My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to read this as just a general statement of praise, but notice the psalmist doesn't say "I will praise you." He prays, "Let my mouth be filled." This isn't just about saying words; it's about an overflowing fullness of God's glory so pervasive it saturates his entire being and day.
My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is in a time of intense trouble and feels surrounded by enemies who plot against his life and believe God has abandoned him. Despite these dire circumstances and his own aging body, he's reflecting on God's consistent faithfulness throughout his life, from infancy to old age. This reflection fuels a deep desire to praise God, not just for past deliverances, but as a continuous act of worship and a testament to God's glory.
Imagine facing overwhelming challenges, feeling abandoned by friends and surrounded by enemies. How does one move from such despair to a heart overflowing with praise?
This verse isn't just a wish; it's a declaration born from experience. The psalmist, facing deep distress and the fear of old age bringing further weakness and peril, expresses a profound shift.
The Turn to God
When enemies conspire, believing God has forsaken him (as noted in Benson's commentary), the psalmist doesn't wallow in despair. Instead, he actively chooses to fill his mouth with God's praise and honor. This isn't about ignoring the problems, but about orienting his focus.
A Vow of Thanksgiving
The ancient commentators (like Poole) see this as a prayer for God's continued deliverance, which will then provide more occasions for praise. It's a forward-looking declaration: 'Because you have helped me and will help me, my mouth will be filled with your praise.' It's a powerful reminder that even in our hardest seasons, we can find reasons to thank God, which in turn fuels our faith for the next trial.
What does it mean for God's praise to fill your mouth 'all the day'?
The phrase 'all the day' isn't about non-stop talking; it speaks to a constant, abiding orientation of the heart and life towards God.
A Continual Theme
Ask a follow-up
As Gill points out, this signifies speaking largely, publicly, and with delight about God's perfections and benefits. It means God's honor isn't just an occasional thought, but the central theme that permeates every part of the day – morning, noon, and night.
Rooted in Experience
Calvin highlights that this isn't just a spontaneous outburst, but often stems from the experience of God's benefits from youth onwards. Recognizing God's consistent care, from birth ('from the womb') to old age, provides a deep wellspring for this ongoing praise. It's a lifetime of recognizing God's faithfulness that fuels the daily declaration.
Understand the original words
tiph'arah · Hebrew Noun
The manifestation of God's presence, majesty, character, and weightiness; it is the outward expression of His internal perfection and sovereign excellence.
This psalm likely arose from the experiences of an individual, possibly King David in his later years, facing significant personal distress and enemies. However, its themes of lifelong reliance on God and the desire for constant praise have made it a powerful expression of faith for the entire nation of Israel, particularly during times of national crisis like the Babylonian exile and subsequent periods of oppression.
c. 1000 BC
David's Reign and Psalms Composition
Psalm 71 is often attributed to David, reflecting his experiences during his long reign as king of Israel, marked by both triumphs and intense personal struggles.
c. 970 BC— this verse
David's Later Years and Troubles
The psalm's themes of old age, past deliverances, and present dangers suggest it was composed during David's later years, possibly amidst the turmoil of Absalom's rebellion or other court intrigues.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonian conquest and exile deeply impacted Jewish identity and worship, leading to a profound sense of loss and a longing for restoration, which resonates in later expressions of trust in God.
c. 538 BC
Return from Babylonian Exile
The decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem marked a pivotal moment of hope and rebuilding, influencing expressions of God's faithfulness and deliverance.
c. 1st Century BC - 1st Century AD
Period of Roman Rule and Messianic Expectation
This era was characterized by foreign occupation and fervent expectation for a Messiah, shaping the context for hymns of hope and pleas for divine intervention.
This passage echoes the sentiment of God's care from birth, highlighting a lifelong reliance that fuels continuous praise, much like in Psalms 71:8.
Psalms 35:28This verse speaks of the tongue (mouth) declaring God's righteousness and praise all day long, directly paralleling the desire expressed in Psalms 71:8.
Isaiah 43:21This verse declares that God formed people for Himself so that they would declare His praise, providing a theological foundation for the continuous praise mentioned in Psalms 71:8.
Luke 1:69-75Zechariah's prophecy rejoices in God's deliverance and promises to serve Him with praise and righteousness all our days, mirroring the heart of Psalms 71:8.
Romans 15:5-7This passage calls believers to glorify God with a unified voice for His mercy and faithfulness, reflecting the spirit of having one's mouth filled with praise all day long.
poolePsalms 71:8: "Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day."
Give me occasion to multiply my praises to thee, for delivering me out of my present distress.
bensonPsalms 71:8: "Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day."
Psalm 71:8-11. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise — Give me occasion to multiply praises to thee for delivering me out of my present distress. Cast me not off in my old age — When I am most feeble, and most need thy help, and am one that is grown old in thy service. For mine enemies lay wait for my soul, &c. — Hebrew, שׁמרי נפשׁי , shomree naphshi, the watchers, or observers, of my soul — That watch, that…
It's easy to read this as just a general statement of praise, but notice the psalmist doesn't say "I will praise you." He prays, "Let my mouth be filled." This isn't just about saying words; it's about an overflowing fullness of God's glory so pervasive it saturates his entire being and day.
The psalmist is in a time of intense trouble and feels surrounded by enemies who plot against his life and believe God has abandoned him. Despite these dire circumstances and his own aging body, he's reflecting on God's consistent faithfulness throughout his life, from infancy to old age. This reflection fuels a deep desire to praise God, not just for past deliverances, but as a continuous act of worship and a testament to God's glory.
The psalmist is in a time of intense trouble and feels surrounded by enemies who plot against his life and believe God has abandoned him. Despite these dire circumstances and his own aging body, he's reflecting on God's consistent faithfulness throughout his life, from infancy to old age. This reflection fuels a deep desire to praise God, not just for past deliverances, but as a continuous act of worship and a testament to God's glory.
"My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day." — It's easy to read this as just a general statement of praise, but notice the psalmist doesn't say "I will praise you." He prays, "Let my mouth be filled." This isn't just about saying words; it's…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026