f I FROM THE LIBRARY OF REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON. D. D. BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO THE LIBRARY OF PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY sec 370 Nearly ready. Lectures on the Epistle to the Hebrews. By the late William Lindsay, D.D., Glasgow, one of the Professors of Theology in the United Pi-esby- terian Church. These Lectures were prepared for the Theological Hall, and were not delivered before a Congregation. They are strictly exeffetical, based on the original Greek, and not on the Aiithorized Version. They do not contain a history of the interpretation of the Epistle to the Hebrews, or abound with those references to Interjireters which are so easily collected, but are so valueless, unless they are accompanied by discriminating criticism. They embody the results of the author's independent thought during the whole term of his professorship, as well as of his study of English and German Commentators, which was not less extensive because it is less frequently paraded in direct quotation. 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It is a fountain of genuine consolation, a cordial for drooping spirits.' — Christian Witness. EDINBURGH: WILLIAM OLIPHANT AND CO. LONDON: HAMILTON AND CO. THE A N C [ E N T PSALMS IN APPROPRIATE METRES, I'iUNTEl' BY MLUK-VT AND GIHn FOR WILLIAM O MI' II ANT AND CO., E I) 1 N li I' It G II. HAMILTON, ADAMS, AND CO., . . . Ll)NI>ON. M'GLASHAN AND (IILI., ni'BLIN. DAVID ROBERTSON, GLASGOW. THE ANCIENT P IN APPROPRIATE METRES A STRICTLY LITERAL TRANSLATION FROM THE HEBREW, WITH EX PLANA TORY NOTES. DALMAN HAPSTONE, M.A. ' / tvill sing with i!ic s/>ij-if, nnd I iviU shti^ with the understanding- also.' E D I N B U R G H : WILLIAM L I P H A N T AND CO. 1 8 6 7. Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive in 2011 witii funding from Princeton Tiieoiogicai Seminary Library littp://www.arcliive.org/details/ancientpsalmsinaOOIiaps ABBREVIATIONS. D. = Delitzsch's Translation of the Psalms. G. = Good's do. H. =^ Hengstenberg's do. Hy. = Horsley's do. W. = B. Weiss' do. Ges. = Gesenius. LXX. or Sept. = the Ancient Greek Version of the Hebrew Scriptures. A.v. = Authorized Version ; or, E.v. = English Version. 0. =:= Original Scriptures. Masorites =^ a body of Jemsh critics, who in the sixth century a. d. undertook to revise the sacred text, and issue an accurate edition of the o.T. C'thib. = ' written ' — the text as it stands in the present copies of the Hebrew Scriptures. Kri = ' read ' — the amended text, the reading proposed by the Masorites. Heb. ^ Hebrew. Paron. = paronomasia, i.e. a play upon words. LORD =^ Jehovah ; Lord = Adonai. a = added in this translation, d = a different word in the 0., from a previous synonym, though the difference is not preserved in the English Version, e = exact translation, though differing from that of A.v. f ::= not quite the proper word : the term should have been varied, as in the 0. g ^ ambiguous. h =: something in the Hebrew not expressed in the E.v. i = inexact rendering, though giving the meaning correctly enough, ii = still more inexact than 'i.' 1 =^ literal, m ^ the true meaning, by the admission of most critics. n = new translation, i.e. ' new,' so far as 1 know, o = omitted in this translation. The omitted word or words are given in the margin. p = punctuation altered, q = questionable rendering, r = reference on margin. s, or s.w. := same word in 0. as the one translated so in a former clause or verse, or in the passage quoted in the margin, t = words transposed. X = not quite the proper word, as having been already employed to translate a different term in the O. z = a different rendering of a word from the rendering it received in a former part of the Psalm. Italics =: emphasis, except where stated to have a different meaning. Ver. = verse, according to the numbering of the A.v., i.e. according to the number- ing on the right hand side of the page in this translation. PREFACE. The Book of Psalms, so greatly prized, so often read, is in many places exceedingly obscure ; not in the Authorized Version only, but in the best translations, English and foreign, that have appeared since its completion. Although a verse here and there throughout many a Psalm were given in the original Hebrew, the obscurity could scarcely be greater. This arises not from any indistinctness in the Psalmist's diction : for his lan- guage, though unmatched for terseness, is singularly clear ; the structure of his sentences singularly direct and uninvolved ; his imagery never of the nature of conceits. It arises mainly from the fact that his Psalms are not read in the light supplied by his life, but almost totally apart from it. Interpreters, to a large extent, have ignored the help derivable from his history, and sought to extract his meaning from the words themselves, without any previous inquiry into the circumstances in which they were penned. With many portions of Scripture such a course might succeed. So little of personal matter do they contain, that their meaning can be made out with scarcely any knowledge of the writer who penned them, or the date of their composition. But it is quite otherwise with most of the Psalms. They are so full of allusions to incidents in David's life, and these incidents are many of them of so surprising, of so very peculiar a kind, that it is impossible to divine the meaning till the occasion be known on which they were composed. And one grand object God had in view in recording the life of David at such length, and with such miniiteness of detail, was just to throw light on these Psalms, which through so many generations were to form the hymn-book of the Jewish nation, and through so many more the most valuable part of the hymn-book of every nation under heaven ; and to ignore that Ufe in the interpretation of the Psalms, is to make it an utter impossibility to comprehend their import. No amount of learning expended on the mere words will ever suffice to extract the true meaning, any more than it would in the case of an un- fulfilled prophecy ; and we know * that no prophecy of the Scripture is of its own solution' (2 Pet. i. 20). The key must be furnished by its accomplishment before it can be understood. So the key to many of David's Psalms must be furnished by a knowledge of the circumstances in which they were penned, before his meaning can be arrived at. And it is only the belief that in not a few cases I have been successful in find- ing the key, which emboldens me to offer a solution of difficulties which VIII PREFACE. undeniably have refused to yield their secret to men immeasurably my superiors in scholarship. With the key a child will open a safe, the lock of which the most cunning workman in the kingdom would never be able to pick. With the knowledge of the facts of the crucifixion, the humblest Christian will give a more satisfactory explanation of the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah than the prophet himself could have done : and with a knowledge of the circumstances in which any particular Psalm was written, the humblest scholar may succeed in explaining it, though the greatest Hebraists, if ignorant of those circumstances, have failed. The man who showed the warriors of Joseph the entrance into Bethel could not probably have measured swords with the meanest of them ; but his previous knowledge of the place enabled him to show them the way into the city, when all their skill and valoiir might have been of no avail without him. It is only in the light of David's life that David's Psalms can be read. But interpreters for the most part ignore, and not seldom scout, the assistance derivable from this quarter ; scarcely heeding to ascertain with any thoroughness when any particular Psalm was written, but guessing its date from some isolated expression, some figurative term, some doubt- ful historical allusion, equally applicable to events hundreds of years apart ; and not from any searching study of the Psalm as a Avhole : and in this way are led to ascribe many of David's Psalms — notably the 46th, 48th, 89th, 126th, 147th — to other authors who lived not for centuries after him. Even when the Psalmist has saved them the trouble of inves- tigation by naming the date in the superscription, they not unfrequently deprive themselves of all benefit from this circumstance by some such remark as Hengstenberg's on the title of Ps. cxlii. : ' The expression " in the cave" refers not to some particular cave, but only indicates that the Psalm contains cave-thoughts ' ! ! Can a commentary proceeding on such principles ever expound, ever do ought but sjni'itualize, the Psalms ? jSIuch, accordingly, of what professes to be exposition of the Psalms, is nothing else than a spiritualizing of them. Even where the reference to the Psalmist himself or his most noted contemporaries is most direct and emphatic, and, one -would have thought, undeniable, nothing is com- moner than such a remark as that with which Hengstenbcrg prefaces his exposition of Ps. vi., ' As the Psaira does not contain a single feature of a personal kind, it is probable that David here expresses the feelings of those who are vexed to death with the long-continued assaults of malicious enemies : ' or with which he prefaces Ps. xxvi., 'All attempts to find an individual application for our Psalm, or to mark out any historical cir- cumstance with which it may be connected, have utterly failed-.' The most striking and peculiar portraits he can draw are pronounced not to be individual portraits at all, but general likenesses. And his delinea- tions of his own rarely paralleled deportment in the most testing passages of his life, where not one in ten thousand of the good would have felt and actod as he did, are expormded as a fair representation of the ordinary PEEFACE. IX saint, of ' the suffering righteous man ; ' and his delineations of the equally I'arely paralleled character and actings of some of his haters, the attri- buting of Avhich to the generality of imrenewed men would simply be a libel on humanity, are expounded as a fair repi'esentation of sinners as a class. How men of reflection and of the highest mark should fall into such a mistake is astonishing. The mere remembrance of the lyric character of the book of Psalms should have saved them from it ; for the very essence of lyric poetry consists, not in the sketching of ideal worth or ideal Avickedness, but in the delineation of individual and well-marked portraits of parties living at the time, and especially in the utterance of the jDoet's own personal feelings. But there is no room for astonishment at the obscurity which results from such a mistake. To apply to a whole class phases of character and acts of villany or goodness foimd in only one or two exceptional specimens — and, even in these, only in special circumstances — imparts such an air of exaggeration and unnaturalness to the representation, as to render it no longer recognisable as a veritable human portrait. The parties who sat for the portraits while the pencil was in David's hand, I have endeavoured to trace out, and to make the Psalms as in- telligible to the English reader as they were to the Psalmist's own con- temporaries. And the accord of the Psalms, as here given, with the facts of David's history, is a strong corroboration of the translation's correct- ness ; and it were easy to found on that accord an argument similar to Paley's Horce Paulince ; and the Horce Davidicce Avould be quite as striking, as full of examples, as conclusive, as that celebrated work. Another cause of the obscurity of the Psalms, as expounded in recent commentaries, arises from the fact that a Psalm is generally divided, in stating the argument, not according to its sense, but according to the sacred numbers its verses may happen to compose ; or the number of times the name of God may happen to occur in it. One can easily con- ceive the confusion that would be occasioned, if a chapter in one of Paul's writings, or if one of the smaller epistles, were divided according to such a principle. It might almost seem as if such cabalistic foolery could be found only in some of the Kabbins ; but let any one open Hengstenberg's Psalms anywhere, say at the already cited preface to the 6th Psalm, and he will find it in as full possession of the German mind as of the Jewish (cf note on Ps. cxix.). Only the first eleven Psalms, and a few of the more difficult of the remaining ones, have I in the meantime expounded in full ; but guiding- notes to the meaning of the rest will be found in the margin where specially required. I have rigidly adhered to the received Hebrew text, with scarcely more than a single exception ; but while accepting the text revised by the Masorites, 1 feel myself no more bound by their pointing, or their division of the words, than by their interpretation. In the matter of the proper pointing and dividing of the words, as also in the matter X PREFACE. of the division Into clauses and verses, every commentator is as free as they ; for assuredly the text was neither pointed nor divided as it came from the hands of the sacred writers. In the selection of the metres I have endeavoured to be guided by what seemed to me the varying nature, structure, and rhythm of the original Psalms. It is quite a mistake to suppose that these are all con- structed on substantially the same model. There is as great a variety in their forms as the present version seems to indicate. But there is a terseness in th^m, to which neither this version nor any other can make any approach, and which doubtless gave them much of their force and charm when first read where they were produced. In addition to a diffuser form of expression, I have also been obliged to resort, like every other versifier of them, to occasional supplements. These I have en- deavoured to make as unemphatic as possible, and as few ; and I am mistaken if, on the whole, there be more than in ' the Scotch Psalms,' which are considered very models of literal exactness, whatever they may be in point of smoothness. I have also been careful — thoiigh, I confess, not so careful as I should have been — to render each Hebrew, term, wherever it occurs bearing the same sense, by the same English word, as far as the metre would allow. If a term occur twice or thrice in the same Psalm, I never vary, if I can possibly avoid it, and never without notice being given on the margin ; as the repetition of that term is often a guide to the line of the argument. Where the Psalmist has varied his terms, I have varied mine. Many a stanza, I am painfully sensible, is very far from what it ought to be. In two or three instances, a much preferable form occurred to me after the opportunity for making the emendation was past. Several blunders, also, will no doubt have escaped my notice. But the work is not a hasty production. I have expended on it much time and my utmost strength ; and now invoke on it the blessing of God, if it be better fitted than previous versions to render intelligible to his people his DvHri, his ' Praises,' as they were originally sung in Zion. THE BOOK OF PSALMS. PSALM I. The first Psalm has no title prefixed, and contains no allusion from whicli its authorship or the date of its composition can be inferred ; and critics are by no means unanimous in ascribing it to David. Some hold that Ezi-a composed it by way of preface to the collected songs of Zion, when, as tradition asserts, he arranged them in the existing order. For this purpose it is admirably fitted, but need not on that account have been written by Ezra ; for, if he found among Da\dd's compositions one to answer this purpose, he was more likely to adopt it, than to pen one himself : and there is nothing either in the style or in the con- tents to warrant the supposition that this Psalm is not one of David's. Though very simple, as befits its didactic character, it is far from wanting in weighty sentiment or artistic finish. Were we with some to regard it as forming with the second only one Psalm in two divisions, we should have inspired authority for attribxitiug it to David (Acts iv. 25). But this opinion, ancient as it is, and sup- ported by names of great weight, is almost as demonstrably false as the still more generally received opinion, that the ninth and tenth form but one connected whole. Ingenuity has no doubt traced a sort of connection between this Psalm and the one that follows ; but equal ingenuity would have as easily traced as good a con- nection between it and any of the remaining 148. Whether written by Da\dd or by Ezra, we shall be obliged to consider it as being, strictly speaking, nothing more than the preface to the book of Psalms, if, with many Mss. , we read in Acts iv. 33, ' as it is ■RTitten in the first Psalm ; ' but this reading, though preferred by the latest critical authorities, has really a majority of mss. and ancient versions against it, and in favour of the received text. Argument: — (1) The sort of person who is truly happy — (a) negatively, ver. 1 ; (i) positively, ver. 2 : (2) his emblem, ver. 3, contrasted with the emblem of one of opposite character, ver. 4 : (3) his destrny, as contrasted with the destiny of one of opposite character, vers. 5, 6. 1 Happy the man who hath not walked 1 By"" counsel of the bad, ' °^' 'i"-' Nor in the way of sinners stood, Nor seat with scorners had ; * ' /• P* in tlie But in 'the Lord^ Jehovah's law 2 '^ => • Hath been his 'fond^ delight, And meditated in his law He hath by day and night. 2 For he is like a tree planted 3 To rills of waters^" near, "^ aw. Ps. cxix. Which in its season yields its fruit, Nor doth its leaf wax sere ; A oo. 2 PSALM 1. And everything it bringing forth Doth prosperously thrive.*" ■■ /. prosper. Not thus the bad ; but they're Ukc chaiT 4 AVhich Avind away doth drive. 3 Accordingly the bad shall not 5 Up in the judgment rise, Nor in th' assembly of the just Sinners 'in any wise:* Because 'the Lord'^ Jehovah doth 6 The way of just men know ; But to entire destruction shall The way of bad men go. "" ' I- sliall perish. Ver. 1. Happy the man. — Here we have the /j7f?Y/Mescription: (1) Negatively. The persons he avoids are described by three terms, lisiug in intensity above each other : ' the bad' — such as are strangers to God, unrenewed and worldly men; 'sinners' — such as lead immoral, profligate, regardless lives (Gen. xiii. 13; Luke vii. 39, xv. 1 ; John ix. 31) ; 'scorucrs' — such as scoff at religion, make a mock at sin, regard neither God nor man. This gradation in the descrip- tion indicates the natural progress in evil (2 Tim. iii. 13). The courses he avoids are in hke manner described in a threefold form — rcalks not, stands not, sits not: 'walks not by the counsel' — frames not his life by the advice they give ; ' stands not in the way ' — does not give himself up to the courses they follow; 'sits not in the seat,' or rather, 'in the sitting' or session — frequents not their assemblies, rests not in their dwellings (s.u\ Ps. cvii. 32, cf. Ps. Ixxxiv. 10), rather than 'settles not down' in their impious tenets. The word ' ungodly,' adopted by the A. v. here and in other places, is apt to suggest the idea that the Hebrew word for which it stands is, like itself, com- pounded with the name of God ; but this would be quite a mistake. The name of God in Hebrew never enters into the composition of words of this description. (2) Positively : (a) he finds his ddiglit in the woi'd of God ; {h) he makes it his constant stiuJij. Ver. 3. 'Vaw,' at the beginning of this verse, is better translated 'yea,' or ' for,' than ' and ' (see Ps. iv. 3, n.). He is like. — Here we have the fgtirative description. The same comparison occurs in Jer. xvii. 8. Rills of icaters. — There is no necessity (see Ges. and D.) to restrict this ex- pression to artificial canals, or slits, or Avatercom-ses opened for irrigation, as if the term in the original were inapjihcable to natural brooks or rills. // hringeth forth. — It or he (a.v.) refers to the tree, as in Dan. iv. 14. 'He' is often applied to inanmiate objects in the Bible where we should noAV use 'it;' and stiU oftener 'his' where we should use 'its.' Indeed, 'its' rarely, if ever, occm-s in Scripture. There is not a change here from the tree to the man ; the figurative description is continued. ' Bringeth forth ' is quite a recognised and not uncommon sense of the verb, though more frequently it signifies ' doeth ' (see|,Gcn. i. 11, 12 ; Isa. v. 4). The same holds equally true in Greek (see the above jiassa ges in the Sept., and Matt. iii. 10). \ rSALM II. 3 Ver. 4. Like chaff — (ci) worthless, useless ; (h) and like chaff tossed about, ' they cannot rest' (Isa. Ivii. 20) ; ' unstable souls' (2 Pet. ii. 14) ; ' carried about with every wind ' (Eph. iv. 14). Ver. 5. Their destmy. The bad shall not (r<) rise up: they shall fall, be foimd guilty in the judgment ; (6) they shall be excluded from the society and the blessedness of the lighteous. Jehovah knoweth — not approveth^ as usually interpreted, but ' knoweth,' the favourite term throughout the Bible in such cases (Ps. ci. 4; Matt. vii. 23; Gal. iv. 9), e.g. 'Jehovah knoweth the proud afar off,' i.e. he will make no intimate acquaintance wdth them ; he keeps them at a distance, will not hear them (John ix. 31), will not walk with them, remains a stranger to them. AVe use the Avord in the same sense ourselves: thus, a person wishing to inform you that he is shunned by one who VLsed to be intimate with him, says, ' He does not know me now.' Similarly we use the word ' understanding,' as when we say, ' Though they fell out, they are now on the best imderstanding.' Eetaining, then, the Psalmist's own expressive word, it is easy to see the meanmg of the statement, ' Jehovah knoweth the way of the just :' it is a way he is familiar with, a way he loves to show his familiarity wdth ; in truth, it is his own way, the way in which he walks himself, and therefore it is 'everlasting' (Ps. cxxxix. 24). But the way of the wicked he knows nothing about : it is a strange path to him, one he wishes to have no acquamtance with ; and therefore ' it perisheth,' goes to de- struction. H. thinks that the term ' way ' in both clauses refei's to the portion, fate, destiny of the parties mentioned, and not to theu* course of conduct, the path they pursue. But this is a mere arbitrary change of meaning, and one that does not suit so well with the accompanying verbs : for we do not speak of one's fate or destiny perishing ; but it is quite natural to say the path he is pur- suing will perish, lost in the gi-eat abyss, in the bottomless pit. PSALM II. This Psalm, like the first, and unlike most of the others, has no title prefixed ; but there can be no doubt about its authorship — for it is ascribed to David in Acts iv. 25 — and verjr little about the time of its composition. The whole strain of it seems to point to the period when the seat of government and worship was trans- ferred to Mount Zion. Very possibly it was penned immediately after Nathan had brought the king the promise of an enduring throne and a peerless Son (2 Sam. vii. 12-14) ; for a host of foreign enemies are forthwith found in conflict with him (2 Sam. viii. ) ; while, at the same time, a remnant within his own terri- tories continued seci-etly opposed to his claims, and partial to the house of Saul, or to a separate kingdom. The language of Shimei, the revolt of Sheba, the dis- ruption under Jeroboam, place this almost beyond question ; for what are they but outbursts, at a favourable conjuncture, of a long-smouldering dif affection ? But if the circumstances in which David was placed served to suggest his theme, and to give it a colouring, the matter of the Psalm can scarcely be said to find even a primal and siibordinate fulfilment in him. The language of the seventh verse is too lofty and exclusive to apply to any but his heavenly descendant, for ' to which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day I have begotten thee ? ' the grant in ver. 8 too extensive to be made to an earthly 4 rSALM II. potentate ; the warning in ver. 12 too solemn to be used regarding a mere mortars displeasure. The Psalm is Messianic throughout ; and few Psalms are so fre- quently quoted in the x.T. (see Acts iv. 25, xiii. 'S3 ; Hob. i. 5, v. 5 ; Piev. ii. 27). Anjument : — (1) The Psalmist perceives a confederacy forming against the Messiah, vers. 1-3 ; (2) he proclaims its certain failure, vers. 4, 5 ; (3) he hears his words confirmed on the pai't of God l)y the declaration of his Son's investiture as king, ver. 6 ; (4) and on the part of the Son by the publication of the Father's edict of investiture, vers. 7-9 ; (5) he concludes by an appropriate warning to the confederates to bethink themselves in time, and desist and submit, vers. 10-12. I)(L 1 AVliy arc the Gentiles blustering, Why^ plot tlie people a vain thing';:' Kings of the earth themselves do set, And princes arc together met* Against Jehovah and his own Messiah, *■ 'his anointed One.* Coiif. ' Let us their bands asunder break, Let us their cords from off us .shake.' 1 ' and. ' / seated, i.e. ill consulta- tion. ■■ Acts iv. 2."). l)(l. 2 He in the heavens that sits'' shall laugli, The Lord at them shall make a scoff ; Then in his Avi'ath shall speak to them, And scare them in his rage's flame. ./('//. ' Yea, I've my king invested'' 'still'"^ On Zion, mine own holy*" hill.' jl/f.«.s'. ' The edict I abroad will spread,' Jehovah unto me hath said : 8 " Thou art my Son, this day I thee Begotten have ; ask thou of me, And I the Gentiles will give o'er For thine inheritance; 'nay more," For thy possession I'll bestow The ends of earth ; with sceptre*^ thou Of iron, o'er them rule shalt bear, ThoiT shalt them smash like potter's ware.' " ' I )(l. 4 Therefore, ye kings, O now be Avise ; Judges of earth, take ye advice;"^ Serve ye Jehovah 'now'' with fear; ° Exult with trembling, 'and give eai- ;" Kiss ye the Son, lest rise his wrath,' And so ye perish 'from*' the path ;'' For shortly will his anger ^ gleam : O happy all who trust'' in Ilim. I's. c.vxiii. 1. ' not ' anoint- ed.' ' /. bill of my lioliuess. ' tell coiici'iu- ing. 9 '■ Rev. ii. 1.7. ' vessels. 10 ■" I. be col- 11 lected. ° and. 12 ' /. he bo wroth, ' John xiv. G. '■ wrath. ■■ take refup;o. Yvv. 1. (, 'entiles, or heathen, as the word is often translated. Christ ox- PSALM II. 5 pressly forewarned his disciples that he must be delivered to the Gentiles (Matt. XX. 19), as well as to the chief priests and elders. People. — We know from Acts iv. 27 that 'the people of Israel' are here meant. The Heb. word is in the pi., and is sometimes applied to the heathen nations, and sometimes to the children of Israel, w^ho, though one people, were divided into twelve clans or tribes. Ver. 2. Kings. — Herod and Pontius Pilate are in the first instance meant (Acts iv. 27). Messiah. — This is the second, if not the first instance (see the note on Ps xvi. 5), of the application of this name to the Saviour, which henceforward became one of his fixed designations. It does not indeed occur very often in the O.T., nor in fact very often in the n.t. in the Heb. form ; but its Greek equivalent, ' the Christ,' is of constant occurrence in the Gospels and Acts, as his com- monest official title ; while in the Epistles it m a great measure ceases to be merely an official appellation, and becomes as much his personal name as Jesus itself. It literally signifies ' the Anointed One.' Ver. 7. Tlie edict — constituting him king. What is meant by Christ ' telling of the edict' wiU be best understood by turning to his interview with his disciples in Galilee after his resurrection : ' Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, AU power is given imto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations'' (Matt, xxviii. 18) ; or to liis parting interview on Olivet (Acts i. 8). _ This day, i.e. the day of his resm-rection, as Paid interprets it (Acts xiii. 33 ; see remarks on that quotation in mtroduction to Ps. i.) ; not ' the day of eternity,' as many explain it. In publisliing the edict here, Christ just repeats the very words with which the Father received hitn from among the dead ; and these would be, ' Thou art my Son, this day I have hegottcn thee.' We need not wonder at the use of the word ' begotten' in such a connection. A similar form of expression is found in many places both of the o.T. and of the New. Thus, ' I wDl make him m.j Jirst-boni'' (Ps. Ixxxix. 27), whicli evidently is not tanta- mount to ' my eternal Son ; ' for he is immediately before represented as already incarnate and struggling with his enemies, and crying, ' Thou art my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.' The meaning is, ' I will make him the first-begotten of the dead., and the Prince of the kings of the earth,' as in Rev. i. 5. Hence it afforded Paid ground to aver before Agrippa, that the prophets did say not only that the Christ should suffer, but ' that he shoidd be the Jirst that should rise from the dead' (Acts xxvi. 23) ; for where else did the prophets affirm so ? To like effect Christ is called ' the Jirst-born of every creature, ' or rather, ' of the whole creation' (Col. i. 15) ; which some learned commen- tators torture into ' the first-begetter of the whole creation,' and others into ' Head,' or ' Lord of the whole creation ;' as if the fact of being Jirst-born, and therefore entitled to a double portion of the patrunony (Deut. xxi. 17), gave a person at the same time any sort of lordship or headship over his brethren ! Why, even with us, where the eldest son takes the whole heritable property, he lias no more lordship over his younger brothers than they have over him. Paul himself explains his own expression, a couple of verses further on, to mean, ' who is the begimiing, the firsf-born fi-om the dead.' \cr. [). Rule shalt bear. — The Heb. word might come from a different verb. 6 rSALM IIT. .signifying ' to break in pieces,' and is so derived by the A. v. and many inter- preters (H., D., G., W.), but it may equally come from the verb signifying ' to rule as a shepherd,' and by the LXX. and several others is so derived ; and rightly, for these two lines of the Psalm are quoted by Christ in Rev. ii. 27 in the Septuaguit form, and are again alluded to in Rev. xii. 5 and xix. 15, and still in the same sense. Were the other rendering the preferable one, the lines would run : Them thuu with iron rod shalt smash, Like potter's ware in pieces dash. Ver. 12. Kiss ye the Son. — The word for Sou here is ' Bar,' which we find sometimes in the N.T., e.f/. Bar-Timajus, Bar-Jona, Bar-Je.sus; and it is de- cidedly preferable to translate it so here and in Prov. xxxi. 2, rather than, with some, to render it 'the chosen, the choice one,' as in Song vi. 9 ; or with others, ' the pure one,' as in Ps. xxiv. 4 ; or with othei's, to render the whole clause ' embrace purity.' Shorthj. — The word in the 0. sometimes means 'a little' (Prov. x. 20), as the A.v. translates here ; sometimes ' within a little,' well-nigh, all but (Ps. Ixxiii. 2) ; sometimes 'in a little,' soon, shortly (Ps. xxxvii. 10, Ixxxi. 14). This last is the preferable renderhig here, and accords with what Clu'ist himself said (Matt. xxiv. 34). PSajl,M III. The inscription informs us that David wrote this Psalm while fleeiug from Absalom. Completed immediately on his crossing the Jordan, it portrays his feelings during the first twenty-four hours after the rebellion became known. In the order of time it is preceded by the 84th, which was written as he looked back from Olivet on the tabernacle he was leaving behind; and by the 141 st, which was composed partly before he lay down to rest, and partly before he crossed the Jordan. Argument: — Da\'id feels how critical his situation is with increasing foes and desponding friends, vers. I, 2; (2) declares his unabated confidence in God, ver. 3; (3) expresses his obligation for the interposition just experienced, vers. 4, 5 ; (4) proclaims his fearlessness of the gi'owing multitudes that beset him, ver. 6 ; (5) cries to God for fvill deliverance, ver. 7, 1st clause ; (G) acknowledges the mighty blow already struck in his behalf, ver. 7, 2d clause; (7) ascribes the praise of it entirely to God, ver. 8, 1st claiise; (8) concludes with a prayer for the continued blessing of heaven, ver. 8, 2d clause. A Psalm by David when he fled from the face of Absalom his son. 1 Jehovah, how my foes^ increase ! 1 ' adversaries. ^Many against me rising are ; Many do of my soul declare,'" 2 ' are saying. For him in God no safety'" is. Selah. ' deliverance. 2 But tliou ° a shield art round me 'still," 8 ' •^^■^•^'^'"''• My glory, ° lifter of my head. ° »"'^- PSALM III. 7 I to Jeliovtih cried ° 'for aid,* 4 » ^^.j^jj ^^y He heard me from his holy hill.'" Selah. voice. ' l. hill of his holiness. 3 I hiid me down, did sleep and wake, 5 For me Jehovah did sustain. "" ■■ bear up. I'll not the myriads fear of men* 6 ' /. of the Their stand that round against me take. people. 4 Arise, O J AH* ! save me, my God : 7 ' Jehovah. But all my foes thou hast a stroke ^ Upon the cheek-bone dealt, and broke The wicked's teeth hast 'with thy rod.* 5 It to Jehovah is 'alone* 8 That the^ deliverance is due ; Thy blessing on thy people 'true* Be* evermore, 'thou Holy One.* Selah. Ver. 1. How my foes. — He knew before quitting Jerusalem that the con- spiracy was strong, and rapidly spreading (2 Sam. xv. 12-14), and Ahimaaz and Jonathan would bring him tiduigs of fm'ther defections. Ver. 2. Of my soul. — H. translates to iny soul, as in Ps. xi. 1 ; but it seems preferable here, with a. v., Ges., and most others, to translate ' o/'' or 'con- cerning,' as in Gen. xx. 13. Fo7- him in God — thinking him cast off by God, as Saul had been: some for his sin with Bathsheba ; others for the part he acted towards Saul (2 Sam. xvi. 8). Selah. — This word occurs in 39 Psalms, in some of them only once, in others twice, in a few tlu-ice, and in one four times — ^in all, 70 times at least ; and not always at the close of the verse, though most generally so. Beyond the Psalter it is nowhere foimd as a musical mark, except in the prayer of Habakkuk (Hab. iii.), where it occius thrice. As to its import, interpreters are pretty equally divided : some holding that it means ' pause,' a pause on the siuger's part ; others, that it means ' lifting up,' a lifting up of the voice, a stronger sweU of the music = our musical term ' forte.' Ver. 3. Thoii a shield. — David hhnself is not shaken in his confidence of divine help. My glory — not only the source of my dignity and the object of my glorying ; but the fact that thou art on my side, is what throws a halo round me and my cause — is what confers a sacredness on my cause, and forms its chief reconunen- dation. Lifter of my head — my Promoter, my Restorer ; cf. Gen. xl. 13, 2 Kings XXV. 27. That his confidence Avas not im wan anted, he had a consoling proof, for he adds — Ver. 4. / cried. — The future here stands for the past, as in Ps. xviii. 3, 4, 6. Ver. 5. / laid me doivn — the first night after quitting Jerusalem, that very night which Hushai was so afraid might prove his last (2 Sam. xvu. 16), and on 8 I'SAL.M J 1 1. Avhich it soeiiiL'd to Ahithophcl so easy to suipii.se and eut him off. Little did the Giloiiite know under what ' shield' David had that night lain down to rest. Did sleep and wake. — After the excitement and fatigues of the day, he had need enough of sleep ; but it might have been thought his agitation would have kept him awake ; but the few hours that had elapsed had allowed time for his faith and courage to rally. So he composed himself to sleep ; and there did ' no evil befall ' him, for ' underneath wore the everlasting arms.' In his preservation he clearly perceived and gratefully owned the hand of his ancient Protector. Jehovah did sustain — I. bear me up ; and with his confidence in God thus re- established, he rose from his brief slumbers, prepared to face the worst that could come. Ver. 6. I'll not the mijriads fear. — ' The myriads' was no hyperbolical expres- sion. There were actually myriads rising against him ; and ' myriads of the people,'' of his own people, all over the country ; so that he could not tell who would befriend and who would betray him. Had ' the people' stood by him, it •would have been of less consequence though the army had gone over to Absalom ; but he was in the midst of a population that could not be depended on — that, in the excitement of the moment, scarcely knew their ovni mind. Yet was he fearless of the increasing myriads that declared against him. And not because they were still at a distance ; for they were ' round about,' already hovering close at hand, if not in active pursuit. Even Ahithophel, with his twelve thousand, would not now find it easy to ' make him afraid' (2 Sam. xvii. 2). His Protector was nearer than they, and to him he cries, Ver. 7. Ai-ise. — His whole dependence was still on God, and he solicits his interposition for his full deliverance : ' Arise, Jehovah ; save me, my God.' But checking himself, he adds, in grateful acknowledgment of what Jehovah had already done, JBiit all, i.e. ' But indeed thou hast already struck.' This is quite a recognised use of i^ (Ps. cxv. 1, cxxx. 4, cxli. 8 ; Isa. xlix. 25. See Ges. Lex. and Ew. G?: § 354, a). The ordinary meaning 'for' can be retained only by supplying some such ellipsis as, ' 'Tis done, for thou,' etc. To suppose, v^-ith n., that 'for' refers to previous deliverances is simply riihculous. There is another rendering of 13 that might answer here. It not unfrequently bears the sense of 'verily' (see the annotation on Ps. cxxxi. 2). Were we to adopt that meaning here, the verse would run : Arise, JAH ! save me, my God : Thou ver"ly jill my foes a stroke Hast on the cheek-bone dealt, and broke The wicked's teeth hast 'with thy rod.* Broke the wicked\s teeth. — The reference is to their infatuated adoption of Hushai's in preference to Ahithophel's counsel, which had afforded David time to escape. David, as well as Ahithophel (ver. 23), could see that such infatuation could residt only in one issue. Ver. 8. It to Jehocah. — David could also see that such infatuation must have been from Jehovah ; and all the more so as he had prayed, ' LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness' (2 Sam. xv. 31). Nor would he less recognise Jehovah's hand in the wonderful escape of Ahimaaz 1\SALM IV. 9 and Jonathan while Ijriuging to hun Hushai's report and advice ; and in his own passage of the Jordan. The deliverance — commenced by preventing Ahithophel's piu'suit of him, and completed by interposing the Jordan between Absalom and him. Thij blessing be. — Translators generally render ' thy blessing is ;' but surely it is more natural to consider the clause as a prayer, as in Ps. cxxii. 8, cxxix. 8, Ruth ii. 4, 9, 1 Sam. xx. 23. David felt it was only the blessing of Jehovah continu- ing to rest on his cause that could render it idtimately and comp»letely successful. W. mamtains that ' thy blessing' is here equivalent to 'the blessing of thee' on the part of the people ; just as ' thy remembrance,' in Ps. vi. 6 and Isa. xxvi. 8, is translated ' the remembrance of thee,' or as ' partakers of my grace' (Phil. i. 7) is equivalent to ' partakers of the grace or gift sent to me.' In that case, the stanza would run : It to Jehovah is 'alone" That the deUverance is due : It on thy people ' then anew" ' 'Devolves' to bless thee, 'Holy One." But this view may well be questioned. PSALM IV. The first word of the title is Pl^'JOT, which in the A. v., and by most interpre- ters, is translated, ' To the chief musician. ' It stands at the head of more than a thii'd of the Psalms, 55 of them being so inscribed. It occurs much seldomer towards the close of the Psalter ; only thrice in the last 50 Psalms. n^'JD l. means an overseer, and is so rendered in 2 Chron. ii. 18, xxxiv. 13, and the few other places where it occurs. It here means the' overseer of the musical department, i.e. the chief musician. From 1 Chron. xxv. we learn that David appointed thi-ee overseers for the different departments of the music, vaz. Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, or Ethan, as the name is sometimes contracted ; and it was by one or other of these that the music was composed for the Psalms which have this heading ; which of the three we cannot always ascertain. In some cases no hint whatever is afforded us ; in others, the mention of the instruments to be used enables us to form a probable conjecture : in a few the name is expressly given ; thus, in the 39th Psalm, along with the usual heading, ' To the chief musician, ' is coupled the name of Jeduthun ; in the 73d, and the ten that follow it, the name of Asaph ; in the SSth, that of Heman. In the case of the Psalms not so inscribed, David might be the author both of the words and music of many of them ; while others of them might have no set music provided for them, but be sung to different tunes at the discretion of the performers. In every instance this inscription precedes the announcement of the name of the author of the words of the Psalm, and, like it, has the preposition ? prefixed, which should therefore be translated by the same English preposition in both instances : 'of the chief musician, a Psalm o/' David;' or better, '6// the chief musician, a Psalm by David : ' literally it is, ' [belonging] to the chief musician, a Psalm [be- longing] to Da\'id. ' The form would thus resemble our own, according to which we are accustomed to put the name of the composer of a song at the head in the one corner, and the name of the composer of the music in the other corner ; the name of the pamter of a picture in the left hand corner at the bottom, and the name of the engraver in the right hand corner. Naturally to the band of the 10 PSALM IV. overseer who comijosed the music of any particular Psahu wouJd be left in most cases its perforinauce in the temple service ; so that ' by Asaph,' 'by Jeduthun, ' would imply that the Psalm was to be executed by Asaph's band, by Jcduthun's band. This latter meaning is all that some consider to be implied in the expres- sion, and not that the music also was composed by him. But it may be objected that Asajjh was the author of the words of some of the Psalms, and u.»t merely the composer of the music of them, or the overseer of the band that performed them. And this is undeniable, for we find it expressly stated in 2 Chron. xxix. 30, and the high tide of ' the seer' applied to him ; and we liud his name afterwards coupled with David's in such a way as to necessitate this conclusion (NeL. xii. 40). But it is equally undeniable that some of the Psalms inscribed with Lis name, such as the 74th, /-Jth, Ttith, could not be written by him ; for they belong to a l>eriod long posterior to the times of David or any of his contempora; ies ; and therefore 'by Asaph' can there mean only that the performance of ihem was entrusted to the ' Asaph band ' — that the music of them was the composition of the overseer of that band. By some HVJD? is supposed to refer, not to the overseer of the music, but to God the overseer of all, ' the observer of men ; ' and they render it, ' To the •Supreme,' and hold that the idea intended to be conveyed is, that the Psalm is dedicated to the Supreme Being. To this view there are two strong objections. Overseer is a name nowhere else ai)plied to God, and of very questionable pro- priety ; and 7 cannot well in the same title have two meanings so different as, dedicated to the Supreme, and composed by David. There is another expression, Avith the preposition ^ prefixed, occasionally found (Ps. xlii., etc.) in these titles, viz. 'To the sons of Korah,' which, on the same principle, 1 translate by the sons of Korah. What part these Korhites had in the Psalm is not stated, bixt we can scarcely be at a loss to determine. They were the porters of the house (1 Chron. xxvi. 1), and noted singers (I Chron. vi. 33, 37), and would open the doors with the voice of praise ; and the Psalms inscribed with their name were intended to be used on these occasions ; and consequently ' by the sons of Korah ' would not imply that the v.'ords or music originated with them, but that the Psalm was intended to be sung by them — just as we are accustomed, in the case of some famous song, not only to mention by whom the words were indited, and by whom the music was composed, but also by whom the song was first sung, or first brought into repute, or with whom it was a favourite. There is another expression in the title of the fourth Psalm which requires a word of explanation: 'with Neginoth,' i.e. 'with stringed instruments.' The Psalm was intended to be performed not by vocal singers only, but with the accompaniment of instrumental music, of the kind here denoted. The title finally informs us that David is the author of the Psalm ; and he seems to have written it on reachmg Mahanaim, where, in addition to present security, he found supplies of every sort poured in upon him (2 Sam. xvii. 27). Argument: — (1) An address to God, craving help, ver. 1 ; (2) an address to the rebels, expostulating with them on the guilt aud hopelessness of their attempts, vers. 2, 3 ; (3) an address to his own men, dissuading them from hasty acts and heated language, and enjoining confidence in God, vers. 4, 5; (4) an address to God, expressing calm reliance upon him, vers. G-S. By the Chief Musician with stringed instruments, a I'sulni by David. 7'" Go'l. I God of my rigliteoiisnc^^s, to me 1 'Now" at my call reply :^ PSALM IV. 11 In straits thou me enlarged hast ; Pity me, ° hear my cry.^ To rebels. 2 How long for insult, high-born ones,*" Shall 'thus^ my glory be? 'How long'^ will ye a vain thing® love? 'And^ seek a lie will ye? Selah. ' and. prayer. ■ /. sons of man. s.w. Ps. ii. 1. 3 For know that it Jehovah was, Who for himself the saint Did signalize ; ^ Jehovah hear Will at my call* 'and plaint.' " s.w. Ps. xvii. 7, xxxi. 21, To Jus adherents. 4 Rage,® but sin not ; talk in yoiu' heart On ° bed, and be ye mute : Offerings of righteousness present, '' " Trust in Jehovah put. 5 ' O who will make us good behold ? ' Are many saying ' now : * The light, Jehovah, of thy face ' Lift over us do thou. " your. "■ sacritice sacrifices. " and. 6 Thou gladness hast diffused abroad,^ Within this heart of mine ; Ev'n from the time™ at which their corn Increase"" did, and their wine. 7 I'll quite ^' in peace lie down and sleep. Because by thy sole arm,^ Thou, O Jehovah, makest me To dwell secure from harm.* 7 ' /. given. ' Ps. xix. 9, cxli. 10. ' /. by thyself alone, Job xxxi. 17. ' I. in safety, Lev. XXV. 18, 19, Deut. xxxiii. 12. Yer. 1. God of my riyJifeousness = the God by whom I am righted, by whom my righteousness will be brought forth as the light (Ps. xxxvii. 6) ; just as ' the God of my salvation' = the God by whom I am saved. Reply. — There are two Heb. words indifferently rendered ' to hear ' in the A. v., but one of which — the one occurring here — properly signifies, to reply, to answer (2 Sam. xxvi. 14 ; Prov. i. 28, xxvi. 4). This distinction I have en- deavoured miiformly to preserve, with the occasional eifect of bringing out the meaning more definitely. The two sometimes occur in the same verse, with the distinction preserved in the a. v. (see Isa. Ixv. 24). In straits. — The usual renderuig of the A.v. is ' distress ' or ' trouble,' but the word properly refers to the distress a man feels when he finds himself ' in straits.' 12 PSALM IV. ill difficultiL'S, in a dangerous predicament ; and such was David's situation very often, as well as at the present time. EiilarQCiL — God had enlarged liiin, or had brought him forth ' into a large place,' as he has it in other Psalms (xviii. 19, cxviii. 5), retaining the same ligure and a kindred term ; and not only in former straits in former days, but during this very emergency on the night following his dej^arture from Jt rusalem. Hushai saw the perilousness of his j^osition then ; and felt that, if Aliithophel were allowed to take advantage of it, all was over with David ; and therefore was not satisfied with carrying a contrary proposal in the council, but sent urgent advice to David not to adventure staying over-night m a situation so conlined and every way unsuitable, lest he and all that were with him should be swallowed up. Ver. 2. For insult: A. v., 'reproach;' but it is a different word which is ortlinarLly rendered 'rej^roacli.' The word here used means confusion, con- tumely, insult. IIi(jh-horn ones — /. sons of [the lofty] man. The expression ls tlifferent from that usually translated ' sons of men,' being the same as is rendered ' the lofty's sons' in this version, and in the A.v. is shortened into ' the high ' in Ps. xllx. 2. Absalom's adherents were principally from the upper ranks — proud, wealthy, reckless young men like himself. My glory means ' my dignity,' my royal state, as in Ps. vii. 5, Ixxxix. 4-1 ; and the meaning is. How long will ye insult my glory, treat my dignity with contempt and contumely ? Ver. 4. How long will. — We can scarcely in English omit the second ' how long;' but such omission is common in Heb., and quite in David's way (see Ps. X. 1, Ixxxix. 6 ; Job xv. 9, xx. 12, 13 ; Isa. Iviii. 3, 10 ; Jer. xxxiii. 25). A vain thinrj — the same word as in Ps. ii. 1, but quite different from that for 'vanity' in Ps. xxxix. 5, and importing. How long will ye be in love with an impossibility, and attempt a tiling beyond your power to accomplish? And seek a lie. — Absalom's great concern from the first had been to find a pretext, to invent a lie, to justify his rebellion. Hence his habit of rising to meet those that came for judgment to the king, and on hearing their account of the case, replying, ' Friend, your matters are good and right, but — there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. Oh that I were made judge in the land ! I would do thee justice ' (2 Sam. xv. 3). So also, when he set out for Hebron to have himself isroclaimed, he not only invented ' a lie ' to obtain the king's ])ermission (vers. 7, 8), but got a band of two hundred out of Jerusalem to accompany him, whom he had equally deceived, ' who went in their simplicity, and knew not anythuig' of his intention (ver. 11). What pretexts he alleged - as justifying his usurpation, we are not told ; but may be very sure that, with a certam admixture of truth, they were mainly lies and calumnies. Ver. 3. For. — 1 not unfrequently has this meaning (Ps. xxxi. 22, xlix. 8, Ix. 11, 12; Gen. xx. 3 ; 2 Sam. xvii. 14; Isa. liii. 11, Ixiv. 5; Song ii. 15. See Ges. Lex.). That it Jehovah teas. — David did not aspire to the throne through the prompt- ing's of his own ambition. There was nothing he was less thinking of, when God sent Samuel to anoint hhn. He was ' chosen of God,' and is reminded of this when he purposed to build the temple (2 Sam. vii. 8), and again when he sinned w^ith Bathsheba (xii. 7). rSALM IV. 13 Fur hintself. — Saul had failed to do God's commands, to execute God's work : so the Lord sought him a man fitter for his purpose ; and having found David, gave him this testimony, ' I have found ... a man after mine own heart, who shall fulfil all my will ' (Acts xiii. 22). In raising David to the tlirone, God was acting 'for himself' — with a view to his own glory, to the execution of his o%vn plans, and not merely from love to David. Did signalize. — So the word means ; not ' set apart ' or ' separate,' which is expressed by a different word (see Lev. xx. 24 ; Num. xvi. 9 ; Deut. x. 8), but 'signalize :' thus, Ps. xxxi. 21, 'signalize his kindness;' Deut. xxviii. 