Psalms 31:19
Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
Main message
Psalm 31:19: God’s abundant goodness is praised as stored up for those who fear him and take refuge in him; “fear” here is reverent allegiance, not a command to cultivate anxiety.
Meaning in context
Psalm 31:19–24 · Goodness, heard prayer and courage — Verses 19–24 praise stored-up goodness, shelter in God’s presence, marvelous steadfast love, heard supplication, faithful preservation and courageous hope.
God’s abundant goodness is praised as stored up for those who fear him and take refuge in him; “fear” here is reverent allegiance, not a command to cultivate anxiety.
Further teachings
Goodness, heard prayer and courage
God’s abundant goodness is praised as stored up for those who fear him and take refuge in him; “fear” here is reverent allegiance, not a command to cultivate anxiety.
Cross References: Psalm 31:19 — Psalm 31:19–24.
Applications in daily life
- 1
Psalm 31:19
God’s abundant goodness is praised as stored up for those who fear him and take refuge in him; “fear” here is reverent allegiance, not a command to cultivate anxiety.
Fear of the LORD denotes reverence and allegiance; it should not be used to intensify anxiety disorders or spiritual intimidation.
Related Bible passages and resources
- Psalm 31 (complete chapter)
Psalm 31 moves repeatedly between refuge and distress: the speaker entrusts himself to the LORD, describes grief, rejection, slander, and danger, and continues to call on God for deliverance. The poem does not minimize embodied suffering or social fear, yet it repeatedly returns to trust, God’s steadfast love, and the confession that the speaker’s times are in God’s hand. The closing movement widens from personal testimony to praise, love for the LORD, and courage for all who hope in him. Its language of enemies, Sheol, hidden shelter, and recompense belongs to prayer and divine justice, not private retaliation or withdrawal from practical help.
- Psalm 31:18
Read the previous verse to preserve the movement.
- Psalm 31:20
Continue with the next verse to preserve the movement.
- Study the Book of Psalms
Keep the verse within Psalm 31’s movement from refuge, through grief and threat, to renewed trust, praise, and courageous hope.
Common misreadings
Fear of the LORD denotes reverence and allegiance; it should not be used to intensify anxiety disorders or spiritual intimidation.
God’s abundant goodness is praised as stored up for those who fear him and take refuge in him; “fear” here is reverent allegiance, not a command to cultivate anxiety.
How to Apply Psalms 31:19
Meditate on Psalms 31:19 by reading it aloud each morning this week. Ask yourself how its message from Scripture applies to a current challenge you are facing. Write one specific step you will take today in response to its truth — and revisit that commitment at the end of the week.
Sources & Method
Biblical text
Commentary anchored in the public-domain Psalm 31 text used by the site.
- Author:
- The Lord Will Editorial Team
- Reviewed by:
- Ugo Candido
- Last updated:
- Reviewed on: