What Does Psalm 71:24 Mean in the King James?

My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.

Psalm 71:24 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

What the verse calls all-day talk is sustained murmuring of alignment, while those who seek harm are brought to shame.

THE MEANING

Your tongue keeps speaking of God’s alignment through the day. Those who seek your harm meet confusion and shame; their pursuit does not have the final word.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that those who seek your harm get to define the outcome: their intent ends in confusion and shame while alignment remains speakable.

THE ROOT

צִדְקָתֶךָ

tsidqatekha

GROWS FROM

צדק

ts-d-q

To be just, right, or aligned.

The word translated “righteousness” carries the sense of alignment: the tongue gives voice to what is rightly ordered. The verse sets that spoken alignment beside the disordered aim of those who seek harm, whose pursuit ends in shame.

ALSO GROWS

tsedeq: What is right or aligned.

צֶדֶק

It shows that the speaker’s words keep naming an order that stands against the intent to harm.

tsaddiq: One who is just or aligned.

צַדִּיק

This branch brings alignment from an abstract quality into a way of being that the tongue can bear witness to.

תֶּהְגֶּה

tehegeh

GROWS FROM

הגה

h-g-h

To murmur, utter, or meditate.

The verb translated “talk” can carry the sense of repeated, low utterance: speech that keeps turning something over. The tongue is not making a passing remark; it keeps alignment in the sound of the day.

ALSO GROWS

yehgeh: Repeatedly speaks or turns something over.

יֶהְגֶּה

The same root describes sustained meditation, showing how the tongue’s all-day speech can be an ongoing return to alignment.

yehgu: Murmur, devise, or imagine.

יֶהְגּוּ

The same root can describe murmured plotting as well as meditation; here the tongue keeps voicing alignment while harm-seekers come to shame.

THE PATTERN

A tongue sustained in alignment stands against the intent to harm, which ends in shame.

He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

Proverbs 12:17 · KJVTruthful speech makes alignment visible, just as the tongue here gives voice to God’s righteousness.

The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

Psalm 37:30 · KJVThe tongue repeatedly speaks what is right, echoing this verse’s all-day declaration.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Romans 1:17 · KJVGod’s righteousness is revealed and lived, showing alignment as a present reality rather than a claim alone.

THE THREAD

And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

Psalm 35:28 · KJV

Both verses use ⁨תֶּהְגֶּה⁩ (tehegeh, murmurs or meditates) for the tongue’s all-day speech alongside “thy righteousness.” The shared wording reveals sustained speech of alignment; Psalm 35 also names praise as part of that same utterance.

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