59, signalize or make wonderful thy plagues. And God did signalize David, or make him distinguished from the very first — among his brethren, as Israel's champion against Goliath, as leader of Saul's forces, as captain of his own army. Of this God himseK reminds him a considerable while before this Psalm was penned : ' I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest . . . and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth ' (2 Sam. vii. 9) ; and all this ' for Imnself,' for his own pm^poses, that David might be the abler to accomjjhsh God's designs. Never were Israel put in possession of the full extent of the inheritance promised to Abraham (Gen. xv. 18) till David sjjread his conquests on every side (2 Sam. viii.) ; and we are expressly told it was by the help of God he effected them (ver. 6). Even Zion, the very place Jehovah had made for himseK to dwell in — 'the sanctuary,' as Moses styles it in his triumphal song (Ex. xv. 17) — was not wrested from the hands of the Jebusites till the days of David. Nor had God rendered him more distinguished for martial exploits and kingly conquests than for eminence in sacred song. So matchless are his Psalms, that such as existed previously, with only an exception or two, vanished before them as the stars before the sun ; and he became at once ' the sweet singer of Israel,' and remained so in unapproachable pre- eminence through aU succeeding centiu-ies of Jewish independence. And if for anything a man be indebted to God, it is for poetic power. And in thus signal- izing David above others, God had his own glory in view : for his Psalms forth- with became the songs of the ancient church, and still form a choice portion of every church's book of praise. The saint — the name by which he calls himself also in Ps. Ixxxix. 19. It literally means ' the gracious one,' the man of grace or kindness ; and, hke these expressions, is ambiguous, importmg either one who shows kindness or who experiences kindness ; just as, in English, ' tlie gracious soul ' either means a soul in a state of grace, which again is often called ' a gracious state ; ' or ' a soul disposed to show grace to others.' "When applied to men, it sometimes bears the one meaning, and sometimes the other. Here, for instance, it means ' the man of grace,' the man who has experienced wondei'ful grace and kindness at the hand of God ; but in Ps. xviii. 25 it means ' the man of grace,' the man who shows grace and kindness to others, 'the merciful man.' When applied to God, it can of course bear only the latter sense — ' gracious,' ' kind,' ' merciful.' From the fact that God's grace or favoiu* can be the portion only of the good, the word comes to be substantially synonymous with ' man of piety,' ' saint,' or in the plural with ' the pious,' ' the saints ;' and is often in the A. v. translated ' saints,' while nevertheless it signifies, with greater precision, ' the favoured ones,' ' the loved ones,' ' the recipients of God's kindness ; ' or, as one of our U PSALM IV. English hymns has it, ' the men of grace :' the reference in all cases being more to God's kindness to them, than to their piety towards him. In applying this name to himself here, David probably intended a playful allusion to his own name : he had been called ' David,' ' the loved one,' by his parents, but he was more truly ' the favoured one.' Jehovah hear tcill. — He had said m ver. 1 to God, ' at my call reply ; ' and so confident is he that he has not asked in vain, that he here tells the rebels, ' Jehovah at my call will hear,' and, having appomted me, will interpose for my restoration. Ver. 4. Rage, not ' stand in awe.' The word is from the same stock as 'enraged' in Ps. ii. 1, and almost identical with it in the letters of which it is composed. It literally signifies, ' to be moved with anger.' The Septuagint has opyi^eads, and Paul's adoption of tliis rendering (Eph. iv. 26) is a confirmation of its correctness ; and probably it never would have been questioned, had not interpreters one and all overlooked the fact that these words are addressed to a different class of persons altogether from the persons addressed in the preced- ing verse ; and consequently found it next to impossible to extract a reasonable meaning from them, when considered as addressed to the rebels. Had they perceived that he here tm'ns from the rebels to adcbess his own adherents, all appearance of grotesqueness and difficulty would have vanished at once. His admonition was peculiarly well-timed and proper : ' rage, but sin not ' — be indignant at such treachery, but let not your anger transport you into feelings, or words, or acts of sin. Talk in your heart — /. ' say in your heart' what you have to say; say it to yourselves alone, do not talk on the subject to others. And say it to yourselves only in the privacy of night, ' on your bed,' and let not a word escape your lijis ; ' be mute,' be dumb. The direction which he gave his men he acted on hunself. Despite the provocation of Shimei, he uttered not a word of reply ; he even implored God to ' keep the door of his lips ' (Ps. cxli. 3). He could not trust himself to speak in a case like this ; still less could he trust liis men. Silence, therefore, was in all respects best. It coidd not injure his cause. The same could not be said of speaking ; it was almost certain to do harm. Had his men continued to act on this advice at David's retiu-n to Jerusalem (2 Sam. xix. 41-43), the sad affair of Sheba would not have taken place, which so nearly cost him his throne a second time. Ver. 5. Offerincjs of righteousness. — Another direction he gave them was to ' sacrifice the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in Jehovah.' Absalom at Hebron had been sacrificing too (2 Sam. xv. 12) ; but his sacrifices were of - quite another kind. He professed to be paying a vow which he had never vowed ; to be serving God, while he was preparing to push God's anointed from the throne. At the same time he was putting his trust in Ahithophel, whom he had sent for (2 Sam. xv. 12), and not in the blessing of God, whose favour he was professedly seeking by these sacrifices. The direction resolves itself into three parts : (a) to come before God with sacrifices free from all tauit of knavery anrotection, vers. 1, 2; (2) but m PSALM VII. 25 asks it not, if guilty of the crimes imputed to Mm, vers. 3-5. (3) He calls on God to bestir himself in the case, (o) in behalf of one he had himself appointed, ver. 6, (b) for the retention of his owti supremacy, ver. 7, (c) and as being the righteous judge of men, vers. 8, 9. (4) He confidently leaves the case in God's hands, (a) assiu'ed of his own safety, ver. 10, (b) and of Absalom's destruction, failing his speedy repentance, vers. 11-16. (5) He resolves to celebrate God's praise for his righteous actings in this matter, ver. 17. Tlie Error, by David, which he saug to Jehovah, concerning the words of the Ethiopian the Benjamite. 1 ' O tliou,^ Jehovah, mine own God, 1 I refuge take in thee ; Save me from my pursuers all, And do thou rescue me. 2 Lest like a lion he"" my soul Should 'mercilessly'' tear, In pieces rending it; while, 'lo!"' There's not a rescuer.'* ■■ Absalom or Ahithophel. 3 Jehovah, mine own God, if I Have 'really^ done this;"^ If in my hands 'in very deed*^ Unrighteousness there is ; ■■ which Shimei alleges against me. 4 If I with ill rewarded him*" At peace with me who was : Yea, him I freed, the enemy Of me without a cause ; ' Saul. ■■' according to Shimei's alle- gation. 5 Then let the foe my soul pursue '' And overtake ;"' yea, thrust My life down to the earth, and lay My glory® in the dust. Selah. 6 Rise in thy wrath, Jehovah ; lift Thee in the furious blast^ Of my foes ; wake, the sceptre' thou For me appointed hast.'^ ' cf. 2 Sam. xvii. 1. ■"■■ 2 Sam. XV. 14. ' Ps. iv. 2, u. ' I. furies. ■■ /. judgment. 7 And let th' assembly of the folk Encompass thee 'anew," And over it return thou back Again the height' unto. 8 The people let Jehovah rule ; Jehovah, judge "-^ thou me, ' viz. height of Zion ; s.w. Jor. xxxi. 12. 26 I'SALM Vil. According to my righteousness, And mine integrity. 9 'Gainst^' me, pray, cease let bad men's ill: 9 Stablish the righteous *" 'now." The prover of the hearts and reins, O righteous God, 'art thou!" ■■ David him- self. 10 My buckler' is with'" God, Avho saves 10 Th' upright in heart 'and way." God is a righteous judge, and God 11 Is threatening® every day. ' shieM. " cf. Vs. Ixii. 7, Ivi. 7. 11 If he'" return not back,^ his sword He 'speedily* will whet : His bow he hath 'already^ bent. And ready hath it set ; 12 i.e. Absalom. 12 And for him he preparing is The instruments of death ; His arrows into burning'' 'shafts He 'also* fashioneth. 13 "■ so H., G., D., Ges. 13 Behold, he with iniquity^ Is travailing in birth ; With woe he also pregnant is, And falsehood brine;s he forth. 14 ' see u. ou Ps V. 5. 14 He digging is a pit, and out Is scooping it withal ; And his own self, into the hole He's working at, shall fall. 15 15 Upon his own head shall his woe Keturn back® 'in the end;* And down upon his own scalp shall His violence descend. 16 IG According to his righteousness, Jehovah thank will I ; And I will play unto the name Of Jehovah, the most hisih. 17 Vur. 1. / rc/iuje take — the literal signification of the Heb. word non, of so frequent recurrcuce iu David's Fsalms, and more suitable here than ' I put my PSALM VII. 27 trust.' In the a. v. it is rendered both ways in Ps. Ivii. 1 ; in most other places it is rendered ' trust,' ' put confidence ;' but the noun derived from it is generally- rendered ' refuge' (Ps. xlvi. 1, Ixxi. 7) not 'trust.' Yer. 4. The Lxx. and AY. translate thus : If I requited him who me With ill rewarded has. W. denies that '')0^t^' can mean ' the man at peace with me,' in which case it should have been ^ni!?!^ ti'''Ki as in Ps. xh. 9 ; but if his translation were correct, the word should have been ''lO^K'O, as in Ps. xxxviii. 20, for the verb signifies to reward only in Piel. The reference is of course to Saul. Shimei alleged that David had risen against Saul without the slightest provocation. So far from this, says David, I did not rise against him at aU ; and when he without cause rose against me, I did not retaliate ; but when I had him entirely in my power, set him free, once and again, perfectly imharmed. Freed. — H., D., W., translate ' and him despoUed,' but the verb is always used by David in the sense of ' to dehver' (2 Sam. xxii. 20 ; Ps. vi. 4, 1. 15, Ixxxi. 7). Ver. 5. Then let the foe pursue — aUudiag, no doubt, to the reported words of Ahithophel, who said, ' Let me . . . pursue' (2 Sam. svii. 1). And overtake — the thing he had been so afraid of at the outbreak of the rebellion (2 Sam. XV. 14). Ver. 6. The sceptre — I. 'the judgment.' To judge or administer justice between man and man is a large part of a ruler's duty, and by a common figitre often stands for the whole. Hence the verb ' to judge,' in a multitude of passages both of the o.t. and of the N., means to rule, to govern, to carry on the admini- stration of a coimtry, and not merely to judge, in oiu- restricted use of that term (Isa. ii, 4, U. 5 ; John v. 25 ; Luke xxii. 29, 30). Tiiis sense it frequently bears in the book of Psalms (ix. 8, Ixvii. 4, Ixxv. 2, xcvi. 13). Accordingly the earlier rulers of Israel were denominated ' judges ; ' but then* work consisted not merely in administering justice, but in defending the people from foreign enemies (Judg. ii. 16, 18). In like manner, the word 'judgment' is sometimes used in the sense of rule, dominion, sovereignty (Ezek. xxi. 27 [right] cf. ver. 26, Dan. vii. 22). In other words, it sometimes means the ' office of judge,' and not merely the ' sentence ' he pronoimces. And this is its meaning here ; and both it and the word conjoined with it were probably suggested to him by the almost identical words employed by God himself, when he sent him the great promise by Nathan : ' Since the time that / commanded judges^^ or ' appointed judges over my people Israel ; ' for the verb means quite as properly ' to appoint ' as ' to command ' (1 Sam. xxv. 30 ; 2 Sam. vi. 21 ; Neh. v. 14). To make the meaning- more distmct in English, I have exchanged the word 'judgment' for 'sceptre.' Thou hast. — Shimei asserted that David had wickedly seized the sceptre at his own hand (2 Sam. xvi. 8). David repels that falsehood, and declares it was God hhnself who appointed him king in the room of Saul. The mere supple- ments in the A.v. might show that it has missed the meaning. Other transla- tions are about equally at fault. Ver. 7. And let — retaining the same form as in ver. 5. In casting David off, the people had virtually cast God off, according to what God himself said to Samuel when they rejected him and asked a king : ' They have not rejected thee. 28 rSALM VII. but they Lave rejected me, that I should not reign over them' (1 Sam. viii. 7). David therefore jtrays tliat they may be brought back to their allegiance to God as well as to himself. The assembly of the folk — the congregation of the people. The reference is not to a gathering of the nations of the world to a general judgment, but to the congregation of the people of Israel returning to then- God ; in reference to whom we have already found this plural word D''JDS^, 'peoples,' employed (I's. ii. 1), from their being divided into twelve tribes. And over it — viz. the assembly of the folk. Translators are again at fault here, either in the rendering they give, or the meaning they suppose to be intended. It neither means ' on its account,' nor refers to God being raised 'over it,' far above it, on his judgment throne. It refers to his presiding 'over it ' as the God of Israel. Return thou hack. — God, on being castoif, had withdrawn, as David himself had done ; and the Psalmist prays him not to withdraw altogether, but to return and reign over repentant Israel as before. On a like occasion subsequently we find God saymg, ' I am retm-ned to Jerusalem with mercies ; my house shall be built in it ' (Zech. i. 16) ; and again, ' I am retm-ned unto Zion, and wiU dwell in the midst of Jerusalem ' (viii. 3). Misled by their misapprehension of the preceding clauses, interpreters explain ' God's retm-n ' here as being his return to heacen; for that is the explanation they put upon the word, ' Height ' — a word which evidently means here what it does in Jer. xxxi. 12, the height of Zion — God's ' high place ' in Jerusalem. Ver. 8. The people let Jehovah rule — continuing the supplicatory strain. His meanhig is, ' Let Jehovah so govern the nation as to bring about a favourable issue for me ; ' for he feels he has right on his side, and wishes to be dealt with ' according to his righteousness.' The plural word D''Dy, like the kindred term in the preceding verse, is often applied to ' the people of Israel ' (Ps. xlvii. 1, Ixvi. 8 ; Deut. xxxiii. 3, 19 ; Hos. x. 14 : see Ges. Lex,)., and for the same reason. Ver. 9. ''Gainst me. — ipy is, in a.v. and other translations, joined to the preceding verse, and rendered in me, — a sense it does seem occasionally to bear (Ps. xlii. 5, cxliii. 4 ; Lam. iii. 20) ; but if the meaning be admissible the addition is useless, and not in David's usual style. Change the punctuation, however, and begin the ninth verse with ""pj;, and then it is no longer a mere redimdancy, nor used in an uncommon acceptation, ' against ' being one of its most frequent meanings (Ps. ii. 2, iii. 1, xxvii. 2, 3, xxxv. 21 ; Gen. xhi. 36; Job xvi. 4, 10, xxxiii. 10 ; Isa. x. 15 ; Ezek. v. 8). For prober. — This seems the true rendering of this somewhat difficidt clause. The persontd pronoim is indeed wanting ; but, as D. remarks, the same omission is occasionally, though rarely, found elsewhere (Ps. xxii. 28, Iv. 19). To God, as being the searcher of hearts, and well acquainted Avith the vile motives actuating his adversaries, he appeals for vindication and support. Ver. 10. With — a frequent sense of ^]} wath David (Ps. Ixii. 7, Ivi. 7 ; cf. Ps. vi., title); and not with him only (see Ges. Lex. (3), (d) (e) (/))• And if David's shield be borne on God's arm, a way will soon be opened up for him, and ample protection afforded him in the day of conflict ; ' for God saves the upi'ight hi heart,' as David had already seen in the valley oi Elah, when ' one PSALM VIII. 29 bearing a shield went before ' the great Goliath, and David came against hun in the name of the LORD of hosts. Ver. 11. God is a righteous judge. — So D. translates, and this seems to suit the context much better than the rendering adopted by A. v. and H., ' God judgeth the righteous man.' And God. — The Lxx. and Vulg. consider ^x here not as the name of God, but the adv. ' not,' and translate, ' although not threatening every day ; ' but a fatal objection to this is, that ^x is always joined with the future. Even such a monster of wickedness as Absalom is not cut off without warning ; but God has been giving him daily and emphatic warning, if he could only understand it. Threatening every day. — The verb is mostly confined to poetry, and means, as here rendered, to threaten vengeance, to denounce (Num. xxiii. 8 [a. v. ' defy '] ; Prov. xxiv. 2-4 [a. v. ' abhor '] ; Zech. i. 12 [a. v. ' had indignation '] ; so Mai. i. 4). In like manner, the noun derived from it means threatening or threatened vengeance. Ver. 12. If he return not. — 'The Lord is not slack ... as some men coimt slackness;' although he 'is long-suffering . . . not willing that any should perish.' If Absalom do not repent and retrace his steps, ' the instruments of death ' are ready for him. Ver. 13. His arrows. — So H., Ges., and D. translate. The A. v., "W., and others : Against the persecutors'" he His arrows fashioneth. Ver. 14. With ivoe — see Ps. v. 5, n. He is big with woe to others, but the 16th verse tells us it shall prove greater woe to himself. Ver. 17. Thank. — For that display of righteous retribution, David is to thank Jehovah with heart, and voice, and harp. PSALM VIII. The word Gittith, found in the inscription, is the fern, form of the adj., signify- ing 'of Gath,' and probably means a musical instrivment, or a musical air of Gath. Some derive it not from the name of the celebrated Philistine city, but from a noun Gath, signifying a wine-fat or wine-press, and imagine the Gittith to have been a musical instrument shaped like a wine-press, or used at the season of tread- ing the grapes. It occurs in the title of only two other Psalms, the 81st and 84th. Scarcely any Psalm — not one, if length be taken into account — is so often quoted in the n.t. as the eighth. We find it quoted in Matt. xxi. 16, 1 Cor. XV. 24-27, Eph. i. 22, Heb. ii. 6-9, and in every one of these instances applied to Christ, as if it referred to him alone ; and yet it is generally questioned whether it be properly a Messianic Psalm — questioned even by those who are indignant when the Messianic character of Psalms not quoted half so often is doubted. If the eighth be not a Messianic Psalm in the strictest sense, as much so as the 2il, the 22d, 69th, or 110th, there is not a Messianic Psalm in the whole col- lection. For it is not merely a^^plied to Christ, but forms the main pillar of the apostle's demonstration of Christ's universal sovereignty : so that to deny its express and principal, and, I may add, sole reference to Christ, is to invalidate 30 PSALM VIII. the apostle's whole argument, and make it as futile as if he had based it on the cK)sing verses of the first chapter of Genesis. Can we say of man collectively, of the race as a whole, that God has p\it all things under them, ^^sible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, princiijalities or powers, worlds near or afar ? that there is not any one being, any one thing, but the Almighty Father himself, that is not put under them ? Can this be affirmed of any being or beings except of Christ alone ? We know that God hath raised HIM from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principalities and powers . . . church (Eph. i. 21, 22). But as for man, has he the slightest power over any world but his own ? He does not even know whether the worlds above him contain animated beings at all, or what sort they are. Has he the slightest power over the angels of God ? Can he say to this one, Come, and he Cometh ; to this one, Go, and he goeth ; to a single creature beyond the earth, Do this, and he doeth it ? Is it he that commandcth the winds an■ the priests. Have been, which they"" have framed. " Saul and Doeg. 3 For 'fondly" doth the wicked man,'" 3 ''Doeg. 'O'erjoyed with his success, "^ Glory over'" his soiil's desire, ^ of. Ps. ivi. And filthy lucre bless. "^^ "■ PSALM X. 4 1' According to his loi'ty looks, t The wicked man at nought Jehovah sets ; ' God will not make Inquiry after ought.'" •5 I'Ail his devices crooked® are, T) His way at all times 'too" 'As crooked is:"' thy ju.dgments are On high out of his view.' ' /. fiom before liiin. G Ills enemies all — he puiFs at them ; G I shall not slide, saith he In his heart ; to age and age** shall I Go on,™ from evil free.' ' I. I shall not be in evil. 7 With oaths his m6uth is filled, and frauds 7 And violence'" 'most base ;^ ' oppressive- There 'also," underneath his tongue. Are ' Avoe aud wickedness.'^' ' Ps. v. 5, u. 8 In ambush® he in hamlets dwells, ' 8 Murders in lurking holes The innocent ; his eyes concealed Are from the hapless 'souls." In lurking hole he lies in wait, 9 Like lion in his lair To catch the poor ; doth catch the poor Entrapped into his snare.' ' I- by drawing him into. 10 And by his strong exertions"* 'then" 10 The hapless, 'one and all," Are bi'oken down,® sink 'overpower'd," And 'miserably" fall." 1 1 He in his heart doth say, ' God has 1 1 Forgotten what hath been ; His countenance he hidden hath. He hath not 'ever" seen.'- 12 Arise, Jehovah! lift thou up, 12 O God, thy hand 'of might;" Thy poor afflicted ones O do Not thou forget 'outright." PSALM X. 43 lo On wluit ground® 'thus" to set at nought^' 13 God doth the wicked ' dare ? ^' On what gTOund® doth he in his heart Say, ' Thou inquire wilt ne'er ? ' 14 Thou hast seen; for thou suffering'^ 14 And provocation dost Behold, in order to requite Them with thy hand 'most just.'' 15 To thee the hapless one, 'O Lord," 15 Himself committeth ' now ; " The helper of the fatherless 'And orphaned one" art thou. It) The arm break of the wicked man, And of the ill-' designed ;" Inquire thou for his wickedness, 'Until" thou none shalt find. 17 Jehovah 'Sabaoth" is King 16 For ever and for aye : The heathen ones out of his land Are perished 'clean away." 18 Thou, O Jehovah, hast been pleased^ 17 ' /. hast heard. The meek's desire to hear ; Thou wilt their heart establish 'firm," Thou wilt awake thine ear, 19 To judge the fatherless, and him 18 That down is broken® 'sore:" That he"" may not from off the earth "■ Doeg. Affright man any more. Ver. 1. Wherefore at a distance. — The Psalm opens with an expression of amazement that God could have stood aloof in a case like this, when his own iimocent priests, to the number of fourscore and upwards, together with then- wives and children, were mercilessly butchered. It seemed to David, that if ever there was a case calling for a special intervention of the divine arm to prevent the meditated Avickedness, this was that case. where/ore on. — See note on Ps. iv. 2. Ver. 2. The ivicked. — The whole scene enacted at Gibeah of Benjamm rises up before the Psalmist's view, — the venerable Ahimelech, with all the priests of Nob around him, ushered into the king's presence, and Doeg standing ready to impeach them. By some the clause is rendered, ' By the wicked man's arrogance the poor man is inflamed.' But niSJ is not necessarily in constr. st. (see Ps. 44 PSALM X. xvii. 10, Ixxxix. 9) ; and p^T* may signify ' has inflamccl,' quite as well as ' has been inflamed.' Its nom. is 'the wicked man.' Doeg by his presence and his charges roused Ahimelech, to whom the sight of a jiroud Edomite in high place would of itself be sufficiently irritating, to utter words that maddened S uil, and cost the poor man his life, and the lives of his family and fellow-priests. For thus he spoke: 'And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David?' (1 Sam. xxii. 14.) 'Inflamed' is the Uteral and proper nieanuig here, not 'persecuted,' as. in A.v. Jn the devices. — This may refer to measures which Saul and Doeg had con- trived to ascertain who were secretly favouring David, and which nny have occasioned Doeg's visit to Nob ; or it may refer to the subsequent laeasiu-es resorted to at Gibeah, for making out an apparently strong case agfiinst the priests. Ver. 3. Glory ocer his souVs desire — to see the priests, whom he would hate with an Edomite's hatred, caught in the trap, and their property confiscated for his benefit (1 Sam. xxii. 7); his desire, also, to ingratiate himself still f mother with his master, in whose eyes this service of his would be specially meritorious. Filthy lucre. — ^^12 is a noim here, not a participle, and is translated ' gain,' ' dishonest gain,' ' lucre,' ' covetousness,' in different places in the A.v. Ver. 4. Accordinfj — not 'through' (a.v.); /. 'according to the loftiness of his face,' or nose. When showing contempt, one is accustomed to turn up bis nose. The punctuation here is altered, but no other changes made. The last clause is /. ' not inquire after nought will God ;' the two negatives making the statement stronger (see Ges. Gv. § 149, 2; ex. Eccles. iii. 11). Doeg did not deny the existence of God, but only his retributive providence. Already proud of being the chief of the herdsmen of the king, he despised God, and comforted himself with the thought that no mquiry would ever be made into his conduct. Ver. 5. All his devices. — Only the punctuation altered. The word for ' de- vices' never means 'thoughts.' Even Ges. gives it so only here. Crooked — /. ' twisted,' not ' cruel,' ' violent,' nor ' prosperous.' The punctua- tion adopted here does away with all necessity of changing 'liis way' into 'his ways,' as the Masorites propose. Doeg never takes the straightforward, honest coiu-se, but resorts to every stratagem and crooked way ; cai-ing only to succeed, not regarding the vileness of the means he employs. Thy judgments — the just and righteous principles on which thy government of the world is conducted ; and, consequently, the fearful judgments thou wilt execute on such wicked, lying wretches. He sees nothing, thinks of notliing, but the present success. On hiyh — as in 2 Kings xix. 22 ; Isa. xxii. 16, xxvi. 5. Ver. 6. His enemies all. — Doeg, from his nation and character, behoved to have many enemies ; but, conscious of the high place he held in the king's estimation, he puffed at them all, and flattened himself with the assurance of continued i)rosperity, and lastuig escape from pmiishnient. Go on. — -)t^•^{ is not the relative here, but the fut. of the verb, to 'go on,' to ' prosper,' as in Ps. viii. 2. Ver. 7. llis mouth. — To compass his ends, he sticks at nothing, but his tongue is his main dependence. He hopes to do more with liis words than the king \s ith llis swords. Accordingly he fills his mouth PSALM X. 45 With oaths — i.e. solemn asseverations of his truthfulness, when he is speaking the greatest lies, to entrap his victims or ensm-e their condemnation. With frauds — with every species of deception. Witness the fallacious account he gave of what he heard and saw at Nob, telling only what would serve to con- firm the king's susijicions, and inflame the high priest to rash utterances, and entu-ely keepmg back the fact that David had represented himself to Ahimelech as sent on the king's business. With violence — or oppressiveness ; loading his victims with heinous accusa- tions, and browbeatmg them when making their defence. With a mouth so filled, and a frenzied monarch to listen to his accusations, there could not fail to be imderneath liis tongue Woe and loickedness — unspeakable suffering on the part of his victims, and atrocious wickedness on the part of himself and royal accomplice. For remarks on this phrase, see Ps. v. 5. Ver. 8. In hamlets. — We are told in the history that Doeg was ' detained before Jehovah' (1 Sam. xxi. 7), /. ' shut up ;' probably sent out by Saul to see if the priests were consulting Jehovah for David's information, and either actually ' shut up' in secret, or pretending to be there on other business. If it be objected that David saw hun, — for he says (1 Sam. xxii. 22), ' I knew that day ichen Doeg was there,' etc., — it may be answered that the clause might be rendered, ' I knew that day that Doeg was there, that he would tell ;' for the same word (■•a) occurs in both clauses. David might know of Doeg's presence, though the priests did not. If so, this would have no small weight in forcing from him the remorseful acknowledgment he made to Abiathar with such emphasis on the first word, ' / have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.' Concealed. — The verb is in Niph. It does not ever mean ' to watch,' but always to hide, or hide away, i.e. store up. From — 1. to., or ' with respect to.' The hapless. — Consult D. and Ges. Lex. regarding the Heb. term. Ver. 10. And^\ — The Masorites, not miderstanding the verse, have marked "i as a mistake for '*. By his strong exertions — I. ' by his strengths.' Doeg slew them all with his own hand, and they were 85 in munber. Are broken down. — The verbs are all sing., indicatmg that each one of the hapless victims perished. This is a common usage (see Ges. Gr. § 143, 4 ; exx. Prov. iii. 18, xxviii. 1). The first of the three verbs does not mean, as often rendered, 'to crouch down,' but always 'to be broken down.' Even if it did, the onward progress of the description would require the other meaning here ; for he must have been crouchuig down before the victim was entrapped into his snare. Ver. 11. He lays to his heart the flattering miction, that what is past is past, and will never be brought up against him ; that perhaps it was never noticed ; or that Aliimelech's conduct was no more approved in the court of heaven than it was in Saul's. Ver. 13. On what ground. — Tliis is at once a more exact rendering than ' wherefore,' for the term is not the same as in ver. 1, and better brmgs out the Psalmist's idea ; for he means to say, ' What emboldens him to despise God ? ' rather than, ' For what reason does he despise God ? ' The omission of the 46 rSALM XT. second 'on what grouml' is according to David's usual practice (Ps. iv. 2). Tlio A.v. has quite missed the meaning here. Ver. 14. Thou hast. — Doeg lias no ground for the thought he entertains regarding God's indifference to this matter. He is quite deceived, for thou hast seen 'suffering' (Ps. v. 8) and 'provocation' (Ps. vi. 7). Fatherle.is. — Some orphans might escape the massacre, like Abiathar ; even if not, the woi'd is smg., and may refer to hun alone, as doubtless it does to him principally. Ver. 15. Inquire ihon. — Ily., following the LXX., translates: Thou for the wicked shalt inquire, But him thou shalt not find ; which he considers to be God's response to the prayer of the preceding clause ; as if God had replied, ' I have heard thy prayer, and thou mayest inquire for the wicked man, but thou shalt not find him. To bring out this sense, nothing is required but to disjoin i from ycjn, and prefix it to 73. But though this would fit in well with what follows, is it not too abrupt a turn ? Still worse, it changes the reference of the word ' inquire' from God, to whom it has been so emphatically applied in vers. 4 and 13, and transfers it to David, or to people in general. Ver. 16. The heathen — referring to Doeg the Edumite, and such other heathen, dwelling in the land. Ver. 18. Affright. — This seems the cxactcst rendering of the Heb. word. In Isa. ii. 19, 21, it is translated 'terribly to shake.' To affright them from the earth, is to sweep them away in utmost affright, and is consequently a most fitting description of the proceedings at Nob. H., D., and G. are quite at fault in theii" interpretation of this verse. PSALM XI. From the strain of this Psalm, we gather that it was jjenned at a time when David's faith was peculiarly lively, but his safety peculiarly imperilled, by pre- parations secretly in progress against him : a time when some gi'cat public cata- strophe had newly taken place, and the very pillars of society been laid low ; and when God had nevertheless remained entirely silent. No passage in David's life suits so well with these particulars as the time of his departure from Keilah. His faith was very lively then, and well might be ; for God had given him signal proofs of his favour in the event that had brought him to Keilah, and in the infor- mation that induced him to quit it (1 Sam. xxiii. 1-12). But to hearts less trustful than his own, his situation seemed perilous in the extreme : for it was well known that Saul was secretly practising mischief against him (ver. 9) ; and it seemed vain to eherish hope of divine interference, when the very priests had been allowed shortly before to be cruelly put to death, witho\it the slightest movement on Jehovah's part to prevent the deed, or the slightest indication since its commission of his intention to avenge it. Argument : — (1) David sees nothing to fill him with apprehension, ('0 iu what is said about his enemies' movements, for he trusts in God, vers. 1,2; and nothing to fill him with apprehension, (6) in what is alleged about the indifference of God, ver. 3 : for (2) God is not so indifferent as he seems to be, but (o) is really noticing PSALM XI. 47 all, ver. 4, and {b) merely testing his people, ver. 5, 1st cl. ; (r) he thoroughly hates the man of cruelty, ver. 5, 2d cl. ; and (3) God will condigiily punish the w-icked, ver. G, and show his approval of the righteous, ver. 7. By the Chief Musician, by David. 1 Upon Jehovah I depend : ^ 1 How to my soul say ye, ' Bix'ds, to yonr mountain flee ; For/ lo ! their bow the wicked bend, '2 Their arrow on the string they fit, The upright ° in the dark to hit. For® laid the columns are in ruin :* .^ What is Jehovah, P the Just One, doing?' 2 Jehovah's in his holy fane ;^ In heaven is his throne : His eyes do look upon, His eyelids prove, the sons of men. Jehovah doth the just man prove ;^ But him that's wicked, '' and doth love 'Oppressiveness and''' violence, His soul hates 'with a hate intense." ' iu Jehovah I take refue-e. first reason. " in heart. " second reason. ' are pullod down. 4 ' temple. '• Doeg Sanl. auil 3 Snares on the wicked rain shall he : ' To them,* brimstone* and fire, And blast of tempest dire, 'Shall"" of their cup the portion 'be." For 'truly" just Jehovah is, He justice'' loves, 'and righteousness." 'Assuredly" the upright one His countenance^ shall look upon.® ■■ just tiling Ver. 1. How say ye. — The persons referred to were doubtless friends of David, concerned for his safety, most probably the very persons whose information led him to consult God, and to preface his application with the statement, ' thy servant hath certainly heard ' (1 Sam. xxiii. 10). Birch- — not as given m A.v. and ahuost universally, ' flee [as] a bird ;' for this is no abbreviated comparison, though the word ' bmls' be in the singular iu the original. It is here used in the collective sense, as in Gen. xv. 10, and therefore entitled to be jotaed to a plural verb (Ges. Gr. § 143, 1). Ver. 3. For — not ' if,' as in A.v. This second ' for' is a second reason for the advice. The writers of the o.T., when they wish to give a niunber of reasons for an advice or for a statement, or a number of proofs for an argiunent, do not, like us, say, ' Flee, for . . . besides . . . and moreover : ' or, ' It is so, for . . . further . . . and finally :' or, as we at other times say, ' It is so, for (1) , . . (2) . . . (3) . . .' They stick to the causal word iutroducing the first reason, and repeat it as often as there are reasons specified. Thus, in next Psalm, ver. 1, 48 PSALM XT. ' Help, /or the godly mail ceasetb . . . [he]})],/');- tliefaitbfiil. . . .' Wewoiilil say, ' Help, /or the godly man ceaseth ; the faithful also . . .' The writers of the N.T. adhere to the same form, though it scarcely obtains among classical writers of Greek any more than among ourselves. Thus, Luke ix. 24-26, ' Follow me, for (1) whosoever will save . . . for (2) what is a man advantaged . . . for (3) whosoever shall be ashamed . . . ; ' Rev. xv. 4, ' Glorify thy name, for (1) thou ... for (2) all nations ... for (3) thy judgments . . .' Attention to this principle would explain many a perjilexing 'for' in Paul's epistles and different parts of Scripture ; e.g. Matt. vii. 13, 14, ' Enter in at the strait gate, for (1) wide is the gate that . . . for (2) strait is the gate that . . .' The same conjunction {oti) is in the A. v. translated 'for' in the one clause and ' because' in the other ; and strange are some of the explanations given of its meaning the second tune of its occurrence. In hke maimer, ^3 is differently rendered in the 2d clause of 1 Sam. xx. 34, to the perversion of the sense : 'Jonathan arose in anger, for (1) he was grieved for David, for (2) his father had done him shame.' The same form obtains in the case of other conjunctions, and the overlooking of tliis fact renders many a simple passage exceedingly perplexing : thus. Gal. ii. 1, 2, 4, 6, ' I went up to Jerusalem ; not, however, to be more fully instructed myseU ; (Ss) hut (1) I went up by revelation, i.e. at divine instigation . . . (3s) but (2) [I went uj)] on account of the false brethren . . . (3s) hut (3) from the men of note there I learned nothing I did not know before.' See the same thing exemplified in oc'hT^oe. "hiyu (Rom. x. 18, 19). The columns. — So Ges. and D. H., following the ancient interpreters, renders it ' foundations,' as m A.V. ; but the other meaning suits better with the accom- panying verb, which properly means to jiuU dowTi, to throw down (1 Kings xix. 10, Jer. i. 10), and arises more naturally out of the meaning of the verb from which it is derived, and wliich signifies to place, to set. The word occurs in Isa. xix. 10, 'the columns thereof are broken down,' i.e. the very pillars of the state (mistranslated in the A. v. ' the purposes'). It is quite common to speak of the influential members of a community as its columns or its pillars (Gal. ii. 9), and m Israel the priests were eminently the pillars of the nation ; yet at Nob, the high priest and upwards of fourscore of his brethren had been laid low. And m their fall the friends of David saw strong gi-ound for urging him to trust to his own precautions for safety, and not to deceive himself with hopes of divine protection. If ever there was a case in which Jehovah might have been ex- pected to interpose, it was that one ; and yet neither by word nor act did he any- thing whatever to save them. To rely on his interposition, therefore, seemed, to them the extreme of folly. They counselled quite a different com"se. If they thought of God at all, it was only to wonder what explanation could be given, what justification, of his stillness on that occasion ; and to ask Wh(U is .hJiovah^ the .Just One, doiiuj ? — To obtain this rendering, we have only to annex to the thu-d verse the word ' Jeliovah' standing at the beginnmg of the fourth verse, and stan(hng so superfluously there. The structure of the clause is mdeed somewhat peculiar : but this, for the sake of greater emphasis, and perhaps to show the better that the word 'Jehovah' and 'Just' are in apposition, and not connected together as substantive and adjective. A precisely similar structure we have iu Ps. xviii. 3. No name could be so apjiropriate here as ' the Just One ; ' for it was the justice, the righteousness of God on which PSALM XI. 49 D'Xvi'J built his hopes of diviiie protection, and which seemed to make it impossible that God should allow his priests to perish for a crime they never committed. Ver. 4. Jehovah is. — By the proposed change of pimctuation, not only is a better sense brought out in the preceding clause, but a closer connection is estab- lished between the two stanzas, this second one becoming the answer to the question that closes the first ; and, at the same time, all the irregularity of sti'uc- ture in the fourth verse is remedied. According to the received pointing, that verse should read /., ' Jehovah is in hLs holy place ; Jehovah ! in heaven is his throne.' Now there are, no doubt, cases where the chief word of a sentence stands detached, like the second 'Jehovah' here (Ew. Gr. § 309 (b)). This, however, is only when it is specially emphatic ; but there is no special emphasis here ; and if there were, it would be on the preceding ' Jehovah ' rather than on this one, and the sentence would rim, ' Jehovah ! in his holy place is he ; Jehovah ! in heaven is his throne ; ' and the idea conveyed would be, ' Yes, in heaven is his thi'one,' — in heaven, not on earth, as you suppose. But no such supposition was entertained by them. What they wondered at was, that Jehovah could be still when such an atrocity was taking place. David therefore assures them that, though standing aloof in his holy place, Jehovah was observing all ; and that his silence was merely intended to ' prove the just man,' to test him, to put him thoroughly to the proof, that it might be seen whether he would hold fast his integTity and trust in God, however regardless God might seem to be ; and at the same time to prove the wicked man, and let it be seen what his true character was, and to what lengths in wickedness he would go. It was not in the least degree owing to sympathy with wickedness or remissness in punish- ing it : for ' the wicked man, and him that loveth violence, his soul hates ; ' and they shall be duly punished, as the succeeding stanza declares. Ver. 6. Snares. — By their earUer triumphs and escapes they become ensnared and alku-ed on, till, by the prospect of a more splendid success, they are drawn, like Pharaoh, into the grand trap provided for them, and effectually destroyed. Every unage of terror is here employed to depict their overtlu-ow. It is as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. Ver. 7. For just. — Along with almost every other interpreter, I regard p"'lv as the predicate here, ' Jehovah is just ; ' not as an epithet prefixed to his name, as the translators of the A. v. have considered it, whose rendering is, ' the Just Jehovah, the Eighteous Jehovah ;' and for this reason — it is very doubtful if the name Jehovah admit of any epithet whatever being joined with it. It certainly admits of no pronoun. We never find such an expression as ' my Jehovah,' ' our Jehovah,' 'his Jehovah,' however common 'my God,' 'our God,' 'his God,' may be. And it is veiy questionable if it ever admit of a qualifymg adjective. It is true, indeed, we iind in the a. v. a few passages contrathctory of this assertion ; but in every one of them exception may be taken to the rendering : thus, Isa. xxxui. 19, instead of ' the glorious Jehovah,' it were preferable to read, ' But there Jehovah will be glorious;' in Zeph. iii. 5, instead of 'the Just Jehovah,' to read, ' Jehovah is just (or righteous) in the midst of her' — vuilike those princes, unlike those prophets of hers, mentioned in the former verses ; in Deut. vi. 4, instead of ' Jehovah om- God is one Jehovah,' to read, ' Jehovah is our God, Jehovah is one' (see Campbell's note on tins quotation in Mark xii. 29) ; so iu D 50 PSALM XII. Zecli. xiv. 9, instead of, ' There sliall be one Jehovah, and his name One,' to read, ' Jehovah shall be one, and his name One ;' and in Ps. Ixxxix. 8, instead of ' a Strong Jehovah,' to read, ' the Strong One, JAH.' Ver. 7. The nprUjId. — This clause is ambiguous in the original ; and I have retained the ambiguity in the version I have given. Some translate, ' the up- right shall behold his countenance ' (Gcs., D., AV., E\v.) ; others, 'his countenance shall behold the upright ' (a. v., II.). The clause presents also rareness, if not irregularity, both of form and of construction : 1D''3D stands for VJD, a licence but rarely exemplitied (Jol) xx. 23, xxii. 2, xxvii. 23 : see Ges. note on it in his Gr. § 100, 2) ; and ~\'^'< is m the sing., and yet may be the nom. to the pi. verb (cf. Isa, xvi. 4, and sie E\v. Gr. § 319 («))• One is almost tempted to wonder if "o be not displaced, and if, without addition or omission, the letters did not originally stand thus : VJQ ITH D''"m'''. PSALM XII. By the Cliief Musician, along with the eighth,'' a Psalm by David. 1 Save, O Jehovah, for the man 1 Of piety'" is ceasing ; For from among the sons of men The faithful'" are decreasing.* 2 They falsehood 'universally" 2 Speak, each one to his brother : With flattering lip and double heart They speak to one another. 3 O let Jehovah 'clean* cut off 3 The lips all, that do flatter ; The tongue, that big'' things 'boastfully" 'Accustomed is to" utter: Possibly at tlie dcatli of Samuel. ■■ see title of sixth. /. the saiut. ■■ so Gc.«!. and D. and A.V. ' coming to an end. 4 Those, who do say, We with our tongue 4 Will carry all before us ; * Our lips are with ourselves,'' 'and who," Who hath dominion' o'er us ? 5 For the oppression of the poor,' And for the needy's crying. Now, saitli Jehovah, will I rise ; I'll safe set liim that's sighing.' Jehovah's words are words most pure,' As silver tried, 'and shining," Which hath in earthen'" crucible Passed through a seventh refining.' 5 I prevail. ' who is lord". ' poor ones. ' I. set in safety him that is sighing for it. ■■ i.e. thi.s pro- mise of his is sure to be ful- iilled. ■■so D. ' purified seven times. PSALM XIII. 51 7 Them,™ O Jehovah, thou wilt keep : Us® ' graciously "■ deliver Thou from this generation wilt, 'O mighty God,* for ever ! 8 Although"^ the wicked walk about. On every side 'us bounding,'' Like to the rise of swollen streams,"" The sons of men surroundino-.* PSALM XIII. By the Chief Musician, a Psalm by David. 1 How long wilt thou forget me, LORD ? 'Shall it'' for ever'" be? How long, 'Jehovah,* wilt thou hide Thy countenance from me? 2 How long form counsels® in my soul, Grieved'' in my heart, shall I, Daily ? How long raised over me Shall be mine enemy? 7 '" i-e. the pro- mises or words; the same expression, 1 Kings viii. 24, 25. " us, not them. Q The Hebrew word can mean only us or him, not them. "" I. should the wicked. ' so W. ; of a tempest (Gos.). ' upon the sons. Possibly written on escaping from Naioth (1 Sam. XX. 1). ■■ see Ps. Ixxiv. 10, Ixxix. 5, Ixxxix. 46. ' different from the expression in Ps. ii. 2. "■ I. grief. 3 Jehovah, mine own God, look down, Eeply to me ' forthwith ; "• Enlighten thou mine eyes,*" 'I pray,* Lest I do sleep to death ;*"'" 4 ' And* lest mine enemy do say, I've over him prevailed ; And 'lest* mine adversaries 'all* Be glad*" that I have failed. ' i.e. show me what coui'se to take. '■'■ alluding to Saul's words, 1 Sam. xix. 15. I. exult. 5 But in thy grace I trust ; my heart In thy salvation's glad.^ I'll to Jehovah sing ; for he Has mercy on me had. Ver. 1 . Some would render this verse thus : How long, Jehovah, wilt thou me For evermore forget ? How long from me, 'my God,° wilt thou Thy countenance hide 'yet?^ r)2 PSALM XIV. PSALM XIV. Tins Psalm and tlie o'3d, ■with the exception of one verse in each, are all but identical. The one was written before, and the other after, the fatal day of Gilboa ; and this accounts for the diversity of thought in that particular verse. The slight variations I have reproduced, and rendered visible to the English reader, by means of italics. For the notes, see 53d. By the Chief Musiciiin, by David. 1 The fool hath said within his heart, 1 There's no God : as to deed, Depraved they arc, detestable ; None to do' good 'takes heed." ' I- noneilncili. 2 From heav'n upon the sons of men Jehovah looked abroad, To see it" any one had sense, 'And" did search after God. 3 Corrupt together they're become,* The whole aside have gone ; *■ There's none of them that doeth good. There is not even one. 4 Do they not know, all practisers Of evil, who the folk Devour, shall be devoured in fight ? The LORD they ne'er invoke. 5 A fear there"" feared they; for God Is tvith the righteous class} Ye shamed the jwor's counsel^ because The LORD his refin/e ivas. G O, would that out of Zion 'hiir— ' The hill that succour's from " — Deliverance to Israel There 'speedily" woiUd come! 7 When to his folk's captivity Jehovah turns again. For joy shall Jacob then exult. Be £i;lad shall Isr'el 'then." 5 ■■ referring to Saul's terror before Gilboa. 6 ' generation. Ver. 5. Saul clearly saw that God was siding with ' the righteous generation,' i.e. with David and his adherents, whom he hated even more than he hated PSALM XV. 53 the Pliilistiues ; and he now perceived that God's presence or absence was not the matter of little consequence he once took it to be. He stood appalled and unmanned, and saw his doom was come ; when God was fairly departed from him, and woidd answer him no more, neither by prophets nor by dreams (1 Sam. xxviii. 15). Yet he had formerly Ver. 6. Shamed — ridiculed, made hght of, The poor man's counsel — i.e. David's plans for escape. Because the Lord his refuge was — i.e. his only dependence ; thinking, if that is all his dependence, he shall not escape me long : for ' if he be in the land, I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.' Even some of David's friends were of the same opinion, and imjDlored him to seek his safety in some- thing that was less hkely to fail him (Ps. xi. 1). PSALM XV. ' A Psalm, by David. 1 Who in thy tabernacle, Jehovah, shall reside ? ' Who in thy holy mountain' Is he that shall abide ? ' /. sojourn. '■ mouutain of thy holiness. 2 He uprightly who walketh, And acts a righteous part," ' And faithfully^ who speaketli The truth within his heart. ^ 3 Upon his tongue's no slander, He does his friend no hurt ; Nor up against his neighbour Lifts® he a bad report." 