Psalms 71:15 Meaning and Explanation
“My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Suffering can make a person's world feel ruled by threats, weakness, or loss. This confession turns the speaker's attention toward the Lord's character and deeds. He does not claim to have mastered the whole story of God's deliverances. He has seen enough to make praise and testimony the fitting use of his mouth, even while danger remains near.
The psalmist resolves to speak throughout the day of God's righteous acts and saving help, because their abundance exceeds his ability to count or fully recount them.
The Context of Psalms 71:15
Psalm 71 is a prayer of trust from one who faces hostile enemies and the frailty of old age. The speaker remembers God's sustaining care from the womb and from youth, then asks the Lord not to forsake him as his strength fails. Verses 14 through 18 form a movement of renewed hope: he will praise God more, speak of God's righteousness, go in the Lord's strength, and tell a coming generation of God's power. Verse 15 stands between his decision to hope continually and his declaration that God's righteousness alone will be his theme.
What Does Psalms 71:15 Mean?
"My mouth shall shew forth" is a deliberate pledge of speech. The psalmist intends to make God's dealings known rather than allowing the accusations of his enemies to define the day. He names two closely joined realities: God's "righteousness" and God's "salvation." God's righteousness includes his faithful, upright way of acting, especially in answering the plea for deliverance made earlier in the psalm. His salvation is the rescue and preservation for which the speaker has prayed. The phrase "all the day" gives this witness a steady character. Praise is woven into the ordinary course of life, including the hours when help is still being sought.
The final clause explains why the speaker has so much to say: "for I know not the numbers thereof." He does not set a numerical limit on God's righteous deeds or saving mercies. The wording may express awe before blessings too many to reckon, and it fits the whole psalm's long memory of divine care from birth to old age. This is humility as well as gratitude. The speaker bears true witness to what he has received while admitting that God's faithfulness surpasses his inventory. Verse 16 continues the same thought: he will proceed in the strength of the Lord GOD and mention God's righteousness alone. His confidence rests in God's work, not in his own record.
The verse joins a larger biblical pattern in which those delivered by God speak of his saving acts. Such speech is more than private relief finding words. It gives public honor to the One whose righteousness has been displayed, and it strengthens the next generation's knowledge of him. In the chapter, this purpose becomes explicit when the aged psalmist asks for continued life until he has shown God's strength to those who come after him. Christians may also hear an earned connection to Christ in the Bible's witness that God's saving righteousness is revealed through him. The psalm itself first teaches us to praise God's actual mercies with truthful, grateful speech.
Bible Verses Related to Psalms 71:15
“I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.”
- Psalm 40:10
“They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.”
- Psalm 145:7
“I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.”
- Isaiah 63:7
“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;”
- Romans 3:21
Where Psalms 71:15 Echoes in Scripture
Romans 3:21 speaks of the righteousness of God being manifested, and its surrounding argument connects that revelation with redemption in Christ Jesus. Psalm 71:15 uses the same paired themes of God's righteousness and salvation in the language of personal praise. The psalmist speaks from experienced deliverance; Paul explains the climactic saving work through which God shows his righteousness while dealing faithfully with human sin. The later passage deepens the canonical horizon without reducing this psalm to a detached prediction.
How to Apply Psalms 71:15 Today
This verse invites us to notice the particular ways God has sustained, corrected, provided for, forgiven, comforted, and delivered us. A simple practice can help: name one mercy from the past, one help received today, and one reason to trust God for what lies ahead. These memories can shape our conversations with family, friends, and fellow believers, especially when someone is discouraged. We need not exaggerate our stories or explain every mystery. The psalmist's example leaves room for unanswered danger and still gives God honor for mercies too many to number.
Reflection & Prayer
What mercies of God have become so familiar that I rarely name them with gratitude? Consider one season of need and identify the righteous help God gave, whether through protection, endurance, correction, or comfort. Pray: "O Lord, fill my speech with truthful praise. Help me remember your saving mercies, trust your righteousness in present trouble, and share your faithfulness with those around me."