Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 31:3

"For thou art my rock and my fortress; Therefore for thy name`s sake lead me and guide me." — Psalms 31:3 (ASV)

Rock. — As rock in this verse is selâ (Septuagint and Vulgate, “strength”) instead of tsûr, as in Psalms 31:2, it is better to render for you are my cliff fortress; literally, cliff and fortress.

For your name’s sake — i.e., because you have this name of rock and fortress.

Lead me, and guide me. —The future is better:

You will lead and guide me.

To pray for protection and then stoutly affirm belief, as in Psalms 31:3, has been called illogical; but it is the logic of the heart if not of the intellect; the logic, it may be added, of every prayer of faith.