4 Scorned in his sight 's"" the vile man; "GOD's fearers honours he; ' If^ to do hurt® he sweareth, "He bitter" will not be. ' I. works right- eoiisuess. s either to him- self, or . . . the truth that is in hiin — the very truth. ^ i.e. neither originates nor takes in a bad report. ' /. a reproach. '■ /. eyes. " but. vet. 5 Nor give his gold on us'ry, 5 Nor 'gainst the guiltless take A bribe doth he ; thus acting^ [j^j^j'S ^^^^^ Nought shall him ever shake." ' he shall never be shaken. Ver. 4. To do hurt. — yin?, wherever else it occurs, is never the dat. of the nomi signifying ' evQ,' nor of the adj. (as Ges. takes it to be here, translating ' sweareth to the evU man' ), but is always the inf. of the verb to do evil, to do hurt, to injure, as in Lev. v. 4, to which H., D., and AT. maintain there is a reference here. AYe may therefore be very sure it is the inf. in this Psahn too. 54 PSALM XVI. But if so, how is it to be understood? There is manifestly an ellipsis. How is that ellipsis to be filled up ? Most interpreters do it thus : ' he sweareth to do hurt' [to himself], which they take to be equivalent to, 'he sweareth to his own hurt.' Now, suppose we were to grant this, and also that such an oath were not an act of sin, requiring a trespass-offering, as Lev. v. 4 would seem to imply, is the mere fact that a man keeps his oath, when it involves an injury to him- self, a proof of any great goodness ? Wliy, many a very bad man would do as much. Many a most ungodly man, if he has passed his word, not to say liis oath, and made a foolish bargam, a rash engagement, will stand to it, although greatly to his hurt. Some other explanation must siurely be got ; and is not the following a more reasonable one ? The expression ' he sweareth to do hurt ' more natiurally suggests the idea, ' he sweareth to do hm-f [to another] ; and the succeeding verb "H31 (c'thib) may come from the root ~nD, 'to be bitter,' as in Isa. xxiv. 9, equally well as from the root "|"H2, ' to change ; ' and the clause be translated, ' Yet he will not be bitter.' The sense of the whole will then be : 'he sweareth to inflict an injmy on one that has provoked his wrath, yet he is not bitter ; but is easily appeased, mercifid, forgiving, like David himself under Abigail's entreaties. And this is a distinguisliing jiroof of a good man, and occupies a large space in James' description of the wisdom that is from above (Jas. iii. 17) ; it is a distinguishing property of God himself (Ex. xxxiv. G, 7 ; Ps. Ixxviii. 38 ; Joel ii. 13 ; Jonah iv. 2 ; Mic, vii. 18). If the common view be preferred, the lines will run : He honours those that fear GOD ; to liis hm-t he sweareth. And yet he changeth ne'er. PSALM XVI. This Psalm is entirely Messianic, and is quoted as such, Acts ii. 27, xiii. 35. The word Michtani, occurring in the inscription of it and of a few others (Ivi.-lx.), has received a variety of interi^retations. Some render it ' A golden one ; ' others, ' A secret ; ' and others consider it as equivalent to ' Michtab, ' the heading of Hezekiah's composition (Isa. xxx\iii. 9) regarding his sickness and recovery, and translate it 'the writing' or 'inscription.' The tirst rendering seems to me the simplest, and to accord well with the contents of the six Psalms bearing this heading. A golden one, by David. 1 God guard me, for to thee I've fled ;° 1 " for refuge. Unto Jehovah I have said, 2 'Thou art my Lord; not against" thee Is my good 'in the least degree:"' Unto the holy ones® that tread^ 3 ' are in. The earth, and th' excellently bright, 'In them is all my 'heart's" delight.' 2 Increased shall be their sorrows, who 4 'At all" betroth "» another do : PSALM XVI. 55 Their blood drink-offerings I'll not make, Nor on my lips their names will take. The portion of my cup* art thou,^ 5 Jehovah, 'yea," and of my share ;* I\Iy lot® thy Thummim™ 'also" are. The lines to me have 'in thy grace" 6 Fallen in midst of pleasantness,' Even the fair inheritance To Eli" appertaining' 'once." I will 'the Lord" Jehovah bless, 7 AVho°^ doth me counsel 'and conduct; ' My reins, by night ev'n,^ me instruct. ' The Lord" Jehovah up have I 8 Before me set continually : Because my right hand he's beside, 1 ' consequently " shall not slide : Because of this my heart doth joy, 9 And glad my glory is 'as well," Even* my flesh shall safely dwell.*^ ' /. in pleasant- nesses. ' I. of Eli. " s. Jer. xxiii. 6, Deut. xxxiii. 12, 28, and often. ■■ i.e. the unseen world. ^ different from the word in ver. 3. 5 Because my soul to*^ Hades'" thou 10 Wilt not abandon, nor allow Thy saint '^ corruption e'er to see ; The path of life thou wilt make me 1 1 To know;*^ a satisfaction,® 'too,* Of joys thy countenance before ; Pleasures at thy right hand ev'rmore. Ver. 1. 2'u thee — I. 'for in thee I have taken refuge.' Ver. 2. Unto. — Messiah tells what he had said to Jehovah. / have. — The final "> is here omitted in niDX, as sometimes happens, e.g. Ps. cxl. 12; Job xlii. 2; 1- Kings viii. 48; Ezek. xvi. 59 (see Ges. 6V."§44, 2). This solution, adopted by D., saves the xlumsy supplement proposed by others, who render, [0 my soul], tJiou hast said. Af/ainst thee — as in Ps. xxi. 11 ; Deut. xv. 9, xxiii. 4, xxviii. 7, 49 ; Judg. ix. 31 ; 2 Kings xix. 22 ; Isa. x. 24 ; Amos vii. 10, etc. ' Against ' is one of the commonest meanings of ^y (Ps. ii. 2, iii. 6, xxvii. 3 ; Ex. xvi. 8 ; 2 Sam. xvi. 8 ; Isa. xui. 17), and bi'iugs out an unspeakably better sense than any of the numerous renderings suggested by expositors of tliis Psalm. The good of the Messiah is not adverse to the glory of God. The more the Sou is honoured, the more the Father is glorified. Hence Messiah prays : ' Guard me, preserve me ; ' for I occupy not an antagonistic position to thee, and have no sympathy with them that foreake thee, and join themselves to idols ; I am thy servant, and seek thy glory. Ver. 3. Uiito the holy. — Messiah tells next what he had said to the pious ones 56 PSALM XVI. of eai'th. The same preposition is employed in this clause as in the former ; and the verlj ' I have said ' is understood ; so that the meaning stands thus : ' I have said unto Jehovah ... [I have said] unto the holy ones . . .' D. quite perceived this to be the true view, but needlessly disjoins 1 from ''"i'»lx, to prefix it to D''t^'np, Jiiid T]}:in from the words preceding it, to join it to the word that follows it. That are in. — nnn pX3 "It^X, as in Kings ix. 20. Ges. remarks in his Lex., suJ). non, that ' it not iinfrequently takes in a manner the place of the verb sub- stantive ' (Gen. XXV. 16 ; Song vi. 8). In them. — To like effect we read in Prov. viii. 31, regarding Messiah's feelings towards the good, ' ]\fy deUghts were with the sons of men.' Ver. 4. Betroth. — So D., W., and others, as in Ex. xxii. 15. The A. v. adopts the other signification of the verb, and translates, ' hasten after another do.' Ver. 5. Thy Thnmmim. — The Hebrew word is, in the A. v. and by interpreters generally, rendered ' thou upholdest ; ' but, by the admission of all who translate it so, it is a form of the verb 'to uphold,' so unusual as to be all but unex- ampled. H. strongly maintains that it cannot possibly come from that verb, and has recourse for an explanation of it to an Arabic word never found in Hebrew. But why be m any difficulty with the word ? It is letter for letter the same as the word translated ' thy Thirnimim ' in Deut. xxxiii. 8, with the sole exception that 1 is here written in full, while in Deuteronomy it is expressed by Qibbuts ; but this is frequently the case, and, as Ges. remarks, more especially in the later writers. Thus, in the case of the kindred word ' cherubim,' the Pentateuch always gives it C^ID, wi'itten short ; but in the later books we find it sometimes written with 1, and sometimes with •• : thus in Ps. Ixxx. 1 with Qibbuts, in Ps. xcix. 1 with ). The same thing we find in 1 Sam. iv. 4, 2 Sam. vi. 2. So in 1 Kings vi. 23, 25, 28, the forms interchange ; as they do also in Ezek. x. 5, 16, 19. For further exx. see Ew. Gr. § 28, 2 (c). I therefore translate with Hy., ' thy Thummim are my lot.' This brings out a far better sense, and one that agrees well with what precedes, where he had said that, as in the case of Levi, so in his own, ' Jehovah was the portion of tlie share that fell to him, and of the cup of his daily supplies : for he now adds that Levi's distinguishing badge was also his — the Urim and the Thummim; m other words, the priesthood, not only with its sacrifices, but with its Thummim or disclosures of truth too : for in Deuteronomy we find these two conjoined in the account of Levi's blessing (Deut. xxiii. 10). In coufii-mation of the rendering here adopted, it may be added that in Deut. xxxiii. 8 the Thummim are said to be with ' thy Holy One,' or ' Saint,' the very name which Messiah takes to himself in this Psalm (ver. 10). Ver. 6. — Messiah is perfectly satisfied with the lot that has fallen to him. Even the fair inheritance of Eli. — I feel persuaded this is the true render- ing. The word translated ' inlieritance ' is in the ' construct form,' — a form it nowhere else has, except when in the ' construct state,' as Ges. adn)its in his Lex. sub voce, — a form that is ' very rare ' when the final termination is accented (see Ges. Gr. § 79 (~>]} the corresponding genitive ; and this is the very name of the old priest. The adjective ' fair ' is not indeed in the construct form, but there was PSALM XVII. 57 no need it should be (see Ges. Gr. § 113, (1)). Fiu-ther, when God threatened Eli, he made this strikiug announcement : ' And I will raise up a faithful priest, that shaU do according to that which is in my heart and in my mind ; and I will build him a sure house ; and he shall walk before mine Anointed for ever ; ' or, as the last clause may equally well be translated, ' and he shall walk before ?ne, mine Anointed for ever' — I. 'before me, my Messiah, all the days.' What more natm-al than that there should be a reference to such a remarkable prediction, just as we find there is in other places to that similar prediction by Moses, ' I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like mito thee ? ' (Deut. xviii. 18). It were even strange if there were not ; unless it be said that this anuoimcemeut to Eli does not refer to Christ at all, but only to Zadok, who was put in the room of Abiathar, and whose substitution is said to have been a fulfil- ment of the announcement (1 Iving-s ii. 27), — an opinion which may seem to derive additional strength from what is said in the closing verse of this terrible threatening (ver. 36) : 'And it shaU come to pass, that every one that is left in thme house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread.' But wliile there was an earher and subordinate fulfilment in Zadok, might there not be a final and a full in Christ? In the case of the similar annoimcement to David regarding the Son who was to build the house to God, there is expressly said to have been a fidfilment in Solomon (1 Kings viii. 20) ; and there is m /<, too, a statement, ' If he commit iniquity,' etc., which would seem to confine it exclusively to Solomon ; and yet we know from Heb. i. 5 that it mainly refers to Christ. If the rendering of the a.v. be preferred, these lines must stand thus : Yea, appertain to me there does A heritage 'most' beauteous. Ver. 10. Thy saint — the name employed m Deut. xxxiii. 8, the name which David takes to himseK (Ps. iv. 3, Ixxxix. 19). There can be no reasonable doubt that this is the correct reading, and not ' saints ; ' when we find the Masorites marking it so, and Paul quoting it so (Acts xiii. 35), and declaring the statement to be true only of Christ, and not of David (ver. 36), or the saints generally. Ver. 11. A satisfaction. — The corresponding Heb. word is the noun derived from the verb ahnost invariably translated ' to satisfy,' and denotes not merely fidness or abimdance, for wliich there are other words, but a fulness that satisfies. Messiah is to have his full satisfaction of joys — as much gladness as his heart could wish. The verb ' thou wilt make me know ' applies to the clauses that follow it, as much as to the one in which it stands ; so that we must not, with the A.v. and others, supply the substantive verb in the last two clauses, and read, ' there is a satisfying fulness of joys . . . there are pleasures . . . ' PSALM XVII. This Psalm is utterly unintelligible without a knowledge of the occasion on which it was composed. Our translators, H. and most others, seem to have troubled themselves little with this preliminary inquu-y. W. says rightly, that it was written after David had spared Saul in the cave (1 Sam. xxiv. ). It is entitled 58 PSALM XVI 1. 'A Prayer,' a title borue by four other Psalms (Ixxxvi. xc. cii. cxlii.), and by Habakkuk's song (Hab. iii. 1) ; and on examination, it is found to be the prayer he addressed to God on that memorable occasion, after calmly reviewing his own character and doings, and the character and doings of Saul and the Ziphibes. A Prayer, by David. 1 Jc'hovab, hear thou righteousness ; 1 Attend unto my shout ; ^ Give ear unto my prayer, from lips Deceitfulness without. 2 Forth let my judgment 'speedily" 2 Come from before thy face ; O let thine eyes, 'thou Holy One," Behold 'mine" uprightness. 3 Thou hast my heart tried ; hast a night'' 3 Appointed ; ^ me assayed : ® Thou of my criminality" Hast not discovery made. iu the cave. 4 My mouth it*" passed not," for the acts' Of men upon the word Of th>/ lips ; the assaulter's"" bands" I guarded 'from the sword." ■■ n'. my crimi- nality. "■■■ i.e. actings. ■■ Saul's. 5 By th>/ paths fast my footsteps held, ' O LORD, and did not slide ; " My footing also tottered not,*" 'Nor would be turned aside." 6 On thee I call ; for thou, O God, To me wilt answer send : Do thou incline thine ear to me, Unto my speech attend.' ■■ 1 would ni)t give way to the temptation to kill nij- persecutor. hfur. 7 O signalize ° thy kindnesses,® Thou, that by thy right hand Dost the confiding save, from those That uji against them stand. 8 O, as the apple of the eye Guard me, 'I do entreat ;" Under the shadow of thy skirts,*' O do tliou me secrete, "■ or wing.>i. PSALM XVII. 59 9 From presence of the wicked men,"' t) ' the Ziphites. Who do me 'sorely^ waste ; My foes, against my life/ who me ' soul. Do round about invest. 10 They in their iiit enveloped are ; 10 They with their mouth speak proud ; ' i iu ^i-He. Beset our steps now ; set their eyes 1 1 To spread on earth our" blood. p 11 Like as a lion panteth he^ 12 ■" Saul. 'With eagerness* to tear; Or as a lion young doth lie, Couching within his lair. 12 Ai'ise, Jehovah ! meet his face ; 13 O bring him to his knees : ® ' With " thy sword from the wicked man Do thou my life release ; 1 3 With " thi hand, LORD, from mortals ' too ; " 1 4 Mortals of worldly cast -^ 'of ^^^ world. Theii' lot's in life ; and with thy stores Their belly filled thou hast. 14 'Up to the Avishes of their heart," They're satisfied with sons ; And they aside their residue Lay for their little ones. 15 1 shall in righteousness behold 15 Thy face, 'O thou Most High ;'' Awaking, thy similitude," T./-^- ^^^ ^^^7 ° . ^ -^ ' likeness, or m Be satisfied shall I. thy vei-y like- ness. Ver. 1. Righteousness is the true rendering ; not, ' righteous Jehovah,' nor ' hear the righteous man.' Ver. 2. David here refers the case to God's decision, as he did wlule speaking to Saul (1 Sam. xxiv. 15) ; and prays that God wovild behold how upright a part he had all along acted. Ver. 3. Appointed. — The Heb. word often means to ' visit,' as in A.v. ; but can never, by the mere addition of the word ' night,' mean ' visited me hy night.' It is often translated ' set,' or ' appointed,' as in Num. iv. 27, xxvii. 16 (see the note on Ps. viii. 4) ; and if it be so translated here, no supplement is required. Now God told David he meant to put Saul into liis hand, that he might do to him as he pleased. Hence David's men say to liim (1 Sam. xxiv. 4), 'Behold 60 PSALM XVII. the day of which Jehovah said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to hiiu as it shall seem good luito thee.' No objection can arise from the use of the term daij^ for it evidently means ' occasion,' ' period ; ' and in every probability it was itUjIU when his men recalled to his mind these words of Jehovah ; for Saul went into the cave ' to cover his feet,' i.e. to rest, to sleej) (cf. Judg. iii. 2-1 ; Kuth iii. 4). It certr.inly was ' night ' when David spared him the second time ; yet David says, ' Jehovah delivered thee into my hand to-day'' (1 Sam. xxvi. 23); 'and, beholJ, as thy life was much set by this day ' (ver. 24). My criminality. — The Hcb. word has been translated ' my counsels,' and ' I am purposed;' but it occius in Ps. xxvi. 10, and often, for 'wickedness,' as in Lev. xviii. 17, especially for wickedness of a heinous kind. And this is its meaning here — ' my wickedness, iny villany, my criminality ; ' and a veiy fitting word it is to describe the villany, or higli treason, with which David was charged by Saul and his courtiers. [Since writing the above, I find it is so rendered by the Lxx., who give the clause thus : oi/x ii/piSvi iv if/.ol ccoiKt'a.'] Ver. 4. It passed. — The a. v. and most others translate the Heb. verb by ' transgress,' but it here bears its common meaning to ' pass.' Had David not liked to kill Saul wdth his own hand, his men were eager to do it, if David would only have spoken the word of permission (1 Sam. xxiv. 7 ; so again, 1 Sam. xxvi. 8). Ujwn the tvord q/'THY lips. — This clause can be understood only by looking to 1 Sam. xxiv. 10, where it is said by David to Saul, ' Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD delivered thee to-day into mine hand in the cave, and some hade me kill thee.' Our translators have destroyed the sense by their supplement ' some.' David's words are : ' The LORD delivered thee to-day into mine hand in the cave, and hade me kill thee' — /. ' and said to kill thee.' God was testing David, and said, ' Here is Saul ; do thy pleasure on him : he is at thy disposal ; kill him, if you please.' His men were for acting on that word, as fully autliorizmg, if not commanding, them to kill the king ; but David imder- stood it better, and would not let them ; but would, by means of this signal oj^portunity which God had given him, show conclusively to all that he had no wicked designs on Said's life or on Saul's throne. Our translators were alto- gether unjustified in puttuig in the word 'some' into their translation. They might as well have put it into the Heb. original. Its insertion is not required to make sense of the Heb. words ; and it makes them convey a sense totally different from the one they were intended to express. Assaulters' hands. — The woi'd here translated 'bands' certainly means 'goings' — ' paths,' as in A. v. ; and the clause might be rendered, ' I kept the paths of the destroyer;' but by no possibility, 'I kepi me from the paths,' etc. It no less certainly means 'a company' or 'band,' and is so rendered, Gen. xxxvii. 2.3, ' a company of Ishmaelites,' and should be so rendered here. What David means to say is, ' I kept or guarded the bands of the destroyer,' or rather of tiie 'assaulter,' or ' invader' (generally translated 'robber' in the a. v., Ezek. vii. 22, xviii. 10; Dan. xi. 14), i.e. of Saul, as they lay sleeping in the cave; and when, very likely, as on the subsequent occasion in the ' trench,' ' a deep sleep from Jehovah was fallen upon them' (1 Sam. xxvi. 12), to put David thorouglily to the test, and reveal to all men his real intentions towards Saul. PSALM XVII. Gl Ver. 5. Held fast. — The Heb. verb means to ' hold fast,' as well as to 'uphold' (see Prov. iv. 4). It is in the hif. for the mdic, and ' steps' is the nom. to it. The verse is not a prayer for siistainitag grace in trying circumstances, but a declaration that David had not yielded to the temptation presented, but had held fast by liis duty to God and to the kuig. Ver. 6. Having spared Saul's life, and got solenm assurances from the king, he might have hoped to hve immolested for the future ; but he knew better, and therefore pleaded with God to interpose for liim, as he felt sure he would soon be assaulted again. Ver. 8. Skirts, or ' wings.' The Heb. word means either, and is all the more appropriate here, as it is the very one used when Da\"id cut off the ' skirt' of Saul's robe. David felt he would be safe imder God's skirts, though Saul's might afford no safety to hun who was underneath them. Milton uses this same word in reference to God, ' Dark with excessive bright thy skn-ts appear.' Ver. 10. In their fat enveloped. — This expression has been a great stumbling- block to interpreters, owing to their ignorance of the circimistances in which the Psalm was written. How natural it is, when we know those circumstances ! Between the accounts of the first and second sparing of Saul's hfe by David, there is introduced a chapter (1 Sam. xxv.) giving a description of one of these wicked men of Ziph, viz. Nabal the Carmelite ; and how applicable to them this expression of the Psalmist is, may be seen from what is said of Nabal (ver. 36) : ' Behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king,' etc. And the truth of what the Psalmist next alleges regarding them, ' "With their mouth they speak in pride,' is amply verified by Nabal's reception of David's messengers; for ' he flew upon them' (ver. 14, marg.), to borrow his servant's expression, and m the most contemptuous terms ridiculed their request (vers. 10, 11). These rich worldlings were sure to side with Saul, and hate changes. Beset our steps now.— The Ziphites got du-ections from Saul (1 Sam. xxiii. 22, 28) to go audi prepare yet, and see and knoiv David's haunt — to spy it out most acciu-ately ; and wiUingly and faithfully they did their part. Our blood — "|j^D*l — is by all interpreters joined to next verse, and translated ' his likeness,' which it might mean, if there were any sense in the preceding clause without it. But there is not ; for we naturally ask, ' to spread on earth ' . . . what ? I take the word to be the pi. of D*l, ' blood.' The sing, is used by David (1 Sam. xxvi. 20) ; but the pi. form is the poetic and impassioned one, and therefore used by Abigail (vers. 25, 26). The suffix will then mean our blood, not his ; and the sense of the whole clause will be, ' They set their eyes [on us], to spread on earth oiu: blood.' The word ' spread' is certainly peculiar m this connection ; but we have an equally peculiar one used by David on his deathbed (1 Kings ii. 5) regarding Joab, who ' shed,' I. ' put,' the blood of war in peace. Ver. 11. Panteth he. — While the Ziphites were finding out David's hamit, Saul was lying ready to spring on him the moment he was discovered, according to his own statement (xxiii. 23). Ver. 12. Brinr/ him to his knees. — How strikuig a description of the king, on discovering that he had been entu-ely in Da\'id's power ! His reply might have been uttered on his knees ; so humble, so penitential, so passionately full of entreaty it is. 02 PSALM XVIII. Ver. 12. With thij sword. — 'With' is a supplement, but the preposition is often left out wlu-n (he instrument is specified (see Ges. Gr. § 135 (3)). Exx. : ver. 10, icith their mouth ; Ps. xxx. 11, xliv. 2, Avhere ' with' should have been in itallca; Ix. 5, Ixxx. 10, Job xl. 10, xli. 15, Isa. i. 20 (cf. Ps. cxxvii. 2, n.). The pronoun tliy is emphatic. David said, ' Mine hand shall not be upon thee,' and repeats it in the next verse (xxiv. 12, 13). Ver. 14. Sons were specially desired, in preference to daughters. Ver. 15. Awakinfj, thy similitude. — This beautiful verse is in most instances greatly misunderstood. The Heb. word for 'similitude' is the same as occiu-s in Dcut. iv. 12, 'Ye saw no manner of similitude;' but Moses was privileged to see the 'similitude of God' (Num. xii. 8); and David on awaking at the resiurection expected to awake in it, in ' the express image' of liis Saviour ; and with this he would be satisfied — perfectly satisfied. What satisfied the world- lings mentioned in the preceding veree, covild never have satisfied liim. They were satisfied w^th much substance and many sons. David could be satisfied with nothing else but God's very similitude. Moses had seen it ; David hoped to share it. PSALM XVIII. By the Chief Musician, by the servant of Jehovah, by David, who spolie unto Jehovah the wovds of this song, in the day Jehovah rescued him from the hand of all his foes, and from the hand of Saul. And he said, 1 Jehovah, fervently do I Love"" thee, my strengthener : Jehovah is my clifF, ° my fort, And my deliverer. 2 My God 'moreover is* my rock ]^ Confide'" in him I do : My shield, and horn of my defence,' 'And'' my high bulwark 'too.'' ' not the com- 1111)11 word for ' love,' but a stronger. " and. "■ or, My God liiorcover, and" my rock. "■ l. take refuge. ' salvation. 3 Jehovah, worthy to be praised' Wlio is, I call upon ; And from mine adversaries "^ I Delivered'' am 'anon," Ps. slviii. 1. foes, saved. 4 The cords of death engirt me round, ° ]\Ie Belial's floods did friglit ; The cords^ of Hades'" compassed mc, Death's snares on me did light. " and. "■ tlic iinscen world. 5 I in my straits did call on JAH ;' " Cry to my God did I : ' Jehovah, " and. PSALM xviir. 63 He from liis temple heard my voice ; ° To his ears came my cry. 6 And 'then* the earth did shake and qnake ;'' 7 And of the mountains reel And shake did the foundations 'deep,"" Because he wroth did feel. before him. ' the allitera- tion is in the o. 7 Up in his nostrils went a smoke, And from his mouth there gleamed Devouring fire ; from out of it Enkindled coals there streamed. 8 ° He bowed the heav'ns, and down he came ; Thick darkness® 'neath his feet; ° Rode on a cherub, and did fly, ° On wing's of wind flew 'fleet." and. ° and. ° and. 9 Darkness he made his covering ; 1 1 'Did* round about him 'crowd" Darkness of waters for his tent, 'And"" masses black of cloud. "" 10 'But" from the brightness 'all" in front 12 Of him did past retire Away those masses black ^ of his — Hailstones and coals of fire. ■■ I. blacknesses of clouds. 11 Jehovah also in the heavens Did thunder 'in his ire ;'' And the Most High gave forth his voice- Hailstones and coals of fire. 13 12 His arrows also he sent out, And them he scattered ; His lightnings, too, abundantly,'' And them discomfited. 1 3 Then seen the waters' channels were ; The world's foundations cast Naked, at thy rebuke ; at breath, LORD, of thy nostrils' blast. 14 15 ' abundautl}', so H. ; others, 'His lightnings also forth he shot.' 14 He sent from high, took nie, drew me Great waters from amid : 16 64 PSALM XVIII. From my strong foe, my haters'" 'too/ 17 Mightier than I, me rid. 15 They me preceded*' in the day 18 Of my calamity ; Nevertheless, Jehovah was A 'firm* support to me. 16 And forth nnto a roomy place 10 He 'also" did me lead : , Because he had delight in me, He 'from their hands" me freed. ■■ I. my haters, for the}' were too strong for me. 17 According to my righteousness, Jehovah me repaid ; After ^ the cleanness of my hands, To me requital made.^ 20 requited me. 18 For I did keep Jehovah's ways, Nor wickedly did err From my God ; for *his judgments all Before me 'ever" were. 21 22 19 And from me I put not his laws ;' But with him was sincere : Likewise from mine iniquity I did myself keep clear. 23 ' statutes. 20 So me after my righteousness Jehovah did requite ; After the cleanness of my hands, Before his own eyesight. 24 21 Thou with the gracious one wilt show 25 Thine own self gracious 'too ;" With the sincere* man thou wilt show Thyself sincere 'and true ;" 22 Pure thou wilt 'also" manifest 26 Thyself with him that's pure ; But with the perverse show thyself A wrestler'^ wilt 'full sui-e.* 23 For the poor people save thou dost, 27 And high looks'" humblest 'still:" ' /. eyes. 1 PSALM XVIII. 65 For tliou my lamp dost light ; " my God My darkness brighten will. 28 Jehovah. 24 For, 'O Jehovah,"^ I by thee 29 Upon a troop do run ; *" And overleap a wall I do, By my God's 'help alone." 25 The God, whose way 'all'' perfect" is— 30 Jehovah's word is tried : He is a buckler' unto all That do in him confide.* ' H., Ges. ; or, A troop have broken through (D., W.). And 'by assistance of " my God, O'er- leap a wall I do. ^ sincere. ' shield. ' I. take refuse. ^^ For, save Jehovah, who is God? 31 Who but our God's a stay? The God who girdeth me with might, 32 And perfect^ makes my way : 27 Who makes my feet like hinds f and me 33 Upon my heights doth place ; Teaches my hands for war ; mine arm 34 Doth stretch a bow of brass.® 28 The shield of thy salvation, too, 35 Thou dost on me bestow ; "Thy right hand me supports, and great ° and. Thy mildness® makes me grow. 29 My footsteps under me, '0 God," Thou widenest 'besides;'' My ankles also totter not ; 'jNfy foot, it never slides.'' 36 30 Mine adversaries I pursue, And them I overtake ; Nor do I turn again, till I An end of them do make. 37 31 I dash them, and they cannot rise ; 38 They fall beneath my feet : "Thou girdest me with might for war ; 39 Beneath me thou dost beat E for. 66 PSAor XVIII. 32 Tliose that against me rise; and giv'st Mine en'mies by the neck To me ; and those that do me hate, I them extinguish® 'quick.'' 40 33 They cry aloud 'for aid," but no Deliverer is near ; Unto Jehovah, but their cry Jehovah' doth not hear. 41 'he. 34 I pound them then like to the dust, Before the mnd that flies : I pour them out like to the mire, Upon the street 'that lies." 42 35 Thou sav'st me from the people's strifes And for the Gentiles' head Appointest me : a people, I Knew not, serve me 'with dread." 43 30 At hearing of the ear, to me 44 Obedient they are;*" To me 'submission" feign the sons Of th' alien 'from afar." 37 Sons of the alien 'from afar" 45 Fade 'utterly" away; And 'ev'u" from out their fastnesses They tremble 'with dismay." ■ D., W., A.V. ; or, ' Upon tin- liearliig of tlie ear, Heard of by nie flifv are" (H.). ' 38 Jeliovah lives ; and blessed be My rock ; " exalted be The God of my salvation, who Revenges takes for me ; 46 nul. 39 And under me the peoples'^ slays;'" AVho saves me from my foes : Thou, 'O Jehovah," also dost Exalt* me over those 40 That up against me rise, 'and would ^le to destruction thrust ;" 'And" from the nian of violence Deliver me thou dost. 48 ■■ Tlie verb means so, 2 Cliron. xxii. 10 ; nor need wo wonder, for the nonn from it often means 'plap:iie.' No evidence tliat the verb sierni fies 'to siib(hie.' PSALM XIX. G7 4 1 For this cause, O Jehovah, 'then" 49 Give thanks to thee will I Among the Gentiles; and will play^ Unto thy name 'with joy." 42 His King's salvations" signalize" 50 Who doth ; and grace display To his Anointed, to David, And to his seed for aye. Ps. iv. H, 11. PSALM XIX. By the Cliiif Musician, a Psalm by David. 1 The heavens God's glory telling are, The skies'" his hands' work show : Day pours out speech to day ; and night Knowledge to night breathes 'low." 2 There is not speech, there are not words. Their voice is never '^ heard ; Gone into aU the earth's their line, To the world's end their word.' 3 In them he set the sun a tent, Who'" like a bridegroom 'bright" Comes from his couch ; to run his race Joys like a man of might. 4 From th' end of heaven's his going forth ; And round his course is 'wheeled" Unto the ends thereof; and nought Is from his heat concealed. ' I. the expanse. ■■ I. is not lieard (D.; cf. 2 Sam. i. 21 ; see Ew. § 286, !,) = is nuheard : though he gives it differ- ently in § 341 ' I. tidings. '■ I. and he. 5 Jehovah's law is perfect ; back It turns'" the soul again ; Jehovah's testimony's sure, And wise makes'" simple men. G Jehovah's precepts upright are. And do the heart rejoice ; Jehovah's charges clear, and do Illuminate the eyes. 7 Jehovali's fear is clean, and it Continueth for aye : /. turuins ' /. niakinc wise. 08 PSALM XX. Jehovah's judgments are the truth ; Entirely just are they. 8 'Far" more to be desired than gold, And much fine gold, they are ; "Sweeter than honey, and tlie di'op Of honey-combs 'by far." 9 Also by them admonished is Thy servant, 'gracious Lord;" 'Moreover," in observing them There is a great reward. 10 11 " and. 10 Errors, who is there can discern? 12 From secret ones me cleanse ; Keep back thy servant, too, from 'alP' 13 Presumptuous 'offence." 110 may they not 'at any time" Over me domineer : Then shall 1 blameless be, yea, be From much transgression clear. 12 The Avords, Jehovah, of my mouth, The musing of my heart Before thee^ favour find; my rock Thovi, and redeemer, art. U PSALM XX. By tlie Chief JIusician, a rsalm by Daviil. Jehovah in the day Of straits to thee reply ; O let the name of Jacob's God 'Now" set thee up on high.'" Forth from his sanctu'ry Let him thy succour send ; And out of Zion thee support, 'And graciously defend." Remember all thy gifts, '' Accept thy "sacrifice; Selah. Grant thee according to thy heart, Fulfil all thy device.' ■■ Ps. Ixix. 29, xci. 14. 3 ' nicat-offcr- iiigs. " biirut-sacri- 4 fieo. ' counsel. I PSAXM XXI. 69 la thy salvation we'll Shout ; and our banners will In om* God's name set up : the LORD Thy wishes all fulfil. Now do I know that saved His own Anointed One Jehovah hath ' assiu'edly : " He will reply 'anon'"" To him, from out the heavens Of his own holiness, In grand' acts of salvation 'wrought By' his right hand 'express." ' mighty, ■of. On chariots some, and some On horses, 'safety stake;* But of Jehovah, otu" God's name It is we mention make. We*^ rise and upright stand. But they* bow down and fall : Jehovah, save the king ; ^ reply To us the day we call. PSALM XXI. By the Chief ilusician, a Psalm by D.ivid. O joyful is the King, Jehovah, in thy might ; ^ In thy salvation how exults He with intense delight ! *" ■^ D. and others render, ' Jehovah save ; let the king reply ; ' but not so correctlj", for in next Psalm we find the king re- joicing over the salvation granted him (ver. 1). ' strength. 'A exceedingly. The longing of his heart Thou hast on him bestowed ; And thou the craving*" of his lips Hast not withheld, 'O God." Selah. ' The Hebrew word occui-H only here. For thou precedest® him With blessings 'manifold* Of goodness ; on his head dost set A crown of purest gold. 70 PSALM XXI. 4 He lilV' did ask of lliee: i Tlioii unto liim didst give A length ol" days ; for ever, yv:\, For evermore 'to live." ;") In thy salvation, 'too," 5 Great is his glory 'now ;" Magniiiccnce and majesty Upon him laid hast thou. G For thou I'or blessings hast 6 Him set for evermore ; And thoti hast made him radiant' ' {■ ' biightciicd With joy thy face before. in'a'lliiXn to' the brightness ^ ^^ T 1 1 1 1 r- "f Moses' fac-o. t I'or on Jehovah doth / The king 'for help" confide ; And through the grace of the Most High, He shall not ever slide. 8 Thy hand shall find out all 8 Who unto thee are foes ; As for thy haters — thy right hand Shall 'quickly" find out those.' i /. ^i,,, ,.i^iit hand sh:ill (iu I. at thf> timo Gud in his -\vrath shall swallow them, <-'^' *^y P'"*'" 'J'he fire shall them devour. 10 Thou 'clean" from oil' the earth 10 Abolish shalt their fruit ; And from among the sons of men Their seed thou shalt uprot)t. 1 1 For evil they, 'O LORD," 1 1 Against thee did conceive ; They meditated a device lieyond them to achieve. \2 For with tliy strings thou will. 12 'O God,** make tliem 'at once'"' 'J'he shoulder tiu-n ; thou wilt take aim Against their countenance. SOUCO. PSALM XXII. 71 13 Jehovah, in thy might,'' 13 Be thou exahed 'high ;" 'Thaf^ we may sing and celebrate Thy power 'triumphantlv." PSALM XXII. r>y the Cliief Musician, on the succour of hira who early sjeks,' ' 'on the hind of tlie a Psahn by David. moruing ' (a. v.). 1 My God, my God, O why 1 Forsaken me, 'my God," hast thou? Eemoteness from my HELP"^ " i-e. from thee, My cause ° is, for my roaring 'now." l^f ^!-P' f '''i^ '' ' " D salvation, as m Ps. .Yxxv. .S. 2 My God, I cry by day, 2 And there is no reply from thee ; In the night season too. Yet silence there is not for me.*^ 3 But thou art holy, thou 3 Who Isr'el's praises dwell'st amidst : Our fathers hoped in thee ; 4 They hoped, and them set free thou didst. 4 To thee they cried aloud, 5 And unto them deliv'rance came : On thee they set their hope,^ And they were not reduced to shame. 5 But as for me, 'alas !" 6 A worm and not a man I am ; I'm a reproach of men, And one the people do contemn. 6 All those, who me behold, 7 Of me a laughing-stock do make ; They open wide the lip. The head 'in mockery" they shake. 7 ' Roll'' thee upon the LORD,' 8 ' as in Ps. ' Let him set him at liberty : ' xxxvii. 5 ; LT 1 • 11- 1 • , Pro v. XVI. 3 ; 'Let hmi deliver him, p., h. ; not as ' For well in him delighteth he.' '" ^■^'- PSALM XXII. 8 But thou, 'indeed," art he, From out the womb that broke my way;' That caused me to hope® When on my mother's breast 'I Lay." 9 Upon thy 'gracious" care I from the 'very" lap was cast ; 'Yea," from my mother's womb My God 'assuredly" thou wast. 10 10 Be thou not far remote* From me, for tribulation's nigh And there no helper is 'At all in mine extremity." 11 1 1 Me many bulls beset ; 1 2 Strong ones of Bashan me surround : They ope their mouth on me, 13 Like lion ravening, roaring 'found." 1 2 Like water I'm poured out ; And all my bones do disunite : My heart's like wax become. Amid my bowels melted 'quite." 14 13 Dried like a sherd's my strength ; Fast to my jaws my tongue is grown ; And to the dust of death Thou me art 'swiftly" bringing down. 15 14 For dogs beset® me round ; 16 Me bands enclose of sinners 'fell." They pierce'" my hands and feet ; I all my bones 'distinctly" tell. 17 1 5 They look, they gaze at me ; My clothes among them they divide ; 18 And for my vesture cast The lot, 'possession to decide." ' See Ges. l^ex., with TregcUes' Doto on liis remarks. IG Then be not far remote* From me, Jehovah, 'in my need:' O thou, my Succourer,'' To my assistance come with speed.' 19 ' I. sucoDur : occurs ouly once. ' haste to luy I PSALM XXII. 17 My soul snatch from the sword ; 20 My lone'' one from the dog's 'fell" paw : O from the wild bull's horns* 21 Me save, and from the lion's jaw.* 18 Replied P to me thou hast : I'll to my brethren tell thy name : '" 22 Thy praises I amidst The congregation will proclaim.' 19 Ye who Jehovah fear, 23 O do him praise ; him glorify, All ye of Jacob's seed ; Dread him, all Isr'el's progeny." ■■ s. Ps. xsxv. 17 ; cf. Ps. XXV. 16 ; i.e. his body lying ' lonely ' in the grave, when separated from his soul. ' cf. John xvii. 26. ' I will praise thee. seed. 20 For he nor scorn'd nor loathed 24 Th' affliction of th' afflicted One ; Nor from him hid his face ; But heard, when he was called upon." 21 My praise shall be of thee 25 Within the congregation® great ; I Avill perform my vows In presence of thy fearers 'yet." ' at his cry to him. 22 Eat let the meek, and be Satisfied ; to Jehovah give Praise let his seekers 'now;" For ever let your heart revive.' 26 ' cf. Ps. Ixix. 32. 23 Remember let earth's ends, And to Jehovah all return : ° 'To"* bow before him let All kindreds of the Gentiles 'learn. 27 ° and. 24 For to Jehovah doth The kingdom 'rightly" appertain ; And he as Governor Doth o'er the Gentile ' nations ** reign. 28 25 Let earth's fat ones all eat,*" And bow® to him ; kneel let the whole To him' who turn to dust," For he did not preserve his soul. 29 ■■ W. : ' wail,' from a differeiil reading, I'^as. ' 'before him.' " who go down to the dust. 71 PSALM XXllI. 2() A seed shall unto him 30 Service 'coiUimially" yield;' ' 'sliiill servi' Unto the Lord it shall ''*'"•' Be for i\ generation held. 27 -l-'hey shall come 'forward, too," 31 And shall his righteousness make known Unto a people 'yet," That's to be born ; for it is done. Title. On the succour. — The A. v. and most others translate, ' On the hiad of the morning ;' but what has the hind of the morning to do with tliis Psalm ? David is often said to give very enigmatical titles to his Psalms ; but he is quite out- done by his translators. If his inscrii^tions seem dark and far-fetched to them, their translations of them would seem ten times more enigmatical to him. The word rendered ' hind' is almost identical with that rendered ' my succom-er,' or ' my strength,' in ver. 19 ; and the word rendered ' the morning' is the very word rendered ' he that diligently seeketh,' in Prov. xi. 27 ; and the two to- gether mean ' the succour of him that diligently seeketh.' And the whole Psalm is just a description of One who had been early and earnestly seeking, but apparently in vam ; who nevertheless was succoured in a manner so ample and wonderful, as to call forth the praises not of himself alone, but of all ages and all countries. Ver. 1. Remoteness. — The word in the o. is a substantive, as in Josh. iii. 4. When used as an adverb, there is a preposition prefixed. HELP — /. salvation. Christ speaks of Jehovah as his ' salvation ' in another Messianic Psalm (xxxv. 3). My cause. — ""im is not the plural, but the siiigadar, with the sultix of the first pers. pronoun = ' my cause,' ' my reason.' That 12T has this sense frequently, cf. Josh. V. 4, 1 Kings ix. 15, xi. 27, 1 Sam. xvii. 29, Ps. Ivi. 4 (note) ; (see Ges. Lex. sub voce). Ver. 25. — For he. — This rendering is given by "W., and is manifestly i-iglit. 1 has the sense of 'for' in the kindred passage, Isa. liii. 11, and often, as we have already remarked on Ps. iv. 3. The rendering of the A.\. is grammatically inadmissible, even if it were apposite. But the reason here adduced for imiverstd submission to the Messiah is the very reason given by Isaiah (liii. 12) for his luiiversal supremacy. Ver. 27. For it is done. — This seeius a far preferable rendering to that of the A. v., ' that he hath done this." The verb should be pointed ntJ'y in Pual, not nc'j; in Kill ; and answere to ' it is finished' of the Gospels, or 'it is done' of Rev. xxi. (>. Thus, on the cross, Christ made emphatic use of the first clause and of the last clause of this Psalm. PSALM XX III. Simple as this Psalm is, the exact shade of meaning it was intended to convej^ is generally missed. The whole of the verVis are in the future, except the one trans- PSALM XXIII. 75 lated ' anohitest, ' and should therefore Ije rendered in the same tense, and not in different tenses, as is commonly the case in English versions ; for there is nothing to cause a change from the one tense to the other. In the a. v. the first verb is rendered in the future, / shall not want ; and the rest, ■with one exception, in the indicative, till the last verse, where the future is resumed. This is not only un- justifiable, but it gives a twist to the sense. David does not mean to say, 'Jehovah is my shepherd, and therefore I shall not want in time coming ; surely goodness shall follow me my whole life through. ' What he means to say is, ' Jehovah is my shepherd, and hence / do not want ; he prepares a table for me in the very presence of those who hate and would destroy me ; nought but goodness and mercy follow me every day of my life.' He is not taking comfort as to what shall he, but gi-atefully acknowledging what is and lias been. It is quite a mistake in W. to suppose that the Psalm was David's first composi- tion, and peimed immediately after his consecration by Samuel. He could not have wi'itten it then. It must have been long after that, before he had occasion to be expressing his amazement at the goodness of God in preparing a table for him in the presence of his enemies. The Psalm was evidently written when supplies did not seem to be forthcoming, and he was tempted to have recourse to unjustifiable measures to procure them, but was unexpectedly and wondrously provided for by God. Hence he not only admii-es the goodness of God in not suffering him to want, but also in 'restoring his soul,' or bringing it back to the 'tracks of righteousness,' when it was like to leave them, as in the affair with Nabal. 'Ho period of his life suits better with every expression and allusion in the Psalm than that occasion. God's interposition for him in that crisis he considered, both at the moment and afterwards, as a very signal mercy. ' Blessed be Jehovah, God of Israel,' he said to Abigail, 'who sent thee this day to meet me ; and blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou who hast kept me this day from commg to shed blood.' And on hearing of Nabal's death, he exclaimed again, ' Blessed be Jehovah, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from eoil.' He perceived at once to whom he was indebted for the supjplies, and for his extrication from a verj^ unhappy predicament, in which he had rashly placed himself. And hence he breaks forth : ' Jehovah is my shepherd, I want not. He makes me lie down in grassy pastures : he turneth back my soul into the tracks of righteousness ; and walking though 1 am in the very shadow of death at the time, I fear not : for thou art with me, and dost prejyare a table for me before the eyes of the men who are dogging my steps. Only goodness and mercy befall me, and my dwelling is prepared in thy hoiise for ever.' In this way we have a connected and beautiful meaning, exactly harmonizing with the facts of David's life. The ima.gery, too, naturally springs out of his situation at the time ; for the flocks of Carmel were feeding around him, and he was daily mingling with their shepherds ; and the gloomy horror of the neighbouring defiles si^fficiently accounts for the strong expression, 'the vale of the shadow of death.' A r=alrn by DavKl. 1 Jehovah is my shepherd ; Not siifFer waut do I : 111 meads he makes me lit Of tender grass ; to waters Of rest he leads me nigh. 76 PSALM XXIV. 2 'And'^ back my soul he turnetli ; Me 'also^ in the ways' Of 'truth and* righteousness, He for his name's sake guideth, 'In kindness of his p;race.* I. Mi-acks--.' 3 The vale ev'n of the shadow '' Of death Avhen I walk through, I fear no ill ; for thou Art with me ; 'and* thy sceptre*' And staff me comfort do. ■■ i.e. of extreme peri], not 'tlie vale ' if death itself.' 4 Before me thou a table Prepar'st, in face of those'' Who unto me are foes ; My head with oil enrichest ; "^ My cup quite overflows.'" 5 The whole days of my life 'long* Only® benignity* And goodness* follow me ; And in GOD'S house my dwelling A length of days® shall be.*" the Ziphites. '■ /. makest fat ; ef. Eccles. ix. 8. ■■ /. is 'abiiudaiit driuk.' Ver. 2. Waters of rest — I. 'of rests,' i.e. the waters beside which the flocks lie down to enjoy rest — complete rest : not, as ui A. v., still waters (of. Gen. xxix. 2 ; Song i. 7). Ver. 3. Turneth hack — A. v. 'restoreth;' but the meaning here is, 'briugeth back when going astray ;' not, ' reviveth, refresheth.' Ver. 4. Sceptre. — Jehovah was a royal shepherd, and had his kingly sceptre to protect the flock, as well as his shepherd's staff or crook. ' Club ' does not at all suggest the proper idea. Ver. 6. My dwelling. — This seems preferable to the rendering '/shall dwell,' and to the rendering ' I shall retm-n ' (see H.). PSALM XXIV Composed on occasion of removing the ark to Zion ; the first part (vers. 1-6) sung before reaching the gates of 'the city of David ;' the second part (vers. 7-10) sung when arrived at the doors. Each stanza in the first part Avas sung by two divisions, the one responding to the other. In the second part, the singers in the tabernacle of Zion are introduced as a third division. From 1 Chron. xv. 22 we learn that Chenauiah was the master of the song on that occasion. So I have put 0. for his name, as heading the first division, and R. for the respondents, and Z. for the sinL'ers in Zion. PSALM XXIV. 77 C. B. By David, a Psalm. The earth 'itself^ Jehovah's is, 1 The fulness of it 'his** as well, The Avorld and they therein that dwell ; For he it was who on the seas 2 Of old 'time* its foundations laid, And on the floods it 'stablished. C. 2 Who is it that, 'all fear apart,* Shall to Jehovah's hill ascend ? Who in his holy place shall bend ?' li. The clean of hands, the pure in heart ; His soul to what's but light"" who ne'er Lifts up, nor to deceit doth swear. C. 3 He from Jehovah blessing 'rich* Shall bear away,^ and righteousness From his redeeming God' 'possess.* R. This is the generation which Seeks for him; Jacob's 'genuine* Inqiiirers for thy face 'divine.* Selah. C. 4 Lift up your heads, ye gates ; '' and you. Eternal doors, be lifted high : °lhe King of glory cometh nigh. Z. The King of glory, who's this, 'who?* R. Jehovah, strong and great in might ; Jehovah, mighty in the fight. C. 5 Lift up your heads, ye gates ; and ye. Eternal doors, uplift them high : °The King of glory cometh nigh. Z. This® King of glory, Avho is he? B. Jehovah Sabaoth"" 'is this;* He, 'he* the King of glory is. Selah. 10 stand. '' or ' hollow- '■ lift up. ' God of his salvation. ■■ 'those ancient everlasting gates,' which no conqueror had yet burst open ' (Stan- ley's Sinai and Palestine, \x 170), till Joab took Ziou by climbing the steep ascent. " and. " and. i.e. ITosts. Yer. 4:. What's hut light, or hoUoicness. — There are three words translated ' vanity ' in the A. v. There is p''") (Ps. iv. 2), meaning ' a vain thing ' (and so rendered Ps. ii. 1), 'an impossibility,' a thing you vainly attempt to accomplish. There is ~i3n, meaning 'a breath,' 'fleetingness,' 'trausitoriness,' found in the celebrated expression of the Preacher, 'vanity of vanities,' and employed by the Psalmist in Ps. xxxix. 5. And there is a^iy here employed, and signifying ' hollowness,' a thing of no worth or consequence ; or again, ' hollowuess,' ' insincerity,' ' falsehood.' It is the word used in the third commandment, and is there connected, as here, with the verb ' to Uft up' — /. thou shalt not lift up the name of Jehovah thy God to what is light, to hollo'wuess, i.e. to a thing of no 78 psAur XXV. conscquencA' or importance ; in other words, lightly, frivolously, making use of it on trifling occasions, as little or notliing more than an expletive. This thou shalt not do, for it is a ' glorious and fearful name,' and to be used or lifted up only on great and solemn occasions. Commentators agree that there is a refer- ence here to the third commandment ; but there is not less surely a reference to Dcut. xxiv. 15, where the command is given not to withhold the hire of the labourer, for ' he lifteth up his heart to it ' as a thing of consequence to him, though of trifling worth to richer people. The man who shall a.scend to •lehovah's hill, is a man who does not set his heart on trifles, on earthly objects, which, despite their apparent attractions, are hollow, unsubstantial, and ini- satisfying. Ver. 4. Lift up. — I have endeavoured to preserve, iu the fourth and fifth stanzas, the little variations of the original. PSALM XXV. The first of the alphabetical Psahns, which are seven in number (the 25th, 34th, ;i7th, 111th, 112th, 119th, 145th). The alphabetical arrangement is not strictly adhered to ; 1 and p, answering in position though not in soiind to F and T, are both wanting ; and 1, answering to U or V, occiirs twice ; and after n, answering to Y, there is a verse added, beginning with Q, answering to R. These peculi- arities I have endeavoured to retain, though I have not been able to retain the same numljer of verses as iu the original. The Psalmist's object iu adopting the alphal>etieal arrangement was doubtless to assist the memory ; and those Psalms ■where it obtains were specially intended to be learnt by heart. By David. ^loft to thee I lift mv soul, O LORD my God ■. on tbee ^uild trust ; let me not be ashamed. My foes not joy o'er me. 9 2 ^anse shame to none that Jo on thee 3 Expectingly depend ; Let those be put to shame, that do Without a cause offend. o ^0 thou make me to know thy ways ; 4 ^ Teach me thy patlis, O LOED ; ' '^ver'^ direct me in thy truth, 5 And teach me 'by thy word.'"