Who wrote Psalm 30?

Answer 1

It is a song of thanks and gratefulness to God. Sometimes a paraphrase is useful to get an overall picture:-

Psa 30:1-12 [The Message] A David psalm. I give you all the credit, GOD-- you got me out of that mess, you didn't let my foes gloat. [v. 2] GOD, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together. [v. 3] GOD, you pulled me out of the grave, gave me another chance at life when I was down-and-out. [v. 4] All you saints! Sing your hearts out to GOD! Thank him to his face! [v.5] He gets angry once in a while, but across a lifetime there is only love. The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter. [v. 6] When things were going great I crowed, "I've got it made. [v. 7] I'm GOD's favorite. He made me king of the mountain." Then you looked the other way and I fell to pieces. [v.8] I called out to you, GOD; I laid my case before you: [v. 9] "Can you sell me for a profit when I'm dead? auction me off at a cemetery yard sale? When I'm 'dust to dust' my songs and stories of you won't sell. [v. 10] So listen! and be kind! Help me out of this!" [v. 11] You did it: you changed wild lament into whirling dance; You ripped off my black mourning band and decked me with wildflowers. [v. 12] I'm about to burst with song; I can't keep quiet about you. GOD, my God, I can't thank you enough.

Answer 2

Psalm 30 is traditionally attributed to King David. However, many scholars believe that the psalms were written during and after the Babylonian Exile, in which case Psalm 30 was written no earlier than the sixth century BCE, by an unknown author.