh, all you his saints! Yahweh preserves the faithful, and fully recompenses him who behaves arrogantly.
Explanation
Psalm 31:20 pictures God as a refuge who conceals and protects his people from those who scheme against them and from the damage done by hostile, slanderous speech. In plain language, the verse says that God hides those who trust him in a safe, secret place—shielded both from the plots of enemies and from the wounds inflicted by cruel or divisive words. The imagery is of a fortress or a hidden dwelling where a person can be sheltered from danger that comes not just through violence but through the tongue: gossip, lies, accusations, and slander.
This psalm is attributed to David, and its content fits the kind of crisis he faced repeatedly—being pursued by enemies, misunderstood, falsely accused, or targeted by conspiracies (such as during Saul's pursuit of him or later betrayals). Throughout the psalm, David moves between expressions of anguish, feeling forgotten and surrounded by trouble, and expressions of confident trust in God's faithfulness. Verse 20 sits within a section of praise (beginning at verse 19) where David reflects on God's goodness to those who fear him, contrasting present affliction with the security that comes from taking refuge in the Lord. The historical setting, then, is one of real, lived danger—both political and social—and the psalm functions as a personal testimony meant to encourage others facing similar threats.
Theologically, the verse highlights God's role as protector, particularly emphasizing that his protection extends beyond physical safety to relational and emotional safety. "The strife of tongues" points to the destructive power of
Compare translations
Go deeper with ScriptureCompanion AI
Ask questions about any verse, follow reading plans, write personal prayers, and track your daily habit — all grounded in verified scripture text.