* 4 ^for thou of my salvation art ■ wnutiui:: in »> The God, 'my fortress strong:" 'And'' I expectingly depend'' On thee, the whole day long. PSAL]\r XXY. 79 5 (threat God/ remember thou, 'I prny/ Thy sympathies 'for me,^ And loving-kindnesses, for they Are from eternity.^ (5 ' /. Jthovali. 'cf. Ps. xciii. 2.' 6 Mave no remembrance of my sins Of youth,'" and trespasses :^ LORD, for thy goodness' sake, do me Remember in*" thy grace/ 7 Jehovah good and upright is, The way he'll sinners show ; '^indly^ the meek in judgment guide, ^ ° The meek his way make know. "■ I. the sins of my youth. ' transgres- sions. ■■ according to. ' loving-kiml- direct. ' anil. l^oving-kindness* and truth are all Jehovah's paths 'full sure,** To those who keep his covenant. And testimonies 'pure.*^ 10 3ftly 'guilt and miue'^ iniquity, Jehovah, do remit, Ev'n for thine own name's sake ; For fjreat 'indeed^ is it. 11 10 'Mow,* whosoever'' is the man 12 That doth Jehovah fear. He shall instruct^ him in the way To which he should adhere.'" 11 @f good his soul shall 'likev/ise* have 13 A long continuance ; *" And his seed shall possess the land As their inheritance. D, W. shoAV. ■■ I. which he should choose. 12 13 'pertain* unto his fearers doth 14 The secret of the LORD ;"• And knowledge of his covenant He doth to them afford. *" '^i^uite'^ constantly mine eyes are towards 15 ' The Lord''' Jehovah set ; For he it is that shall bring forth My feet out of the net. ■■ cf. Gen. xviii. 17. ■" I. he makes them know his covenant. 80 PSALM XXVI. 14 '^ound'' unto mc O turn thyself, And pity manifest Thou unto me ; for I am lone,"* And with aflliction pressed. 1 5 borrows do overllow my heart ; '" Me from my straits* reheve ; ^iew mine affliction^ and my pain, And all my sins forgive. IG ^ievf thou mine adversaries^ 'too,'' For they do 'still^ increase;'" And with a hatred violent'' 'To'' hate me 'do not cease. ^ 16 17 19 ' s. Ps. xxii. 20, XXXV. 17. ' I. .spread themselves over my (D.). ' difficulties, Ps. evil. 6. foes. Ps. iii. 1. 17 ^j^atch o'er my soul, 'Jehovah, then,'' 20 And do thou rescue me ; Let me not be ashamed, for I Do refuq-e take in thee. 18 'Wea," let integrity " keep me, For I on thee repose : ^ Redeem thou Israel, O God, From out of all his woes.^ 21 " and uj)rigbt- ness. ' expeetingly depend. Ver. 14. A7id knoivledge. — This clause has received various renderings, thus : ' Knowledge to them his covenant Is also to afford ' — I. ' And his covenant is to make them know' (G., Y.) ; while W. translates, ' In order to make them know his covenant' — ' Them knowledge of his covenant In order to afford.' PSALM XXVI. Written apjiarently on the assassination of Ishbosheth by Baanah and Rechab, to protest bis imiocence of all participation in the horrid crime. Ari/umeiif,: — (1) David has hitherto acted a blameless pai't, and left his advance- ment to (jrod, ver. 1 ; (2) he appeals to God if it be not so, vers. 2, 3 ; (3) he has not allied, and will not now ally, himself with mcked men, vers. 4, 5 ; (4) bnt will maintain uiiimpaii-ed his connection with God, vers. 6-8 ; (5) he prays not to be ranked with the perpetrators of this murder when the judgment comes, vers. 9, 10 ; (6) and engages to maintain an equal blamelessness in the future, vers. 11, 12. By David. 1 Judge me, Jehovah, for I've Avalked 1 In mine integrity ' with care ; " And have upon Jehovah placed Keliance : waver*^ will I ne'er. PSALM XXVI. 81 2 Prove me, Jehovah ; ° try thou me : 2 Pure"" are my reins and heart 'indeed ;^ For thy grace was before mine eyes, 3 And in thy truth I've walked 'with heed.^ 3 With men of falsehood I've not sat, 4 Nor with dissemblers will go 'yet ;* I've hurtful^ men's assembly loathed,*" 5 Nor will I with the wicked sit. " and. ■■ s. Ps. cxix. 140. I. ' hated 4 I'll wash my hands in innocence, 6 And will thine altar compass, LORD ; To make the voice of thanks be heard, 7 And all thy wondrous deeds record. 5 The habitation of thy house, 8 Jehovah, — O, I love it 'well;* Yea, 'dearly love* the place where 'doth" Thy glory tabernacling dwell. 6 With sinners gather not my soul ; 9 My life with men that blood have spilled : ^ In whose hands villany there is, 10 And with a bribe*" their right hand's filled. 7 And I in mine integrity 11 Will walk ; redeem me, ° show me grace : In uprightness'' my foot doth stand, 12 I'll in the choirs® Jehovah bless. I. of bloods. ■■ the head of Ishbosheth. " and. " Ps. xlv. 6, cxliii. 10. Ver. 1 . Judge. — There is no need and no propriety in puttmg on the Heb. verb another meaning than ' judge,' its invariable signification. David wished to be ' tried,' that it might be seen whether he had any hand, or even any pleasure, in the assassination. The address of Baanah and Rechab was so worded as to be apt to convey the unpression that he had instigated them to the deed. In mine integrity. — David had all along acted an upright and honourable part towards Saul and towards his son ; And had trusted for his elevation to Jehovah's interposition, and not to the aid of assassins, or the arts of wickedness. Wave?- — and he would not now waver ui the prmciples which had hitherto guided him, and resort to nefarious means for the accomplishment of his ends. H. and W. translate, ' may I not slide,' showmg that they quite misunderstand the main design of the Psalm, as well as overlook the fact that it is X7, and not i3^5, that is here used. Those equally mismiderstand the Psalmist's idea, who translate, ' and therefore I shall not slide.' Ver. 2. Pure, as in Ps. cxix. 140 — I. pm-ged or purified. The Masorites, from similar misapprehension of the purport of the Psalm, go so far as to change the F 82 PSALM XXVII. text here, aud to make it read, • O purify' — an alteration adopted by the A. v., and even by D. : for, says he, the text reading involves a contradiction ; for why begin the Psalm by asking what he here declares himself to possess? But where does he ask for it ? Neither in this verse nor the preceding. He merely asks God to examine him, to test him, to judge him, and see whether he be not as pure as he here represents himself to be. Ver. 3. For tin/ grace ' was before mine eyes' — i.e. either as my motive, or as my model, or perhaps as both. 'I wished to find grace' in thy sight — to retain thy favoiu- ; or, I wished to exemplify the grace and mercy exhibited by thee. Ver. 4. With men. — He had never courted the co-operation of unprincipled men — of villains like Rechab and Baanah — and he never would. How aptly chosen are the epithets he here applies to them : ' men of falsehood,' for they were both caj^tains in the service of Ishbosheth ; ' dissemblers,' for they came into his house ' as though they would have fetched wheat ;' ' hurtful men,' for ' they slew a righteous person in his own house upon his bed,' and he their veiy king ; ' wicked men,' for they could scarcely have been guilty of a greater crime. Instead of ' hurtful men,' the A. v. gives ' evil-doers;' but D'^yiD rather means, ' harmful, injui-ious men,' than ' evil-doers' or bad men, — a shade of meaning to which the next term (D''J?EJ^")) more nearly answers (see the note on Ps. xcii. 11, and cf. Ps. xv. 3, 4). Ver. 6. / ivill wash — I will protest and will prove mine innocence ; which he did in executing the murderers. And icill conipdss — i.e. that I may compass, as indeed the words might be rendered, and probably had better be rendered ; for i has often this meanmg (see Ps. V. 11). If implicated in the least degree in the guilt of Ishbosheth's death, he could not have approached the altar of God with the slightest hopes of acceptance. Ver. 7. To male — cf. Ezek. xxvii. 30 (see Ges. Le.x. sxh Iliphil (1)). Ver. 9. Sinners — (see Ps. i. 1). Ver. 10. A bribe — Ishbosheth's head, which they brought as a bribe to in- gratiate themselves with David, and secure a high post in his service, and which they handed to him with a very artfully framed speech. With such reprobates David prays God not to gather his soul. A'er. 11. And. — He engages, if his prayer be heard, to ailhere to the same principles of integrity and honour that have hitherto guided his conduct. PSALM XXVII. Written, I incline to think, after Jonathan came to visit him iu the wood, and to ' strengthen his hand in God' (1 Sam. xxiii. IG) ; and not, as W. fancies, at the proposed removal of the ark (1 Chron. xiii. 2), nor, as D. supposes, during Absa- lom's revolt. By David. 1 Jehovah is my light and help,' 1 ' salvation. Who shall make me afraid y '/• of whom sliall I be afraid ? PSALM XXYII. 83 Jehovah is my hfe's defence, Who shall make me dismayed '? •■ 2 'Gainst me, when hurtful'" men drew near To eat my flesh — these 'all" Are enemies and foes to me — They stumbled and did fall. ■■ of whom shall I be dismayed ? ■■ Ps. xxvi. 4, note. Against me though a host encamp, My heart 'yet" fearless^ is ; Though war against me rise, I'll feel Secure "" despite of this." One thing I've of Jehovah asked ; That will I seek — that stay Within Jehovah's house, the whole Days of my life, I may. '■ is not afraid. ' s. Job. xi. 18 ; I'rov. xi 1.5, xiv. IG, xxviii. 1 ; Isa. xxxii. 9, 10, 11. " Lev. xxvi. 27 ; Ps. Ixxviii. 32. 5 The beauty'' of Jehovah that, 'In vision," I may view :*■ And that I in his holy place May make inquiry 'too." 6 For me, in his pavilion, he Shall hide in evil days ;' In secret of his tent secrete ;** Shall on a rock me raise. ■■ s. Ps. xc. 16. ■■ The word in o. is the one used in refer- ence to the prophets see- ing: the visions of God, Isa. i. 1 ; Hab. i. 1, etc. ' the day of evil. 7 At present even, shall my head Be raised above my foes, 'And adversaries all" who me Do round about enclose.' 8 And in his tabernacle I'U The sacrifices '" pay ' Of joyfulness ; 'yea," I will sing. And to Jehovah play. ' round about iiie. cf. Ps. liv. 6. /. sacrifice. 9 'Jehovah, hearken to my voice,"^ Imploringly" I'll cry ; ' And be thou gracious unto me. And unto me reply.'* 10 O hath he unto thee, my heart," Said ? ' Seek my face do ye ; ' " not the be- ginning of Part. II., as most interpre- ters imagine. There is no such division. 84 PSALM XXVIII. Thy face, Jehovah, will I seek ; Hide not thy face from me. 1 1 Tarn not thy servant off in wrath, O thou my help that wert : O God of my salvation, leave Me not, nor me desert. 12 For'' my father and mother 'both" Have me deserted 'clean ; " Then let" Jehovah 'stretch his arms," 'And" gather^ me 'within." 13 Jeliovah, point me out thy way, And lead me in the path Of uprightness,® because of those Observing® me 'in wratli." 14 Give me not to mine enemy's*" will : For up against me do False witnesses arise, and he® Is breathing vilence 'too." 1 ■■ not ' when (a.v.), nor ' tllOllgll.' 11 * Ps. xxvi. 12. ^ cf. Ps. liv. 5, n. ' rather than enemies'. 12 Saul. 15 Had it not been that I believed 13 That I should 'yet again" The goodness of Jehovah see. In land of living men ...!'' 16 Rest thou upon Jehovah 'then ;" 14 Of courage be possessed, And he shall fortify thy heart : Then on Jehovah rest. ' what would have become of me ? PSALM XXVIII. There can 1)C very little doubt that this Psalm was written on the murder of Abner. The whole strain of it as well as a number of epithets and expressions in it eminently accord with this supposition, as will Tte seen in the notes. With no other supposition is the accord at all so perfect. One can scarcely doubt that I)a^^d would compose a Psalm on such an occasion ; and if he did, none has so strong claims as this Psalm to be considered the one he penned. The very strongest feelings of his nature were roused. He was filled with indignation at the perpetrators of the deed, witli horror at their crime, with grief for their princely victim, with apprehension of the consequences to his kingdom of such high- handed wickedness, and with a sense of his o^v^l inability to chastise it condignly. So affected was he with this act of villany, that lie kept it in remembrance to his dying day. and with his dying breath charged his son Solomon to avenge it (1 Kings PSALM XXVIII. 85 ii. 5). We may therefore very certainly conclude that this was the occasion on which the Psalm was composed. Arfjument : — (1) Da\ad prays God not to break off communion with him on account of this atrocity, vers. 1, 2 ; (2) not to involve him in the doom of its perpetrators, ver. 3 ; (3) but to inflict condign punishment on them, vers. 4, 5 ; (4) thanks him for granting his request, ver. 6 ; (5) declares he has all along left it with God to advance him, and has had cause only for thankfulness, vers. 7, 8 ; (6) closes by imploring, instead of the dreaded curse, the rich blessing of God on the kingdom, ver. 9. By David. 1 To thee, Jehovah, do I call ; 1 My rockjS to me dumb be uot thou : Lest if thou silent'* be, ° I grow " to me. Like those down to the pit that go: Hear my entreaty's voice, when 'now"' 2 I cry to thee ; my hands as well Lift toward thy holy oracle. Draw me not off with wicked men 3 And workers of iniquity ; ^ Unto their neighbou.rs speaking peace, While evil in their heart there is : O unto them giv« 'speedily," 4 According to their work 'and meeds," And to the evil of their deeds. After the doing of their hands O give them ; their desert repay Them, for they neither understand 5 Jehovah's work, nor of his hand^ The doing 'comprehend •.'^ O mav He pull'' them down 'in anger then," And not build up 'such wicked mtn.' O blessed let Jehovah be, 6 For lieard he hath my entreaty's voice : Jehovah is my strength and shield ; 7 On him my heart its trust did build, And I have helped been : rejoice Accordingly doth 'now" my soid,^ And with my song I'll him extol. Jehovah's to his people'" strength : 8 And of deliv'rances® is he To his anointed one"" a rock :' Save thou, 'Jehovah," thine own folk;''- 9 And blessing down 'abvmdantly" On thine inheritance outpour," "Them feed and carry evermore. Ps. V. 5. bands. them. heart. ■^ See the note. ' i.e. David liimself. ' fortress. ^ people. ' bless thine iDheritance. ° and. 86 PSALM XXVIII. Ver. 1. My rock. — 1 have preserved the order of the original, for the sake of preserving the aiubigixity of the 0. The expression 'my rock' may either be joined to the words that precede or to those that follow it. The meaning David intends to convey by calling God his rock he afterwards explains in ver. 7, as being the One on whom he depended for supjiort — the One on whom he depended for his fuller exaltation ; and possibly with the additional idea that he was One who was stedfast in his ways, and would not, like another Joab, compromise him by some unexpected and unworthy act. Lest. — David was sensible that so great a crune must be publicly disclaimed by him, if he would ' escape the righteous judgment of God ; ' hence the moment he heard of it, he cried out, ' I and my kingdom are [be] guiltless before Jehovah for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner. Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house' (2 Sam. iii. 28, 29, 37): and he craves an audience of God here, that he may renew liis disclaimer. Ver. 2. M;i cri/. — For as David lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, so he lifted up his cry to God, protesting his innocence ; anr^as he could not go to Gibeah, where the ark was (2 Sam. vi. 3), he lifted up his hands toir arris the tabernacle, praying with his face Toward the hoJij oracle. — This is a striking name given to the sanctuary of God. Just as the heathen used to go to some famous temple to consult the oracle, so the sanctuary of the living God was not only the place for worship, but for asking oracular counsel. The priest with the Urun and Thummim returned the divine response, just as the priest or priestess of Jupiter or Apollo delivered the response of these divinities. David himself often ' inquired of the LORD' in this manner (1 Sam. xxii. 10, xxiii. 9; 2 Sam. v. 19, 23); and of Ahithophel's counsel it was said, that it was ' as if a man had uiquired at the oracle of God' (2 Sam. xvi. 23). Ver. 3. Draw me not off. — He uses a kindred expression on a kindred occa- sion (Ps. xxvi. 9). A good man loathes to be located among the wicked here (2 Pet. ii. 8) ; and it must be unspeakably worse to be associated \\\\\\ them in the world to come. With loicked men — the very epithet he applies to the perpetrators of this deed in 2 Sam. iii. 34. The word is in the pi., because Abishai as well as Joab was concerned in it (vers. 30, 39). Speakinf/ peace. — Joab ' took Abner aside to speak with him quietly,'' or peace- ably, as m the margin — I. in peace or tranquillity ; or, perhaps, ' concerning peace or tranquillity,' for it was on that en\and Abner came. While evil — the very word he uses, 2 Sam. iii. 39 : ' Jehovah shall reward the doer of evil according to his evil.'' Ver. 4. Give them according to their irork. — This is merely the preceding quotation converted into a prayer ; and in that same verse we find one cliief reason stated for the prayer, — the fact, namely, that David could not punish them himself; for 'these men, the sons of Zeruiah, were too hard for' him. Ver. 5. For. — It seems better to translate so, and join the verse with what precedes, rather than translate ' because,' and join the verse with what folloAvs. Neither understand. — We have here an explanation of Joab's hateful deed. He could not calmly leave the subversion of Saul's house in God's hands ; could not wait the slowness of God's providence ; could not comprehejid the wisdom PSALM XXVIII. 87 of God's procedure ; and therefore he was ready to seize any opportunity how- ever base, to resort to any expedient however treacherous, to compass this end ; in perfect contrast to David himself, who diu-Lug the life of Saul resisted with horror the most tempting chances of cutting him off ; and even after the death of Saul manifested an equal horror of hastening events by sinful means (2 Sam. iv. 9-12). Many are like Joab. They cannot calmly wait for desirable changes till these can be effected in an honourable way, bub hurry them on by an unscrupulous resort to any baseness, not kuowiag that in douig so they are acting as unwisely as they are actmg wickedly. The proper time is never come, till the change can be effected without recom-se to imAvorthy means. There was another reason prompting Joab and Abishii to the commission of this crime. They slew Abner, 'because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle' (2 Sam. iii. 30) ; but even if Abnjr had been to blame m that matter, they did ' not understand Jehovah's work, nor the doing of Ms hands,' and imitate Ms merciful and forgiving treatment of the provokers of Ms wrath, and remember that vengeance was his work, and not theirs, accordhig to what was written, 'To me belongeth vengeance and recompense' (Dent, xxxii. 35). Pull them down. — They were too firmly seated for David to dispost them. He actually made the attempt years afterwards, and failed (2 Sam. xix. 13, XX. 8). God, however, could easily bring them low ; and David here prays Mm to put forth his hand and pull them down, and not allow the removal of then- great rival to consolidate then' power. Ver. 6. He hath heard — as David had asked him to do (ver. 2). Of this David had proof, in the conviction universally prevalent, even tliroughout the kingdom of Israel, that David had no hand in the mm'der ; ' for all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner ; ' ' and it pleased them, as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people' (2 Sam. iii. 37, 36). Ver. 7. Jehovah is. — David had been anointed by Jehovah ; his whole depend- ence was on Jehovah ; he had ever left it to Jehovah to plead Ms cause ; and he had hitherto experienced Jehovah's help as he required it ; and he would still leave it to Jehovah to put him in possession of the full dominion promised Mm, in Jehovah's own time. Ver. 8. To his people. \'Oll?- The textus receptus has "lO?, ' to them.' The two expressions sound very much alike, but the sense requires the former ; for there are no persons specified before, to whom the pronomi 'to them' can refer. Several Jiss. have the readmg "lOy?, and it is supported by the Sept., Syriac, and Vulgate versions, and adopted by many modern translators. There is a kiudi-ed expression at the close of next Psalm, ver. 11. Deliverances. — David had been deUvered from many different dangers on many different occasions. His anointed one — i.e. David himself, who speaks of huuself mider this cha- racter ou this very occasion (2 Sam. iii. 39), and frequently (Ps. xviii. 50, Ixxxiv. 9). Ver. 9. Save thou. — Such a murder was fitted to knit in firmer bonds the adherents of Ishbosheth, and rouse their indignation to the utmost ; and enough to bring down the vengeance of Heaven upon the land, had it not been the deed 88 rSALM XXIX. of Zeniiah's sons alone, and publicly and sulcninly disowned by David ; and everything done to show both the kuig's and the nation's abhorrence of it. Feed — /. act the part of a shepherd to them. Carry — as in Isa. xl. 11, Ixiii. 9 — rather than 'lift up.' PSALM XXIX. A Psalm by Davitl. 1 Ascribe to Jehovali, ye sons of the mighty, 1 Strength* and glory* ascribe to Jehovah 'with awe;" The glory ascribe of his name^ to Jehovah, 2 ■■ Vs. xcvi. 7, In grandeur of holiness bow ye to JAH.' " ' Jehovah. 2 The voice of Jehovah is over® the waters ; 3 The God of all' glory doth thunder 'on high ;" ' the. Jehovah is over the masses of waters, 'The masses of waters o'erspreading the sky.* 3 The voice of Jehovah 'replete'^ is with grandeur;^ 4 The voice of Jehovah 'replete" is with might;* The voice of Jehovah is breaking the cedars ; 5 ° JAH' breaketh the cedars on Lebanon's 'height." ° yea. ' Jehovah. 4 lie maketh them also to skip like a bullock ; 6 'Mount" Lebanon 'ev'n," and Sirion 'too," 'He maketh to skip" like a buffalo's young one: The voice of Jehovah 'with" fire-ilanies doth hew. 7 5 The voice of Jehovah is shaking the desert ; 8 Jehovah the desert of Kadesh doth shake : The voice of Jehovah the hinds brings to travail ; And naked' the forests it 'swiftly" doth make: ' hare. 6 And every one thing in his temple says ' Glory ! ' At the flood sat Jehovah, and never shall ° cease 10 " Jehovah. To sit king: ' strength Jehovah shall give to his i^eople, 1 1 ' .shall sit king Jehovah shall bless his own people with peace. for ever. Ver. 2. Grandeur — or ' majesty,' as the word is generally translated ; but grandeur answers better here, because it better preserves the ambiguity of the Ileb. word, which refers either to the splendid apparelling of the worshipper, or the inherent majesty of holiness itself. Ver. 3. The masses of tcatcrs — i.e. the clouds collected in masses all over the sky. ^'er. 7. With. — For the omission of the prep, see Ps. xvii. 13, cxxvii. 2. i PSALM XXX. 89 Duth hew — the proper meauiug of the word (Isa. x. 15 ; Prov. ix. 1), refer- ring to the lightniug sphtting the trees. Ver. 9. Hinds. — G. and others render ' oaks,' and translate the clause thus : The voice of Jehovah the oaks splits asunder. Glorij — not ' his gloiy ; ' for there is no pronoun in the o. While God is exhibitmg liimseK in such majesty, everything cries out ' Glory !' Ver. 10. At the flood — of Noah. The original word is never used for any other flood, but reserved for Noah's exclusively. It is quite a different term that is employed in Ps. xxiv. 2. 'At' or 'for' the flood, not 'upon.' The prepos. is not the same as in ver. 3 ; and the meaning is not merely that Jehovah sat upon the waters of Noah as he sits upon the thimder-cloud, but that he sat/oj- judgment at the deluge : ' bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly ' (2 Pet. ii. 5). Ver. 11. Strength to his people. — While Jehovah puts on his robes of terror in the thunder-storm, he will ' give strength to his people.' TVTiile the torrents of rain and soimds of dread remind them of the destroying flood of old, they are as safe as Noah was in that terrible time, for he will ' bless his own people with peace.' The Psaku, says one, begins mth ' Gloi-y to God in the highest,' and ends with 'Peace on earth.' God's people can only 'asci'ibe' strength to him, but he can 'give' strength to them (cf. Ps. xxviii. 7, 8). PSALM XXX. The inscription tells us that this Psalm is ' by David, ' and that it was written ' at the dedication of the house,' i.e. of the house of Jehovah. For though TnP stands at the close of the inscription, the meaning is not ' at the dedication of the house of David, ' as in A. v. ; for in such a case 0^3 is followed by the gen. and not by p (Gen. xliii. 17, xlv. 16 ; Judg. xvii. 4 ; 1 Sam. xxxi. 10 ; 1 Kings xvi. 9). Tn? unites here, as in so many other inscriptions, with "llIDTO — ' a Psalm by David.' Then we have the purport of the Psalm stated in the intervening words. It is 'the song of the dedication of the house,' i.e. of 'the hovise of Jehovah God,' as he styles it in 1 Chron. xxii. 1. David had numbered the people ; Jehovah was displeased ; a pestilence was sent ; the destroying angel was stretching his hand over Jerusalem. David lifted his eyes and saw him, and implored that the vengeance might fall on him, and on his father's house ; and the people be spared. On this, Gad was instructed to bid David go up and erect an altar to Jehovah on Mount Moriah, in the threshing- floor of Oman. Da^^d immediately did so, and God ' answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt-offering' (1 Chron. xxi. 26) ; and when David saw that Jehovah answei'ed him in Oman's threshing-floor, 'then he sacrificed there' (ver. 28) ; and ' David said, This is the house of Jehovah God, and this is the altar of the burnt-off'ering for Israel' (xxii. 1), i.e. This is the site of the temple that is to be built for Jehovah, and of the altar for Israel's sacrifices. And he 'dedicated' it then and there as the place most holy to Jehovah thenceforward ; and this 30th Psalm is the song which he sung on the occasion — ' the song of the dedication of the house ;' and the contents entirely accord with this explanation. 90 PSALM XXX. A Psalm — the Song of the Dedication of tlic House- — b.v David. 1 Jehovah, I will thee extol, 1 Thaf free thou hast me set,*"'" And o'er me hast not let Rejoice mine adversaries' 'sovd." To thee, Jehovah, I appealed ;' 2 And, O my God,* thou hast me healed : My soul hast up from Hades'" led,' Revived'^ me from among the dead.' 3 2 Psalms to 'the Lord* Jehovah raise,'' 4 O saints of his, do ye ; And praise 'unitedly* The memorial of his holiness.® For there's a moment in his ire, 5 In his good pleasure"" life 'entire:" Weeping may last the eve throughout, At morning there is rapture's shout. i.e. I [Jehovah. ■■ or ■ for.' " so Ges. eric. I. "■ i.e. the world unstcn. ' brought. ' Ps. Ixxi. 20, Ixxxv. G; Dent, xxxii. 39; 1 Sam. ii. G. ' I. ' those that go down to the pit.' ■■ play or chant. " Ps. xcvii. 12. ■■ i.e. his com- placence or well-pleased- ness. Accordingly I 'thvis* did say, 6 In my security** I shall not moved be ; 'I shall not moved be* for aye : In thy good pleasure,® strong hast thou, - complacenco Jehovah, set my mountain 'now.* 7 Thou didest hide thy countenance, I terror-struck became 'at once.* 4 Jehovah, I to thee did call ; Yea, I did plead with GOD,"" What profit's in my blood. If to corruption down I fall ? Shall dust thy praises celebrate ? Shall it 'at all* thy truth "^ relate? Jehovah, hear and pity me ; Jehovah, do my helper be. 10 ' supplicatf Jehovah. My wailing into dancing thou For me converted hast ; Aside my sackcloth cast. And girded me 'with* gliKlness 'now." That sing to thee 'my* glory'' may. And unto silence not give way: Jehovah, thee my God 'adore," 'And" thank I will for evermore. 11 12 of. Ps. xvi. 9. PSALM XXX. 91 Ver. 1. Mine adversaries. — One of the three things offered David was, that he should flee for three months before his enemies (1 Chron. xxi. 12) ; and it was the only one he rejected (ver. 13) : the decision between the other two he left to God. Ver. 2. / appealed — I. cried (see 1 Chron. xxi. 17). Healed. — Instead of allowing the angel to carry out the vengeance, God com- manded hini to sheathe his sword ; and the destruction ceased. Ver. 3. Up from Hades. — When David saw the angel stretch out his hand over Jerusalem, he might well consider himself a ' dead man ; ' and when the dehverance came, might weU speak of his soul being brought up from the world unseen ; ' from whence also he received it m a figure' (Heb. xi. 19). The dead — I. ' those that go down to the pit ; ' precisely the same expression as in Ps. xxviii. 1, Ixxxviii. 4, cxliii. 7, and often: an expression which invari- ably is equivalent to ' the dead.' The Masorites, not understanding how David could speak of being brought up from among the dead, changed the text-reading into the marginal one, ' from my going down to the pit,' without the slightest cause. Ver. 4. The two clauses in the original seem constructed ahke, and are trans- lated alike by Ges., H., D. : 'Play to Jehovah, and praise his holy memorial,' i.e. the memorial he has chosen for himself for ever (Ex. iii. 15) ; praise the exhibition he has given of himself under the glorious and dreadful name of ' Jehovah.' If the rendering of the A. v. be preferred, the lines will run : Play to Jehovah, samts of his, And render thanks do ye. Upon' the memory ' or, unto the Of his 'all-perfect" holiness. memory. Ver. 5. Tliere''s a moment. — The meaning is, he retams his displeasm-e only for a moment ; his complacency, for a lifetime : the same thought as iu Isa. liv. 8. The A.v. has mistaken the meaning. The next two fines repeat the thought ui another form. Ver. 6. In my security — i.e. when my throne was firmly estabfished, and all mine enemies subdued on every side (1 Chron. xxii. 18). It was after all his wars with the neighboui'mg nations were over, and all attempts at rebeUion within his own kingdom put down, that he said, ' I shall have no more trouble ; my toils and vexations are at an end : God has firmly estabfished my power, so well pleased is he with my spirit and ways.' This self-complacency on David's part, and overweening conviction of his seciu-ity, were displeasing to God. It was perfectly right ui huu to ascribe the secm^e and settled state of his kingdom to God's being weU pleased with him ; but it was wrong in him to imagine he had so well deserved this complacency on God's part, that he had notliiug to fear henceforth. He should have rejoiced with trembfing ; and felt how largely that complacency was due rather to God's readiness to overlook his weaknesses and failings, and to accept his imperfect endeavours to please him. Ver. 7. Strong hast thou set my mountain ; or, as others render, ' thou hast set strength for my mountain.' Thy countenance. — Whenever God withdrew Ins gracious support, it was soon seen into what follies David would yet faU. Despite his goodness, of wluch he 92 PSALM XXXI. thought so highly, he could insist on liaving the people numbered ; and this brouglit down upon him the displeasure of God, and with it one of the sorest calamities that had ever befallen him. \'er. 8. / to tlicc did call. — He then piteou-sly implored God to forgive and spare hina ; not, indeed, at the expense of his guUtless people. No ; if further vengeance must be taken, he implored it might fall on him alone, and his father's house (1 Chron. xxi. 17) ; but he pleaded that the rod might be alto- gether laid aside, and the plague stayed. And he used the argument (ver. 9), that nothing woidd be gained by bringing him to the dust of death, but a loss occasioned to the cause of truth ; for he felt he still possessed abiUty to show forth the praises, and to declare the couasel, of his God. Ver. 11. Ml/ ivaiUiKj. — His prayer was heard, and his tranquillity restored, in order that he might devote it to the service of God ; wliich he tells us in Ver. 12, he meant to do; and which he did, as his futm-e Psalms testify; and as his earnest preparation of materials for the building and adorning of the futm-e temjile, to the collecting of which he immediately and ' with all his might' (1 Chron. xxix. 2) set himself, additionally proves. PSALM XXXI. This Psalm bears evidence of being written after Da^dd's escape from Keilah (1 Sam. xxiii.). The references to the incidents of that occasion are many. Several of the opening clauses are almost word for word the same as those of Ps. Ixxi. They are put in italics wherever the identity exists. Dy the Chief Musician, a Psalm by David. 1 In thee, O LORD, I refuge take; Sluimed let me never he : O do thou, in thy righteousness, 'Now" to escape make me. Incline thou unto me thine ear, With speed 'to * rid me 'come :" To save me, he a rock o/" strength'" To me, a fortress home. " My cliff and fort art thou, " me lead And guide for thy name's sake ; Forth irom this*" net, they've hid for nic- For thoii'rt my strength — me take."" ' The word in Ps. Ixxi. is all but iileutical in letters, but means ' lodging.' " for. " then. ' bring. 4 Into thy hand, 'O LORD," do I Commit my spirit 'now:" () thou Jehovah, God of truth, liedeemed me hast thou. PSALM XXXI. 93 Those, unto lying vanities Who pay regard, I hate ; And as for me, my confidence I on Jehovah set.' I trust on. G I'll in thy grace exult and joy, For thou my miseries Hast looked upon ; my soul hast known In mine adversities : 7 And hast not shut me up"" 'forlorn' Into the en'my's hand : Thou in a Avide 'and open'"^ place Hast made my feet to stand. ■■ the very ex- pression, 1 Sam. xxiii. 12, margin. 8 LORD, pity me, for I'm in straits ; With provocation'" 'keen'' Mine eye, my soul, my belly too Is 'fasf becoming lean.*" s. of. Ps. Ixvii. 9 For spent in sorrow is my life. My years 'are spent'' in groans ; My vigour sinks beneath my guilt. And lean^ become my bones. 10 1 'Mong all my foes I'm a reproach ; And eminently so Unto*^ my neighbours : I'm a dread To those that do me know. 11 11 Those Avho observe me out of doors Flee from me ; I'm forgot. Like one that's dead ; I'm out of mind. Like earthware ":one to nouo;ht. 12 12 For many's slander I have heard ;"■ Terror's on every hand ; In their consultings " 'gainst me, they To take my life have planned. 13 14 13 But, O Jehovah, I have set My confidence^ on thee: I've said. Thou art my God ; my times 1 5 Are in thy hand ; rid me. "• The Ziphites spoke of him as a rebel. The people of Keilah were terrified for Saul's vengeance. " together. 94 rsALM XXXI. 14 From my foes and pursuors' hand ' Deliver me : " thy face Upon thy servant make to shine : save me in thy grace. IG 15 Jehovah, let me not be shamed 17 That"" I have called on tliee ; O let the wicked be ashamed, For" Hades silent be. 16 Let lying lips'" be rendered dumb, 18 That impudently speak Against the righteous man, in scorn, '' And arrogance 'and pique." 17 How great's thy goodness thou, for those 19 That fear thee, up hast laid : Hast for thy trusting ones before The sons of men displayed. 18 In secret of thy face, thou wilt Them from men's plots secrete ;'' From strife of tongues, wilt in a tent Make them a hid retreat.' 20 or, For. " i.e. so dead as to be fit for burial. ■■ referring back to ver. 13. ■■ like Nabal of that very dis- trict (I Sam. XXV. 10, 11). ' cf. Vs. xxvii. 5. ' hide them. 10 O let Jehovah blessed be, For signally dispensed •" His mercy ^ unto me he hath, Within a city fenced. 21 ■■ /. signalized to me. 20 For I said in my hasty flight, ' I'm from before thine eyes Cut off;' yet at my cry to thee Thou heard'st my entreaty's voice. •22 21 love Jehovah, all his saints: The faithful ones he guards ; And him that acts with arrogance Abundantly rewards. 23 22 Of courage be possessed ; "■ and he Your heart shall fortify. All ye, who on Jehovah do Expectantly rely. 24 ■■ .similar to Ps. xxvii. 14, and yet different. I PSALM XXXII. 95 Yer. 6. A)i(J as for me. — In going to rescue Keilah he consulted Jehovah, and when his men remonstrated and Jehovah still bade him go, he went in full coniidence at once. So also he considted Jehovah whether he should remain in Keilah or flee for his life. Ver. 13. For manij''s. — The Ziphites spoke of him as a rebel, who should be entrapped and delivered up. The people of Keilah were terrified for Saul's vengeance for harbouring liim, for they remembered what had been done to Nob ; and they were consulting among themselves about the propriety of delivering him up, or sending his head to Saul. His own men, too, were very uneasy and alarmed. PSALM XXXII. Written' apparently after the 51st, in which David had said, ' I will teach trans- gressors thy ways,' as a fulfilment of that promise; and hence called Maschil ^ Didactic or Instructive. By David. Instructive. 1 O mine 'exceeding^ happiness! 1 Forgiven the transgression is, 'And* covered is the sin 'so vile." Happy the man 'gainst whom the LORD 2 Doth not iniquity record, And in whose spii'it is no guile. 2 Because'^ I silence kept, my bones 3 ■" as in Gen. Consumed by reason of my 'groans'* "}■ -f^v^^' ^^^' 'And" roaring all the day throughout : and often. For day and night thy hand did lie 4 Heavy upon me, turned whereby My moisture was to*" summer's drought. ■• /. into (see Selah. P«- ^^=^^i' !)• 3 ]\Iy sin I unto thee reveal,"^ 5 ■ l. make thee And my transgression* not conceal: know. ' I'll mine iniquity,'* said I, ' Acknowledge to Jehovah 'now;'" And of my sin 'then" didest thou Forgive 'me" the iniquity. Selah. 4 On this account,'" his prayer to thee, G ■■ See Ges. Ln: Let ev'ry man of piety ^ *^^1' *• f'*'"- Make at the time of finding*' 'ear;" iv. 28. Upon the overflowing 'then," ""Ges.: 'only,' H/S in I*s xoi Of waters gi'eat 'on sons of men," g^ joi, j.'is ' Him only'' they shall not come near. ^'^^^ often. D. and others : ' assvtredly.' 96 PSALM XXXni. 5 Thou art for me a hiding place ; 7 O shut me up'" 'then," from distress,' ' s. 2 Sam. an secret of thy countenance : » f^'^^ There O compass thou me round about, is a paron. 'I pray thee," with the joyful shout 7"^'^"^' '^■'^"""*^ I J ^ J J be preserved Of 'perfected" deliverance. Selah. in English. 6 I ivill thee teach, and will thee show, 8 The way wherein thou shouldest go ; I will thee counsel with mine eye : Be' not like senseless horse or mule, 9 ■> i he j-e. Which bit and bridle trappings rule," > witli Lit and Since ■" it to thee will not come nigh. hridle, its ornament for restraint. 7 The wicked man has many woes; 10 'or, That unto But who doth on the LORD repose,"" ^^^ nigh. Mercy shall compass him around : "■ tiiist. Ye righteous in the LORD, rejoice 11 And triumph ; ° shout 'with joyful voice," " and. All ye in heart sincere 'and sound." Ver. 1. mine. — No supplement is needed ; and the one universally proposed utterly spoils the beauty and force of the impassioned commencement of the Psalm. The "• in '>^t^*K is not merely the usual const, form of the word here, but embraces also the 1 pers. pron., as in Gen. xxx. Vc> ; and the literal rendering is, ' my happiness ! forgiven's the transgression, covered's the sin.' There is even a paron. between the verbs which cannot be imitated in English. David did not need to specify which transgression he referred to. In Ps. li. 3 he had said, ' My sm is continually before me ; ' how natm-al then for liim, when forgiveness came, to break forth with the joyous burst, ' my happiness I the transgression is forgiven, the sin is covered ! ' Transgression i — The three terms, ' transgression,' ' sm,' and ' iniquity,' refer back to Ex. xxxiv. 7. David reverts to them again in ver. 5. Ver. 3. Because — as m Gen. iii. 14, 17, Ps. xci. 14 — rather than ' when.' It was ' because ' he would not confess, that God kept smithig him. Ver. G. On this account. — Let every saint pray and confess who has been guilty of sin. This is the ' only ' way of escaping when the waters of judgment rise. Ver. 7. O shut — He begins to pray, as he had directed others to do. Ver. 8. / ivill. — This is God's answer to David's prayer. ' I will thee counsel,'' Ges. renders, ' For thee consult will.' Ver. 9. Senseless — /. without imderstandiug. It may be joined thus : ' be not ye senseless,' or as given above. PSALM XXXIII. Some have supposed this Ps.alm to be a secoiul part of the 32cl, because the first verse of this has a slight resemblance to the last of that, — a very slender founda- tion for their supposition. The contents are dissimilar. PSALM XXXI 11. 97 1 Ye righteous, in Jehovah joy,' 1 Praise th' upright doth beseem ; *" With ten-stringed psalt'ry* thank the LORD, 2 Play with the harp* to him. I. shout. Ps. xciii. .").» 2 A new song to him sing ; the strings, Mid shouting, strike'^ with grace ; For right's^ Jehovah's word, and all His work in faithfulness. 4 ' upright. 3 He righteousness and judgment loves ; 'And love them ever will : " The mercy of Jehovah doth The earth 'completely" fill.'" 4 '(3f old"" the heavens by the word Were of" Jehovah made ; And by the Spu'it of his mouth"" Was all their host 'arrayed.* ' /. the earth i.s full of the . . . '■ or, And by the breath from out his month. 5 He piles the waters of the sea Together as a heap ; In storing houses layeth up The billows of the deep. 6 Let all the earth Jehovah fear, The world's whole multitude' Dread him : for HE said, and it was ; HE ordered, and it stood. ■ All the iu- habitants of the world. 7 Jehovah, 'at his pleasure," doth The heathen's counsel break ; ' 'And* he the peoples' purposes Of no effect doth make. 10 Ezek. x\ni. IS). The coimsel of Jehovah firm For evermore doth last, 'And" of his heart the purposes From age to age 'stand fast.* 11 Happy the nation 'is indeed," Whose God Jehovah is ; The people, whom for heritage He chosen hath as his. G 12 98 PSALM XXXIV. 10 Jehovah from the heav'ns looks clown ; 13 Sees all the sons of men ; Earth's dwellers all from his fixed seat 14 He hath within his ken. 11 'And" he it altogether' is 15 ; See Pr. Their hearts who fashioncth ; "^' ' "" 'And" he it is who all their works 'And Avays' considereth. 12 The king delivered* is not IG By greatness of a host ; No hero's by the greatness saved* Of might, 'which he can boast." 13 The horse for preservation proves 17 'But" a deceitful thing; And by the greatness of its power It no escape can bring. 14 Lo ! towards those who do him fear 18 Is 'turned" Jehovah's eye ; To"" those who on his mercy do Expectantly rely ; 15 In order to preserve their soul 19 • From death, 'and from the grave ;" And in the time of famine 'sore," Them 'still" alive to save. 1 6 Our soul upon Jehovah waits ; 20 Our help and shield is he : For glad's our heart in him ; for trust 21 On his holy name do we. 17 O let thy mercy be on us, 22 Jehovah, 'thou Most High:" According as we do on thee Expectantly rely. PSALM XXXIV. By David, when he changed his reason before Abimelcch, who drove him away, and he departed.' ' 1 Sam. xxl 1 ^t all times bless Jehovah's 'name" will I ; 1 His praise shall in my mouth be constantly : ^oast in Jehovah shaU my soul 'henceforth ;" 2 Hear it, ye meek ones, and exidt with mirth." " be glad. PSALM XXXIV. 99 2 '^ome," magnify Jehovah 'now" with me ; ° Let us exalt his uame unitedly : 'downcast,* I sought Jehovah, and he did Me answer, and of all my terrors rid. iiud. 3 '(J^arly " they looked to him, and bright became ; Nor did theu" countenances bkish 'for shame." '(i^reatly* this poor man cried ;° Jehovah gave Good ear,' and him from all his straits did save. 4 lliard by the fearers of his holy name' Jehovah's Angel camps, and rescues them. !|(ehovah's good : O do but taste and see ; The man who trusteth in him, happy's he. F wanting. G " and. ' Jehovah heard. 7 ' his fearers. 8 ^eep in Jehovah's fear,' ye saints of his ; For to his fearers want of nought there is : l^ack may young lions, and of food be scant ; Bat no sood shall Jehovah's seekers want. 10 ' fear Jehovah. 6 '^jty" children, come, 'and" unto me give ear; 11 I wdll instruct you in Jehovah's fear, '^ow" who's the man who loveth* life, who days 12 Desireth,* good to see, 'while here he stays?" 7 @ do thou guard thy tongue from evil 'then," 1.3 And 'let" thy lips from speaking guile refrain : ipass evil by, and good 'unwearied" do ; 14 Search after peace, and 'keenly" it pursue. 8 '^uite" towards the righteous are Jehovah's eyes, 15 So likewise are his ears towards their loud cries ; ' "^ight" 'gainst ill-doers is Jehovah's face, IG Their memory from off earth to erase. ^cream*' do 'the righteous," and Jehovah hears, 17 And rids them out of all their straits 'and fears." ^o broken-hearted ones Jehovah's nigh, 18 Saves those of contrite spirit, 'from on high." or, shout. 10 ^nnimibered' are the ills the just befall. And yet Jehovah rids him of them all : '®!.Uth watchful care" keep all his bones doth he, Not one of them 'at all" shall broken be. 19 20 nwny. 100 PSALM XXXV. 11 3Jet ilP the wicked man to death shall thrust ; 21 And those be guilty held who hate the just : Jehovah doth his servants' souls ^\,edeem ; 22 None shall be guilty held who triisf in him. ' take refuge. Ill this alphabetical Psalm, as in the 25th, the letter answering to F is want- ing, and the last couplet begins with the letter answermg to R. Ver. 5. They looked — or, according to the reading of the Septiiagint and Vulgate : ' ^ver" look ye to him, and brightened grow, Nor let, with blush of shame, your faces glow. PSALM XXXV. WRfTTEN during the Ziphite persecution (1 Sam. xxiv. ) ; but however descriptive of David's own case, there is manifestly a greater than David here. The Psalm is very strongly Messianic. By David. 1 Jehovah, with my impleaders plead ; 1 With those that fight me fight : Grasp shield and biickler, and arise 2 To help me*" 'in thy might." ■ I. in my help. 2 And out 'gainst my pursuers draw 3 The spear, and stop the way : Unto my soul 'right speedily," ' I'm thy salvation,' say. 3 Let them shamed and confounded be, 4 My soul who seek 'in hate ;" ' cf. Jolm Let them go backward,"" ° let them blush, f^'"*; "*' ^• My hurt who meditate. 4 Let them be like unto the chaff 5 Before the wind 'that's blown ;" While th' angel of Jehovah is Pushing them 'swiftly" down." 5 O let their way be 'unto them" 6 Darkness and slipperiness," While th' angel of Jehovah is Pursidng* them 'apace." 6 For they without a cause 'at all" 7 ' The words For me have hid their net ;' l""':'^^^' ^"'^ ' 'pit seem to have been FSALM XXXV. 101 Without a cause liave dug a pit,' My soul destroyed to get.' 7 Upon him O let ruin come ; Let him not be aware : The net he hid let catch himself ; Fall let him ruined^ there.' 8 And in Jehovah shall my soul 'With joy" transported* be; In thy salvation leap* it shall 'For very ecstasy." transposed iu the o., — an opinion to which D. as well as earlier critics incline. ' /. for my soul. ' I. into the ruin let him fall into it. y My bones shall all sa^?-, ' Who's like thee, LORD, from his overmatch Who doth the poor, from his pUlager The poor and needy, snatch?' 10 10 Witnesses rise of vi'lence ; they Me ask what I know not : They ill for good*" return to me : Bereaved my soul they've got.' 11 12 1 1 Yet I — yet in their sickness I 13 Myself in sackcloth dress'd ;' Brought down my soul with fasts ; my pray'r Return then on my breast.' 12 1 walked about, as though my friend Or brother he had been ; 'Even* as one a mother mourns,^ I bowed down sorrowing 'keen.* 14 ' Saul acknow- ledges as much (1 Sam. xxiv. 17 ; cf. Ps. cix. 5). W. ' To be be- reaved is for my soul.' Then all forsook him and fled, and God hid his face from him. ' my clothing was sackcloth. ■■ explained, Matt. X. 13. 13 But in my halting'' they are glad, 15 And they are gathered too ; Gathered 'gainst me the smiters" are, 'Though"" them* I never knew. 14 They tear away, and do not cease Me with abuse P to lash ;' Revilers for a piece of bread 16 Their teeth upon me gnash. 15 O Lord, how long wilt thou look on? 17 Mj soul back from among ^ cf. Isa. 1. 6. ' 1 (see Ps. V. 2) ; or, ' And ' those.' " ' /. in defiling me (Jer. iii. 9). ^v3l-i2 should be joined to ver. 15. 102 PSALM XXXV. Their ruins* bring thuu ; my lone*" one ' .■.•. I's. xxii. I'O. From 'mid the lions young. IG Thanks in the congregation great 18 Render to thee will I ; Amid a people powerful I will thee glorify.' 17 Let those who falsely*" are my foes 19 Not o'er me joy 'elate ; " Nor those wink with the eye, who do Without a cause me hate. 18 For they will not speak peace; but 'gainst 20 The quiet of the land Have tales of deep deceptiveness'". 'Industriously" planned. ' praise. ■■ i.e. on false pretences, as if they were con- cerned for Crosar and for God, when even Pilate knew that 'fi>r envy they had delivered him.' ■■ I. words of deceitful- nesses. 19 They widen, too, their mouth 'gainst me, ' Aha ! aha ! ' they say, ' Our eyes have seen : ' Jehovah, thou Hast seen 'as well as they." 21 22 20 O do not thou keep silence. Lord ; Be not afar from me : Wake, ° rouse thee up, my God and Lord, Unto my cause *" and plea. 23 and. /. judgment. 21 Judge me, Jehovah, mine own God, After my righteousness ; And let them not joy over me, 'Elate with their success." 24 22 Let them not say mthin their heart, Aha ! we are relieved ; "^ Not say, ' We have him swallowed up,' 'Our end Ave have achieved." 23 Let those be shamed, " together blush, Who at my hui't are glad ; Who magnify themselves 'gainst me, Be with ° confusion clad. freshed.' It is the word used of the refreshment of the Sabbath ; a 'Preparation,' 'this was the refreshing' ! on the Sabbath, while " and. " tf 25 ■■ i.e. we have got quit of him at last. G. is mani- festly right iu consideilng the Heb. word to be a verb. The S.1V. occurs Ex. xxiii. 12, xxxi. 17, 2 Sam. xvi. 14, rendered 're- nd after their work on the Christ was iu the grave, hamc and. 26 PSALM XXXVI. 103 24 Let those who love my righteousness'' 27 Shout, and be glad ; nor cease ' To say, The LORD be magnified,^ "Wlio loves his servant's peace. 2o So shall my tongue 'dehghtedly* Thy righteousness proclaim ; 'Delightedly," the Avhole day long, The praises of thy name." 28 ■■ to correspond with 'thy righteousness ' in next verse. ' I. say con- tinually. * /. thy praise. PSALM XXXVI. This Psalm, in the a. v. and the other translations T have seen, is like the place of the dead as described by Job — 'a land of dai-kness, as darkness itself, . . . without any order, and where the light is as darkness.' In the version here offered is presented a natural and connected sense — a sense which harmonizes well with one of the saddest chapters of David's life, and is not unworthy of his pen ; and to brmg out that sense there is not the adchtion or omission or transposition of a single letter. In two instances a word is differently divided from the way the Masorites have given it : that constitutes the whole amount of change I have made. The Psahn is a sohloquy regarding the baseness of Ahithophel's conduct, as con- trasted with the faithfulness of God. Arijument : — (1) How faithless one's own counsellor may prove, vers. 1^; (2) how kind and true God ever shows himself, vers. 5-12. By the Chief Musician, by the servant of Jehovah, by David. 1 'Thus even," thus saith the transgressor" 1 To the bad man,'" ' Into the fight ;'" There's, O my heart, no dread whatever Of God 'the Lord* before his sight.' 2 For how iniquity'" to find out, 2 And how to hate, he"" niaketh smooth'* With his eyes unto him;'^'^ wickedness' 3 And guile the words are of his mouth. " i.e. Ahitho- phel. ■■ /. wicked man, i.e. Absalom. ' eyes. ' 2 Sam. x\-i. 21. ■■ Ahithophel. '■'■ Absalom. 3 He*^ to be wise, to act well,'"'' ceaseth ; Wickedness* on his bed doth plan ; Himself in not a good way setteth ; Eejecteth" not the evil*" man. 4 Thy grace Jehovah's in the heavens ; LTp to the skies thy faithfidness ; Thy righteousness is like God's mountains ; Thy judgments are a vast aljyss. "■ Ahithophel. ■•■■ s. 1 Kings viii. 18, 2 Kings X. 30. ' s. 1 Sam. viii. 7, XV. 23. ■■ i.e. Absalom, so called Ps. v. 4. 104 rSALM XXXVI. 5 Thou man and beast preserv'st, Jehovah : 7 O God, how precious is tliy grace ! Then would" the sons of men, in shadow Of thy wings, make their hiding-place,' ' I- lake refuge. G They, Avith the fatness of thy house 'then," 8 Well satisfied should 'ever" be ; And of the stream of thy delights,"" thou ' I. Edens. •• To drink should'st give them 'lib'rally." 7 For, 'lo," of life with thee's the fountain: 9 In thy light O may" we see light : Prolong thy grace to those who know thee, 10 Thy righteousness to the i;pright.° 8 O let the foot of arrogancy 11 Not come"" upon me, 'O my God ;" Nor let the hand of evil-doers' Make me to wander 'forth abroad." of heart. 'cf. 2Sam. xvii. 1,2. ' wicked men. 9 There has he" fallen, and the workers Of wickedness^ have down been pushed ; And never more shall they be able To rise again : 'they now are crushed." U " VIZ, phel. Ahitho- Ver. 1. Thus sa'ith. Q^JJ. This peculiar exj^ression, so often used in reference to God, so seldom in reference to others, although in reaUty a participle signify- ing ' the thing uttered,' ' the utterance,' is never the nom. to a succeeding verb, but always stands by itself as a separate clause ; and the utterance it refers to is invariably given in the identical terms employed by the speaker. There was a singular propriety in usmg this almost sacred exj^ression here, in connection with Ahithophel, for ' the counsel of Ahithophel, wlaich he counselled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God' (2 Sam. xvi. 23). The transgressor. — yt>>D is not here the noun signifying 'transgression,' but the participle signifying ' transgressor,' as in Isa. xlviii. 8, as also in Ps. xxxvii. 38, li. 1, 3, and often. The word that follows QSJ is always the speaker M-hose utterance is to follow. Ahithophel is the person meant, and the description in the subsequent verses exactly applies to him, but would fit comjiaratively ft'W transgressors ; for it is not a general likeness that is sketched, but an mdividual portrait, and a very peculiar one. To the had man — i.e. Absalom. The A. v. translates, 'the transgression o/the wicked man,' but the words are barely capable of such a rendering, while the one here proposed is the natural one, 7 iudicatmg the party to whom the utter- ance is made. Into the fight, 2"ip3; A.V. 'in the midst,' or 'withm.' 3~ip in several instances means ' fight,' ' battle,' ' war ;' and, what is not a little remarkable, it is the very word used for this in the other Psalm referring to Ahithoiihcl (Ps. Iv. 18, 21), as ■ PSALM XXXVI. 105 well as in the liistorical narrative of this event (2 Sam. xvii. 11), and is so rendered in the A. v. in all these cases. In the last, we have not only the noun, but this same prep. 3 before it, and the two rendered ' to the battle ' (cf. the parallel expression, 1 Sam. xxvi. 10). 2 often means 'into' (Ps. xxxvii. 15, cix. 18, cxli. 10 ; Gen. xxvii. 17, xxxi. 33 ; 2 Sam. xxiv. 14 ; Isa. ii. 19 ; Jer. xxxvi. 5 ; Prov. xviii. 10). Ahithophel's advice to Absalom was : ' Into the fight' at once, without losing a single night (2 Sam. xvii. 1). 3Iy heart. — The Syr., Sept., and others, read ' his heart,' without any autho- rity, not knowing what to make of the enigmatical words. If it be difficult to extract any reasonable sense out of the A.v.'s rendering of this 1st verse, it is not less so to extract any out of H.'s, ' The oracle of trans- gression to me, the wicked within my heart, there is no fear,' etc. ; or D.'s, 'What transgression says to the Avicked man is well knowai to my heart ; ' or AV.'s, ' The oracle within my heart ascribe th crime to the wicked man, as there is no fear,' etc. So wide of the mark, indeed, are the renderings, that one is tempted to wonder if the authors had the ordinary Heb. text before them. In the transla- tion I propose, every word retains its ordinary meaning, and occupies the same position in the English as in the Hebrew text ; and the sense brought out is an exact expression of David's sentiments at a memorable crisis of his life. No fear. — Ahithophel's advice to Absalom, to pm-sue and destroy his father at once, showed he had Uttle fear of God before his eyes ; and his previous advice regarding his father's concubines showed he had none. Hence David adds, Ver. 2. For . . . he maketh smooth. — The verb is here used in its literal sense, ' to make smooth,' as in Isa. xli. 7, and therefore followed by the prep, px ; and not in its derived sense of ' to flatter,' in which case it woidd have been followed by the prep, ^y (cf. Prov. xxix. 5). It occiu-s in Kal in the kindred Psahu (Iv. 21). With his eyes, i.e. mth his far greater penetration, Ahithophel made smooth to Absalom the course proper for him to pursue, i.e. pointed it out distinctly, made it clear and smooth. The course he recommended was for Absalom to commit such an enormity, to manifest such hatred towards his father, to wound his feelings so deeply, as to render all hope of reconciliation an impossibility ; that so liis partisans might be assured it would be a fight to the very death. And he showed him how to accomplish, this — ' how to find out uiiquity, and how to hate ; ' a,nd it were impossible to say whether the plan were more atrocious, or more admii-able for the end designed. ' The words of his mouth ' were the perfection of ' wickedness and gmle ; ' and how the vile suggestion they contam should have occurred to kim will become more easily understood after the perusal of the remarks on ver. 3. How iniquity. — The A. v. has, ' untU his miquity be found to be hateful.' This is as far from the meaning as it is from literal exactness. The marginal render- ing comes nearer the sense. And hoic. — Disjoin the final 1 from "iJiy, and prefix it to ^Z'^h- Ver. 3. He to he ivise — I. ' to act wisely.' One wonders that a man so sagacious as Ahithophel should have gone over to Absalom's side. The success of Absalom's cause must have seemed very questionable ; but even if it should succeed, what had Ahithophel to gain ? He could hope for no higher position than he already held, and liis tenm-e of office would not be so secm-e under the son as it had been under the father. What, then, could tempt him to transfer ion PSALM XXXVI. his alle^iauce? He must have haJ private lecisoiis, ami of the stronjj,ost kiml, before ho could have taken so mad a step. He had ; and the Bible does not leave us in ignorance of them. He had a great personal and family wi-ong to avenge. Bathsheba, whom David had seduced, was his grand-daughter, being the daughter of Eliam (2 Sam. xi. 3) his son (xxiii. 34) ; and the Gilonite could not but be deeply enraged at the disgrace brought on his house : so that we need the less wonder that, when an opportunity of paying the king back in the same form afterwards occurred, he did not spare him the bitter mortification (2 Sam. xvi. 21). Ahithophel may also have been informed of the mejins David had taken to make away with his grandson-in-law, Uriah the Hittite ; and this would add intensity to his resentment. Desire for revenge may thus have goaded him on to a coiu^e which would never have approved itself to his cooler judgment, even although there had been ' no fear of God before his eyes' to keep him from it. And once committed to that siivful course, he would be com- pelletl in sjjite of himself to advance, and to resort to many miwise and wicked exi^edients. His ancient sagacity, so like oracular iuspu-ation, would degenerate into the subtilty of the devil ; and, having put himself on the wrong side, he would have to contend with the superior wisdom of God, in the working out of the perilous enterprise he had set liimseK. Ver. 4. On his bed. — Day would not suffice for the maturing of his plan. The night would be needed too ; and his bed would be the fittest place for perfecting, without distraction and without suspicion, so difficult and complicated a scheme. And busily occupied he must have been both night and day, before he could brmg such a wide-spread rebeUion to the very morning of its outbreak, and withm an ace of complete success, without a suspicion of its existence being excited hi a single breast. Circumstances no doubt favoured him. His own position as ' chief counsellor' gave him a mighty advantage, made him acquainted with all the secrets of state, and rendered others less inclined to siu"mise mischief, since he had no suspicions. He would also find the army disposed to sympathize with him, for both Eliam and Uriah were among David's ' mighty men' (2 Sam. xxiii. 34, 39) ; and the chiefs of it ready to listen to a suggestion that others of them might be served as Uriah had been, or to a hint that theii- king was now leaving to others the defence of the coimtry and the perils of the field, and occupying himself too much Avith ecclesiastical an-angements, compositions, and services, and with preparations for the meditated Temple. Still it must have cost even Ahithophel, with all his sagacity, a wonderful amount of planning, and watching, and superintending, before he could bring so hazardous an under- taking so near a triimiphant conclusion, under a leader so vain, so rash, so every way unsafe, Jis Absalom. That it was he, and not Absalom, that planned it all, can scarcely admit of doubt. No man who thinks of the time it took to mature the conspiracy, of its extensive ramifications, of the apparent impossibihty of keeping its existence- a secret, of the completeness of the arrangements for its success ; who sees xVbsalom go in to the king to get the royal permission to set out in state for Hebron ; who kiiows that the very men who accompany him have not the remotest idea of the errand on which they are going ; who hears trmnpet answermg trumpet through- out all the tribes, and heralds m every city proclaimuig that Absalom reigneth ; and beholds David flying at once and with utmost haste from his capital, and. rSALM XXXVI. 107 ilespite his haste, barely saving himself from being overtaken and slam, — can hesitate for a moment in exclaiming, ' Is not the hand of Aluthophel in all this ? ' It must have been he who secretly directed the movements of Absalom from the first, and taught liim how to ingratiate himself with the people. It may even have been he who put the thought of rebelling into his head : it certainly was he who guided its development. And his words were all the more Kkely to be ' smoother than butter,' that ' war was in Ms heart' (Ps. Iv. 21). Absalom could not have acted as he did, without awakening surmises as to his ulterior designs in one so astute as the GHonite. They evidently imderstood each other perfectly ; and the fii-st intimation Ahithophel had of the conspiracy, was neither the soimd of the trumpets annoimcing a new sovereign,' nor yet the message inviting himself to Hebron (2 Sam. xv. 12). Himself . . . setteth. — No hint was given Ahithophel from above that he should revenge the disgrace of his family. He took vengeance at his own hand, and set himself in not a good way — in a most mijustifiable one. He had good reason to be angry with David, to rebuke, to condemn David, or even perhaps to quit his service ; but none to levy war against him, especially after God had exjjrcssly spared his life, and declared his intention of chastising him himself. Rejecteth — as in 1 Sam. xvi. 1, Jer. ii. 37, and frequently; not 'abhorreth,' as in A.v. The evil man — Absalom, so called Ps. v. 4. Ahithophel rejected not the over- tures of Absalom when he sent for him (2 Sam. xv. 12), but openly deserted his old heaven-anointed, heaven-supported master, to follow the fortunes and to guide the counsels of the young usurper. Ver. 5. Thy grace. — If Ahithophel had cause to be angry with David, God had stUl greater ; for the offence was unspeakably more against him than against Ahithophel, or even against Uriah, as David knew and confesses (Ps. U. 4) ; nor did God wink at the offence any more than Ahithophel. But how different the spirit he manifested ! David is struck with the contrast, and rejoices to set it forth, as he here commimes with liis own heart : ' Aliithophel's love is vanished, turned all to mahce and enmity;' but 'thy mercy, Jehovah,' imchanged, undiminished, unwithdrawn, is still ' in the heavens : ' his fidehty is at an end, its root rottenness, its blossom gone up as dust ; but thou art the same, constant and true, without variableness or shadow of turning ; ' thy faithfulness is unto the skies : ' liis resentment was to be expected, for he has suffered mjury ; but in redressing his wrongs he has stooped to worse iniquities than those which he resents ; but ' thy righteousness,' both in punishing and pardoning the trans- gi-ession, towers aloft hke the everlasting hiUs : his view of the sin is but shallow and selfish ; thou seest it m its deep enormity and far-i"eaching consequences : ' thy judgments are a great abyss.' Ver. 6. GoiTs mountains — such as are plainly seen to be his, and worthy of liim, capable of being reared by his hand alone, i.e. the loftiest mountains. Ver. 7. Then. — i often means ' then' (Ps. Iv. 12 ; Gen. xHv. 26 ; 2 Sam. xv, 34 ; 2 Kings i. 10, iv. 41, x. 14 ; Job xxii. 29 ; Hos. vii. 1, xi. 1), though its ordinary meaning, 'and,' would answer here well enough. ^ Would — i.e. if people would only trust God more and men less, it would be happier for them. The a.v. misses the meaning here. Thy icings. — The ' thy' is emphatic. David probably felt he had placed too 108 PSALM XXXVII. much dopendence on Ahithophel, and unbosomed himself too freely to him. At any rate, he felt God would betray, God would deceive, none who trusted iu him, in the way Ahithophel had deceived and betrayed him. Ver. 8. Deli(jhls — the same word as is translated ' Eden' in Genesis, only it is here in the plural number. Ver. 9. In thy light. — He had lost his ' chief counsellor,' and craves the benefit of God's guidance. Ver. 11. Come upon me. — Ahithophel had said, 'Let me choose out 12,000 men, and I will come upon him' (2 Sam. xvii. 1, 2), — the very expression here employed. Ver. 12. There is he fallen, and. — Disjoin i from 1733 and prefix it to vJ?D, and the words wiU read, ' there is he fallen,' i.e. Ahithophel ; in whose death David saw such a pledge of the overtlirow of the whole conspirators, that he could add, ' and the workers of wickedness are pushed down,' though their actual discomfiture had not yet taken place ; for in his view it was now as sure as if it had alreadv occurred. PSALM XXXVII. By David. 1 ^gainst the evil-doers 1 Do not thyself inflame ; 'Gainst those that practise mischief Be not 'of* envious 'frame:" For like unto the green grass 2 Be soon cut down shall they ; And like the tender herbage, They wither' shall away. ' fade. 2 '^uild trust upon Jehovah, 3 And 'stedfastly"' do good ; Dwell in the land, and feed thou'' •• s. cf. Prov. On faithfulness 'for food : " -^^- 1^- ° Delight thou in Jehovah ; 4 " and. And unto thee impart He shall, 'in fitting season," The wishes of thy heart. 3 '(Jl^almly" thy way I'oll over 5 Upon Jehovah's 'will ; " And place on him reliance. And he shall it fulfil. And forth he, like the light, shall 6 Thy righteousness bring 'soon ;" And 'he shall bring" thy judgment 'Forth," like luito the noon. PSALM XXXVIT. 109 ]o thoii unto Jehovah Be silent, 'be thou dumb," And confidently wait thou For him 'till judgment come ; * Inflame thee not against one Who prospers in his path, Against the man devices Who executed hath. Entirely " leave off anger ; " From hot displeasure cease ; Thyself ' with wrath * inflame not, Only to act amiss : For those shall out be rooted Who act amiss ; but those The land shall 'stilP inherit Who trust on GOD' repose. ami. ' Jehovah. for yet a 'very* little. And then the wicked's gone : Thou at " his place shalt seek him, But trace of him there's none. The meek the land, however. Inherit shall for aye ; And over an abundance Of peace delight^ shall they. 10 11 gainst him that's 'truly* righteous 12 The wicked man doth plot : His teeth he 'even" gnasheth On him 'in anger hot." The Lord shall 'in derision" 13 Laugh at him 'from on high," Because he 'clearly" seeth His day is drawing nigh. lis'" sword drawn hath the wicked, His bow hath bent as well. To slay the poor and needy, Th' upright in walk to fell. His sword into his own heart Shall notwithstanding go ; And broken all to pieces Shall 'likewise^ be his bow. 14 r ;. their sword, etc. 15 110 PSAOr XXXYII. 9 3i'' with the righteous person There but a handful "" are, They're better than vast numbers Of wicked men 'by far." For broken all to pieces Shall be the wicked's arms ; But righteous men Jehovah Bears up 'amidst alarms." IG 17 ■• So W., and rightly : the Heb. word often signifies few (Num. xiii. 18, xxvi. 54) ; and the con- text requires this sense. 10 ^now doth 'the Lord'' Jehovali The days of perfect men : Their heritage shall also For evermore remain : They in the time of evil Ashamed shall not be 'made ;" And in the time of famine They shall be fully fed.' 11 W-did low shall be' the wicked, However, 'one and all;" And such as adversaries Are of Jehovah 'shall," Like grandeur of the pastures,"" 'Evanish and decay:" Consumed they are 'already," In smoke consumed are they. 18 19 ' satisfied. 20 ' Perish shall. ■• So Ges. and D. 12 'Mtsanly" the wicked borrows, And doth not pay it back ; The righteous showeth pity. And gives 'to those who lack." "Those shall the land inherit Wlao blessed of him have been While those of him accursed. Shall out be rooted 'clean." 21 •22 ■> For. 13 'Ite'er fail to be" established" 23 By GOD,> 'and guided right" The goings of the man, who*" Doth in his way delight. Although he fall, he shall not 24 Be 'wholly" prostrate thrown ; Because Jehovah's bearing His hand up 'in his own." "■ •, is here = the relative. (See Ges. Ae.r. 1 (rf).) PSALM XXXYIT. Ill 14 ®nce I was young, I'm old now ; Yet I've not witnessed The righteous man forsaken, And his seed begging bread. All day he's showing pity,* And lending 'those in need," And for a ' special ' blessing^ Are 'sure to be" his seed. 25 2G 15 ^ass thou away from evil. And ' stedf astly '^ do good ; So shalt thou dwell for ever 'In happy quietude.* For 'righteousness and" judgment The 'Lord" Jehovah loves, And ne'er his saints forsaketh, 'But faithful ever proves." 27 28 16 '^uite safe" they're kept for ever, But rooted out shall be The offspring' of the wicked, 'And perish utterly." The righteous shall inherit The land ' with all its store ; " And they shall dwell upon it For 'ever" — evermore. 29 h should pro- bably be want- ing in n'5iy''3, that the verse may begin with the proper letter. ' seed. 17 'l\,ich utterances of" wisdom 30 The righteous person's mouth Povirs out ; " his tongue speak judgment ' Continually " doth , Within his heart 'engraven" 31 The law is of his God : His footsteps shall not waver, 'As he pursues his road." ° and. 18 'Secreted close," the wicked Doth for the righteous lurk ; And 'eagerly" deviseth How he his death may work. Jehovah will, however, Not leave him in his hands : Neither will he condemn him When he in judgment stands.' 32 33 ' on his being judged. 112 PSALM XXXA^TT. 19 ^hen confident dependence 34 Upon Jeliovah place ; And 'carefully" observe thou His way 'in every case :" And so he to inherit The land shall thee exalt : The downfall of the wicked View 'presently'' thou shalt. 20 s|^iewed^ I've 'ere now" the wicked, o5 While formidable" 'seen," And spreading like a 'bay" tree, In native soil*^ 'and" green ; Yet passed he 'notwithstanding," 3G And, lo ! was not 'all round," For 'carefully" I sought him, Yet could he not be found. 21 '^(ilitness the man that's perfect, 37 And view thou the upright ; For to the man of peace, 'lo !" There is a futvire^ 'bright." But those that are transgressors 38 Shall 'wholly" be destroyed; The future of the wicked Cut off shall be, 'and void." 3fes,'" righteous men's salvation 39 Is from Jehovah's 'hand :" lie in the time of trouble Their fortress* 'still doth stand." And HE' shall keep and free them ; 40 Shall from the wicked free And save them ; since for refuge They unto him do flee." 22 ^ H., D., W. ', should jiro- bably be omitted, that. the verse may begin with r. ' Jehovah. ' take refuge in him. PSALM XXXVIII. The expression "fSTH?, occurring in the inscription of this Psalm and of the 70th, and translated in the A. v. 'to bring to remembrance,' is the same expres- sion as in 1 Chron. xvi. 4 is translated ' to record ; ' and by a reference to that plpce we shall best ascertam its exact meaning here. David, we are told, ap- pointed certain Levites to minister before the ark for three purposes : ' to record, ' or rather 'to remind,' 'to thank,' 'to praise,' Jehovah, God of Israel. First 'to remind' the God of Isrsel, i.e. to bring to his remembrance the case of his suffering people ; and the .'}8th and 70th Psalms were two that were specially composed and made use of for this purpose : and hence the title that distinguishes them, "l''3Tn7, Le-Hazkir, ' to remind : ' cf. Isa. xhii. 2G. I PSALM XXXVIII. 113 A Psalm, by David, to remind. 1 Jehovab, in thy rage,^ 1 O discipline me not ; Nor do thou me correct In thy displeasure hot. 2 For, 'lo !" down into me 2^ Are come thine arrows ' dire ; * And down upon me 'too,* Thy hand is come^ 'in ire.'' 3 My flesh, through thy fierce wrath, 3 No soundness is therein ; No peace is in my bones, By reason of my sin. 4 For mine iniquities — 4 Gone o'er my head they are : They're hke a heavy load, Too heavy for me 'far.* 5 Eank through my folly smell 5 My wounds ; they putrid flow : I'm bent, I'm sore bowed down ; 6 All day I mourning go. 6 For filled 'all over* are 7 ]My loins with burning pains : Moreover, in my flesh No soundness there remains. "■ with the ex- ception of this word, the verse is precisely the same as Ps. vi. 1. 7 I stiffened" am become ; ° Sore broken down am I ; By reason of my pangs Of heart,'" I roaring cry,' 8 O Lord, all my desire Before thee is revealed ; And from thee, 'O my God," . My groaning's not concealed. 9 My heart 'all* palpitates ; My vigour fails me ' sore ; * The light, too, of mine eyes, Ev'n it*" with me's no more. H 10 aud. ' the pangs of my heart. ' I roar. "■ /. even of them. (See Ges. Gr. § 119, •!•) 114 PSALM XXXYIII. 10 My lovers and my friends Stand from my stroke aloof; And to a distance 'too,* My relatives remove. 11 11 And those who hunt my life Lay snares ; who seek my wrong Speak mischiefs ; and devise Deceits the whole day long. 12 12 And I, like one that's deaf, Hear not ; or, like one dumb, Who opens not his mouth, 'No word from me doth come. 13 13 Yea, I am like a man Become, who heareth not; And who within his mouth No ar2;uments hath Q;ot. U 14 For ' trustfully "• on thee, Jehovah, I rely ; O Lord my God, thou wilt Thyself make the reply. 15 15 For I did say. Lest they At me should gladdened be On slipping of my foot, Should triumph"" over me. 16 For, 'lo !" I ready am To halt ; before me, too, My suffering is 'still" Continually 'in view." 16 17 "■ magnify themselves. 17 For mine iniquity 18 Declare" I, 'and my guilt;" By reason of my sin, I with affright am filled.' 18 And active are my foes, 19 Increased in strength they get ; And multiplied are those Me wrongfully who hate- ' I am affrisliteJ at. PSALM XXXIX. 115 19 And those, who me with ill Instead of good reward, Oppose me 'bitterly,*^ Since 2;ood I follow hard. 20 20 Jehovah, faiP me not ; "Keep not fi'om me apart : Haste to my help, O Lord, Who my salvation art. 21 22 ■' my vigour fails, but do uot thou fail me. ° my God. PSALM XXXIX. This Psalm and tlie 62d form a twin-pair, as D. has well observed. In the title of both, Jeduthun is expressly named ; and the leading word of both is the same, viz. the word ' only, ' which occurs four times in the 39th, and six times in the 62cl. And the theme of the one is the exact complement of the other : in the former, the nothingness of man ; in the latter, the all-sufficiency of God. They belong apparently to the same melancholy period : the 39th being penned immedi- ately after the suppression of Absalom's revolt, while Da\dd was smarting under the reproaches and insults hurled at him by Joab, on accoimt of the grief he mani- fested for the loss of his son ; the 62d being penned after the suppression of Sheba's revolt, which furnished a second memorable proof how little dependence could be placed on man, and how much might be placed on God. r ' viz. by Jedu- thun.' See title of Ps. iv. n. By the Chief Musician, by Jeduthun,' a Psalm by David. 1 I said, I 'well* will keep my ways. That with my tongue I may not sin ; ^ Will with a curb'' my mouth keep® in. Before me while the wicked^ stays. "■ despite Joab's provocation. "■ Joab. 2 Dead silent' — dumb from good was 1 : 2 But stirr'd's my grief : my heart grew hot 3 In me while musing ; ' kindled got The fire ; I "with my tongue did cry.' 3 Jehovah, O make me mine end 4 And measure of my days to know, What 'really* it is ; I 'so* How frail I am shall comprehend. ' mute in silence. ' /. 'in my musing,' or ' moaning.' (See Ps. V. 1, n.) ' speak. Lo ! thou my days made handbreadths^ hast ; 5 Mine age as nothing is with thee ; Only" completest vanity Is ev'ry man, though standing fast. ■■ each day is like a hand- breadth ; not, the whole life. 116 PSALM XL. 5 Only in sliad'winess walks man, Only 'for^ vanity's* th' ado They make ; he heaps up, yet know who Shall gather it' he never can. 6 And what do I, Lord, hope for now ? From thee mine expectation is : Rid me of all my trespasses ; "" The fool's reproach me make not thou. 7 Mute was I, nor my mouth presvimed To ope,' because thou didest it ; O let me of thy stroke be quit f By thy hand's conflict I'm consumed.'' 8 With chastenings for iniquity Thou man'" correctest, and dost blight. Like as a moth, his fond delight : " Each man is only^ vanity. Selah. 9 LORD, hear my pray'r ; ° list to my call ; ' Unto my tears not silent be : For I a stranger am with thee, A pilgrim, as my fathers all. 10 look from off me,™ 'I implore,* That brightened up*' I 'yet* may grow ; Before I 'hence away* shall go,' 'Far hence away,* and be no more. PSALM XL. By the Chief Musician, by David, a Psalm. Upon Jehovah wait Expectantly did I ;' And unto me he did incline, And hearkened to my cry ; And from the pit of noise,® The mire of clay, did bring Me up; " my feet raised on a rock. My steps establishing.' A new song in my mouth, Praise to our God, he placed : Many ' shall see, and awed shall be,"' And on the LORD shall rest.' 9 10 11 12 13 " So D. sub- stantially. ■" them. "■ transgres- sions. ' opened. ' remove from off me thy stroke. ' cf. 2 Sam. xii. 10, 11, and Ps. vi. 2, 3. "" David him- self. _ " his infant child, Amnon, Absalom, etc. " and. ' cry. " Gas., H., D. ; Isa. xxii. 4 : Job vii. 19, xiv. 6, where it should be so rendered. " Job X. 20, where it should be so rendered. ■■ Job X. 21. •■ I. waiting I waited. • and. established. ' Ps. lii. 6. There is a paron. in the o. ' trust. PSALM XL. 117 Happy the man is, who 4 Doth in the LORD confide ; ' * trust. And tiu'ns not to the proud, and those To lies'" who go aside. ■• a lie. Jehovah, O my God, 5 Things many* hast thou done ; Thy wondrous deeds, " thy thoughts for us " and. In order set can none : "^ "■ Ges., D., give Them would I unto thee traStion. Declare ; I would 'essay To * speak of them ; more numerous Than to be told are they. Delight in sacrifice 6 Nor offering dost thou ; 'Nay, but^ thou ears for me dost dig : Burnt- nor sin-ofF'ring 'now^ Dost thou demand : then, lo ! 7 I come, say I, 'to thee ;^ 'Come* "with"' the volume of the book. Written concerning me. Thy pleasure to perform, 8 My God, delight I do ; And thy law in the 'very* midst Is of my bowels'' 'too.* e g_ Ps_ ^xii. 14. Forth in th' assembly' great 9 'congregation. I righteousness do show ; Lo ! I will not my lips shut up, Jehovah, thou dost know. I do not cover up 10 Thy righteousness, 'O God,* Within the midst of mine own heart ; I 'everywhere abroad* Declare thy faithfulness •And thy salvation 'both ;* I from the congregation great Hide not thy grace and truth. Jehovah, do not thou 11 Thy sympathies from me Shut up : * O let thy grace and truth Keep me continually. 118 PSALM XL. For evils me engird" 12 Till they cannot be told ; Upon me mine iniquities'" Have 'firmly^ taken hold, 8 So that I cannot see : They are more numerous Than are the hairs upon' my head ; And my heart fail me does. ^ Be jjlease(F to free me, LORD ; 13 O LORD, haste to mine aid ; Let those Uxjether be ashamed, 14 Together blush be made. 9 ' That seek my soi;l to cut It off; let them be ' quite ^ Driv'n back, and to confusion put, That in my hurt delight, In payment of the shame 1 5 They down on me would draw : ^ Let those be desolate^ who say To me, Aha ! aha ! 10 'In thee be all, who seek 16 Thee, glad and overjoyed : Who thy salvation love, say still,' The LORD be magnified. Though poor and needy I'm, 17 The Lord for me tote thought:^ ]\Iy help and rescuer art thou ; ]\[y God^ tarry not.' ' explained by Isa. liii. 6. They were ours, but be- came his : for he took our sins. ' cf. Ps. Ixix. 4, but tlie verb is different. ' From this verse, almost identical with Ps. Ixx., ex- cept the words in italics. "■ I. their shame. Somewhat parallel is Jer. 1.28: 'Ven- geance of his temple ; ' and quite parallel is Ps. sxxv. 17 : ' their ruins.' ' continually. I. deviseth. Tliough suggested perhaps by events in David's life, this Psalm is strictly Messianic ; and Christ is the speaker throughout. Ver. 1. Expectantly, rather than ' patiently' (a. v.). In order set. — Ges., D., and others translate thus : Thou many things hast wrought, Thy wondrous deeds and thoughts for us : Compare to thee can nought. Ver. 6. Ears dig. — If the existing text be the true reading, then we are not to explain, as often done, this expression by Ex. xxi. 6 ; for the Heb. verb does not sig-nify 'to dig through,' 'to bore,' but simply 'to dig;' and besides, it would be difficult in ordinary houses to bore both ears with an awl to the same door-post at one and the same time. It is to be explained by Isa. 1. 5 ; ' to dig ears' being equivalent to ' opening the ear,' so that one may hear, and hear to obey : as exjilained by the clause that follows, ' and I was not rebelhous, neither PSALM XLI. 119 turned away back.' ' When exaction was made,' I ' became answerable,' and ' gave my back to the smiters,' etc. ' Ears dig for me thou dost' would thus mean, ' Thou preparest me for obedience,' and ' Lo ! I come : ' and the result is told by Paul : ' By the obedience of One shall many be made righteous' (Rom. v. 19). The Lxx. must have had a different reading before them, for they render, ' a body hast thou prepared for me,' but are not supported by existing MSS. Ver. 7. Come with. — So Ges., D. 2 often means ' with' after the verb ' to come.' See Ps. Ixvi. 13, 1 Sam. xvii. 43, 45, 2 Ivings v. 9 ; and H.'s objections have no weight. The volume of the hook — the Scriptiu-es of the o.t. Christ came with it, guiding himseK by it, and prepared to do, and to undergo all that was ' written ' therein Concerning him, and so to ' fulfil all righteousness.' And after a large isortion of it was already fulfilled, we hear him telling his disciples, ' Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall he accomplished.'' ""py, I. ' on me,' i.e. ' concermng me,' as this same expression is rendered, 2 Kings xxii. 13. A very large part of ' the book' was written 'on' Christ — ' concerning' Christ's doings, sufferuigs, and glory. PSALM XLI. Dii'san's own experience during the rebellion of Absalom may have given occasion to this Psalm, but it mainly portrays the experience of a greater Sufferer than he ; and is quoted by Christ himself as ' wi'itten concerning him' (John xiii. 18). Argument : — (1) He feels joyfully assured of divine support in his coming sorrows, vers. 1-3 ; (2) he prays for it, ver. 4 ; (3) his enemies, on the contrary, feel assured of his approaching destruction, vers. 5-9 (they long for it, ver. 5 ; work for it, ver. 6 ; consult for it, ver. 7 ; imagine their wish is on the verge of fulfilment, ver. 8 ; and to appearance it is, ver. 9) ; (4) he prays for their disappointment, ver. 10 ; (5) feels confident his prayer is heard, ver. 11 ; (6) gives thanks in con- sequence, ver. 12. By the Chief Musician, a Psalm by David. Messianic. 1 Happy me ! — dealing prudently'' 1 ■■ I«a. lii. 13. Towards the Feeble One,'^ » i.e. Christ. Jehovah will deliVer him The evil day upon.' ' the day of evil. 2 He will him guard and keep alive ; 2 Happy on earth he'll 'stiU* Be held ; ° thou wilt not give him o'er » and, or, for. Unto his en'mies' will. 3 Him on the couch of languidness" 3 Jehovah will sustain : Thou in his illness wilt for him Change'' all his bed 'of pain.^ 120 PSALM XLI. 4 I say myself, * Jehovah, be Thou gracious unto me; O heal my soul, for I have sinned Against thee 'grievously.*" 5 Mine en'mies, 'on the other hand," Say 'in'' malicious spite' Regarding me, ' When shall he die. And his name perish 'quite?" ' malice. G And if he come to see, he 'then" Speaks falsehood"" 'and deceit;" His heart collects guilt for him ; he Goes out, he speaketh it. 7 All those against me whisper' Together, who me hate ; They evil unto me 'all day* Against me meditate. do ■■ hollowness ; cf. Ps. xxiv. 4, n. Exempli- fied Matt. xxii. 16. ■■ cf. Mark iii. 6 ; John xi. 53. 'A thing of BeUal's'" on him poured ;* And now that down he lies, He wiU not any more again Be able to arise.' cf. Ps. xviii. 1. 9 The 'very" man even of my peace,'' On whom I had relied. Who of my bread did eat, his heel Hath 'gainst me magnified." ' Iscariot. 10 But O do Thou, Jehovah, be Gracious to me, 'I pray ;" And raise me up agaii; do Thou, That I may them repay. 10 11 By this I know that thou 'indeed" Delight in me dost take, Because mine en'mies^ thou dost not To triumph o'er me make. 11 12 And I — in mine integrity Thou hast upheld me 'yet ; " And thou before thy countenance Wilt me for ever set. 12 PSALM XLI. 121 13 Blest be Jeliovab, Isr'el's God, 13 From everlasting 'then,* Ev'n unto everlasting too : Amen, 'yea,* and amen. Ver. 1. Happy me — I. my happiness (see Ps. xxxii. 1, n.). The first and the last Psahn in the first division of the Psalter begins with i"i5;>X, — the former referring to the happiness of the saint, the latter to the happiness of the Saviom-. Feehle one — not ' poor ; ' properly lean, thin (Gen. xh. 19 ; 2 Sam. xiii. 4) ; then weak, feeble (2 Sam. ih. 1). Deliver him — i.e. the Feeble One, Christ. In the A.v. and others there is a strange want of connection between the fii'st three verses and the rest of the Psahn. In this version the continuity is perfect. According to the A.v., God is represented as rewarding biTu who is kind to the poor. According to the version here proposed, God is represented as kind himself to the Poor or Feeble One, who had supphcated that kindness (ver. 4), and acknowledges thankfully its bestowment (ver. 11). Ver. 2. Happy on earth. — On the very earth from which he was hmried with cries of ' Away with him,' he shall be pronounced happy (cf. Ps. Ixxii. 17), and shaU be made happy, by seeing the pleasure of the LORD prospering in his hand. Ver. 3. Him on. — He is here portrayed under the similitude of a man attacked by sickness, as in Ps. box. he is portrayed under the simfiitude of a man drown- ing. In his agony in Gethsemane an angel was sent to strengthen him ; and on a previous occasion, when his soul was troubled, a voice came to liim from heaven (John xii. 27, 28). In like manner, when the thought of his sufferings and death began to be pressed home on his mind, and it became needfid for him to anuoimce their approach to his disciples, his transfigm-ation took place by way of support. Wilt /or him. — The A.v. rightly retains the fut. here, though W., D., and H. think that the use of the prseter. was intended to indicate a change of the mean- ing. Nothing is commoner in such animated representations of the future, than the occasional interchange of the prseter. (Ges. Gr. § 124, 4). In his worst illness, when he was ' crucified through weakness,' when ' he i)oured out his soul unto death,' Jehovah ' changed all his bed,' 'loosed the pains of death,' and set him far above the reach of future suffering ; for ' Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth no more ; death hath no more dominion over him.' All the various acts of kindness specified in these three verses the Saviour felt so assiured of at the hand of God, that in looking forward to the time when they would be needed, he exclaims, ' happy me ! deahng prudently towards his Feeble One, Jehovah wUl do aU this for htm ; and prudent is his dealing towards him, though he mete out for him such a series of sufferings.' Though confident, however, of divine support, he does not fail to ask it. I say. — The assiu-ance did not render supphcation needless. It presupposed the doing by himself of all that was proper towards obtainmg the desired help. But if it did not render supphcation needless, it gave the strongest encourage- ment for its exercise — the certainty it would not be fruitless. 122 PSALM XLII. / have sinned — not personally, but as bearing the sins of the world, and there- fore ' numbered mth the transgressors.' Ver. 6. Speaks falsehood — I. ' hollowness,' pretending friendliness, and trying to throw me off my guard by hypocritical praises, while His heart colkcts f/uilt for him — i.e. matter of calumny and accusation (cf. Matt. xxii. 15-17 ; Luke xi. 53, xx. 20). He speakelh it. — lie reports all he has noted in his interview that may tend to inculpate me. Yer. 8. A thing of Belial. — a ' flood' of destruction, in Avhich Belial's hand can be clearly traced. They, too, could see a.s well as the evangelist, that * Satan had put it in the heart of Judas to betray him ; ' that it was devilish wickedness in one of the twelve to act such a part ; but would say, as a Uttle later on, But that is his look-out, not ours. ' What is that to us ? ' let him ' sec to that.' They saw the destruction was none the less likely to be complete, that Belial's hand was in it ; and that was all they cared about. That rejoiced them more than Judas' treachery cUsgusted them. With such effectual help, they saw they would manage to crush him now. Ver. 10. But. — They thuik they have put me so effectually and so far down, that I shall never more be able to aiise ; but raise thou me up, that they may discover their mistake, and receive then- due rewai^l. Ver. 12. In mine inteyritij — not 'on account of,' 'because of,' as H. PSALM XLII. Though generally attribiited to some of the sons of Korah, from a misunderstand- ing of the title, it bears the impress of David very clearly on every stanza ; and, along with the 43d, was written about the same time as the S4th — during his absence from Jerusalem in Absalom's time. ^ see Ps. xxxii. By the Chief Musician, Insti-uctive,"' by the Sons of Korah. '■■ t'tle, n. " see Ps^ iv. title, n. 1 As pants the hart for water-brooks, 1 "My soul, Lord,' pants for thee : " so. For God, the living God, thirsts 'sore" 2 ' ^ ^^°^' My soul; when shall I come 'once more,"^ The face of God to see ? 2 My tears have day and night been meat 3 For me, while it was said All day" to me, 'Where is thy God?' I this' remember, and abroad 4 i these things. My soul in*" me I shed. ■• same prepo- ' sitioii in Ps. 3 Yef in the croAvd'"'' will I pass on : r^^ 2 Sam. I'll lead them slow along, xxiu. 5; cf. Into the house of God, with voice l^Sam x'v 35 Of thanksgiving* and joyful noise* " Heb. word nowhere else occurs. Of feast-observing throng. i PSALM XLII. 123 4 Why be cast down, my soul, 5 And be in* me distressed? Hope thou in God ; For I shall him again extol, The safety of my countenance, And mine own God.P 5 My soul within^ me is cast down : 6 ^ in- I consequently will From Jordan land remember thee ; And from the Hermons^ 'equally,* ' Hermon is And from the Little Hill. double-peaked. 6 Deep unto deep is calling loud 7 'Now'' at thy torrents' roar; Me all thy breakers, 'Lord, alas ! * And all thy billows 'likewise,"^ pass 'In dread succession" o'er. 7 'O let 'the Lord-'' Jehovah 'then* 8 Appoint ■■ his grace by day ; ' ef. Ps. vii. 6. And in the night a song with me,' Shall, to the God of my life, be The prayer,*^ 'which I pray." 8 I unto God my rock will say, 9 "Why hast thou me forgot ? O wherefore^ do I mourning go, Through the oppression of the foe, 'And quietness have not?'' 9 Mine en'mies,*^ to a murdering" 10 Among my 'very'' bones. Reproach me, while they all the day, 'Where is thy God?' imto me say, 'In bitter taunting tones." 10 Why be cast down, my soul, 11 And why " in me distressed ? Hope thou in God ; For I shall him again extol, The safety of my countenance, And mine own God. Ver. 2. To see — not ' to appear.' The Heb. verb, when in Niphal and signify- ing ' to appear,' has almost always the prep, px after it, as in Ex. xxiii. 17. The 124 PSALM XLin. same desire we find him cxpressiug on a similar occasion, -while a fugitive in the wilderness of Judah (Ps. Ixiii. 2). Ver. 4. In me. — *h)3 seems, by general admission, to have this sense in a few special instances (of. Ps. cxliii. 4). Yet. — This is a meaning which ''a occasionally has (cf. 2 Sam. xxiii. 6, 1 Sam. XV. 35 ; Isa. ix. 1), and which seems required here. The rendermg of the A.v. is inadmissible. The tense is not only fut., but the chorus determines the cha- racter of the composition ; and the chorus is, ' Wliy art thou cast down ? ' There must therefore be a change ui the plaintive strain before arriving at the chorus, in order to introduce it fittingly. A''er. 6. And mine own God. — In A.v. this expression begins ver. G, but should evidently, as many interpreters have seen, be connected with the fifth verse (see Delitzsch). All the change requisite is to disjoin 1 from ">JS and prefix it to Tl^S ; then the chorus is i)recisely the same in all the three instances of its occm-rence (Ps. xlii. 5, xlii. 11, xliii. 5), with the one exception, that the second ' why' docs not occur in xlii. 5. Ver. 8. Prayer — the only substantiated meanuig of the Heb. word (cf. Ps. xc. title, cxlii. title), and the present seems the simplest rendering of the verse. Ver. 9. My rock. — W. would read, ' I wiU to God say, my rock.' PSALM XLIII. ' For date see Ps. xlii. title. Judge me, God, and plead my cause : 1 Do thou deliver me 'Soon" from a nation pitiless ;*" . ' not kind. A man,'" too, of deceitfulness, "■ Absalom. And of iniquity. For thou the God art of my strength ; *" 2 "• cf. Ps. xxxi. 2. Why hast thou me cast off ? ' O wherefore do I mourning go,"" ■■ Ts. xlii. 9. Through the oppression of the foe,' 'The adversaries' scoff? ^ O send thou forth thy light and truth ; 3 Let them my footsteps^ lead : * me. O to thy hill of holiness,^ ' hill of thy And to thy dwellings, 'God of grace," Let them bring me, 'I plead." holiness. I to the altar then of God 4 'Exulting" will come 'nigh," To God, the gladness of my joy ; And thee to praise my harp employ,* with my harp. O God, my God, wiU L PSALM XLIV. 125 ' Why'' be cast down, my soul ? And why in me distressed ? Hope thoix in God ; For I shall him again extol, The safety of my countenance. And mine own God.' Ps. xlii. 5. PSALM XLIV. By the Chief Musician, by the Sons of Korah/ Instructive." 1 O God, we with our ears have heard, 1 Our fathers us have told. The work thou didst in their days work, 'Ev'n'' in the days of old. r See Ps. iv. title " See Ps. xxxii. title. 2 Thou, 'O Jehovah,^ with thy hand Didst drive the heathen out. And plantedst them ;'" the nations didst Break down, and them"" mad'st sprout. our fathers. 3 For not with their own sword it was. That they the land obtained ; Nor was it their own arm, for them Deliverance that gained. 4 For it was thy right hand, thine arm. The light, too, of thy face ; For thou didst take delight in them, 'Thy love on them didst place. '^ 5 Thou, 'thou'' art he,^ my King, O God Do thou, 'we thee entreat, "■ For Jacob, 'as of old,'' command Deliverance'' 'complete.'' 6 By thee our foes we 'yet* will push :^ In thy name will 'likewise* Those, 'O Jehovah,* trample down, That up against us rise. ' the word is pi. in the o. O Deut. xsxiii. 17 ; 1 Kings xxii. 11. 7 For in my bow I will not trust, 6 Nor save me shall my sword ; For thou dost save us from our foes, 7 And shame our haters, 'Lord.* 126 psal:\i xliv. In God we'll make our boast ;^ 'in him "We'll glory " aU the day ; And to thy name for evermore Thanksgiving we wUl pay. Sclah. 8 'cf. Ps. Ivi. 4, n. 9 Thou, also/ 'Lord," dost cast us off, And us confound dost thou ; And with our armies any more Go forth thou wilt not 'now." 10 Yea, 'even" from befoi'e the foe Thou makest us turn back ; And those that hatred bear to us, Spoil for themselves, 'and sack." 10 " properly 'also.' The foiTuer kind- ness and pre- sent reverse ■were both from God. No doubt it is sub- stantially = ' And yet,' ' but now.' 11 Thou us deliverest up like sheep, For meat 'designed, O God:" And us among the heathen 'roitnd" Thou scatterest abroad. 11 12 Thy people thou dost sell, 'and that" For no exceeding sum ;'' And dost not with the price of them Increased" 'in wealth" become. 12 13 Unto oTir neighbours a reproach Thou makest us 'as well;" A scoff and mockery to those 'That" round about vis 'dwell." 13 14 A proverb 'also" thou hast us Among the heathen made ; Among the nations, 'us" a thing At which to shake the head. 14 15 Before me my confusion 'deep" Is all the day 'in view," And of my coimtenance the shame ' Quite" covereth me 'too : " 15 16 Because of the reproacher's voice, And the blasphemer's 'tongue;" The presence of the enemy And the revenger "" 'stroner," 16 •■ 3. Cf. Ps. viii. 2, PSALM XLV. 127 17 All this upon us, 'Lord,'' is come, 17 Yet we forget •■ not thee ; Nor do we in thy covenant Behave deceitfully. 18 Ne'er draws our heart back, swerves our step 18 From thy path ; while'" thou us Dost in the place of dragons break, 19 With death's shade cover'st 'thus." ■■ the perf. tense (a. v.) is ambiguous ; the present brings out the meaning clearly. ■" 13 ^ when, while. 19 If our God's name we do forget, 20 To strange gods stretch our hands, Shall God not search this out ? for he 2 1 Heart-secrets understands. 20 For 'tis for thy sake, 'Lord,*" that we Are killed all the day. That we accounted are as sheep For slaughter 'and for prey."* 22 21 AAvake, why sleep'st thou. Lord ? rouse up, Nor cast off evermore : Why hide thy face, forget our woe*" And our oppression ' sore ? * 22 For bow'd to dust's oxvc soul ; to earth Our belly cleaves.; awake' For help to us ; and us redeem, 'Ev'n* for thy mercy's sake. 23 24 25 26 I. afHiction. Ver. 17. We forget — ' yet have we not forgotten' (a. v.). But the perfect tense is ambiguous : the present brings out the meaning clearly ; which is not, ' aU this is come upon us, and yet not because we had been offending ;' but, ' and yet we do not desert thy service, but still cleave fast to thee.' This is the very connection in which the passage is quoted in Rom. viii. 36. PSALM XLV. By the Chief Musician, on the Lilies, by the sons of Korah, Instractive,' ' See Ps. xlli. a Song of the loved ones. title. 1 'With*^ a good word my heart boils up t*^ 1 I'll to"" the King recite ■■ or 'of.' What I have made f my tongue, the pen ■• my work. Of scribe that fast doth write. 128 PSALM XLV. 2 Thou fairer art than sons of men ; 2 Grace from thy lips doth pour •/ ' I. is poured And therefore God hath blessed thee, v-"^ ^^ (=) ^^y ' lips. 'And thaf^ for evermore. 3 gird thou on, thou !Mighty One, 3 Thy sword upon thy thigh ; *Thy glory," thy magnificence, And 'royal* majesty. 4 And riding 'in" thy majesty, 4 For truth on prospering go, For' meekness, righteousness ; and feats' 'and. Let thy right hand thee show. ' ^^'^•^'^ t'''°&3- 5 let thy sharpened arrows 'too^ — 5 The people under thee° — Into the midst" of the King's foes " I. heart = Fall 'overwhelmingly.* »V4^*' <^f- ^^• G For ever and for evermore 6 Endures thy throne, O God ; A sceptre of i;prightness is Thy kingdom's sceptre -rod. 7 Thou lovest right and hatest wrong ; 7 Hence God,^ thy God, 'in love* Anoints thee with the oil of joy, Thy comrades 'all" above. 8 Myrrh, ° aloes, cassia, are all 8 " and. Thy garments; 'and" thee glad O'er palaces of ivory From^ Minni they have made. ■• 'of.' 9 Kings' daughters are thy precious ones 9 Among ; at thy right hand. In jewell'ry of Ophir 'deck'd," The consort's self doth stand. 10 Hearken, O daughter, and regard, 10 And do thine ear incline ; Thy people and thy father's house Forget thou 'and resign:" PSALM XLY. 129 1 1 And so thy beauty 'shall the King 1 1 Exceedingly esteem :' For he, 'remember,* is thy Lord, And do thou worship him. 12 The daughter, too, of Tyre 'is there,* 12 'And" with a present 'meet;* The wealthy of the people shall Thy countenance" entreat. 13 All glorious -within is 'now* 13 The daughter of the King ; With gold, 'too,* interwoven 'all* Is her apparelhng. 14 She to the King is brotight in robes 14 With broidery o'erspread : ' The virgins after her, her friends. To thee are beiu"; led. desire. ■ I. in em- broidered robes. 15 With gladness and with joyfulness 15 Conducted on' are they ; Into the palace of the King They 'all* are led away. 16 In the stead of thy fathers 'now* 16 Shall be thy sons 'henceforth;* Them thou for princes shalt appoint Throughout the whole of earth. 17 Thy name, in ev'ry age and age,'' 17 I'll to remembrance bring: Hence ever and for evermore Thy praise shall peoples sing.' brouarht. ' shall peoples praise thee. The inscription teUs us the Psalin is U'^WC^'hVi 'on the lihes,' or concerning the lihes, i.e. Christ's beautiful and pure ones, as is evident from Song vi. 2, 3, and is ' a song of the loved ones ' — a song regarding these lovely and beloved ones. Ver. 1. To the King. — 'Either ' 1 will recite to the King what,' or, ' I wUl recite what I have made concerning the King.' The King is of course Jesus Christ ; for the Psahn is Messianic throughout. Yer. 2. Grace from — I. grace is poured out ' by thy hps,' rather than ' into thy hps' (a.v.), or 'on thy hps;' else there would not be propriety in the ex- pression that follows, ' Therefore God hath blessed thee.' Ver. 4. For meekness, righteousness. — G. and W. translate, ' for prostrate I 130 PSALM XLV. righteousness ; ' but this seems inadmissible, for the Heb. word for righteousness is niasc, and ni3J? is the fem. part., ")jy being the uiasc. (Ges. Gr. § 7-4). Neither is the meaning ' the meekness of righteousness,' as if the two were in the const. St. really, as D. supposes them substantially to be. Each of the words stands separate, as the A. v. gives them, and in behalf of each Christ is to display his triumphant arm. It is no objection to this view that ' and' is omitted before 'righteousness.' The same omission occurs in ver. 8 before ' cassia;' so also in Ps. Ixix. 22. It even obtains in prose (Deut. xxix. 23). Ver. 5. O let. — The verse, as here given, is word for word as in the o., and in the very order of it too ; whereas the common interpretation makes a great inversion, and requires several sujiplements. Sharpened — not ' sharp,' as generally rendered. The people under Christ are his followers ; and they are called ' sharpened arrows,' just as he himself is called 'a polished shaft' (Isa. xhx. 2) in God's quiver. Tills interpretation is confirmed by Zechariah's prophecy (ix. 9), where it is said that ^lessiah's conquests are to take place ' when he hath bent Judah, and filled the bow with Ephraim' (ver. 13), i.e. made use of his disciples to subdue the world to the obedience of the faith. The comparison before us occurs in another Psalm (cxxvii. 4). Midst — /. heart, as in Ps. xlvi. 2 ; Deut. iv. 11 ; Ex. xv. 8; 2 Sam. xviii. 14. According to the common translation, the verse would read : And in the heart of the king's foes let tliine arrows ' aU° Be sharpened 'well,* that under thee The people down may fall. Ver. 7. God^ thy God. — I have preserved the ambiguity of the o. here. Ver. 8. Thy garments are all myrrh, is quite a common expression in English. There is no need of a supplement. Glad o'er. — )0 often signifies 'on account of,' as in the preceding Psalm (ver. 16 ; so Ps. Ixviii. 29 : see Ges. Lex. 2 (e)), and occurs in this sense after the verb to 'rejoice' or 'make glad' here employed (see 2 Chron. xx. 27, Prov. V. 18). No tolerable sense can be made of the rendering of the A. v. ; and it is grammatically inadmissible. ""JO, translated ' whereby,' can only mean '.by,' the ' where' being a supplement ; but a preposition was never known to stand alone without the noun it governed. We must therefore seek for some other tjo than the prep. ; and we find it the name of a kingdom, 'Minni' = Armenia (Jer. li. 27), the ivory of which, as we leai'n from other soiu-ces, was of repute over aU the East. I therefore translate, ' palaces of ivory of Minni,' or palaces of Armenian ivory. A king may well be represented as ' gladdened over his palaces of ivory,' for an ivory palace was the most beautiful and costly abode a king could have. It is specially recorded that Ahab had one (1 Kings xxii. 39). They ai'e also referred to in Amos iii. 15. What, then, are we to understand here by Christ's ivory palaces ? I apprehend ' his samts,' in whom he dwells. For in the Song of Solomon it is said of his bride, ' What shall we do for her in the day she is spoken for?' — i.e. the day referred to here : ' if she be a wall, we wiU build on her a palace of silver.' The material is different, but similarly beautiful and costly. The same figure is applied to the daughtei-s of Israel, Ps. PSALM XLVI. 131 cxliv. 12. Christ's people are the temples of the Holy Ghost : ' Christ dwells in their heart by faith.' And under what figiu'e could Chi'ist's ' hving temples' be better described than that of ' ivory palaces ? ' — they are so piu-e and white, and beautif id and costly. If the ivory palaces be not his hving spiritual temples, they must be his heavenly abode, the house of many mansions, which may be compared to the noblest residence a king can have on earth. Ges. and D. consider "ijo an abbreviated form of the plural Q'^JO (Ps. cl. 4), ' strings,' or ' stringed instruments,' and would render : Thee glad Out of the ivory palaces Stringed instruments have made. Ver. 14. Is Irought. — It seems preferable to use the present tense rather than the futm-e (as in a. v.), from the fact that it is the participle in the o. in next clause ; and the whole scene is represented as going on while the describer writes. Broidery overspread. — Everywhere in the a. v. the word is translated ' broidered,' 'needle-wrought garments;' and Ges. is far from sure it means ' variegated' ones. Ver. 17. To remembrance hring. — So rendered almost imiversally (1 Kings xvii. 18 ; Ezek. xxix. 16). PSALM XLVI. D. AND OTHERS think this Psalm was wi'itten to celebrate Jehoshapliat's miraculous deliverance from the combined forces of Moab, Ammon and Edom (2 Chrou. xx. ), and it would suit that occasion well ; but it suits an earlier occasion better, viz. the triumphant conclusion of that series of conflicts which David carried on with every one section of the Syrian name. For the Syrians were famoiis for their ' chariots, ' the Edomites and Ammonites were not ; yet the burning of the chariots in the fire is a notable feature in the Psalmist's description of the victory (ver. 9) : so is it in the historian's account of David's Syrian conquests (2 Sam. viii. 4, X. 18). Besides, Da\ad's hand could scarcely be more recognisable in the direction of these fights than it is in the style of this Psalm. By the Chief Musician, by the sons of Korah,' along with the virgins." r See Ps. iv. title. " See Ps. vi. title, n. 1 God is our strength,* ° our refuge he's ; 1 ' our refuge In straits a mighty help he proves :^ Ms^oimd?*"' -We'll then not fear when earth removes,^ 2 help exceed- And hills are cast amidst' the seas : ingly- . ' changos. Koar let its waters, let them seethe, 3 ' into the heart Let hiUs rock with its heave 'beneath." °^- 2 A river is, whose streams shall make 4 God's city glad, the holy place Of the Most High's own palaces.*" >■ dwellings. God's in her midst, she shall not shake ; 5 'To'^ help her God wiU 'interfere,'' Soon as the morning shall appear.* ' I. at the turn of the moming. 132 PSALM XLVII. 3 The niitions 'of the earth" did roar ;^ 6 The kingdoms 'in commotion" shook; He gave his voice forth 'in rebuke :" The earth did melt, 'affrighted sore ;" Chor. 'Jehovah Sabaoth's with us;' 7 ' A bulwark Jacob's God's for us.' 4 Come, 'and" Jehovah's doinq;s see: 8 On earth who desolations sends ; Who maketh wars cease to earth's ends ; 9 The bow in pieces breaketh he ; ° Asunder cuts the javelin 'dire," » aud. The chariots burnetii in the fire. 5 Leave off,® and know that I am God ; 10 Among the nations 'all" will I Exalted be ; exalted 'high" Will be throughout the earth abroad. Chor. ' Jehovah Sabaoth's with us,' 1 1 ' A bulwark Jacob's God's for us.' Yer. 2. Removes — I. changes, alluding probably to the change of feeling towards Israel among the Ammonites on the death of Nahash (2 Sam. x. 3). Ver. 3. Its— i.e. earth's waters, for the Heb. word translated ' seas' is plural, as I have given it. He means : the upl^eavings of the earth cause the hills to rock, which the raging of the sea could not. Ver. 5. Soon as — I. at the turning of the morning. The expression is borrowed from Ex. xiv. 24, 27. Ver. 6. The nations. — The non-figurative version of the preceding part of the Psalm — the explanation of the foregoing figures. Ver. 7. Jehovah. — This is the chorus— the part which the 'vu-gins' would take ; and they would answer one another — one section of them singing the first hue, the other section singing the second. Ver. 10. Leave off— not ' be still.' They made renewed attempts, and are admonished to leave off. ' I have cut the bow, aud burned the chariots ; leave off, else 1 will next cut yourselves in pieces, and make you pass through the fire (cf. 2 Sam. xii. 31), and learn to your cost that I am God.' ■r.r.ATT.«- -.r-r-TT.T SeC Ps. iV. titlC PSAXiM XLVII. Written at the re- moval of the ark By the Chief Musician, by the sons of Korah,' a Psalm. from the house of Obed-edom. 1 clap your hands, ye people *" all, 1 ■• l. peoples (see Shout^ unto God with voice of mirth ; p- T"- ^' ^■)- ' ' make a iioise. For dread's Jehovah, the Most High, 2 A great King over all the earth : Beneath us he the people slew,"" 3 ■• s. Ps. xviii. Beneath our feet the nations 'threw." ^^' "• and. i PSALM XLVII. 133 He chose our heritage for us, Jacob's adornment'' which he loves. Selah. God goeth up ' with shouting, up With trumpet's soiind"" Jehovah 'moves/ Play unto God, O play, play ye, Play to our King 'triumphantly.'^ ' 'ornament,' i.e. Zion. ' *. cf. 2 Sam. vi. 15. For God is King of all the earth, With imderstanding play® 'aloud :'' Over the heathen God doth reign ; Upon his holy throne sits God. 'And" of the people 'ev'n afar^ The willing ones® assembled are : 'They,"^ with® the God of Abraham, 'Assembled are with one accord :'' For 'all* the bucklers of the land"" Are on the side'' of God 'the LORD. Gone up^ he is exceeding high, 'Gone up he is in majesty."' ' s. cf. 2 Sam. vi. 4 (accom- panying). ' W., Ges. ; but H., D., A.v. : 'earth.' ■^ Ps. cxviii. 6, cxxiv. 1 ; Ex. xxxii. 26, cf. Ps. Ixxxix. 18, n. This Psalm was evidently written at the removal of the ark to Zion from the house of Obed-edom. Ver. 9. Of the people — I. ' peoples,' as in ver. 1, i.e. the people of Israel. The willing ones — not ' the princes.' All Israel were invited to take part in the august ceremony (1 Chron. xiii. 2, 5) ; and the invitation was responded to with enthusiasm from the utmost borders of the land, ' for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people' (ver. 4). With. — Dy is the very word employed in the historical account of this incident (2 Sam. vi. 4, margin), and therefore likely to be the one intended here ; and it is so imderstood by the Lxx. It might, however, be the word for ' people ; ' and it is so rendered by the A.v., by D. and H. But 'the people of the God of Abraham' is a very strange expression, and, so far as I know, an imprecedented one. A still greater objection to the rendering is the fact that the historian makes no mention whatever of any foreign nation taking the shghtest part in the triumphal procession, or being present at all on the occasion — of their gathering themselves ^ogether to the people of the God of Abraham, as H. translates ; or becoming a people of the God of Abraham, as D. translates. So far from this, indeed, aU the neighbourmg nations are soon after found in hot confhct with Israel (2 Sam. viii.). Bucklers — or shields, i.e. protectors, rulers (cf. Hos. iv. 18, margin), but in- clucUng the ecclesiastical equally with the civil rulers, the priests equally with the men of war, as is evident from what follows in Hos. v. 1. Of the land rather than of the earth ; for the rulers of the earth, as stated above, were ' agamst ' instead of ' for ' God : and so had even the rulers of Israel virtually been tUI very recently ; for David, in inviting them to gather 134 PSALM XLVIII. themselves together to escort the ark, reminds them, ' We inquired not at it in the days of Saul ; ' nor liad the civU rulers been m6re to blame than the priestly. So Httle zealous, indeed, had the priests been even at the first removal of the ark, that their remissness occasioned the miscarriage that led to its being carried aside to the house of Obcd-cdom. David, therefore, before the next attempt, called for Zadok and Abiathar, the heads of the priesthood, and ex- horted them to sanctify themselves and their brethren, and take their proper places in this great ceremonial, that no second miscarriage might occur ; and these high functionaries hearkened to his voice, and were there in person. On the side of God — /. ' for God,' rendering him their homage, and manifesting an interest in his glory. This seems the true translation, and not, ' the shields . . . belong to God.' The same meaning often attaches to the preposition ^J, as in Ps. cxviii. 6, cxxiv. 1, Ex. xxxii. 2G, cf. Ps. Ixxxix. 18, n. Gone up. — The Heb. word occurs in a succeeding Psalm (xcvii. 9). It comes from the same root as the word translated ' goeth up ' in ver. 5 ; and with the accomjianying adverb, means either he is gone up exceedingly liigh, or he is 'brought up' right royally (cf. Num. xvi. 24, 27). PSALM XLVIII. Tins Psalm, like the 46th, is by D. and others referred to the times of Jehosha- phat, as the Psalm in which the miraculous discomfiture of the combined kings of Moab, Ammon and Edom, in the wilderness of Tekoa, was celebrated; an occasion Avhich it suits very well. But I cannot help agreeing mth W. in con- sidering it a production of Da^^d's pen, and wi'itten to celebrate some of the earlier triumphs in that series of conflicts with the Syrians and Ammonites, the termina- tion of which is sung in the 46th Psalm. By this time Zion had been recovered from the Jebusites, and adorned with stately palaces and thoroughly fortified (2 Sam. V. 9), and the ark of God located on it ; and David would be fond to draw towards it the affections and hopes of his people, as the chosen residence of their God and Saviour. Confirmation of this view will be found in some of the notes subjoined. A Song— a Psalm, by the sons of KoraU. 1 Great is the LOED, " much' praised to be 1 " and. In city of our God he is— ' exceedingly. The mountain of his holiness. A beauteous height " 'exceedingly," 2 The joy of all the earth, is 'this" • Mount Zion, th' angle *" of the north ; ' cf. Ps. The great King's city^ stands she forth. cxxviii. 3, n. 2 God for a biilwark high is known 3 Within the palaces in her : For, lo ! the kings assembled were ; 4 In company did they pass on : They saw, 'and" so they marvell'd 'there:" 5 PSALM XLVIII. 135 Into confusion tliey were cast, Away they 'all*^ were hurried" 'fast." Trembhng there seized them, anguish 'keen," 6 As hers who doth in child-birth bow;' With east wind Tarshish' ships brok'st thou. 7 As we have heard, so have we seen 8 In city of Jehovah ° 'now,* In city of our God ; her 'still'' For ever God establish will. ' a travailing woman's. Sabaoth. 4 Over thy loving-kindness, 'showed" 'To us,'' been pondering have we, God, within thy sanctuary : According to thy name, O God, So let thy praise to earth's ends be. Of righteousness, 'O thou Most High,'' Thy right hand's full 'continually." 5 By reason of thy judgments, 'lo !* Let Zion Mount rejoice, 'and" let 'All" Judah's daughters gladdened get. Encompass Zion, ° round her go, Tell ye the towers thereof; 'and" set" Your heart unto her rampart,'" gaze Intently" on her palaces; 6 That so, 'of apprehension freed," The generation tell ye may, That foUoweth 'in coming day," That™ this God is our God 'indeed," 'And ours" for ever and for aye : 'He will conduct us here beneath," He "will conduct us unto^ death. 9 10 11 12 13 14 " and " See margin of A.V. ■■ s. Lam. ii. 8 ; Nalium iii. 8. Ges. renders, 'fosse, ditch,' as also A.V. (1 Kings xxi. 23, margin.) ■■ s. Gen. xxiv. 49 ; cf. Ex. xviii. 23 ; 2 Sam. XV. 4 ; Neh. vi. 3. Ver. 2. The angle — E.v. ' the sides,' i.e. the point where ' the sides' meet ; the angle (H., D.). The version here given is that of D., who thinks that the expression ' the angle of the north' was added to define more precisely what is meant by 'Mount Zion,' viz. the temple mount which lay to the north, and here called the city of the Great King, as being the seat of his throne. Others consider that the reference in the final clause is not to Zion, but to Jerusalem, which in Matt. v. 35 is called the city of the Great King ; and translate : ... is this Mount Zion ; rearward on the north The Great King's capital '' stands forth. The final clause would thus describe the situation of Jerusalem city, which was northward of Zion. For the translation 'rearward.' see Fs. cxxviii. 3, n. 13G PSALM XLIX. Yer. 4. The kiiif/s. — For explanation, see 1 Chron. xix. 0. Tlie combined kings of tlic Syrians came on together, anil took up tlieir jjosition by themselves in the field near Medeba, on the east of Jordan. Yer. 5. ?V/f// saw — not 'Zion,' as generally imderstood; but saw what the Psalmist had just asserted, that ' God is a bulwark for his people,' or that ' Jehovah fought against the enemies of Israel,' as the historian of a similar encoimter in a later day phrases it (2 Chron. xx. 29) ; and seeing decisive evidence of this, they were thrown into a panic and tied (1 Chron. xix. 14). Were hurried. — The verb is in Niphal. Yer. 7. Tarshish ships. — He calls them for poetical effect 'the ships of Tar- shish,' the stateliest that went to sea ; as if he had said, ' Near Medcba they lay as gallant and imposing vessels as the eye might see : thou didst blow with thy wind ; tliey were wrecked and whelmed at once.' He docs not mean actual ships of Tarshish, nor allude to any recent storm at sea, in which many a stately vessel had gone down. It is all mere figurative description. David, though he had no ships at sea, was in close alliance with Hiram king of Tyre, and would know well about ' the ships of Tarshish,' and count them a grand image for those Syrian foes of his, with their splendid array of chariots. Yer. 10. Of ricjhteousness. — A fitly chosen term, though often a different meaning is erroneously attached to it. These Syrians and Ammonites were engaged in a most unrighteous quarrel. David had sent ambassadors in all honesty and kindness to condole with Hanun, and it was only the unfounded suspicions of Hanun's advisers that led to then- maltreatment, and consequently to the present war. But God's 'righteousness' shone forth not merely in con- dignly chastising this wickedness of the Ammonites, but in rendering it the means of putting Israel into righteous possession of the whole territory pro- mised to their fathers, ' from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates' (Gen. xv. 18). So that the Psalm might well say that his right hand was ' full of righteousness.' Yer. 11. By reason. — David is here borrowing a verse from one of the Psalms (xcvii. 8) he had written a little before, to celebrate the fetching of tlie ark to Zion. PSALM XLIX. The Psalmist ' opens up ' and explains here what had been a secret to him, ' a riddle,' a puzzle, viz. the flourisliiug of the wicked. He had been afraid that in their mightiness they would carry everything before them, and escape the due reward of their deeds. He here shows there was no ground for that fear, for many reasons : (1) the great man's wealth cannot redeeiu his soid or life, however he may fancy the coutrarj^ vers. 7-13 ; (2) cannot save him from merited punish- ment, vers. 14, 15 ; (3) cannot be carried off with him to the other world, vers. IG, 17 ; (4) nor afford him ground at last for triumphing over the righteous, whom he used to despise on earth, vers. 18-20. By the Chief Musician, by the sons of Korah,' a Psalm. ' Ts. xlii. title. 1 Hear this, all people ; lend an car, 1 All in the world that dwell : PSALM XLIX. 137 Tlie lowly's sons, the lofty's sons,*" Rich man and poor as well/ 2 Mj moutli shall the perfection speak Of wisdom' 'unto you ;* And the communing of my heart Be undei'standing true/ 3 'Also'^ unto a parable I will incline mine ear ; I with the harp will open up My riddle "" 'to you clear."" 4 Upon the days of evil, why Should I afraid be 'found ?'^ Should"^ my supplanters' "^ wickedness' Encompass me 'around.* 5 Trusting upon" their mightiness,® As also in*' the host Of riches they're possessed of,'" let Them pride themselves, 'and boast.*^ 6 A brother can the lofty man^ Redeeming ne'er redeem ; " Nor can he his own ransom price Give unto God 'supreme." 7 For the redemption of their '^ soul Is costly "bove his power;" Awanting 'altogether,* too, It is for evermore, 8 That unto perpetuity'^ He 'still* may live, nor see Corruption 'ever;* for see it^ He shall" 'undoubtedly.* 9 The wise die ; jointly with the fool And brutish they decease ; ' And unto those that follow 'them* They leave their mightiness.^ 2 ■■ cf. Ps. iv. 2, n. ' I. together. I. wisdoms. 10 ■■ l. imder- slandings. ■■ .s. Judg. xiv. 12. The same Heb. word in Ps. Ixxviii. 2, corresponding to ' mj-steries ' of kingdom of heaven in n.t. ' iniquity. their riches. ■■ i.e. soul of both. P The punctua- tion altered, but no other change. ' perish. 10 Their houses are for aye 's their thoiight ; 11 To generations all Their dwelling-places: they 'their* grounds'" By their own names do call. D. and A. v. 138 PSALIM XLIX. 11 But ground '"-sprung man in costly* state 12 Long time outstandeth^ not; He's like the beasts that ofT are swept, 'And in corruption rot." 12 This way of theirs 'assuredly" 13 Is foolishness'" for them ; Yet those that follow® 'them" are pleased With what their mouths proclaim.* Selah. 13 To'' Hades'" they like sheep are put, 14 'And" death shall them devour;'" And in the morning over them The upright shall have power. 14 To waste 'them," Hades from his home* Shall them beset ;° but*" me 15 God shall from Hades' hand*^ redeem, For take me 'up" shall he. Selah. 15 Be not afraid® because a man 16 Increased in wealth doth get ; Because® the glory of his house Is crrown 'exceeding" jireat. "' A paron. is evidontly intended. ■■ There is a paron. between this and the last verse, ■\vliich I have tried to pre- serve. ■" from the word rendered ' fool ' in ver. 10; other translators: ' confidence.' ' with their mouths. ' the unseen state. ' cf. Jer. xxiL 22, Mic. V. 6 : 'not feed them,' as D., H. ' /. 'the dwell- ing bf'longiug to him.' ■■ I. ' only,' or ' assuredly.' 16 Because® he not a thing shall take. When death his days shall end ; ' His glory shall not after him 'Into the grave" descend. 17 first reason, 'in his death. 17 Because® he in his life may bless His soul ; yet ne'ertheless. Because® thou for thyself didst well, He shall 'at length" thee pi'aise. 18 ' second reason. 18 Unto the generation it"" Shall of his fathers go. Who unto perpetuity® Shall not see lidit 'below. 19 i.e. his soul. 19 The ground-.sprung® man in costly state, 20 Who imderstai/defh^ not. Is like the beasts that off are swept, 'And in corruption rot." dco ver. 12. PSALM XLIX. 139 Ver. 5. My supplanters' . — The A.v. has ' of my heels,' and the words are capable of this rendering, so far as mere language is concerned. But ' sup- planter ' and ' heel ' are from the same root in Heb. ; hence it is said, ' He took liis brother by the heel, he shall be called Jacob,' i.e. heeler , supplanter (Gen. XXV. 26). Ver. 6. Let them . . . boast. — The meaning is, ' Trusting in their riches, let them boast therriselves ; yet what can they do ? They caimot redeem their own soul, nor then' brother's, that he should live for ever ; for the redemption of it is too costly for all their wealth, or all they can ere?' make.' Ver. 9. For see it. — Only the punctuation Ls altered, and yet the meaning brought out seems to me far preferable to the other. Ver. 13. Foolishness — from the same root as 'fool' in ver. 10. Others render ' confidence,' as in Ps. Ixxviii. 7, Prov. iii. 26. Then the lines would nm : 'Nevertheless" this way of theirs Is confidence to them ; And those, etc. ; i.e. they feel emboldened, ' through the deceitfulness of riches,' to imagine no change can overtake them — to forget their latter end. With '■ivhat'' their mouths. — A rich man gets credit for more knowledge than he has, and his word has great weight : ' the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard' (Eccles. ix. 16). Ver. 14. ' Devour ;' not, ' feed them,' ' act as their shepherd.' In the morning — when they waken in the other world, and in the mornhig of the resurrection. Beset them — A.v. ' their beauty.' There is no other instance of TiV or iiv meaning 'beauty' or 'form,' as H., D. ; or 'pain,' in the sing., as AY. renders. The Masorites have marked the word as requiring correction, but their Kri is not, in my opinion, the true correction. I apprehend the 1 and '' have changed places, and would read D~11V\ 'shall beset them' (as in Ps. cxxxix. 6), and translate, ' Hades from out his dwelling shall beset them, to waste 'them.'" It baffles one to see how the translation given by H. of the last three words, ' Hades is away from a dwelling for him,' can be equivalent to, ' Hades is a dweUing for them,' as H. asserts. Ver. 18. Didst well. — On discovering his foUy in eternity, he shall praise thee for acting a wiser part on earth than he did. Others, following the pointing of the Masorites, translate : Although he in his life may bless His soul, and people praise Thee 'ever" when thou for thyself Dost well ; yet ne'ertheless, Unto, etc. 140 PSALM L. PSALM L. A Psalm by Asaph. 1 The Godhead, God, Jehovah'' speaks, 1 And to the earth shall call ; 'Even* from the rising of the sun, Unto his 'very'' fall. God forth doth shine from Zion 'height," 2 Of beauty the perfection 'bright.'^ 2 Our God shall come, nor silent be ; 3 Before him shall a fire Lay viraste ; and round him it shall be Tempestuoiisly dire. He, to the judging of his folk, 4 Shall heav'n above and earth invoke. 3 Gather together to me 'now" 5 My saints 'each one" do ye. Who over sacrifice have made A covenant with me : Then shall the heav'ns declare abroad 6 His righteousness ; for Judge is God."" Selah. 4 Hear, O my people, and I'll speak; 7 Isr'el, and testify I'll 'gainst thee: God, thy God, I a,m; Eeprove thee ne'er will I 8 About thy sacrifices, nor Burnt-ofF'rings ever me before.'' 5 No he-goats* from thy folds I'll take, 9 No bullock from thy house ; * For mine's each forest beast; mine, herds 10 On thousand hills 'that browse:" I know each fowl the mountains yield,' 11 With" me's the wild beast of the field. 6 If 'any time" I hungry were, 12 I would not tell it thee ; For mine's the earth 'itself," and mine Its fulness 'equally." Will I the flesh of bullocks eat ? 13 Or drink the blood of goats 'as sweet ?" 7 Offer thanksgiving unto God, 14 And to the Highest pay ■■His three leading names, just as iu Josh, xxii. 22, for the sake of solem- nity and im- pressiveness ; not ' God of gods,' which is expressed differently (Deut. X. 17). "■ for God, he is judge. ■■ so D. ; or, for thy burnt- offerings are before me con- tinually (H.), ' of the moun- tains. n PSALM LI. 141 Thy vows ; and call tliou upon me 15 In tribulation's day, 'And then" delivei- thee will I, And thou my name' shalt glorify. But to the wicked man God saith, 16 What call hast thou, 'forsooth," My statutes to declare, and take My cov'nant in thy mouth ? Since thou instruction hated hast, 17 And dost my words behind thee cast. When thou 'at any time" a thief 18 Hast happened to behold,' Then thou 'immediately" with him Consented hast 'to hold;" And with adulterers 'unclean" Thy part hath 'at the same time" been. beheld. 10 Thy mouth thou unto wickedness'" 19 Accustomed art to give ; ' Thy tongue 'industriously, too," Deceitfidness doth weave. Thou sitt'st, against thy brother speak'st, 20 Thy mother's son to slander seek'st.' 11 These things thou 'verily" hast done, 21 And I 'still" silent® was: The I AM"^ to be' like thyself Thou 'therefore" didst suppose. I will reprove thee, and will set Me in array™ before thee' 'yet." 12 Pray,® mark this, ye that God forget, 22 Lest I 'to" rend you 'rise," And rescuer be none ; who thanks^ 23 Offers, me glorifies : I God's salvation will display To him who doth prepare a way.* ' evil. ' dost send forth. slanderest. "■ so Hy., and rightly. It is the veiy same word as in Ex. iii. 14. ™ cf. 2 Sam. X. 9, 10, 17; Jer. 1. 9, 14; and often ; in fulfilment of Lev. XX. 3, 5. ' before thine eyes. * thanksgiving. ® s. Isa. xliii. 19, i.e. for its display. PSALM LI. By the Chief Musician, a Psalm ty David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, because' he went" in to Bathsheba. 1 Compassion have on me, God, According to thy kindness 'yet;" ■■ 'inasmuch as,' 'because' (1 Sam. xxviii. 18 ; 2 Kings xvii. 26 ; Mic. iii. 4; Num. xxYii 14). 1 142 PSALM LI. O blot thou my transgression'" out, According to thy mercies great.' 2 Wholly from mine iniquity 2 Me wash, and from my sin me cleanse ; For I do my transgression*" know,® 3 " Before me ever's mine offence.' 3 'Gainst thee, thee only, have I sinned, 4 And done the ill in sight of thee ; That in thy speaking® justified. Cleared in thy judging, thou may'st be. ' in the sing., like the kin- dred terms, ver. 2, and as iu Ps. xxxii. 1 ; not pi., as A.V., D., H. ' the greatness of thy sympathies. "■ see n. pre- ceding. ■^ cf. 2 Sam. xix. 20. " and. ' sin. 4 Lo ! I in guilt ^ was shaped; and me My mother did conceive in sin : Lo ! truth thou'" in the inwards® lov'st," In the hid part teach me wisdom then. iniquity. ■■ cf. Job xxxviii. 36. ' delightest in. 5 With hyssop purify thou me. And I shall 'then" be cleansed so: O do thou Avash me, and I ' then " Shall Avhiter be than is the snow. 6 O do thou joyfvilness 'announce® To me, 'I pray,"* and gladness 'choice;' In order that the bones, which thou Hast broken, may 'again" rejoice. ' cf. Isa. xliv. 8, xlviii. 5. 7 Thy face hide from my sins, and blot 9 Thou out all mine offences' 'too;" A clean heart make'" for® me, O God, 10 " A spirit firm*" in me renew. 8 Cast me not from thy sight, and take 1 1 Thy Holy Spirit not away ; Restore me thy salvation's joy, 12 And 'with* the Spirit free" me stay. ' iniquities. ■■ create. " and. ' or estab- lished. 9 I will transgressors teach thy ways. And sinners shall be turned to thee : Me from the guilt of blood,*" God, Thou God of my salvation, free. 10 And 'then*^ my tongue 'continually'' Shall shout 'aloud* thy righteousness. 13 14 /. bloods. PSALM LIT. 143 Open my lips do thou ' again, ^ 15 Then shall my mouth show forth thy praise. 11 For thou dost not in sacrifice 16 Delight, else would 1 give it 'now ;"' And 'neither^ in burnt-oiFering Take 'any* pleasure, 'Lord,'^ dost thou. 12 Jehovah's'" sacrifices are 17 A broken spirit ; not despise A broken and a contrite heart Wilt thou, O God, 'in any wise.'^ 13 Do Zion good in thy good will;' Build up Jerusalem's walls ' again ; " In offerings^ of righteousness, 19 'O Lord," thou shalt delight thee then : 14 Shalt in burnt-ofifering 'dehght^ 'Thyself," and whole burnt-offering: Unto thine altar they shall then BuUocks for an oblation bring. God's. 18 ' good pleasure. sacrifices. PSALM LIT. By the Chief Musician, Instructive,' by David. When Doeg tlie Edomite went and informed Saul, and said to him, ' David went to tlie house of Ahimelech.' 1 Why boastest thou of ill all day, 1 Mighty man, a disgrace to God ? ^ 'Why" plots thy tongue, sharp as a blade, 2 Destructions, practiser of fraud ? ^ 2 Thou lovest evil more than good, 3 Falsehood, than righteousness to speak. Selah. All words of fell undoing thou, 4 Deceitful tongue, dost love 'to seek." 3 God thee too shall beat down : "" he thee 5 Away eternally shall put ; ^ ° Shall pluck thee from the tent ; ° from out The land of living men thee root. Selah. 4 Just men ' shall see, and awed shall be,"" 6 And over him shall laugh 'at length ;" ' Behold the mighty man,® ' behold" 7 'The man* that made not God^'his strength : , Ps. xxxii. title. ■» so H. and D., aud rightly. '■ s. Judg. viii. 17. ' i.e. like ashes. ° and. s. Ps. .\1. ' cf Ps. X. 4. 144 - PSALM LII. 5 But on til' abundance of bis wealth,'" ' cf. vers. 5, 6. 'The greatness of his means,* relied : By the destruction^ Avhich he wrought,* ' I. 'ibis de- Grew strong 'and firmly fortified." prS'Ts 'n*"^' G But be like a green olive tree 8 Within the house of God shall I : I do upon the grace ^ of God ' disgrace. Ever and evermore rely. 7 I will for ever give thee thanks, 9 Because thou hast accomplished this : And I will Avait upon thy name, For good before the saints it is. Ver. 1. Disgrace. — The visual meaning of the Heb. word is ' grace,' or, ' mercy,' as in ver. 8 ; but by metaphrasis it also signifies ' disgrace.' In this latter sense it occius in Lev. xx. 17 (wicked thing), Prov. xiv. 3-t (reproach) ; and the verb from which it is derived, and which in Ps. xviii. 26 means ' to show one's self gracious,' signifies in Hke manner 'to disgrace,' 'to put to shame,' in Prov. XXV. 10. Were the verb used in this sense in Kal, it might be a question whether the word here were not the Kal partic. rather than the noun, and the meaning, ' disgracing God,' as W. has given it. Doeg was a disgrace to God, and daily disgracing him more by the hes he told, the deceit he practised, the butcheries he perpetrated, the plunder he amassed, the impieties he vented, the boast he made of his iniquitous achievements. The rendering here proposed will speak for itself when laid side by side with that of the a. v. All day — though standing at the close of the verse in the 0., is to be taken, as here, in connection with ' why boastest thou.' Miglity man. — Doeg had risen to great power and wealth by his subserviency to Saul. Ver. 2. Why plots. — The 'why' should evidently be repeated here, as in Ps. X. 1. See remarks, Ps. iv. 2. Destructions — and not merely ' mischiefs' (a. v.). Doeg did not content him- self with the latter : compare his character as depicted in Ps. x. Ver. 4. — Of fell winching — ' all words' calculated to excite suspicion against his victims, and to effect then- destruction. Ver. 6. — Thee too. — Thou hast made many a one suffer, hast brought many a guiltless one to death ; but thou too shalt be swept as clean away as they have been. God shaU bring thee down as thou broughtest them, and leave no more trace of thee than thou hast left of them. Ver. 6. — Just men shall see and rejoice over thy fall, and say, ' Verily' there 'is a God that judgeth in the eartli' (Ps. Iviii. 11). Ver. 8. But /, whoni thou hast sought to destroy, shall fiom'ish on, when thou art fallen and perished, root and branch. I PSALM LIII. 145 PSALM LTII. This Psalm is but another version of ttie 14tli. The italics show where and to what extent it varies from the other. The inscription is fuller than the one pre- fixed to the 14th Psalm, and announces the subject on which the Psalmist is to expatiate, -vdz. 'on the diseases,' i.e. on the frightfully diseased state of the nation both with reference to morality and prosperity (cf. Isa. i. 5 and Ex. xv. 26) at the time at which he wrote, which was at the close of Saul's reign, when religion was at its lowest ebb, and the kingdom tending to dissolution ; the 14th Psalm being written before that monarch's death, and the present one immediately after that event, as appears pretty conclusively from the fifth verse of each. By the Cliief Musician, 'on the diseases,'" Instructive,' hy David. 1 The fool hath said within his heart, There's no God ; in ??;isdeed Depraved they're, and detestable : None to do good 'takes heed." Ex. XV. 26.' Ps. xxxii. title. /. none doeth. 2 From heaven upon the sons of men God forth did look abroad, To see if any one had sense, 'And" did search after God. 3 Corrupt together they're become ;* Back even/ one is gone : * There's none of them that doeth good. There is not even one. 4 Do they not know, the practisers Of evU, who the folk Devour, shall be devour'd in fight ? They God do not invoke.*" 5 A fear^ there fear'd they ; loas it not A fear ? for God diffused^ ^It;^ strengths,^^ invader, thou hast shamed," For^ God hath them refused.'^ 6 O would that out of Zion 'hill" — 'The hiU that succour's from " — Deliv'rances to Israel There 'speedily" would come. 7 When to his folk's captivity God turns himself again, For joy shall Jacob 'then" exult, Be glad shall Isr'el 'then." K ' See 1 Chron. X. 1.8, 14. "■ referring to Saul's terror before Gilboa. " cf. Ps. Ixviii. 35 (Heb.). ■■ as in 1 Sam. xvl. 7 ; or ' rejected,' as in 1 Sam. xvi. 1, XV. 23. 146 PSALM LI II. Ver. 4. Do they not Icnnw. — The Ilel). vltIj signifying 'to know' does not roquire tlic conjunction ' that ' to be expressed aftei" it in such cases as tliis, any more than our EngHsh verb. Often the conjunction, as in the present instance, is omitted (see Job xix. 25, xxx. 23 ; Isa. xl. 28). Devour the folk shall be devoured. — I have made no alteration on the common Heb. text, beyond detaching the t from ij^y to prefix it to the following word, in order to bring out the above meaning. And that alteration would have sufficiently commended itself, apart from the distmcter meaning here brought out: for to whom can 'my' refer in the exjiression 'my people?' David, at the time he wrote the 14th Psalm, would not have used that expression in reference to Israel — would not have called them ' my people' (cf. Ps. lix. 11, n.). The state of distraction in which Saul kept the kingdom must have led to a sad waste of the people's substance, to a sad waste of their lives, not to speak of the cruel murders of which he was guilty. Injight — A.v. 'bread.' The Heb. word, differently pronounced, means either 'bread,' or 'war, battle;' and in this latter sense is foimd Judg. v. 8, and comes from the verb translated 'fight' in Ps. xxxv. 1, Ivi. 1, 2. The omission of the preposition ' in ' is quite common in such cases (Deut. ii. 24 ; Ps. xxiv. 8, Ixviii. 30 ; Isa. xxii. 2 ; cf. Ps. cxxvii. 2, n.). This saying was signally verified on Gilboa's disastrous day ; for thus runs the record : ' So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armour-bearer, and all his men, that same day together' (1 Sam. xxxi. 6). They God do not invoke. — See this charge expressly preferred against Saul (1 Chron. X. 13, 14), and adduced as the ground of his overthrow. Ver. 5. Was it not a fear. — Translators have made pitiable work of this and the following clause ; and not the translators of the A.v. more than others. I have simply altered the punctuation of the verse, but have made no other change, and introduced no supplement but ' it,' which scarcely deserves to be called one. It was no connnon terror that now possessed Saul. Hear himself describe it to Samuel, or what he believed to be Samuel, risen at liis call from the spirit- world : ' I am sore distressed ; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams : therefore I have called thee' (1 Sam. xxviii. 15). Samuel's reply did not abate his terror, but increased it tenfold ; for ' SaiU fell straightway aU along on the earth, and was sore afraid because of the words of Samuel : and there was no strength in him' (ver. 20). ' Was it not a fear ?' The clause should be read interrogatively, for the simple x^ can introduce a question quite as well as Npn, though it is not used so frequently (exx. Lam. i. 12, Jonah iv. 11, Mai. ii. 15, just as simple ovx. in Greek, c.^.'Mark xii. 24 : see Ges. Lex. (2)). And so read, the clause implies, ' "Was it not a mighty fear — a fear deserving the name ? ' For God diffused it. — There is no terror like the terror God inspu'es. Hence the fear impressed on the brute creation (Gen. ix. 2), on the towns near Shechem (xxxv. 5), on the Canaanites (Dent. ii. 25), is represented as proceed- ing from him. And the terror wliich Saul now felt was also a terror inspired by God, in so entirely abandoning him as to answer him neither by proj^hets nor by dreams, nor in any other way whatever ; and in causing him to hear such a terrible announcement in the witch's house, from the lips of One whose words he knew were so certain to come true. PSALM LIII. U7 It is needful to use some such verb as ' diffused,' ' spread,' here, rather than ' scattered,' which would be ambiguous ; for by ' scattering one's fears' we gene- rally mean ' dispelliug them,' ' removing them,' though by 'scattering blessings' we generally mean ' diffusing them,' spreading them all around us ; and the Psalmist's meaning is, that Saul's fear was one which God diffused or spread — one which God iuspu-ed : and the Heb. word is quite suitable for conveying that idea (cf. Ps. cxii. 9, Prov. xi. 24). Strengths — A. v. ' bones,' a derived but frequent sense of the word ; ' the bones ' being the strong parts of the body. The word occurs in the sing, in Tsa. xl. 29, ' he increaseth strength,' and in xlvii. 9, where it is rendered ' multitude' (or strength) of thy sorceries. The pliu-al foi-m of it here, ' strengths,' is equi- valent to ' strong ones,' i.e. Saul and Jonathan, who were ' stronger tban lions' (2 Sam. i. 23), and aU the valiant men of Israel who fought and fell with them that day. Indeed, the word might be the very same one that is translated ' strong ones,' or ' strong reasons,' in Isa. xU. 21, quite as well as the plural of the word for ' strength.' An almost identical word is used by David m Ps. Ixviii. 35. Invader. — The word in the o. answering to this is the participle of "jjn, which means to make strait or narrow, to shut up into a corner, to invade in a hostile sense, i.e. to make a forcible entrance ; and then to invade in a ceremonial sense, i.e. to make a formal entrance, to take formal possession, to dedicate, to inau- gurate — the term used for entering into formal occupation of a new house (Deut. XX. 5), or formal occupation of a new temple (1 Kings viii. 63). So also to shut up in & Jiijurative sense, as to shut up a child into the right way, to enter him on it, to initiate or train him in the way he should go (Prov. xxii. 6) ; cf . Paul's expression (Gal. iii. 23), ' shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.' It is in the first of these senses the verb is here used ; and being m the participle and in the voc. case, it wiU mean ' invader,' and refer to Achish, leader of the Philistine host, or, which is the same thing, to the host itseK under him. Addresshig the hostile leader, or the hostUe band, David exclaims, ' invader, thou hast shamed strengtlis,' hast put strong ones to shame, hast inflicted on them a ' shameful defeat ;' for ' the shield of the mighty is \Tlely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oU.' Sliivered is the bow of Jonathan, that never turned back ; and perished are the weapons of war. ' The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places ; how are the mighty fallen ! ' Philistia, ' thou hast trodden down strength' (Judg. v. 21). It is worth while to mark that expression of Deborah's just quoted. There is a wonderful similarity between it and the Psalmist's here, though the word for strength be not the same. But if Philistia trimnph so signally over the hosts of Israel, there is a good reason for her success, and the Psalmist takes care to tell what the reason is. For God hath them ' refused' — for God hath them 'rejected.' By either of these words should the verb be rendered, as in 1 Sam. xv. 23, xvi. 1, 7; and not, as in the A. v., by the word 'despised.' God was departed from Saul, and therefore his overthrow was easy, ignominious, and complete. In the 14th Psalm, David reminds Saul and his abetters, ' Ye shamed the counsel of the poor one, because Jehovah was his refuge ; ' and now, in the second edition of his Psalm, has to teU of PhUistia more effectually shaming these proud ones themselves. The 'variation' is impressively 'instructive' — Maschil : 'Whoso is wise, and wiU observe these things, even tliey shall imderstand the' judgments ' of the LOED' (Ps. cvii. 43). 148 PSALM LIIl. "^""cr. 6. O ivoiihl. — It was a painful thouglit to David that Israel must be involved i» Saul's overthrow ; and he prays that the Philistine triimiph might be short, and that God would soon retm-n 2'(; his/olk''s captivity — i.e. to his poor, subjugated, and dispersed people, and put an end to their bondage under the Philistine yoke (1 Sara. xxxi. 7) ; a prayer which Avas after a time gloriously fulfilled (2 Sam. v. 17, 22). For the render- ing here adopted H. strenuously contends, denying that 3")tJ> in Kal has ever the Hijihil meaning of ' to bring back.' This transitive sense Ges. allows, and D. contends for, in opposition to H. Should it be preferred, the hues would run : When his own folk's captivity God turneth back again ; Aud in Ps. xiv. : When back his folk's captivity Jehovah turns again. Some conclude, from the use of the teim ' captivity,' that the Psalm cannot have been by David, as the title declares, but must belong to the period of the exile. They might as well maintain, when it is said (Job xhi. 10), ' The LORD tiu-ned the captivity of Job,' that the patriarch had been carried away captive into a strange land, though the historian has omitted to mention the circimistauce at the proper place, or to say by whom he was carried off. Others, with greater force, object that the first edition of the Psalm could not have been written shortly before Saul's death, and the second shortly after Saul's death ; since Ziou, from Avhich the deliverance is expected, did not become the seat of God's throne, nor even a possession of Israel's, till years after this. But if Zion, strictly so called, was in the hands of the Jebusites, the adjouiuig eminence of Moriah, which equally shares the name 'Zion' (Ps. cxxxiii. 3), had long ago been reclaimed, aud from it had proceeded 'the deliverance of Israel' under the first king. For it is to it that Samuel refers, when, at the anointing of Saul, he says, ' After that thoii shalt come to the hill of God., where is the garrison of the Philistines ; ' for Saul's direct road from Rachel's sepulchre to liis father's house in Gibeah of Benjamin would lead him through Jerusalem and close to Moriah (and he was not likely in the circumstances to deviate from the direct road), and there was no other hill of God in the line of his route. Besides, to no other hiU -svithin the limits of Palestine was the name ever applied, not even to the one where the ark of God so long stood, while in the house of Abinadab, ' in the hill,' in ' Gibeah' of Judah ; being reserved exclusively for the mount of God at Jerusalem, which had received that name as early as Abraham's day (Gen. xxii. 14), and was all along known to be the place which God had chosen for his seat, — 'the Sanctuary,' as Moses calls it (Ex. xv. 17). Tliis hill Saul must pass- in his return ; and Samuel told him it was on this hill that the Spirit of God would first come upon him, it was on this hill that he would be turned into another man ; after which he might act as occasion served, in the full assurance that God was with him (1 Sam. x. 5-7). Nothing, therefore, was more natural for Saul's successor than to look for deliverance to the quarter from which it had come in the time of the first king, especially when the same enemy was again triumphant in the land ; and to exclaim, ' that the deliverance of Israel were come out of Zion ' anew ! PSALM LIV. U9 PSALM LIV. By tlie Chief Musician, with stringed instruments, Instructive" by David. '' Ps. xxxii. title. When tlie Ziphites went and said to Saul, 'Doth not David hide himself with us ?'■■'■ "^ 1 Sam. xxiii. 19. 1 O God, by tliy name save thou me, 1 And jndge me by thy power ; My supplication' do thou hear, 2 ' L prayer. To th' accents'" of my mouth give ear, >■ i words. God, 'I thee implore." 2 For strangers'^ up against me 'now* Are ris'u 'with eagerness \'^ And formidable® men 'abroad" 'Are come" my soul to seek : they God Before them do not place.® Selah. 3 Lo ! God a helper is to me : " The Lord 'Jehovah's" with My soul's supporters ; back the ill Return on my observers " will : Silence" them in thy truth. 4 I'll frankly'" sacrifice to thee; Tliy name, O LORD, I'll praise,' For it is good : for from each strait He frees me;"" and mine eye 'elate" Upon my foes doth gaze."" ■• cf. Ps. Ixxxvi. 14. "^ Ps. xxxvii. 35. <■ cf. Ps. xvi. S.'' ■= Ps. V. 8, xxvii. 11. " Ps. ci. 5, 8, Ixix. 4. ■■ so Ges., D. ; others : ' with a free-will offering ; ' cf. Ps. xxvii. 6. ' thank. ■■ repeated on a subsequent occasion (1 Sam. xxvi. 24). " cf. Ps. xcii. 11.* Ver. 3. Strangers. — This verse is nearly word for word the same as Ps. Ixxxvi. l-t; the italics mark the chief differences. The term for 'strangers' in the o. wants only a 'tittle' to the second letter to make it mean 'proud,' as in Ps. Ixxxvi. 14. This variation is 'instructive.' They affected great ignorance of David, as well as manifested great j5r/(Zt; (1 Sam. xxv. 10, 11). Ver. 5. Return.— The. Heb. verb is in Kal according to the C'thib reading, and there seems no reason to change it. If the K'ri readuig be preferred, all the alteration required is to substitute 'he' for 'back.' David's anticipation here recorded Avas soon verified in the invasion of the Phihstines. It was small profit to the Ziphites to get David dislodged from their neighboitrhood. He had been a ' wall' of defence round them while he stayed (1 Sam. xxv. 16), and had kept the Phihstines from robbing the threshing-floors (xxiii. 1-6) ; and any exaction he had levied for his support had been fight compared with their plunderings. Observers is the proper meaning of the term, and it is fitly chosen. The Ziphites were directed by Saul to ' prepare yet, and know and see his place ' (xxiii. 22). 150 rSALM LV. Silence is the literal signification of the word, and there is no need to change it ; for it is as fitly chosen as the one above. The Zipliitcs had been very ready with their tongue. They had voluntarily gone to Saul to furnish him with information about David, but would doubtless exclaim, on the return of the Philistmes, and invasion of the Amalekites (xxx. 1-4) to devastate the land, ' that we had altogether held our peace ! and it should have been our wisdom.' Ver. 7. From each strait. — He repeats these very words on a subsequent occasion (1 Sam. xxvi. 24 ; E.v, : Deliver me out of all tribulation). Mine eye hath seen both the Ziphites and Saul well humbled. He had wit- nessed the mortifying discomfiture of their well- concerted plan, and their fitting chastisement. PSALM LV. By tlie Chief Musician, with stringed instruments, Instructive, by David. On Aliitliophcl. 1 List to my prayer, O God, nor hide 1 From my entreaty's 'tone:" Heed me, and answer me ; I roam 2 In my complaint,'" and moan : ' Ts. cxlii. 1.' 2 By reason of tli' en'my's'' voice, " The wicked" man's pursuit." For me they'' tax'' with crime ; and me In wratli they persecute.'" 3 My heart writhes in me ; fall'n on me The terrors are of death : Fear and trembling are on me come ; Covered me horror hath. ■■ AbithophtTs. '■'' Absalom, so called Ps. xxxvi. 1, n. ' I. pressiu-e. ■■ these two. ^ /. make crime upon me slide. ' of. Gal. iv. 29 ; others, ' hate.' And 'therefore" do I say, ' O would That I were 'but" possessed Of pinions'" like a dove ! I'd fly Away and dwell" 'at rest." a pimou. 5 'Lo ! I far off w^ould wander 'then ;" Lodge in the desert 'waste." Selah. From rushing wind, 'and" from the storm, Would to a shelter haste.' 6 Swallow them"" up, O Lord 'my God;" Divide their tongues'"'" do thou : For violence and strife I see Within the city 'now." "" Hushai feared they would 'swallow up"' David and all his men (2 Sam. xvii. 16). " i.e. divide their counsels. God answered the prayer (2 Sam. xvii. 15). PSALM LV. 151 'Both" day and night upon its walls, They round about it go ; And in the midst of it there 'now* Ai'e 'wickedness and woe.''' 10 cf. Ps. V. 5, n. 8 'Moreover," in the midst of it Are profligacies 'vile ;" And from its street departeth not Oppressiveness and guUe. 11 9 For 'twas no foe that me reproached,'' 12 Then I had borne : nor did A hater of me 'gainst me rise,' Then I from him had hid. 10 But thou,"^ a man 'as of my rank,*" 13 My friend,' my confidant : Counsel together sweetened we; 14 With crowds' to God's house went. 11 Be desolations on them;"" let 15 Them to the pit depart' Alive ; for evils in their homes There are, 'and" in their heart. 12 I'll call to God, and save me shall 16 Jehovah; I'll at eve 17 And morn and noon complain and moan : ^ " Ear to my voice he'U give.' 13 My soul he into peace will" 'yet" 18 Eedeem from out the war, In my behalf;'^' for 'still" with me In multitudes they are. 14 Give ear® shall God, and them afflict;"' 19 " He who of old sits, tread "^ Them shall, if° change' with them be none,. If God they do not dread. 15 'Gainst those that were at peace with him, 20 His hand he"^ forth hath put : His covenant he hath profaned," 'And trampled under foot." '' casting up the high offences I had committed ; cf. ver. 3, and Ps. xxxvi. -1, n. ' magnified himself. ■■ AhithopheL ' I. intimate. ' with the crowd. ' so C'thib ; but K'ri, ' Let death uiDon them seize ; let . . . ' descend. " and. ' hear. " the prset. in such cases interchanges with fut. (Ges. Gr. § 124, 4 ; cf. Isa. V. 5, 6, 16). ^ cf. Ps. Ivi. 2,^n.; I. 'for.' ■"'■ so A.v. ; but W., H., D. render: 'and answer them.' " and. " See note at the end. ' changes. ' and. ■ Ahithophfil. *■ Ps. Ixxxix. 44, margin. 152 PSALM LVI. 16 Smooth'" were the butterings" of his mouth, 21 "■ «ee Ps. Yet his lieart "was war : ® his Avords - • i • Were softer than 'the very" oil, And yet they were di'awn swords. 17 Thy burden^ on Jehovah cast, 22 "■ so D., as well And boar thee up shall he ; ^^ ^^^• The righteous man he shall not grant" For ever moved to be. ' /. ' not halve 18 But thou, O God, them to the pit 23 their days.' Shalt of destruction « thrust ; ' '-'-.^ P"* "^^ TVT 1 1 c 1 • • • 11 trust on thee, Not half their days live' men of blood not on force And fraud : but I"" thee trust. «;n^ ^,'"^^'^' '^^e ' Absalom and Ahithophcl. Ver. 9. Give ecu' — i.e. to me. And them afflict. — This seems the preferable rendering ; and even with the existing pointing the word admits of it (of. 1 Kings viii. 35) ; but probably it should have the pointing of Piel, as in 2 Kings xvii. 20. The Lxx. and Luther, as well as the A. v., translate so ; D. and H. and "W. translate, 'and answer them,' but differ as to the import of that rendering. Sits of old — cf. Deut. xxxiii. 27, ' the eternal God,' I. 'the God of old.' Shall tread. — n?D here, I apprehend, is not the musical mark, as interpreters, ancient and modern, invariably suppose, but the third person singular of the verb translated 'tread imder foot' in Lam. i. 15, and 'put away' in Ps. cxix. 118. How abrupt and umiatural the structm-e of the sentence on their suppo- sition ! how simple and connected the sense on mine : ' God . . . shall afihct them, and he that sits of old shall tread them down ! ' The one verb is indeed in the future and the other in the priseter., but such an interchange is common in cases hke the present, e.g. Ex. xv. 14, 15, Isa. xhi. 16 (see Ges. Gi: § 124 (4)). This is not the only instance in which a similar mistake has been made with ' Selah ; ' cf. Ps. cxl. 8. //' — a sense which "iJ^K not unfrequently has (Deut. xi. 27 ; 1 Kmgs viii. 31 : see Ges. Lex. (4)). Chanrje — I. ' changes.' God will tread them down if there be no changes with them, no repentance, no return (cf. Ps. vii. 12), and ' If they do not fear God ; ' for at present ' there is no fear of God before their eyes,' as Ps. xxxvi. 1 declares. PSALM LVI. Written, as the title informs lis, 'when the Philistines took possession of hmi in Gath ;' and the theme of it, according to the rest of the title as usually interpreted, is, ' On the dumb dove among strangers.' This translation faii'ly matches the one commonly put on the title of the 22d. There is as much reference here to a 'dumb dove' as there is there to 'the hind of the morning.' Jonath, in the pre- PSALM LVI. 153 sent instance, is from tlie Kal participle of the verb ,13% which Moses employs (Ex. xxii. 21 ; Lev. xix. 33) when he says, 'Ye shall not vex a stranger;' and Jeremiah, when he says, 'Do no wrong to the stranger' (xxii. 3); and was likely suggested to David, a ' stranger ' in Gath, by his remembrance of that law of his country, which, to his cost, he found not in force across the borders ; and may be rendered ' oppressiveness, ' or [with ' sword ' understood (see Ges. Lex. )] 'the oppressing sword.' D?5< is the abbreviated plural, as in Ex. xv. 11 (cf. Gen. i. 21), of the word translated 'strong' in Ezek. xxxii. 21, and 'mighty' ia Job xli. 25 ; and the initial letters of which, according to C'thib, are precisely the same as here (see Ges. Lex., sub ?X). Rechokim, as in Ps. Ixv. 5, means 'the far- off ones;' and the three words, 'the oppressiveness of the mighty ones far off,' i.e. of the Philistine lords, 'the servants of Achish' (1 Sam. xxi. 11), whom David describes in the Psalm as ' fighting daily ' with him, and like to overpower him. To escajDe their vengeance and regain his fatherland, he was compelled to resort to the stratagem of feigning madness. By the Chief Musician, on the oppressiveness of the mighty ones far off, by David, Golden,' when the PhOistines took possession of him in Gath. 1 Pity have on me, O God, 1 For, for me, man panteth'' 'keen :* Fighting "gainst me*^ all the day,^'^ He will overpow'r me ' clean. ^ Pant® je"- all the day, my foes,^ 2 " Many fight for® me on high :™ In the day that^ I shall fear, 3 Put my trust in thee will I. Cho7'. I in God will make my boast,*" 4 There is cause :" AndP in God will'' put my trust;® I'll not fear what flesh shall do to me. 2 AU the day® they wrest my words, 5 All their thoughts are for my woe ; * They convene,^ hide, mark my steps, 6 While wait for my soul they do. The deliverance for them 7 Is by*" wickedness. O thrust Thou the peoples down, O God, In ' thine ^ indignation 'just.* 3 Thou my wanderings^'' dost tell ; 8 In thy bottle put my tears : 'O Jehovah, '^ are they not In thy book, 'with all my fears?* Then mine adversaries^ shall, 9 In the day I call 'to thee,* "■ Ps xvi. title. "^^ ' not every day ' (Ges. Gr. § 109). ' observers. " for. ■= cf. Ps. Iv. 18. "" 2 Kings xix. 22 ; Isa. xxii. IC, xxvi. 5 ; cf. Matt. xxvi. 53. s same (s) in o. ■■ Ps. x. 3. " cf. 1 Sam. xvii. 29. ■■ See Ps. Iv. 19 (Ges. Or. § 124, 4). ' harm against me. ■■ so H., D. ; cf. lix. 3, Isa. liv. 15 : others, ' they're afraid.' ' or 'with,' as in Isa. Ix. 7, Lev. vi. 3 [;. with false- hood] ; cf. John xi. 50 (see Ps. vii. 10). '■'■ his flight from place to place ; cf. s. Iv. 7. ' foes. 154 PSALM LVI. Backwards'' 'in confusion* turn : r pf, john Tliis 1 know, for God's for me. ''""• ^• Chor. I in God will make my boast, 10 There is cause : In Jehovah make my boast, There is cause : I in God will put my trust ; 1 1 I'll not fear what man shall do to me. 4 On me are thy vows, O God : 12 I thank-offerings will 'yet" Render unto thee; for thou 13 Free from death my soul hast set. Wilt thou not my feet 'for me* 'Safe" from overthrow 'maintain?" In the sight' of God to walk, ' before. In the light of Hving men. Ver. 2. Pant ijs. — The verb is not in the indie, as always supposed, but in the imijcr. ; and the noun that follows is in the voc, not in the nom. : ' mine observers.' « For me. — p cannot signify both 'for' me and 'against' me. It is vain, vnth D., to say, ' Compare the use of ~>ii with the same verb in Jer. i. 19.' He might as well have said, 'the use of py.' 'Against' is the proper meaning of ?N in such cases (Gen. iv. 8), Hke the Latin 'in' with an ace. after it, and never 'for.' We use the prep, 'with' indifferently for both, and so did the Hebrews, because it cannot mean either of them distinctively, the context alone determining which of them is meant, p can only mean ' for,' as in Ex. xiv. 14, 25, Deut. i. 30, where it occurs in connection with the same verb as here. On high. — So the word often means (Ps. x. 5 ; 2 Kings xix. 22) ; never ' the Most High' (see Ps. xcii. 8). Many. — He says on another occasion of like danger (Ps. Iv. 18), ' With me in multitudes [/. in many's'] they are;' but these were ear^A/^ helpers : here he has 'multitudes' of heavenly ones (cf. Matt. xxvi. 53). Ver. 3. In the day that = either in the day tvhicJi or tchen, probably the latter. Ver. 4. / iH God. — This is the chorus, repeated in an ampUfied form in vers. 10, 11. Will make my boast — /. ' will boast or glory,' as m Ps. x. 3, xhv. 8. It is thus very similar to the Hithp. : like dm* own ' to boast and to boast one's self,' ' to be proud and to pride one's self.' H. denies tliis signification, and translates ' to praise,' ' to extol.' He would have been nearer the truth to say it never means to extol or praise when followed by 2, but only to boast or glory in, to boast or glory of ; cf. DvPIH, the boastful, Ps. v. 5, Ixxiii. 3, Ixxv. 4. But his inter- pretation of the whole clause, viz. ' God extol I, his word,' can scarcely be said to be much more miintelligible than that of om- own translators, viz. ' In God I will praise his word.' One wonders so simple a clause should be so grotesquely PSALM LVII. 155 obscured. The obscurity is owing in part to the misdivision of the letters in 1"13T, the 1 of which should be disjoined and prefixed to the next word, making it DVi?J<31, and leaving the opening clause of both choruses identically the same; and in part to translating "i2T 'word' uistead of 'cause' or 'reason,' — a sense which it often bears, as when Joshua says, ' This is the cause why' (v. 4) ; or when David says, ' Is there not a cause? ' (1 Sam. xvii. 29.) (For other examples, see Ps. xxii. 1, n.) The chorus wiU thus run, ' In God will I boast ; there is cause : and in God wiU I trust,' etc. For the tenses, see Ges. Gi'. § 124, 6. Ver. 8. The delirerance. — It would have been a gTeat breach of hospitality to take David's life when he threw himseK on theii" protection ; and yet the servants of Acliish would have done it, for the sake of securing their coimtry from one who had proved, and might again prove, so mjurious to it. State policy would have justified the iniquity in their eyes. The proposal of Caiapbas was based on the same principle (John xi. 50). The A. v. renders thus : ' Shall there be escape for them By iniquity? thrust,' etc. Ver. 10. In JeJiovah — a striking addition to the chorus. Though in the land of the Philistines, he does not think of proijitiating any of their gods : his whole dependence is on Jehovah, the God ofrlsrael. Ver. 11. ril not fear. — What a mixtm-e of faith and mibelief there is in the same individual ! While David was writmg thus, he was scrabbluig on the gates of Gath, and letting his spittle faU on his beard ! PSALM LVII. An expression, Al-Taschith, is found as the heading of this Psalm and the two following ones by David, as well as of the 75th by Asaph, which has not met us hitherto in the Psalms. It means 'Destroy not,' and was first used by Moses (Deut. ix. 2G) in his prayer for Israel, and was repeated by David in his injunction to Abishai to spare Saul (1 Sam. xxvi. 9) ; and was probably placed by him in the titles of these three Psalms to indicate the nature of their contents, as being a prayer deprecating his own destruction at a very critical period of his life ; and by Asaph in the title of the 75th, to deprecate the destruction of Jerusalem in the days of Sennacherib. Possibly, also, the whole four may have been set to a par- ticular tune or cast of music. By the Chief Musician, Destroy not, by David, Golden.' ' Ps. xvi. title. Wlien he fled from the presence of Saul in the cave.' ■■ Of Engedi, 1 Sam. xxiv. 3, 1 Pity me ; God, pity me, ' 1 For to tliee my soul doth haste ; ' 'in thee my And in shadow of thy wings, rehlge.^^' Till destructions pass, I'll rest.' ' take refuge. I wiU call to God Most High, 2 God, completing^' 'all* for me ; ■■ Ps- From the heavens he shall send forth, cxxxviii. 8." And deliver "■ me shall he. ■■ save. 156 PSALM LVIII. 2 Thou tliat after me dost pant. 3 Pour thou out reproaches" 'still." Selah. God his mercy and his truth •" Forth shall send 'in his good-will." Soul ! ' 'mid lions do I lie, 4 Flaming sons of men among : ' Spears and arrows are their teeth, And a whetted sword their tongue. Cho7'. Be exalted o'er the heav'ns, O God; 5 Be thy glory over all the earth. 5 For my steps they fix'd*" a net ; 6 Down my soul was bow'd ; a pit They before me dug ; themselves Fell into the midst of it. Selah. Fix'd^ 's my heart, Jixkl^ is my heart ;^ 7 I will sing and play, 'and laud ;* "Wake my glory, wake psalt'ry, 8 °Harp: I'll wake the morn,"" O God.* I I among the peoples will 9 Unto thee thanksgiving pay ; Unto thee I 'also," Lord, Will among the nations play : For great even to the heav'ns 10 Is thy mercy,® 'thou Most High ;" And 'great is" thy truth 'as well," Even to the very sky." Chor. Be exalted o'er the heav'ns, God ; 1 1 Be thy glory over all the earth. " I. 'Reproach on, pauter for me ; > cf . Ps. Ivi. 2. "■ cf. ver. 10. "■ my soul. ' /. ' flaming ' are » the sons of men,' i.e. Saul and his men. ver. 7.' ■■ cf. Ps. cviii. 1 ; the italics mark the variations. " and. ' not 'mom- inp;-stai'. skies. PSALM LVIII. By the Chief Musician, Destroy not,' by David, Golden.' 1 Is it righteousness ye speak, O ye mighty ones in truth ? Is it uprightness ye judge, O ye sons of men, 'forsooth?" ' Ps. Ivii. title. " Ps. xvi. title. An address to Saul's advisers, , after taking away the spear and cruse, 1 Sam. xxvi. 19. Nay, ye practise knaveries" In 'your" heart 'from day to day 'With" your hands ye violence In the land 'are wont to" weigh. PSALM LVIII. 157 3 Even from the 'very* womb 3 Do the "wicked turn aside ; 'Yea," the speakers of untruth From the lap to error sHde."" 4 To the poison of a snake'" 4 Doth their poison hkeness bear ; They are Uke an adder deaf, 'When* it stoppeth up its ear, 5 That^ it may not hear the voice 5 Of enchantments — 'hear the voice" Of the charmer, who in charms Skilful is become, 'and wise." 6 God hath*^ broken down their teeth 6 In their mouth, 'so sharp and strong;" 'Yea," Jehovah hath the tusks Shattered of the lions young. 7 Like as waters go away,*" 7 They shall melt i"" his arrow 'soon" He against them? shall direct; They shall be like as^ cut down."" 8 Like as® melts a snail, 'as" goes 8 The untimely birth away, Wliich a woman bringeth forth,' 'So* not see the sun shall they. 9 Ere your pots can feel the thorn, 9 He shall 'in a tempest dire" Sweep him^ oiFHke as* ahve," Like as* 'in" a burning; ire.*" Yer. 1. federacv ; ' 10 Glad shall be the righteous man That™ he doth the vengeance see ; Wash his footsteps in the blood Of the Avicked man'" shall he. 1 1 Then shall men say, ' Yerily To the righteous man there's fruit ;"" VerUy there is a God, O ye judges, earth throughout.' Ye mightij ones. — By some Qpx is translated but it Ls veiT doubtful if thei-e be anv such noun. 10 11 serpent. so A. v., D. ■■ so D. ; cf. Deut. iv. 40, vi. 3, Gen. xi. 7, Ps. cxliv. 12. ° not 'break thou.' God had ah'eady broken their teeth when David took the spear. ■■ cf. Job xxvii. 21." ■■ a sore dis- comfiture is before them. P ' at them ; ' fulfilled 1 Sam. xxviii. 1, XXX. li. "■ quite un- manned with fright (1 Sam. xxviii. 15), and soon to be still more so (ver. 20). ' of a woman. ■■ Saul ; not 'them,' as a.v. and others. '■'' cf. 1 Sam. xxxi. 3, 4, 2 Sam. i. 9, 10 : ' my life is yet whole in me.' "■ Hos. xiii. 11. "■ Saul, as in ver. 9. ' cf. Kom. vi. 21. a league,' 'a con- Those interpreters, 158 rSAOI LIX. De Wette, D., and others, give the true solution who regard the word as a defect, pi. wanting the ■• (cf. title of Ivii. u.), but meaning here ' ye mighty ones' rather than 'ye gods.' It refers to the men of high standing about Saul, who 'stirred him up' against David, wliilc the succeeding cxpres.sion, 'ye sons of men,' refers to persons of humbler position, and in i^rticulai" to the Ziphites, if I mistake not. Ver. 6. Hath hroken. — There is no necessity to take the verb as an imper. ; it may equally well be the prseter., and as such yields a better sense. For an explanation of the connected verb being in the inf., see Ges. Gr. § 128, 4 (a). Ver. 11. ye judges — not, as A.v. and others, ' there is a God judging.'' When Elohim refers solehj to the true God, it is very rai'ely indeed joined to a pi. adjective (see Ew. Gr. § 318). PSALM LIX. By the Chief Musician, Destroy not,» by David, Golden." ' Ps. Ivii. title. When Saul sent, and they watched the house to put him to death.' " Ps. xvi. title. 'ISam. xi.\.9, 11. 1 Rescue me from 'mong my foes, 1 Lift me up secure"" from those ■■ cf. Ps. That against me rise, my God : ^^' From the workers rescue* me 2 Of 'malign" iniquity :" ° Save me from the men of blood. 2 For, lo ! for my life they long,' 3 ' May wait.' 'Gainst me are convened "^^ the strong® >■ Ps. ivi. 6.« Not 'for" crime' or sin I've done : ^*^?_'^"''^- LORD, P they run without a fault, 4 ' mj- trans- And make ready 'to assault," gression. Wake to meet me and look on. 3 And thou LORD God Sabaoth, 5 God of Israel, up, 'wroth," All the heathen to chastise : ' 'to visit. None be merciful unto. Cloak" iniquity* who do With a treachei'ous disguise. Selah. 4 They'lF at eve return 'to prowl ;" G ■■ not, 'lettliem Like a dog 'so" will they growl, return.' And the city Avill beset : Lo ! their mouth'' will belch out 'words," 7 >■ tliey with In their lips there will be swords, '-l"-'"' m'jutb. But who's hearing 'now tlieir threat?" 5 And, Jehovah, as for thee, 8 Thou at them 'derisively" 'In their vain attempt" shalt latigh : - PSALM LIX. 159 At tlie heathen* all a mock Thou shalt make, 'O Lord, my rock ;"" 'Thou shalt jeer at them, and scoff.'' Cho7\ O my strength, •" to thee I'll 2)>'a>/,^ 9 ■• cf. ver. 3 : For God's my bulwark, .•!V°'?°;' .i - ^ -^ ' ' ' look to tliee, The God of my mercy. or 'wait for thee.' 6 God will me precede ;^ he'll 'yef" 10 ■" Ps. xxi. 3.^ Make me look on® those in wait ; ° » for me. Slay them not, O Lord, our Shield:*^ 11 Lest they should forget, do thou Make them wander with me° 'now,* By thy power ; and make them yield,' ' bring tliem low. 7 'For® their mouth's sin, 'for'"' the word 12 Of their lips ; and captured, 'Lord,* Let themselves be in their pride : 'Captured be'' by reason 'both" Of the cursing and iintruth They have uttered 'far and Avide." 8 Waste them in displeasux'e 'sore," 13 "Waste® them that they be no more : And let people comprehend, That in Jacob goA^erning Is 'the mighty" God as King To the earth's 'remotest" end.^ ends. 9 They'll at eve return 'to prowl;" 14 Like a dog 'so" will they growl. And the city will beset : They for food will wander® 'wide," 15 If they be not satisfied, And throiighout the night will wait."" 'or -fret" (W.). 10 But sing of thy strength® will I, 16 And thy mercy 'joyously" Shout aloud at morning's 'light :" For a bulwark and resort" e ^f. Ps. Thou hast been to me ; 'a fort" cxlii. 5.' In the day of my affright." i distress. Chor. O my strength,'' to thee I'll ^;fo_y,° 17 ■" cf. ver. 3. For God's my bulwark, The God of my mercy. Ver. 5. All the Jieathen. — Da-vid was just returned (1 Sam. xix. 8) from chas- tising the Philistines when this attempt on his life was made ; and he prays that the Jewish as well as the Gentile heathen micrht be punished (cf. Ps. x. IG). 160 PSALM LX. Ver. 7. Biit—OT 'nevertheless' (see the note on '3, Ps. xlii. 4). It is as if David had said, ' I shall be far beyond their reach, or the sound of their bluster- ing tlireats. Ver. 9. O my strenijOi. — Tliis chorus is repeated at the close, exactly as here, with the sole exception that the verb is slightly changed — more slightly than in this version — so as to form a paron. The punctuation is altered, but no other change is made except the correction of two manifest errors of transcription, viz. "iry for "^rj; in ver. 9, and -nDn (C'thib) for i-iDH (Kri) in ver. 10. The division of verses here is so absiu-d as quite to destroy the symmetry of the Psalm, and abolish this chorus, though it is word for word the same in ninth and 17th verses, with the exception of the second letter of the verb in the first line. Ver. 1 1 . With me. — The A. v. and interi:)reters generally have translated '•oy ' my people ; ' but David had no people at the time. Though anointed king by Samuel, he never spoke of the people as his till Saul was gone : and as yet he had gathered no band of his own. It means ' with me,' as in Ps. xlii. 8, 1 Sam. xxviii. 19, 2 Sam. xix. 25. What David here requested, God granted, and made not only Saul's messengers, but Saul huuself, wander after him to Naioth in Ramah (1 Sam. xix. 23), and there demean himself in a manner he was not likely ever to forget ; a manner none were likely to forget who had witnessed his doings there, or who heard of them. Ver. 12. For. — The 'for' is omitted here, as in like circumstances it is in Mic. vi. 7 ; and it would make equally good sense there to translate, ' The fruit of my body is the sin of my soul !' as to translate here, with H. and D., ' The sin of their mouth is the word of their lips ! ' The omission is the less to be wondered at, since a similar one occurs in the converse clause a few verses before (ver. 3). Let themselves. — They have been endeavouring to take me, let themselves be more effectually caught than I have been, — a prayer signally fulfilled at Naioth, as one after another was arrested by the Spirit of God, till Saul himself was caught, and ' stripped off his clothes . . . and lay down naked all that day and all that night.' Cursing and untruth had been freely uttered by Saul and his courtiers in re- ference to David. Ver. 14. They for food will roam over the whole city, ' if they be not satisfied' by finding David at home ; they will hunt for him everywhere, and will spend the whole night watching his house, that they may be sure of getting him in the morning. The verb for 'to wait throughout the night' is specially appropriate here, for it also means to murmur, to fret (as in Ex. xv. 24 and Nimi. xvii. 6), and is so rendered here by TV. and others. ' i.e. tlie church of the Scriptures. PSALM LX. " rs. xvi. title. ' (' e. which they Cy the Chief Musician, on tlie Lily of the Testimony,' Golden," by David, to teach/ were to teach When he strove" with the Syrians of the two rivers, and with the Syrians of their children ; cf. Zobah ; and Joah returned and smote Edom in the valley of Salt, twelve Deut xxxi'ia tliousand.'' ir cf kum.xxvi.O.. . 'See 2 Sam. viii. 1 O God, thou liast rejected us, 1 Written before ri^i 1 . 1 1 , n the contliet. Ihou hast us |)roKen 'sore , PSALM LX. 161 Thou hast with us displeased been, Return to us 'once more.* 2 Tliou hast the land asunder rent, Hast caused us to quake ;*" Do thou the breaches heal thereof, For 'sorely'' doth it shake. 3 Thou hast thy people hardship shown 'Of long continuing ;" 'Yea," thou hast caused us to drink The wine of stanisrerin";/ ■■ clui'ing the civil wars between David and the house of Saul. 4 Thou hast a banner given those, That fearers are of thee. To bend their flight to,"^ on account" Of 'its'' security. Selah. 5 In order*" that deliver'd may Be thy beloved ones, O do thou save with thy right hand, And make to us"" response. 6 God promised" by his holiness"" 'That" 1 for joy shall shoiit,' Shall for my portion Shechem have. And Succoth's vale mete out ; 7 That Gilead shall be mine, and mine Manasseh, ' did aver ; " ° Ephr'im the strength be of my head, Judah my lawgiver : 8 Moab my wash-pot ; that I shall O'er Edom cast my shoe : Because of me, Philistia, Down he thou broken 'too." '■ so Ges., W. " Deut. xxViii. 20 ;" Neh. v. 15.« "■ This verse and the re- maining verses are repeated in Ps. cviii. ; the italics mark the variations. "■ so C'thib ; but Kri : ' to me.' " as in Deut. vi. 3,»ix. 28 ;» 2 Sam. vii. 28." ■■ cf. Ps. Ixxxix. 35, 36 ; Amos iv. 2. » ' that ' is oc- casionally left out in Heb. as in English after this verb (Zech. ix. 12. cf. Ps. xlix. 11). ' shall rejoice. ° and. 9 O who unto 'the city fenced"^ 'So strongly" will me bring ? Who even unto Edom will Conduct me 'triumphing?" ■• Ps. xxxi. 21," viz. Edom. 10 O wilt not tliou, O God ? tJiou who Hast us rejected 'so ?" L 10 162 PSALM LX. And ^vilt not thou 'again," O God, Forth with our armies go ? 1 1 Grant us deliverance* from straits ; 11 For*" vain is 'all* man's aid.* ' Ts- iv. 3. n. Through God Ave shall do feats ;" and he 12 Jgf^^j^'- ''-^^^• Our eu'mies down shall tread/ valiautly). ■■ P.s. xliv. C' Ver. 4. To lend their fliglit to. — So Gos., deriving the word from D13, to flee. H. and others object, on the ground that there is a manifest reference to the preceding D3, ' a banner ;' but may not D3 itseK come from D13 '^ — for a banner is something to flee to, to rally round. It may almost athnit of doubt whether there be such a verb as DDJ even in Hithpa., Zech. ix. IC notwithstanding. Security — not 'truth,' as many render it; but 'certainty,' 'security,' as in Prov. xxii. 21, where it is said in the verse immediately preceding, ' That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I have made known . . . that I might make thee know the certainty [the security] of the words of truth,' i.e. what a secure re- fuge they point to. So here, ' a banner to flee to, on account of the security' it afl^ords. God had raised up David after the removal of Saul, to be an ensign to rally round, and so be saved from siu-roimdmg enemies ; and hence DaA-id goes on to pray that God would be with him now, and give the promised dehverance through his mstriunentality. Yer. 6. God promised. — To translate \r\.i\\ H., ' God hath spoken, therefore I will rejoice,' is to miss the meaning entirely. What the Psalmist means to say is, 'God hath said that I shall rejoice.' As in Eng. so in Heb., 'that' may be left out in such cases (Zech. ix. 12, cf. Ps. xlix. 11). This promise God gave David when anointing him to the kingdom, and he renewed it again and again ; and it was weU known to the whole nation, — to Saul (1 Sam. xxiv. 20), to Jonathan (xxiii. 17), to Abuer (2 Sam. iii. 9, 10). Ver. 8. Philistia. — The a. v. has, 'Philistia, trimiiph thou because of me,' — the very opposite of the true sense, as is evident from the corresponding clause of Ps. cviii., 'Over Philistia wUl I triumph;' Avhich clause, wide as the variation seems in Eng. , is word for word the same as here, with the exception of the verb, which is here ""yviinn, and there J?j;i"inX- To bring the meaning of both into harmony, D. takes advantage of the fact that the verb JJI"), strictly interpreted, signifies nothuig more than to ' ciy out,' and may therefore refer either to ' the voice of them that shout for mastery' (as in Ps. xh. 11), or to ' the voice of them that cry for being overcome' (as in Isa. xv. 4, Mic. iv. 0) ; and maintains that in Ps. cviii. it denotes the former, and ui Ps. Ix. the latter ; translating there : Over Philistia that I Shall shout m triumph 'too ;* And here : Because of me, PhOistia, Shout thou m terror 'too." This is a greatly preferable explanation to that of II. and others ; but I appre- hend the true solution is the following. While yp")n^< is from yn, the corre- sponding term "•yyiinn is second person singular imperative of the verb yyi, ' to PSALM LXI. 163 break down ; ' which m Hithpa. is composed of the same letters as the other, aad signifies ' to be broken down,' as in Isa. xxiv. 19 (see Ges. Lex. sub voce). Availing himself of this circumstance, the Psahnist introduces a stiU wider varia- tion tliau D. sujjposes, but one equally sunple and beautiful : Because of me, Pliihstia, Down be thou broken ' too." David was the great breaker-down of the power of the Philistines. His first exploit in youth as a warrior was with them ; and almost his fii^t exploit as king of Israel was with them ; his last personal encoimter was also -Rath them ; and with them apparently was the last fight of his army too (2 Sam. xxi. 15-22). And so completely were they crushed, and their noted warriors weeded out, that for several whole generations Philistia hf ted not her head again. PSALM LXI. The counterpart of Psalm v. ; being vrritten after the defeat of Absalom had given him full possession of Israel again, and prepared the way for his return to the house of God. The whole strain of it shows it to be a joyous Psalm. WTiat has misled interpreters, is the fact that the verbs in the first stanza are in the future ; but, as W. remarks, they are equally so in Ps. xviii. 6 and following verses, and yet are translated in the past tense. For this use of the futm'e, see Ges. Gr. § 125, 4 {h). By the Chief Musician, on stringed instruments, by David. Hear tliou my sliout," God ; 1 Unto my pray'r attend : I unto tliee did call, 2 'Ev'n" from the land's 'far" end/' TVTien overwhelmed was My heart; thou 'tlieu" away Didst me into a rock, Too high for me, convey.' For thou to me hast been 3 A refuge 'in my woe ; "^ Hast been a tow'r of strength From presence of the foe. I'll in thy tabernacle 4 Eternal sojourn make;'" In covert of thy wings, 'Lord,* I will refuse take. Selah. = cf. Ps. V. 11, margin. It is also joined with ' prayer ' in 1 Kings \-iii. 28. It generally sig- nifies 'a joyous shout.' ' i.e. from Mahanaim ; cf. V. 2, 3. ' lead. ' cf. Ps. V. 4,' and ver. 7. 3 For thou unto my vows, God, hast lent an ear ;' Hast for possession giv'n'' 'Me" those, thy name who fear. ■ hearkened. ■■ /. given ' me ° the possession of those. 164 PSALM LXII Days to the king's days tlniii Shalt add" 'unsparingly ;" Like as an age and age,' His years 'of life" shall hv. He ever shall abide In presence of the Lord : ' Mercy and truth shall him, 'Like as" the manna, *" guard. So I for evermore Unto thy name will play,'' "Wliile I performing am' My vows 'from" day 'to" day. /. God. ' so W., like the golden pot of manna laid up before tUo. Lord (Ex. xvi. 33). ' /. at the per- foniiance of. Ver. 7. Like the manna. — W. rauintaiiis, with much plausibility, that the word translated 'prepare' in A. v. is the common Heb. noun |o, signifying ' manna ;' and that 3, the particle of comparison, is left out, as it often is, both in the Psalms and elsewhere : e.rj. Ps. xii. 6, xxii. 13, cxix. 119 ; Song v. 13, 14, 15, vii. 2; Prov. xvii. 14, xxv. 11, 12, 14, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28; Isa. xxxiii. 4, 12, liv. 9 ; Jer. xii. 8, 9, xxvi. 18 ; Hos. vi. 5, xiv. 7 : so also in prose, 1 Sam. xxv. 37 : 2 Kings xix. 26. Nothing was more perishable than manna. In one day — in two days at most — it went to corruption, bred worms, and stank ; yet a pot of it was preserved for generations before God m the tabernacle, without the slightest tendency to decay. Most perishable too is life ; but in God's pre- sence it can be preserved for ages in perfect mcorruptibility. Accorchng to others, p is the mipera. apoc. Piel of n3D, to appoint, allot, assign (Ges. Gr. § 74, rem. 10) ; in which case the rendering would be : Mercy and truth appoint Thou, 'that" they may him guard. PSALM LXII. By the Cliief Musician, r along witli Jeduthun.rr a Psalm by David. 1 There's silence'' only towards God, My soul ; from him's mine aid : ' He only* is my rock, and 'he" Mine aid,^ my bulwark ; I shall be Not mightily dismayed." 2 How long'" will ye against a man Rush on with violence ? " pendenco is on God. ' salvation ox deliverance, you to rise in revolt against me ? shaken. For date, see Ps. xxxix. ' Asaph. " cf. Ps. vi. title, n. ; a Psalm I)enned a day or t«o before this one. InPs. xxxjx. he was Chief JIusician; in I's. Ixii. he was assistant. •■ of. Ps. x.xii. 2, Ixv. 1, i.e. there can bo quietness, a calm waiting for the issue of matters, only when the de- i.e. how often are PSALM LXIII. 165 'How long" keep murdering? be all Of you like an iiiclining wall, Or like a down-thrust fence ?^" They only counsel take to thrust^ Him from his high estate : They've pleasure in a He ; they bless 'One" with their' mouth, yet ne'ertheless Curse with their heart ^' 'in hate." Be silent only unto'^ God,*""" My soul ; " from him's my hope : He only is my rock and aid, My bulwark ; I shall not dismay'd Be, 'with my foes to cope." With*" God my aid and glory is. My strong rock, refuge, 'stay" In God : trust him at all times ; pour Your heart out, people, him before ; Our refuge God's 'for aye." " cf. Ps. iv. 2, 11. ■■ i.e. on which uo dependence can be placed, no weight leaned. ■■ cf. 2 Sam. xix. 41, XX. 1. '■'" i.e. be calm and composed, only by resting thy whole dej)endence on God. " for. ■ ■■ cf. Ps. vii. 10, n., cxxxi. 2. Only 'mere" vanity are sons Of men of low degree : ' A lie are men of high account ; ' Alike they in the balance mount 'Lighter" than vanity. ' the sons of the lowly (Ps. xlix. 2). ' sons of the lofty. 7 Do not in plundering'' put trust; 10 In robb'ry grow not vain : If mightiness'" should spring up,''*" yet Do not your heart upon it set, 'And proud thoughts entertain." 8 God once hath spoke ; this twice I've heard,*" 1 1 That strength is God's 'indeed :" And thine is mercy 'too," O Lord, 12 For thou dost every man reward Accordins; to his deed. ■ I's xlix. 6.' "' i.e. of its own accord. ' cf. Job xxxiii. 14, xl. 5. PSALM LXIII. A Psalm by David, when he was in the wilderness of Jiidah.' 1 O God, thou art my God ; for tliee I early will inquire : ' fleeing from Absalom, 2 Sam. XV. -28, xvii. 16. 166 PSALM LXIV. For thee my soul doth thirst ; for thee My flesh pines® 'with desire,*' In a dry,' " weary land, wherein No water is ; ' to see Thy strength and glory — I've thus® seen' Thee in the sanctuary. ' I. land of drought. " and. ' without water ; cf. 2 Sam. xvi. ' beheld. 14. For better is thy grace than life, jMy lips shall give thee praise :' Thus^ will I bless thee in my life,® My hands in thy name raise. Be satisfied like as 'Avith" fat And marrow shall my soul ; And then with lips of joyfulness Mv mouth shall thee extol. laud thee. 3 When I remember thee, 'O LORD," G 'As" on my bed 'I lie ;" Li watches 'of the night" on thee 'Then" meditate will I. For thou my help art, and I'll joy 7 In shadow of thy wings : My soul pursues thee hard ; support 8 Thy right hand to me brings.' 4 But those for ruin*' are, who seek My soul •J'^ to earth's depths they Shall go ; o'er to the sword be given ;"' 10 To jackals be a prey. But glad in God shall be the king : 11 Ev'ry one glory shall Who swears by him ; for"" stopped shall be The mouth of liars' 'all." ' doth me sup- port. ' so H. ; cf. Ps. XXXV. 17. " Ps. XXXV. -1. ■■ or ' when.' ' speakers of falsehood. PSALM LXIV. Ky the Chief Musician, a Psahii by David. 1 Listen to my A'oico, O God, In my lamentation' 'now ;" From the terror of the foe'" O preserve my life do thou. From the secret conference Of the wicked"" hide thou me Like Ps. liv., written at the first coming of the Ziphites (1 Sam. xxiii. 24). complaint. Saul. ■■ Ziphites. PSALM LXIY. 1G7 From the bustling crowd of those Practising iniquity : "' ■' Ps. V. 5, 11. Like a sword who whet their tongue ; *■ 3 "■ e-g- Nabal 'Who" a bitter word do put 'For^' their arrow ;^ in hid nooks At the perfect man"" to shoot. ' Suddenly they'll shoot at him, ' And to fear will not give way : ' ' They for thei?' part" will be strong ;"■ ' Tell a wicked word? will they,"* 3 'To conceal the snares 'they set." ' Who, say they,"* 'who" did 'him" see?" * They, forP theii' part,® will 'for him" 6 ' Make a search 'and scrutiny."' Perfected the knav'ries are :P There a searching search hath been ;'"'' And the man'' approaching is, And 'the heart is deep 'and keen." •i But an arrow'" shoot* at them 7 Shall Jehovah' 'from his bow:" Suddenly shall be their wounds,'' 'Suddenly shall come the blow." So on their account " make him '' 8 Stumble 'with" their tongue they shall :" They shall hurry to dnd fro"' Each, who heeded them' 'at all." 5 And afraid shall all men be, 9 And the work of God relate ; And his doing understand, 'And upon it meditate." In Jehovah 'then" be glad 10 Shall the righteous man, and trust Shall repose on him ; ' and all Upright in 'their^ heart shall boast. ' /. direct their arrow — a bitter word. ■■ David him- self. ' I. will not fear. " cf. 1 Sam. xxiii. 20'. " Deut. sxxi. 23. i* i.e. spread misleading information among David's men. " cf. 1 Sam. xxiii. 22. " cf. 1 Sam. xxiii. 23. ■• SaiU. '■ viz. the Philistines. ' God. "■ when David was all but caught. '■'■ cf. Ps. cv. 14, Euth i. 19, and often. ■■ Saul. '■'■ 1 Sam. xxiii. 27, 28. ' /. looked at them. ' shall take refuge in him. Vvr. 6. Perfected — IJOn, a very difficult word. I take it, as the A. v. does, to be a variation or corruption for ion or Jlfon- The verb is generally iiitrans., ' to be perfected.' Approaching. — 1 take 3"ip here to be the verb ' to draw near,' as the Septua- gint does. The clause refers to Saul's approach, and the artful manner in which he and the Zipliites attempted to steal on David imawares. Ver. 8. So. — Thus, by their officiousness, the Ziphites made Saul totter and stumble ; and all who paid any heed to them had to fly back to the rescue of 168 P8ALM LXV. the laiiil, and after the expulsion of the Philistines, to return to the pursuit of David. Ver. 10. ^ind trust. — Tlie words might be rendered, ' shall be glad that he took refuge in him.' PSALM LXV. Its annexation to the preceding one is due, according to D., to the presence in both of one prominent term, viz. 1N"1''"'1 (Ixiv. 9, Ixv. 8), ' and be afraid shall ! ' After this we may be prepared to hear that the juxtaposition of two Psalms is due to the occurrence of "I, 'and,' in the last verse of the one and the first verse of the other. The author of the Psalm is mentioned, but not the date of its composition ; but from an examination of its contents, it would seem to have been intended as a song for the ' day of atonement, ' and for the ' feast of taber- nacles,' which followed immediately after (Num. xxix. 7, 12). The sins of the year were then 'covered over,' and a thorough purification of the sanctuary was made by a special service of expiation. The labours of the year were also by that time all concluded, and its fruits secured ; and Israel could look on the goodness of God towards them through its entire extent ; and this Psalm was penned to serve as a fitting expression of their feelings. It opens with a reference to the ' silence ' that reigned in the sanctuary — to the profound, imbroken, solemn still- ness that reigned within it, while, in deep abasement, the people without waited in hushed expectation the return of their high priest from the immediate presence of God (Lev. xvi. 17). It goes on to a statement of the blessedness of those who are accepted of God, and admitted to fellowship with One so unsreakably great ; and concludes with a description of the various processes by which the Almighty had fitted the earth to yield a year's supplies for his people. By the Chief Musician, a Psalm by David, a Song. 1 To tliee in Zion there's silence," there's praise, God ; and to thee shall the vow Be performed : O hearer of pray'r, all flesh Shall come unto thee 'to bow." " Lev. xvi. 17, cf. Ps. xxxvii. 7, Ixii. 1, 5. The words,'' 'alas!" of iniquities, 3 Too mighty they are for me -J Our transgressions — 'tis thou that canst cover'' them ; ''Tis thou from their guilt canst free." Blest's he whom tliou choosest, and mak'st come near, 4 That he in thy courts may dwell : With the good of thy house, of thy holy place, Shall we be satisfied 'well." ' i.e. /cannot answer tliem. <^ 'covei',' the word enip]oj-cd througrhout Lev. xvi. in o. 4 'By" dread things in righteousness, thou to us Dost, O God of salvation, respond ; The confidence thou of all ends of the earth, And tlinso, that the sea are beyond."* 5 ™ /. tlie sea of tlio far-off PSALM LXV. 169 5 Wlio doth by his pow'r, begircled with might, 6 The mountains set fast, 'and the hills:* The roar of the seas, the roar of their waves, 7 " The noise of the people who stills. " and. G Afraid at thy signs are the settlers, too, 8 In parts that are farthest out. The outo-oinss 'both"^ of the morn and eve Thou makest with rapture to shout. 7 Thou dost visit the earth, and flood it well p 9 p greatly. Thou makest it rich 'for us" With the stream of God, full of water ; prepar'st Their crops," when prepared' it' is thus. 8 Thou wat'rest its furrows abundantly ; 10 Its ridges thou down dost press :" With showers of rain thou dissolvest" it ; The produce thereof dost bless. With thy goodness thou crown'st the year ; and thy 1 1 paths Droj) fatness down 'from on high:" On the meadows they drop of the wilderness, 12 And the hills are girdled" with joy. 10 The pastures are cover'd all over* with flocks. The valleys with corn" are clad:* They cry oxit 'aloud," they also do sing, 'With the goodness of God made Q-lad.*^ 13 ' I. when thou preparesfc it. ■■ it, i.e. the earth. Ver. 1. Silence — alluding to the silence in the sanctuary while the high priest was making the yearly atonement, no person being permitted to be present during the whole time (Lev. xvi. 17). The same term occurs several times in the Psalms (cf. Ps. xxii. 2, xxxvii. 7, Ixii. 1, 5), but in none of the other books of the Bible. The vow. — The supposition that the Psalm was intended for a song at the great fast and at the closing feast of the year, receives an incidental corrobora- tion here, from the fact that in the Law the account of these is followed imme- diately by directions about vows (Num. xxix. 39, xxx. 1, etc.). Ver. 3. Woi-ds. — This is the hteral meaning of the term, and makes excellent sense. The ' words,' charges, indictments of sin, ' are too powerful for me : I cannot answer for one of a thousand of my sins. These accusations can only be met by thine own gracious provision for the remission of sin.' The pronomis ' me' and ' thou' are both emphatic. ' It is thou that canst cover transgTession ; hence ' to thee aU flesh shall come.' Cover is the exact rendering of the Heb. word -|S3 — a word of so frequent 170 PSALM LXVI. recurrence in Moses' accouut of the day of atouemeut (Lev. xvi.), aiid rendered in the a. v., to make atonement, to reconcile. Sin, as it were, was covered over by the blood of the sacrifice, and thus put out of God's sight. PSALM LXVI. By the Chief Musician, a Song, a Psalm. 1 Shout ■■ uuto God, all lands ; 1 Chant ye 'in gladsome lays" 2 The glory of his name ; Make glorious '"'" his praise. 2 Say unto God, ' How dread 3 Thy doings'" 'among men!' Through greatness of thy strength Thy foes to thee shall feign.* 3 'All lands* shall worship thee, 4 And chant* to thee shall they ; 'Yea,* they shall chant thy name, 'While unto thee they play."' Selah. 4 Come, and the works ^ of God, 5 'His mighty actings," see : Dread towards the sons of men 'In" operation's HE. ■■ /. make a uoise. " so A.V., W., G. ; but ' Give glory to bis praise ' (H., D., Lxx.) ; cf. Josh, vii. 19. ■■ so LXX., Luther, D. ; cf. Ps. cxix. 137 (Ges. Gr. § 144 (6)) ; but A. v., H., W.: 'In" thy doings; cf. ver. 5. - cf. Ts. xviii. 44. " Ps. xlvi. 8,' Ixiv. 9. 6 He into dry land turns The sea ; tliey through the stream Pass o'er on foot : there would "We joyful be in him, 6 Governing" by his might 7 For aye : his eyes do spy " The nations : let not 'then" The stubborn" lift them high. Selah. 7 Ye people, bless our God ; 8 His praises publish wide ; ' Who puts our soul in life,^ 9 Our foot who lets not slide. 8 For thou didst prove us, LORD ;'' 10 Like silver didst us test : ' Led'st us into the net ; 1 1 Weight'' on our loins mad'.'st rest.' ■' Ps. Ixxviii. 8; Dent. xxi. 18.' ' ' and pro- claim the voice of his praise.' ' I. God. ' ' didst refine u.s, like the refilling of ^iIver'(cf. Isn. xlviii. 10). ■■ others : ' grief.' ' didst put. PSALM LXVI. 171 9 INIad'st men ride o'er our lieads : 12 Through fire we came, and flood ; ' ' water. Yet to abundance" thou Didst bring us forth, 'O God." 10 I ^vath burnt-offerings 13 Will come into thy house ; Will render unto thee The payment of my vows, 11 W^iich utter did my lips 14 'In covenant express ;* \ And promise did my mouth, When I was in distress. « 12 Burnt-off 'rings I to thee 15 Of fatlings will devote, With incense:® I'll bring' rams > offer. With bullock and with goat."" Selah. ■■ goats. 13 Ye fearers all of God J 16 Come, hearken,^ 'every one;" 'hear. And I will tell 'you" what He for my soul hath done. 14 I with my mouth did call 17 Unto him ; and a song Of high extollino;'' 'praise" ■■ cf. Ps. cxlix. Was underneath my tongue. ^ '' "' '■'' 15 If I had in my heart 18 Been cherishing regard Unto iniquity,^ " Ps. v. 5, n. The Lord would not have heard. 16 But surely God hath heard ; 19 'But surely" he hath paid Attention to the voice Of my prayer 'for aid.* 17 blessed, 'then," let God 20 ' Continually " be ; Who nor removed'' my pray'r, Nor yet his grace from me. 172 PSALMS LXVII. LXVIII. rSALM LXVII. By the Chief Musician, with stringed instruments, a Psalm, a Song. 1 May God be graciovis unto us/ 1 "Bless us, with" us make sliine bis face. Selah. Known shall thy way on earth be thus,"^ 2 ']\Iong heathen all thy saving grace.' Thee let the people praise, O God ; 3 Thee all the people praise 'aloud." 2 The nations'^ shaU of joy be full ;' 4 Yea, shout they shall for ' very " mirth : For right the people thou shalt rule, The nations comfort"" o'er the earth. Selah. Thee let the people praise, O God ; 5 Thee all the people praise 'aloud.* 3 The earth its increase yielded hath ; '"'" G God, even our own God, shall pour His blessing down upon our path ; " 'Yea," God shall bless us 'more and more :* 7 And him all ends of earth shall fear ; 'Him all the tribes of men revere." ' cf. Num. vi. 24, 25. " and. ' in Num. XXV.: 'to' or 'un.' ' salvation. be glad. ' cf. Isa. Ixvi. 12, 13;» Zech. ix. 10, ' speak peace to the heathen.' " H., D., W., G. bless us. Ver. 1. May God. — There is here a strong allusion to, or rather au informal quotation of, Num. vi. 24, 25 ; only the preposition bore is nx, there it is ^N- Ver. 4. Comfort. — With Hy. and G., I take the verb here to be Dn3, 'to comfort,' as in Ps. xxiii. 4, Ixxi. 21 ; not as most otbers, nnj, to lead or guide. This gracious dealing with the GeutUes is often referred to by the prophets (cf. Isa. Ixvi. 12, 13 ; Zech. ix. 9, 10). PSALM LXVIII. Prob.vbly wi'itten at the removal of the aa-k to Zion. The opening words are almost rerhathn those which were used when the ark set forward in Israel's marcbmgs iu the wilderness (Num. x. 35) ; and the G7tb, commencing with the blessing appointed for the blessing of the people, may have been intended as a sort of preface to it. 1 Let God rise up, 'and" scattered let His adversaries be ; And let his haters 'every one" Before his presence flee. 1 2 As smoke is driv'n, drive them ; as wax 2 In presence® of the fire PSALM LXVIII. 173 Dissolves, let wicked men perish In presence^ of God's 'ire." 3 But let the righteous ones be glad ; Let them a joyful noise Make at God's presence ;* yea, let them With gladness 'all" rejoice. 4 To God sing ; chant his name ; cast up * For him, who rideth through The deserts by his name of JAH ; ■" "Joy at his presence® do. 5 The father of the fatherless, The widows' judge, is God, Within his holy dweUing-place, 'His well -beloved abode.* '^ the veiy word found Isa. Ixii. 10 : ' highway ' there, is the noun fi-om this verb; cf. Isa. xL 3 (H., D., W.). ■• cf. Ex. vi. 3 (Ges. Lex. sub " and. 6 God's setthng the lone ones"" in a home Bringing the prisoners out With"^ gains;"" only the stubborn' Dwell in the land of droupcht.'" ones 6 "■ i.e. his people Israel, who long have dwelt in Egypt, in a strange land = in a prison- _ house. ' ■■ 'with,' not 'to' (see same expression, Ps. cv. 37. " ' gains.' G. translates ' amends ' 3 (see Ex. iii. 21, 22). The word occurs Eccles. ii. 21, V. 11, where it is rendered 'equity' and 'good,' but y probably means 'gain,' ' profit.' ■■the mur- murers who perished in the ■wilderness. 10 ^ presence. ' waste. ' cf. Judg. V. 4. " alluding to the offerings of the people at the erection of the tabernacle, Es. xxxv. 29 and xxxvi. 5; and on simUar occasions, tuch as Judg. v. ° i.e. the cherubim on the mercy-seat, and cm-tains ; in accordance with what he said, Ex. XXV. 2, 8. 7 God, upon thy going forth Before thy people's face,^ Upon thy marching 'at their head" Across the wilderness," Selah. 8 Drop at God's presence did the heavens,* Tremble did earth* as well ; This Sinai, at presence of God, The God of Israel. 9 Thy heritage did wave*" a shower" Of free-will offerings 'then ; " And it, 'sore" wearied,P thou, God, Establish^ didst 'again.* 10 Thy living creatures ° did, O God, In midst of it abide : Thou didest in thy goodness 'then" For the poor ones provide. 174 PSAL^r LXVrTT. 11 The Lord 'liimself did give the word 'Immediately" great The host'' of women was, who did The victory celebrate.™ 11 H., D., Ges, 12 The kings of 'armed* hosts® 'in rout' Did flee, did flee away ; And she that rested" in the house Her share had* of the prey. 12 divided. 13 "When*" ye among the sheep-pens lay, 13 Upon her wings, 'behold !* The Dove" with silver covered was, Her plumes with yelloAV gold. 14 "While the Almighty did the kings 14 Disperse*^ on her accoiint" 'In ruinous discomfiture,'' It snow'd"" on Zalmon 'mount." 15 A hill of God is Bashan hill ; 15 A hill of summits ' high " The hill of Bashan is : Avhy look, 16 Ye summit hills, awry" IG 'Thus" at the hill— the one which God Desireth for his seat ? Moreover dwell Jehovah will For evermore 'in it." ' ' when ' or 'thouo;ll,' alluding to the keeping back of some of the tribes (Judg. V. 16, 17). "■■■ same expres- sion in Ps. Ixxiv. 19. " a recognised signification of the prep, a (Gen. xviii. 28 ; 2 Kings xiv. 6 ; Jonah i. 14: see Ges. Lex. ; of. I's. Ixxii. .S). ' alluding to Josh. X. 1 1, when the Lord cast great hail- stones on ther.i. 17 God's chariots are mp'iads twain," 17 The thousands twice o'er" 'told," 'jMong Avhom the Lord 'at" Sinai was," In holiness 'of old." 18 Thou hast gone up on high ;'' captive 18 Captivity hast ta'en ; Hast gifts received, that dwell 'mong men. And even stubborn men," 19 Might J All, 'might" God. Blest be the Lord 19 From day to day 'for this ;" lie has been lifted" vip for us :" God our salvation is." Selah. " At Sinai he came with ten thousands of his saints (Deut. xxxiii. 2), i.e. one niyi-iad. ■■ quoted Eph. iv. 8. '■'■ or ' taken up ;' cf. Isa. xlvi. 3,' ' who are borae by me.' ' not 'the God of our salva- tion;" the article pre- vents this. PSALM LXVTII. 175 20 God is the God, deliv'rances 20 For us accomplisheth ;^ And to Jeliovah, 'to* the Lord, Are goings out^ at deatli. 21 Only!" God 'sure" shall dash the head 21 Of 'aU* his enemies; The hairy scalp of him that goes On in his trespasses.' 22 The Lord hath said, ' From Bashan will 22 I turn 'them" back*" again ; Back -will I turn 'them" from the deep Abysses of the main. 'I. 'the God for deliver- ances for us.' * cf. 'to depart and be with Christ.' D. renders, 'Be- long th' outlets from death,' quoting 2 Kings xiii. 5, Eccles. vii. 18. ' cf. Ps. Ixii. 1.' ' iniquities. ■■ not 'bring back.' 23 ' In order that thy foot in blood 23 May 'thus" be dashed ;* the tongue 'Thus* of thy dogs may have its share "^ Thine enemies among;.' 24 Thy goings they behold, O God, 'Of grace and majesty ;* The goings of my God, my king. Into" the sanctuary. 24 ■■ so D., though confessedly a doubtful ex- pression. " cf. Ps. V. 25 Singers go first ;'' minstrels behind ; 25 Virgins with timbrels 'come" Between : bless God in choirs; the Lord 26 Ye, Israel's fountain from. ' the proces- sion is here described. 26 There little Benj'nun ruling them ; 'There* Judah's princes 'high,* Their band ; princes of Zebulun, Princes of Naphtali. 27 27 Thy God appointed hath thy strength -J Thyself, O God, do thou Show to be strong, who hast for us 'U'rought 'gloriously now." 28 ^ of. 1 Chron. XV. 26. 28 By reason of thy palace, which Is at Jerusalem, Kings unto thee shall presents bring, 'And gladly offer them." 29 176 PSALM LXYIIT. 29 The living crcatm-c*' of the n-i-d 30 Rebuke ; the multitude Of bvills, 'together" with the calves Of 'all" the peoples 'rude :" 30 Those, by thiue own self, trampling down In silver who delight : ^ Putting the peoples, who in wars Take pleasiu'e, 'all* to flight. 31 From out of Egypt forth there shall 31 Come personages rich ; 'And" Ethiopia her hands Forth unto God shall stretch. 32 O sing, ye kingdoms of the earth, 32 To God ; chant to the Lord : Selah. Who rideth in the heav'n of heav'ns 33 Of old— 'our God adored." 33 Lo ! he his voice, a strong voice, sounds. Give strength to God 'most High :" 34 O'er Isr'el is his excellence,'" "■ cf. Deut. "His strength is in the sky.' "and." ' ' skies. . 34 Thou'rt dread, LORD,' from thy sanctuaries : 35 '0 God. The God of Israel's He, Who gives a"" people strength and power : ■'or, 'his'" (a. v., O let God blessed be. "^'^ °^""^> Ver. 9. TJuj heritage is nom. to the verb, and not in the obj. case, as A.v. and others give it. Wave is the word used in the Law for wave-offerings, whether luunan or inanimate (Ex. xxxv. 22 ; Num. viii. 11) ; and this is exactly its meaning liere. Freeictll offerinrjs — the same word as in Ex. xxxv. 22 ; and refers to that occasion, and to such similar occasions, e.r/. Judg. v. It means voluntary gifts, and also vokmtecrs (cf. Ps. ex. 3). It is never, I believe, used of God's gifts to us, but only of ours to God. On the occasions here alluded to, there had been a wonderful shower of these free-wiU offerings, so that Moses had to restrain the people (Ex. xxxvi. 5), and Deborah to complunent them in the highest terms (Judg. V. 2, 9, 14, 15). In David's day there was also a similar shower of free- will offerings, both of persons and of gifts. The Levites consecriitcd themselves, and all Israel came with joy to brhig up the ark ; and David offered sacrifices when the procession started, and when it reached its destination (1 Chrou. xv. 11-28, xvi. 1-4). This they had not done when the ark was brought from Kirjath-jearim (1 Chron. xv. 13). Vcr. 10. Lirint) creatures — the same word as in Ezek. i., and refers to the ^1 PSALM LXVIII. 177 clierublm. Hence, in like manner, it is said of the restored church of New Testa- ment times, ' And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament ' (Rev. xi. 19). Ver. 17. Twice o'er — not 'of angels' (a. v.), but ' twice over,' /. an iteration. At Sinai, Jehovah appeared with a myriad of his holy ones, ' with ten thousands of his saints ' (Deut. xxxiii. 2) ; but at Zion, with twice that number. ''Moiuj whom. — In such cases the relative "ijj»x is frequently left out ; cf. Ps. xxxii. 2, Job iii. 3 (see Ges. Gr. § 121, 2 {h)). At Sinai. — The prep, in such cases may also be left out (Judg. xix. 27 ; Lev. viii. 35). Ver. 18. That dwell. —Precisely the same form occurs, Ps. Ixxxv. 9, Ex. xxix. 46, and often. ^ Along men — not ' in the Man,' i.e. Christ Jesus ; not " in men,' i.e. ' consist- ing of men ; ' but ' among men,' a common meaning of 3. See ver. 17 (' among whom') ; Ps. Ixxvii. 14, Ixxviii. 60 ; 2 Sam. xxiii. 3 ; Jer. xxxii. 20 ; Amos ii. 16 : cf. £u in Greek, Matt. xi. 11, Luke i. 28. And even [among] stubborn men. Heb. usage no more requires the repetition of 2 than the English requires the repetition of ' among ' (cf. Ps. Ixxviii. 12 : cf . ver. 43 ; Ps. Ixxii. 13 ; Job xxx. 5, 6 ; Dan. iv. 35 : see Ges. Gr. § 151, 4), If preferred, this 18th verse might be comprised in one stanza, with a very- slight omission, thus : Thou hast gone up on high ; captive Captivity hast ta'en ; Hast gifts received ; that JAH" might dwell "God. 'Mong men, ° ev'n stubborn men. "and. Then the 19 th would run : let the Lord be blessed 'then,' From ... Ver. 19. ' Lifted up ' — the same word that is translated ' are borne,' Isa. xlvi. 3, and refers either to Christ being ' Lifted up ' (John xii. 32) on the cross, or to his being 'taken up' (Acts i. 2, 9, 11), or 'carried up' (Luke xxiv. 51) into heaven. Ver. 20. Goings out — the invariable meaning of the Heb. word. At death, the saint goes out to the Saviom- — departs to be with Christ. D. remarks that the verb j^^"" is sometimes equivalent to evadere, to escape (2 Kings xiii. 5 ; Eccles. vii. 18), and on that ground translates the noun by ' escape,' or outlet : ' Belong the escapes from death.' Ver. 22. Turn them hack. — This verse seems to refer to his enemies, not to his people, as the A.v. and others give it. The word ' turn back ' is the same as is used Isa. xxxvii. 29, xiv. 27, etc. The meaning is, I will crush them as effectually as of old, wherever found. Isa. xliii. is constructed on this model. The very uuage of the beasts found in this Psalm is kept up there (vers. 19, 20). Ver. 30. Trampling. — The word is sing., agreeing with 'rebuke thou,'' and in Hithp. means, probably, to trample by one's self. Delight. — ''^fi is not from the noun |*-|, the existence of which is doubtful, but from the partic. of the verb niJI, to delight ; cf. the parallel expression, Isa, xiii. 17. M 178 PSALM LXIX. PSALM LXIX. By the Chief Musician, on flic Lilies/ 1).v David. 1 Save me, O God, for to my soul The waters up are got ; ^ I sink in the clay" of the abyss,' And standing there is not : Yea, I am come into the gulfs'* Of waters ; and the flood Is overflowing me, 'O God." Messianic; and oftener quoted than any other Psalm. ■■ cf. Vs. xlv., Ix. title. Ps. xl. 2. Ps. Ixviii. 2 2 I with my crying am worn out,"" Hoarse is my throat 'likewise:" Consumed with waiting for my God, 'And wasted" are mine eyes. 3 More than the hairs upon' my head, Are those that do me hate Withovit a cause ; and those who would Me silence,® strengthen'd get : 'Ev'n* those who falsely'" are my foes. What I plucked" not, I then Shall 'not the less" restore again. 4 O God, my foolishness thou know'st ; 'To thee it stands revealed:" Also my trespasses from thee, 'O Lord," are not concealed. 5 Let those not be ashamed in me. Who hope^ on thee repose, O Lord Jehovah Sabaoth : Li me O let not those Be 'ever" to confusion put, God of Israel, Who after thee inquire 'with zeal." 6 For on account of thee, 'O God," 1 have reproach endured ; Confusion covered hath my face, 'My coimtenance obscured." ■ cf. Ps. vi. 6, n. of. « Ps. liv. 5." ' Ps. XXXV. 19, n. ' alluding to what happened in paradise. 7 I to my brethren am become A stranger 'in the streets," An alien to my mother's sons : For zeal for thy house eats PSALM LXIX. 179 Me up; and the reproaches 'too"' Of those reproaching thee, O God, have fallen upon me. "1 for my soul with fasting wept*' — 10 It my reproach became : ** Sackcloth I made my garment — I 1 1 A proverb was to them. ° and. « cf. Gen. xxiii. 2, 1, 3. ° and. 9 Those in the gate that sit, commune 12 Against me 'all day long;" And of the drinkers of strong drink 'Am I become'' the song. But I — my supplication's 'voice," 13 Jehovah, unto thee Shall 'for" a time of favour be. 10 In greatness of thy mercy, 'then," Do thou to me reply, '' In truth of thy salvation, 'now, O God the LOKD Most High." ^ D., W. The answer to this prayer we find in Isa. xlix. 8, where the same phrase occurs, but with the prep. 2, 'in.' ' See preced- ing note. 11 Rescue me from the mire ; " let me 14 ° and. Not sink: snatch me, 'O God," From those that hate me, and the gulfs Of waters : let the flood 15 Of waters not o'erflow me 'now," Nor the abyss me drown,' i swallow up. The well* its mouth on me shut down. 12 Jehovah, O reply to me. For good thy mercy is : According to the multitude Of thine own sympathies. 16 13 Turn thou to me ; nor hide thy face 17 From thine own servant 'now," For I am in distress : with speed Reply to me do thou. Draw near my soul, and ransom it : 18 O do thou me redeem, Because of foes who 'gainst me scheme.' ' /. 'my foes. 14 Thou knowest my reproach and shame, 19 And my confusion ' too ; " 180 PSALM LXIX. Mine adversaries present are Each one before thy view. 15 Reproach hath broke my heart, and 1 20 Am sick 'and sore cast down ;" And I for consolation hope,^ But there, 'akis I"^ is none : "For comforters 'to feel for me In my afflicted lot, I look for them," but find them not. IG And gall they put into"" my meat; 21 And 'also" for my thirst They cause me vinegar to drink, 'While grief is at the worst." iiud. so D. 17 Before their faces for a snare 22 Let their own table be,^' °For recompenses,^" for a gin : Dark, so as not to see, Moreover, let their eyes become ; 23 And, 'O Jehovah," make Their loins continually quake. 18 Thy rage pour on them; seize' them let 24 Thine anger vehement ; Their citadel" be desolate, 25 No settler in their tent.' ■■ i.e. they have made my meat distasteful ; let their uwn table, etc. ° and. ■■ so L?CX., Luther, Hv., Y. ; cf. Ts: xlv. 4, u. ' overtake. tents. 19 For him whom thou hast smitten, 'LORD," 26 They persecute 'perverse ;" And they the grief of thy pierced ones'' 'Delightedly" rehearse.'' Guilt to their guilt do thou attach ;''•" 27 And never come may they Into thy righteousness, 'I pray." 20 Wiped' be they from the book of life ; 28 Nor with the righteous writ. But I am poor and grieved ; me high 29 Let thy salvation set.° •• the disciples, whose grief and disap- pointment they talked of. ■■ I. ' speak con- cerning ; ' cf. P.s. ii. 7. '"'■ i.e. hold them guilty for this deed of theirs. ' blotted. " God. 21 I with a song will pi'aise the name Of God ; and him 'adore And" magnify with thanksgiving 1 will : and this shall more 30 31 % PSALM LXX. 181 ■■ so G. A simpler render- ing than the common. " and. ■• cf. Ps. xxii. 26. Pleasing unto Jehovah be Than would a bullock 'prove," A buU with horn, with parted hoof. 22 Ye meek, see ; let God's seekers joy ;'^ 32 "Eevived be your heart '^ again : For God the needy hears, nor doth 33 His prisoners disdain. 23 O let the heav'ns and earth, the seas, 34 And all in them that moves. Praise him : for God shall Zion save, 35 'The dwelling Avhich he loves." And he shall Judah's cities build, And they shall settle^ there. And it as their possession share.' i have. 24 The offspring' of his servants 'too* 36 ' seed. Inherit shall the same ; And dwell in it 'securely* shall The lovers of his name. PSALM LXX= By the Chief Musician, by David, to remind.'' God, to free me — make thou haste, Jehovah, to mine aid : Let them be ^utterly'' ashamed. To blush let them be made, Almost identical with the closing verses of Ps. xl. The italics mark the variations. ■■ cf. Ps. xxxviii title. 2 That seek my soul : back, 'one and all," Let them be di-iven 'quite ;* And to confusion be they put, That in my hurt delight. 3 For a requital of their shame, Bacl: let them ^sw/ftl)/'^ turn, Who 'proudly" unto me have said, Aha ! aha ! 'in scorn." 4 In thee, let all who seek for thee, Be glad and overjoyed : Who thy salvation love, say still, * May God be magnified.' 182 PSAOI LXXI. Although I poor and needy am, Haste, God, to me '■ivhen sought. My help and rescuer thou art ; Jehovah, tarry not. PSALM LXXI. The beginning of this Psalm is almost identical with that of the 31 st ; hut from what is said in ver. IS, David must have wi'itten the present Psalm at a much later period than the other : probahly during the anxious times that followed his hasty flight from Jerusalem in Absalom's day. The similarity of the circumstances would naturally lead him to take advantage of his words on the earher occasion. The italics show where the identity exists. 1 In thee, LORD, I refuge take; Shamed let me never he : O free me in thy righteousness, And to escape make me. 2 Incline thou unto me thine ear ; ° 'My foes" O save me 'from : " My rock o/" lodging "■ be, to AvLich Continually to come. 3 To save me thou appointed hast : ° My cliff and fort art thou : T' escape from out the Avicked's'' hand, O do thou make me 'now.* " and. ■■ The word in Ps. xxxi. wants only a tittle of being the same as the one here ; but it means ' strength.' " for. "■ wicked man's. 4 From out the churl's, the cruel's fist 'Me rid;'' for thou, 'in truth,'* O Lord Jehovah art my hope, ISIy trust 'ev'n^ from my youth. 5 I've from the womb on thee been stay'd ; 'Twas thou didst cut me free® My mother's bowels from : my praise Continually's of thee. 6 As a marvel I to many am ; But thou'rt my refuge* strong: Filled shall my moutli be with thy praise, Thy splendour,® .all day long. 7 O in the time of old ago, 'Lord," Me off do thou not cast : of. Ps. xxii. 9. PSALM LXXI. 183 O do not me forsake, when 'now* My vigour faileth 'fast/ 8 For ' still ^ a talk concerning me 10 Mine adversaries make,' ' l- speak con- And those who for my soul do watch cemmg me. Together coimsel take ; 9 Saying, ' God hath forsaken him, 11 ' Hath Avholly him forgot ; '"^ Pursue and seize upon him 'now,* For rescuer there's not.' 10 O God, be not afar from me ; 12 My God, haste to mine aid : Let the opponents® of my soul 13 Be shamed — an end of made." 11 Let those, 'I pray," who meditate My hurt 'and injury,'' Be cover'd over with reproach, ° Confusion, ' infamy. '^ c ^^^ 12 And I continually will wait ; 14 And add'" to all thy praise : ,^£ p^ ^^^ ^^ My mouth shall thy salvation tell ; 1 5 All day thy righteousness. 13 For I the numbers do not know. I'll in the might go on 16 Of the Lord Jehovah ; I'll record Thy i-ighteousuess alone. 14 God, thou 'even* from my youth 17 Hast me 'in kindness" taught ; And lip till now I forth have show'd The wonders thou hast wrought.' i thy wondi'ous deeds • 15 And ev'n to old age and hoar hairs 18 Forsake me not, O God ; Till to the age thine arm* — thy might* To all to come — Fve show'd.* 16 For'' up on high's thy righteousness, 19 ■■ or 'aud.' O God, who 'toAvards me" 184 PSALM LXXII. Accomplished great things hast ; O Gotl, "Wlio is there like to thee ? 17 Thou who hast caused W6'" to see Troubles many and sore ; Thou shalt return, shalt tts^ revive, Shalt us acain restore : 20 ' so C'tliib; tbo K'ri has 'me.' 18 Shalt from the depths of earth return ;' On high shalt ns exalt ; My greatness shalt enlarge ; and me Surround *" and comfort shalt. 21 1 9 Thee, too, with psalt'ry-instruments, Thanks for" thy truth I'll pay : O Holy One of Israel,'' On harp to thee I'll play. 20 My lips, when unto thee I pla}', 'For joy" shall shout aloud ; So likewise shall my soul, which thou Redeemed hast, 'O God." 22 23 24 21 My tongue shall also all the day Thy righteousness relate ; When'" they are shamed,^' when"" they're made My hurt who meditate. [blush,'' " cf. Ps. cvii. 8, wbei-e the prep, is also left out ; and Ps. cxxxviii. 2, where it is inserted. ■■ The first oc- currence of this title of God, which became so favourito a one with Isaiah. It occiu's only twice after- wards in the book of Psalms (Ixsviii. 41, Ixxxix. 18). ■■ or ' for.' PSALM LXXII. Byr Solomon. 1 Give to the king thy judgments, Jehovah," 'in thy grace;" And to the king's son 'likewise Give thou" thy righteousness. ' not ' to Solo- mon,' or ' for Solomon,' but 'by Solomon,' as in all the other titles. ' God. 'And then" rvile o'er thy people With righteousness shall he ; And 'he" thy poor 'shall govern" With judgment 'faithfully." ?> 'Then" shall the 'lofty" mountains Yield to the people peace. PSALM LXXII. 185 And 'air the hills 'together," Because of righteousness.^ 4 He to the people's poor ones Shall judgment minister :' Shall save the needy 's children, And crush the plunderer.*^ ' cf. Ps. Ixviii. 14, margin. ' he shall judge. ''■ cf. Ps. cv. 14. 'Still* with the sun's 'duration' They shall thee reverence ; ' And at the moon's appearings. An age of ages 'hence." fear. 6 Like as the rain 'descending" Upon the meadow mown, Like as the showers — to water The earth he shall come down. 7 In his days 'then" shall flourish The 'just and" righteous one : Of peace, too, an abundance, TiU moon there shall be none. ' /. he shall come down a watering for 7 the earth. 8 And he shall have dominion From sea ev'n unto sea ; '' And 'onward" from the river To earth's extremity. 9 The people of the desert Kneel down before him must ; And 'all" his adversaries Shall lick the 'very* dust. 1 A gift the kings of Tarshish And of the isles shall bring : '" 'Both" Sheba's king and Seba's Shall fetch '^" an offerinar. 10 ■• of. Ex. xxiii. 31. return. ■■ present. 1 1 And him all kings shall worship, 1 1 All nations serve ; for he 1 2 The poor* who cries, the needy,* And helpless one,' shall fi'ee. 12 He pity'' on the feeble 13 And needy one shall have ; ' I. ' and him who hath no helper ' (a. v.). ' Dent. xix. 13, 21, and often. 186 PSALM LXXII. And he the souls of needy And helpless" ones shall save. 13 From vi'lence"" and oppression'' lie shall their souls redeem ; And precious shall the blood be Of such,'" in his esteem.' 14 And he"" shall live, and give him' Of Sheba's gold ; shall pray Continually for him ;"" Shall bless liim all the day.*" U 15 not 'deceit.' "■ their blood. ' eyes. ■■ i.e. ' the kiug. " i.e. the poor one. ■■ cf. Kom. viii. 34. 15 There shall be an extension ■" Of corn the earth upon ; Its fruit on mountain summits Rustliun;' like Lebanon. 16 ■■ i.e. ' a wide extent ;' others, a profusion. ' shall rustle. 16 Also from out the city'" They thrive shall, 'and abound ;" 'Ev'n° like unto the herbage That covereth the groimd." 17 His name shall be for ever, Bloom" with the sun it' shall; And bless'd in him all nations Shall be ; him happy* call. 17 ■■ so D. ; but A.V., H., W. : Thej' also of the city Shall thrivingly ■iboimd. ' of the earth. his name. 18 Bless'd be the Lord Jehovah,' The God of Isr'el, 'then;" ' Who only doeth Avonders 'Among the sons of men." 18 Jehovah God. 1 9 And blessed be for ever His name of glory' 'too ;" ° All earth fill'd with his glory : Amen, amen anew.' 19 ' the name of his glory. " and. ' and amen. 20 The prayers 'now" of David, 20 ' The pray'rs " of Jesse's son. Are 'perfectly" accomplish'd, 'Completed every one.'^ Ver. 2. Because of- — ' on accomit of,' — a meaning which 3 admittedly has (cf. Ps. Ixviii. 14, niarg.). D. considers that ' righteousness' here rather passes over to the sense of ' righteous plenty,' ' just abundance,' appealing to Joel ii. 23 PSALM LXXIl. 187 ['moderately' — I. ' iu righteousness,' in rightfiil measvire], (see Ges. Lex. sub voce (1)). In that case the line would stand thus : ' In rightful pleuteousness.' The Lxx. join the expression to the next verse, and read, '.In righteousness he shall judge the poor of the people.' Ver. 4. Judgment minister — I. judge, t3St^'^ a different word from the one rendered ' rule ' in ver. 2. There the term is |n'', from which the tribe Dan derived its name. The two occur also in Ps. vii. 8. Plunderer. — The verb means, ' to plunder,' ' to snatch violently away,' rather than ' to oppress,' as it is generally rendered in A.y. Ver. 5. With the sun — cf. in Latin : ' Cum sole et lima semper Aratus erit.' So in Dan. iv. 3 : Z. ' with generation and generation.' Ver. 6. To ivater — not to be joined with ' like as the rain — as the showers;' but with ' he shaU come down to water [I. a watering of] the earth.' Ver. 15. And he shall live. — There can scarcely be a doubt that this refers to ' the King,' ' to Christ,' like all the other verbs at the beginning of the preceding verses (vers. 2, 4, 6, 8, 13) ; though D. and others refer it to the oppressed and death-threatened man, whom the king has delivered. To Chi-ist too, I apjare- hend with T7., the remaining verbs refer : ' And shall give Mm,' i.e. Christ shall give the poor rescued man of the gold of Sheba, and so enrich as well as rescue him (cf. Rev. iii. 18) ; shall pray, i.e. intercede continually for him in the pre- sence of the Father (Rom. viii. 84 ; Heb. ix. 24) ; and bless the poor rescued man aU the day : blessing him, and keeping him, every hour of every day. To change the nom. to each verb from the poor man to Christ, and from Christ to the poor man, as D. proposes, seems inadmissible. The a.y. and others give a different rendering : And he shall live, and given him Shall be of Sheba's gold : He ever' shall be pray'd for, Shall daily be extoll'd.' Ver. 17. All nations. — D. and others join these words with what precedes ; not, as the A. v., with what follows. Blessed. — The verb is in the Hithp., which, however, is often used as a passive verb, and would seem to be so here ; for there is a manifest reference to the live special promises in Genesis to this effect. Now it is noticeable that, in the first two of these (xii. 3, xviii. 18), the Niphal is iised, and also in the last one (xxviii. 14) ; and the Hithp. introduced only in the intervening two (xxii. 18, sxvi. 4), where its import would be regulated by the preceding and the subse- quent ones. The lxx. accordingly translate the two Hithp. verses in the passive, and their rendering is followed by Paul (Gal. iii. 8). Still, many interpreters prefer the Hithp. sense in these verses, and in this Psalm. Ges. and H. trans- late : ' shall bless themselves by him ; ' D. and Y. : ' shall bless themselves in him.' If this form be preferred, the lines would run : ° Themselves in him all nations ShaU bless ; him happy call. Ver. 20. The prayers. — This verse seems to have belonged to the Psalm from the first, and not to be merely a note appended to it when the Psalter Avas 188 PSALM LXXIII. arranged iu its present form. There is not the slightest want of harmony between it and the title, which ascribes the authorship of the Psalm to Solomon. Nothing was more natural than for Solomon to add that- m liis own prayer (that Messiah's name might be blessed for ever, and all the earth fiUed with liis glory) the prayers of his fatlier too, 'the prayers of David the son of Jesse,' vfere/nl- filled — had their full acconiplislmieut ; that this was their grand burden, that this was their very sum. Tliis sense the word in the o. legitimately bears ; this sense it receives, Ezra i. 1, Dan. xii. 7 (see Ges. Lex. (1)). PSALM LXXIII. A Psalm by Asaph. God unto Israel's only good, Unto the clean in heart ; Yet I — my foot near slipp'd, my steps Aside did all but start : ' For envious of the proud'' was I, Beholding tlieir prosperity. ' I. were poured out. ' Ps. v. 5, n. For fetters® there are none for them ;"■ 4 Their belly's sound"* and fat ; They're not in the distress of men, 5 Nor with® mankind "^^ struck at. Hence pride, chain-like, adorns their necks ; 6 The robe of vi'lence them bedecks. Theu' eye from fatness standeth out ; 7 Thoughts of their heart have way : ^ They mock,'" and speak in wickedness ; 8 Wrong'"'" from on high speak they : Their mouth they 'gainst the heav'ns oppose,' 9 Their tongue againsf^ earth Ukewise goes. Hence here his folk turn ; and for them 1 FuU v/aters out are pressed. And ' How knows God ? ' say they ; ' and can 1 1 ' Knowledge be in the Blest ? ' ' Lo ! these are wicked men, and yet 12 ' Safe evermore ! — they mightier get ! ' Isa. Iviii. 6.' ' ' in their death ' (a.v.) ; but the word should be divided, aud rendered 'for tbem . . . sound ' CD., W.). ' I. ' pass,' i.e. pass freely. ■■ Ges., H., D. : not 'are vile,' or 'con-upt.' " plunder (Ps. cv. 14). 'set. Most High. ' Only^ in vain it is, 'in vain,* ' That I my heart did cleanse ; ' 'Only in vain" that I did wash ' My hands in innocence : ' For strokes'^ I all the day"" have l)orne,' ' And my correction's every morn.' 13 14 ' /. I am struck at.' ' not ' every day.' PSALM LXXIII. 189 6 If I say, ' I will publish so,' 15 Behold ! I falsely should Against the generation deal Of thine own sons, 'O God;" Or, ' I will study this to know,' 16 'Twas in mine eyes a grievous woe,^ 7 Till I, into the sanctuaries 17 Of God, my steps did bend ;* 'TiU* I did 'quietly" reflect Upon their latter end. Thou only® slipp'ry heights upon 18 Sett'st them ; to ruin cast'st them down. a distress.' went. 8 As in a moment, how are they 19 At desolation 'quite !" They're swept away — brought to an end — With terrors 'and affright." As one awaking doth a dream,*" 20 Eoused," thou, Lord, wilt their form contemn. 9 WTiat time*" embittered was my heart, 21 And I 'in^ reins uneased,' " I brutish was, and would not know ; 22 With® thee I joroved a beast. Yet I'm continually with thee ; 23 Thou by thy right hand boldest me. 1 O, with thy counsel guide thou me ; 24 To glory then, 'on high,'^ Do thou receive me afterward. Whom in the heav'ns have I ? 25 And when I thee as mine have got,' I in the earth delight take not. 11 My flesh decayeth, and my heart; 26 God's of my heart the rock ; ® And he's my portion evermore. For, lo ! 'O God," the folk' 27 Far from thee perish : thou dost slay ' All who from thee a whoring stray. 12 But as for me, nearness to God 28 Is good for me, 'and safe : " Upon the Lord Jehovah placed I\Iy confidence I have ; In order that I may abroad 'Stni" publish all thy works, '0 God." ' so W. ■■'■ so D. ; i.e. thou, rousing up, wilt con- temn, etc. ■■ see Ps. V. 2. ' pricked. " then. ' I ' with thee ; ' which Luther and D. ex- plain thus. ' those. ' extinguish or silence. 190 PSALM LXXIV. Ver. 4. For them. — The word DniK)?, rendered in A.v. ' in their death,' Ewald conjectured should be read as two words : 10^, ' to them,' and DD, ' sound,' ' whole,' or ' perfect ; ' and his conjecture is approved by D. and W. For a similar description of the wicked, cf. Ps. xvii. 10, cxix. 70. Ver. 10. litre — at this point his people are staggered, and ready to turn back, and express themselves in the language that follows. Yer. 20. Roused. — D. regards 'V]!^, as = ^^j;n3, 'on rousing up;' cf. N"'3? for N'^nn^ (Jer. xxxix. 7). Ver. 25. Tliee as mine — I. ' with thee,' which lAither, followed by D., regards as := ' with thee for mine,' I delight not in earth, Hke these others, but despise it, and find my portion and delight in thee. According to the view brought out in the a.v., the lines would rim : And none I, 'in comparison" With thee, delight in, earth upon. PSALM LXXIV. Instructive/ by Asapb." 1 Wherefore, O God, hast thou cast off ? Against the 'very^ flock Of thine own pasture, shall thy wrath Perpetually smoke ? 2 O, 'in thy grace,*^ remember thou Thy congregation 'poor,* "Which for thyself, of old time, thou Didst purchase 'and secure;" 3 The rod of thine inheritance Thou didst redeem, 'O God;*^ Even this Zion mount, wherein Thou hast had thine abode. r Ps. xxxii. title. " Ps. iv. introduc- tion. 4 To the perpetual* ruins 'here," Do thou thy footsteps raise : The foe has broken everything' Within the holy place. » n., D., w. cf. Isa. Iviii. 12, Ixi. 4. 5 In midst of thine assembling place * Thine enemies have roared : Their signs they did for signs set up 'Contemptuously, Lord." 6 Let him'" be known as he that brought' The axes to th' ascent, ■■ i.e. the foe — Nebuchad- nezzar. ' 'the bringer of.' PSALM LXXIV. 191 Against the thicket of the trees," 'With mischievous intent." 7 And now together 'banding them 6 In hearty union,'' With hatchet and with hammer they Its carved work break down. 8 They set thy sanctuary on fire, 7 'And* the abode 'august* Of thine own name do they profane Unto the 'very* dust. 9 They in their hearts do say, ' Let us 8 Together^ them o'erturn:' Th' assembling places^ all of God, Throughout the land, they burn. 10 Our signs we do not 'noAv" behold : 9 A prophet 'us among" No longer is there ; nor with us" Is one who knows how long. 110 how long shall the enemy 10 'Reproachfully" blaspheme? O shall the foe perpetually® Thy name, O God,* contemn ? 12 Wherefore dost thou turn back thy hand, ] 1 Ev'n thy right hand 'of might?" O wth"" the war*"^ of thy set time," Do thou consume him? 'quite," 13 God my King ; who from of old 12 Hast been accomplishing Deliv'rances in midst of earth : 'And him to nothing bring." 14 Thou by thy strength brok'st through^ the sea; 13 In pieces, 'with a crash," The heads thou of the dragons didst Upon the waters dash. ' Ps. Ixxvi. 6, xxviii. 7. " Ps. Iv. 18, 21 ; cf. Isa. xiii. 1-5. " Job xiv. 13 (Ges. Lex.) ; cf. Jer. XXV. ll, 12, xxvii. 7. P him, i.e. the foe (cf. Ps. lix. 13). 15 Thoii of leviathan didst crush The heads ; for meat didst give Him to the people, unto those That in the desert live."" 14 192 PSALM LXXIV. IG 'With cleaving stroke" thoii didst cleave out' The fountain and the flood : The rivers of continuance" Dry up thou didst, 'O God." 15 at Iloi'eb. " i.e. that flowed summer and winter. 1 7 The day belongeth unto thee ; '" To thee belongs the night : Thou hast established" the sun,* Established hast' the liofht. KJ ■■ rcfeiTing to liis doings not merely in Moses' day, but at creation. ' and. 18 Thou all the borders of the earth, ' O God,*^ determined hast : ^ The summer and the winter, thou, Ev'n thou,*' hast foi'm'd 'to last." 19 Jehovah, O remember this. That th' en'my hath blasphemed ; And that a foolish people hath Thy 'holy" name contemned. 17 18 Acts xvii. 2G. ' thou is emphatic. 20 Not to the vpild beast give the life Of thine own turtle-dove : Not of the wild beast — of thy poor' For aye^ forgetful prove. 21 Respect have to the covenant ; For earth's dark places 'all" Full of the habitations are Of violence 'and thrall." 19 •20 ' i.e. neither of the wild beast, norof thy poor. ^ perpetually. 22 O let the bruised one not return Confounded, 'and in shame ; " O let the poor and needy one Praise 'and extol" thy name. 21 23 Arise, O God ; plead thou thy cause : •■ 22 ' I. pie Remember thou, 'I pray," The 'deep" reproach cast by the fool • Upon thee' all the day. 24 Do not forgetful of the voice 23 Of thine opposers be : The noise"' of those that 'gainst thee rise Ascends continually. ' /. thy re- proach from tlie fool. Ps. xl. 2. PSALM LXXIV. 193 Ver. 4. Asseinhllng places. — 1]})^, like our own word ' chiirch,' means not only the congregation or assembly (Num. xvi. 2 ; Ex. xxvii. 21), but the place where it meets (Lam. ii. 6). Ver. 5. Let him — i.e. Nebuchadnezzar — be known, i.e. remembered and pimished, As he that brought — I. ' as the bringer ;' not, ' as the lifter up.' To the ascent — the exact rendering of the Heb. word, as in 2 Sam. xv. 30, etc. Against — a frequent sense of 2 (cf. ver. 1 ; Ps. v. 10, 1. 20 ; Gen. xvi. 12 ; Num. XXV. 3 ; Job xix. 19 ; Isa. lix. 13). The meaning of the whole verse is, ' Let Nebuchadnezzar be known and punished, as the one who ascended the height of Carmel and Lebanon to cut down the trees thereof.' This is the very description given of the king of Babylon, Isa. xiv. 8, cf. 2 Kings xix. 23, where we find Sennacherib saying, ' With the multi- tude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, the choice fir trees thereof ; and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, the forest of his Carmel.' Ver. 6. Its carved icorh. — Shishak, king of Egypt, had spoiled the temple, but had not broken it down (1 Kings xiv. 26). Its demohtion was the work of Nebuchadnezzar. Ver. 11. Consume.— D. remarks that the word cannot mean 'to pluck out,' ' to withdraw,' but only ' to consume,' as in Ps. lix. 13, and consequently that it does not refer to God's hand, but to God's enemies. In this he is undoubtedly correct ; but it is impossible to agree with him in interjDreting ' from the midst of thy bosom,' as being equivalent to, ' from out thy sanctuary, and from out thy land ! ' The mere statement of such an interpretation is all the refutation it requires. The word bosom does not indeed occur in the verse at all, the Heb. for which is pTl, whereas the word here is pin, though the Masorites, in their ignorance of the meaning, have marked it as a mistake, while it is merely the common word ph written in the long form, and probably so written for the purpose of guardmg against the risk of mistake. Among its other meanings, this word has the sense of 'set time' (Job xiv. 13 : see Ges. Lex.), and such is its meaning here. The word preceding it is 2"ip, which does not here signify ' midst,' but ' war,' as in Ps. Iv. 18, 21 ; and the prep. O before it signifies ' with,' as in Ps. xxviii. 7, Ixxvi. 6 ; so that the two together will mean, ' with the war of thy set time.' Now God had not only fixed a time for the destruction of Babylon, but had distinctly specified the length of the intervening term of yeare. ' Seventy years' was the period expressly fixed for the limit of God's forbearance (Jer. XXV. 11, 12) ; or, as God expresses it in another form, the kingdom was assured to Nebuchadnezzar, and to his son, and to his son's sou ; and then the very time of his land would come (Jer. xxvii. 7). God had also fixed, and specified, that the destruction of Babylon was to be by 'war' (Isa. xiii. 1-5, 15-19, xli. 2, 3, 25, etc.). The exact period, however, from which to date the commencement of the seventy years, was a matter of so much uncertainty, owing to the fact that Nebuchadnezzar had more than once laid the land waste, that without a prophet it could not be known to a year when the overthrow would take place (ver. 9) ; but that it would come, and at the specified time, every pious Jew believed ; and therefore the Psalmist prays, ' with the war of thy set time do thou consume him,'' i.e. the blasphemer, the foe, mentioned in the N 194 psAL:\r Lxxv. preceding verse. Even the 'him' is not a supplement; for the 1, wliich com- mences tlie next verse, and which stands so awkwardly there, shoiil(.l be joined to the closing word of this one, which will then read IHpD, 'consume him ;^ and the train of thought in the two verses will then flow on naturally and smoothly. PSALM LXXV. By the Chief Musician, 'Destroy not,'' a Tsalm by Asaph, a Song. People. 1 Thanks we give, O God, to thee ; 1 Tlianks we give 'unitedly :" For'' that near at hand thy name Is, thy Avondrous works proclaim. On occasion of Sennacherib's in- vasion, before his destniction; but after the assur- ance of God's intended inter- positiou. I Ps. Ivii. title. ' Ts. iv. 3. God. 2 ' When'' tli' assembly" I receive, Upright judgment will I give.' 'Lo !" the land is melting 'clean,* And the dwellers all 'therein :" I, 'uprising at their cries,'^ Will the pillars'" of it poise. Selah ■■ Ts. V. 2, n. " Ps. Ixxiv. 4, n. ' I. I will judge ujjrightness. i.e. the rulers. ' To the boastful*" I have said, Be not into boastings led ; ' °To the wicked 'said again,* Lift not up the horn, '0 men ;" Lift not up your* horn on high ; Speak ye not with neck awry. « Ts. V. 5 : peculiarly- descriptive of Sennacherib's messengers. ' /. boastful. " and. ' For'" from east, nor west, nor south. Lifting up® comes ; for'"'^ 'in truth" God is judge : he doth abase One, and doth another raise. For*" in GOD's hand is a cup, And the wine is reddening" up : 6 ' first reasou (see Ps. xi. 3, n.). 7 "■"■ second reasou. 8 ' third reason. ' Full of mingled drink it is, And he poureth out of this :. Verily the dregs thereof Pi'ess'' 'completely" out and quaff Shall the wicked of the earth, 'One and* all, 'from this time forth."' Ps. Ixxiii. 10. King. Then'" declare I will for aye, I to Jacob's God will phiy ; And the wicked's horns all lop ; Were the just" man's " lifted up. 10 ■■ Ps. xxxvi. 7, n. ■■ Ilezekiah horns. ^1 PSALM LXXVI. 195 Ver. 1. Near at hand thy name is. — This is a very peculiar expression, but one that evidently was current at the time (see Isa. xxx. 27). Ver. 2. The assembly I receive. — H., D., W. translate, 'the set time I will seize ; ' but the rendering of the A.v. seems preferable. There is no uistance of r\pbi followed by a word for ' time,' being used in the sense of appomting or seizing an opportimity. The rendering of the A.v. is not only the natural one ; it exactly suits the case. Hezekiah at first bought Sennacherib off with a great sum (2 Kmgs xviii. 14), and then resorted to Egypt for assistance, and never invoked God's help tiU he could do no better. Hence God's anger (Isa. xxx. 1, 9, 11, 16, xxxi. 1). But no sooner did Hezekiah put 'the assembly,' i.e. the congregation of Israel, under God's protection, than the promise of deliverance came (Isa. xxx. 18, 19, xxxi. 6-9). Yer. 6. For — the fu-st of three reasons (see Ps. xi. 3, n.) : Judah is not no ^t' going south to Egypt for help, nor going to the east for it, nor to the west ; but is looking to God for deliverance. The north is not mentioned, because that was the quarter whence Sennacherib came. Ver. 7. Abase one., and. — This is his ordinary way, and he did so in the present instance, by putting down Sennacherib, and raising Esar-haddon to the throne in his stead. Ver. 10. Then — a common meaning of "i (see Ps. xxxvi. 7, n.). Declare. — This was a dehverance quite as worthy of being declared to all, far and near, and declared to all future times, and with ' stringed instriunents' (see Ixxvi. title), as that more personal one, which Hezekiah announced his intention of publishing in this form (Isa. xxxviii. 19, 20). PSALM LXXVI. Written to cele- brate the destruc- By the Chief Musician, with stringed instruments, a Psalm hy Asaph, a Song. tion of Senna- cherib's anny. 1 In Judah God is known, 1 His name in Israel's great ; ° His tent in Salem is, 2 ° and. ° In Zion is his seat.^ ■ dwelling- The flames there of the .bow he broke, 3 P^^®- The shield and sword and battle's 'shock.* Selah. "■ I. bright, like 2 Famed'" tlioii, illustrious" 4 clams. For" hills of booty art : cxxxvi. 18- Become a prey"* themselves™ 5 Ezek. Are 'now* the stout of heart. ° rather than Their sleep they slumbered, nor found all 'above.' The The men of might their hands 'at call." KhfsTnse of 'on account 3 At thy rebuke, O God 6 of,' 'because Of Jacob, 'soon* were cast Sviii°29%' 7 ; Deut. vii. 7 : see Ges. Lex. 2 (e)); on account of the mountains of booty left by Sennacherib's army, when they retreated to Assyria. ■■ Isa. lix. 15. 196 PSALM LXXVII. Both chariot and horse Into a sleep 'dead-fast." Thou — dread art thou ; and who, 'who' hath, 7 Before thy face, stood since ^ thy wrath? • Riitb ii. 7 Jer. xliv. 18.' Forth from the heavens thou The sentence'" didst announce ;® The earth" affrighted felt. And quiet was 'at once :" "When God to judgment did come forth' To resci;e' all the meek of earth. Selah. For 'verily* man's 'wi'ath And* indignation 'high" Doth 'evermore, O God,* Thee praise 'and glorify.* Thyself with the remainder, 'too,* Of th' indignation^ gird® dost thou. 10 ■■ in answer to Hezekiah's messengers (2 Kings six. 6, 7), and Hezekiah's prayer (vera. 32-34). •^ cf. Isa. lii. 7, xlv. 21. '■'■ rather than 'land.' The whole world was awed. ' arise. ' save. H., D., W. Unto the LOED your God VoAV, and perform, all ye That round him are ; bring gifts To him that fear'd' should be : The breath of princes he removes ;' Dread to the kings of earth he proves. PSALM LXXVII. By the Chief Musician, by Asaph,' along with Jeduthun.r a Psalm. 1 My voice was unto God 'on high,'' And scream® I did 'in fear ;* My voice was luito God 'on high,'' And he to me gave ear. 11 12 ' a fear (Isa. viii. 13). ' ' onts off,' or gathers, as grapes (Jer. xlix. 9 ; cf. Eev. xiv. 18-20). Written probably in tlie cave of AduUam. r See Ps. Ixii. title, and Fs. vi. title. * Dent xxii. 24, 27 ; Ps. cvii. 6. 2 In trouble's' day I sought the Lord, My hand by night did hold, Reached out, nor it withdrew ; ' my soul Eefused to be consoled. 3 I did remember God, and I Was 'sore* disquieted : 'Yea,* muse I did, and overwhelmed My spirit was 'with dread." Selah. ' ' in the day of my trouble'.' ' 'my hand was reached out by uiglit, and not with- drawn.' 1 PSALM LXXVII. 107 Mine eye all night' possess thou didst ; Stunn'd was I ; " speak could not : I thought upon the days of old, The years of times remote. ' the night watches. " aud. 5 I did remember in the night My songs ; mused 'on my bed* With mine own heart ; and eager search'" My spirit 'also* made. ■• cf. Ps. Ixiv. 6.* 6 O will the Lord 'indeed* cast off Unto eternity ? And favoui'able any more O will he never be ? 7 His loving-kindness, is it 'all* Perpetually gone? O, has his promise disappeared' To age and age 'each one ?* ceased. 8 Hath God to be compassionate 9 'In very deed* forgot ? Hath he his sympathies® shut up In indignation 'hot ?* 9 Then said I, This is making me 10 Sick ;°^ to remembrance^ I Will bring P the years of the right hand Of 'him who's* the Most High: ■^ not 'remem- ber,' as before. The verb is here in Hiph. in O'thib. 10 The deeds of JxA.H ° remember will, 11 ° sure. Thy wonders from of yore ; ^ ' okl. And meditate on all thy work, 12 And o'er thy doings pore. 11 Thy way O God's in holiness : 13 What god's 'so* great as God? Thou art the God that wonders dost, 14 Thy strength thou forth hast show'd' 12 Among the peoples ; with 'thine* arm 15 Thy people, 'ev'n* the sons Of Jacob and of Joseph, hast Redeemed — 'thy favour'd ones." ' hast made known 198 PSALM LXXVIII. 13 The waters thee perceiv'd,' O God, 16 ' saw. The waters thee perceiv'd ; They were dismay'd : also the depths Tempestuously heaved. 14 The lurid clouds'" streamed waters down ; 17 ^ I. ihe black- Thc skies jijave forth a sound : "®*^??^(^®- XVlll 11) Also thy forked bolts, 'O God," ^ Went to and fro 'all round." 15 The sound, 'too," of thy thunder's 'voice" 18 All round about was whirl'd : ' Thy lightnings did the earth* light up;' Sore heav'd and rock'd the world.* ' I. ' was in a whirl.' ' Ps. xcvii. 4.' 16 Thy way was in the sea,*" 'O Lord 19 Of hosts ;" and thy high road" Was in the waters great : ° not known Thy footprints were, '0 God." 17 Thou like unto a flock didst lead 20 Thy people, by the hand Of ]\Ioses and of Aaron, ' forth From the oppressor's land." ■■ referring to his march through the Bed Sea. He did not walk in the tracks of other tra- vellers ; he made a road for himself. ° and. Ver. 10. TJiis is 7nal-ing me sick. — So Ges. (Lex. sub voce) ; cf. Dcut. xxix. ^2 {I. ' the sickness wherewith the LORD hath made sick in it '). Luther's translation of the verse is, ' I must suffer this ; the hand of the Most High can change it all :' which translation fitted it to become a memorable text in Prussian story ; for it was the text selected by the preacher who had to officiate before the Crown Prince, afterwards Frederick the Great, while the royal youth was lying imder sentence of death for infringement of his father's orders, and for meditated flight. PSALM LXXVIII. Instructive,' by Asaph." 1 O do give ear unto my law, Ye people that are mine ; Unto the sayings of my mouth Do ye your ears incline. 2 I'll open in a parable My mouth ; riddles of old I'll pour out;"" which we've heard and And us our fathers told. [known, 'Ps.xxxii. title, n. " Ps iv. title, n. Fs. xix. 2." PSALM LXXVIII. 199 3 Them from their sons we'll not conceal The after race we'll teU Jehovah's praises, and his strength, And wondrous deeds " 'as well.* 4 A law in Jacob he did place ; * A testimony rear* In Isr'el ; which he charged our sires ^ To show their children^ 'dear : " " which he hath done. fathers, sons. 5 In order that the after race Might it 'distinctly* know ; 'And that* sons to be born might rise, And it to their sons show : 6 And place their hope ' on God ; and might 7 Forget God's doings ne'er : But his commands observe ; and not 8 Be, as their fathers were. confidence. 7 A stubborn and rebellious race ; A generation^ who Established" not their heart ; ° with God Their spirit was not true.® •■ ef. Heb. xiii. 9. " and. Tlie sons of Ephr'im, bowmen armed, 9 In battle's day turned back ; God's covenant they did not keep, 10 Nor in his laws would walk : 9 But they did his performances And wondrous deeds forget ; Which he had caused them to behold, 'In loving-kindness great." 11 1 In presence of their sires,^ Things wonderful amid The land of Egypt, in the field Of Zoan's 'self,* he did. 12 fathers. 1 1 Asunder he did cleave the sea, And caused them to pass ; And up, like to a heap, he made The waters stand 'in mass." 13 200 PSALM LXXVni. 12 And with a cloud he them by day Did lead ;® and with the light, 'Moreover," of a fire 'did them Conduct" through all the night. 14 13 He 'also" in the wilderness 15 The rocks asunder clave ; And drink 'to them," as 'from" the depths, Abundantly* he gave. 14 And forth from out the rifted rock** He llowings* caused to break ; Also the waters to descend Like rivers he did make. 1 G " ' SelaL,' cliff.- 15 Nevertheless they still went on Against him to transgress : ' Against the Highest they rebelled Within the wilderness.' ' 'arid waste.' IG And in their heart they tempted God, 18 And for their souP asked bread ; And spoke 'gainst God, ° ' A table can 19 " aud said. God in the desert spread.' 1 7 Behold ! he smote the rock ; " waters Gushed out : ° streams flow'd amain ' Can he give bread as well, provide Flesh for his people 'then ?"' 20 " and. ° and. 18 Jehovah therefore heard, and was Furious ; " and a fire 'Gainst Jacob kindled was ; and' up 'Gainst Israel came ire. 21 also. 1 9 For they believe not God, nor trust In his salvation, 'ev'n" Though he command the clouds above, And ope the doors of heav'n ; 22 23 20 And manna on them rain, and corn 24 Of heav'n give them 'to eat ;" Bread of tlie strong" each'" ate ; to them 25 Me to the full sent meat. " cf. Ex. xvi. 16.' So here. ' each,' not, ' man ;' see mar grin. PSALM LXXVIII. 201 21 Forth in the heavens he did fetch "^ An east wind 'rushing strong ;* A south wind also by his strength' He did conduct along : ' 26 ■■ in its strength (?) 22 And flesh upon them rained as dust, And feathered fowls 'withal,* Like ocean's sand, and midst their camp. Let round their dwellings fall. 27 2S 23 Accordingly they ate, and were 29 Profusely satisfied ; For with the thing which they desired ' ' their desire. He 'amply'* them supplied. 24 And from the thing which they desired* Away they were not turned : Their food Avas still within their mouth, When God's ire ''gainst them* burned.' 30 25 And it among their plumpest ones Did make a havoc 'fell ;* And down it brought the chosen ones, 'The flower* of Israel. 31 2Q For all this"" they sin on, nor for His wonders him believe : So he their days in vanity Consumes, their years in grief. 27 When he a havoc made of them. Search for him they did then : And they returned, and after God They early sought 'again ;* 32 ■■ cf. Num. xvi. 16. 34 28 And recollect^ that God's their rock, 35 ' remember. And God Most High 'in truth* Is their Eedeemer ; but they him 36 Did flatter with their mouth. 29 And lied unto him Avith their tongue : For not established^ was 3' Their heart with him ; nor yet were they True in his cov'nant's 'cause." 202 PSALM LXXVTTT. 30 But full of pity, he forgave The guilt, nor finished them ; But oft his Avrath turned back, and woke Not all his rage's 'flame." 38 31 For he remembered that they were 'But" flesh — a breath, away That goeth, and returneth not : 'That even such were they.* 39 32 How often in the wilderness Eebel 'gainst him they did ! How often did they grieve him 'sore" The 'parched" waste amid! 40 33 Yea, back they turned, and tempted God Afresh ;'^ and limited The Holy One of Isr'el ; nor His hand remembered, 41 42 34 The day when from the foe he them Redeemed; when, 'full revealed," His marvels* he in Egypt set. His signs* in Zoan's field ; 43 35 And turned to blood their rivers,'" till 44 Their streams they could not taste : ' Sent 'mong them flies, which ate them up, 45 A.nd frogs which did them waste : ' an Egyptian word, applied to the Nile and its canals. ' drink. 36 And to the caterpillar gave 46 Their increase ; and their toil To locusts : did their vines with hail, 4 7 " With frost their syc'mores"" spoil :^ 37 And over 'likewise" to the hail 48 Their cattle did devote ; " Their flocks unto the thunderbolts, 'Which down upon them smote." 38 He forth against them 'also" sent 49 The fierceness of his ire ; Fury ^ and rage, " distress ; a host Of angels of evils'" 'dire." " and. 'The sycamore, though a firmly rooted, is yet a very tender tree, and easih' killed with frost : hence . not found in high districts, but only in the low plains (1 Chron.xxvii. 28) and by the shore. • make havoc of. " and. "■ and. ' i.e. to inflict evils. PSALM LXXVIII. 203 39 A pathway for his u'e he smoothed : 50 Their soul he did not fence' ' keep back. From death ; but did their hfe devote'' Unto the pestilence. 40 Moreover, all the first-born ones 51 In Egypt he did smite ; 'Laid prostrate" in the tents of Ham The first-fruits of theu* might. 41 And forth 'from thence," hke unto sheep, 52 His people he did fetch ;* And like a flock did them conduct Along ^ the desert's 'stretch.* 42 Yea, he did them in safety lead, 53 And they Avere not afraid ; But their 'pursuing" enemies The sea 'quite'' covered. 43 And in unto the border 'ev'n" 54 Of his own sanctuary,"" ' in fulfilment 'Unto" this mount which his right hand °^ ^^- ^'^^ ^^' Did purchase, them brought he. 44 " Before them drove the nations out : 55 " and. ° Their heritage by line Divided them ; and in their tents Made Israel recline.' ' dwell. 45 But yet they tempted, and rebelled 56 Against God the Most High ; * Nor did his testimony keep. But drew back 'wickedly." 46 And like unto their fathers, they 57 Themselves did treach'rous show ; They 'altogether" turned aside, Like a deceitful bow. 47 And him, with their high places, they 58 To anger did provoke ; And with their graven images His jealousy awoke. 204 PSALM LXXVIII. 48 God heard, and furious was ; and sore 59 Eejected" Isr'el 'then:" And Shiloh's tabernacle left,' 60 ' forsook. The tent he fixed 'mong men. 49 And to captivity his strength 61 He did deliver o'er; And to the adversary's'' hand ' fuo'a. His ornament 'once more.* 50 Yea, to the sword he did devote* 62 His people 'in his rage ;" And furious was 'exceedingly" Against his heritage. 5 1 The fire devour'd their youths ; ° their maids 63 " and. No marriage greetings had : Their priests fell by the sword ; " lament 64 •■ and. Their widows never made. 52 Then did the Lord arouse^ himself, 65 Like one that wakeneth ; Like to a hero that through wine With shoiitings triumpheth. 53 And he his adversaries^ smote 66 Behind ; 'and" he on them Did a perpetual reproach Inflict, 'and lasting shame." ^ 54 Yet he rejected Joseph's tent, 67 Nor Ephr'im's tribe aj^proved ; ' i chose. But Judah's tribe he chose, 'and" this 68 Mount Zion which he loved. 55 And like the lofty heights he did 69 His sanctuary raise : ' i bujid. Like to the earth, he founded hath To everlasting 'days." 56 And did his servant David choose, 70 And from the sheepfolds take ; From following' the nursing ewes, 71 ' bcliiml. He brought him forth to make PSALM LXXIX. 205 57 Him 'thenceforth like a shepherd' 'With gentle governance* Jacob his people ; " Israel His own inheritance. feed and. 58 After his heart's integrity, He therefore did them feed ; ^ And by the prudence of his hands, He 'therefore" did them lead. 72 PSALM LXXrX. A Psalm, by Asaph. 1 Come into thine inheritance The heathen are, O God : Thy holy temple they've defiled, To® heaps Jerus'lem trod.' 2 The bodies of thy servants, they To beasts of earth* have given ; The flesh of thine own holy ones' For food to fowls of heav'n.* ' put. ' saints. 3 Their blood like water they have shed Around Jerusalem ; And, 'O Jehovah," there is not A burier* 'for them." 4 Unto our neighbours a reproach We are become 'as well;" A laughing-stock and scorn to those 'That" round about us 'dwell." 5 How long, Jehovah ? ^ O wilt thou For ever angry be ? Burn like unto a 'very" fire Shall 'yet" thy jealousy ? 6 Thy rage upon the heathen shed,^ That know thee not ; ' on them " And on the kingdoms 'pour it out," That call not on thy name. 7 For he* has eaten Jacob up, 'In fierceness of his hate ;" ' tLey have shed the blood of thy saints ; shed thy rage on them. * i.e. Nebuchad- nezzar, leader of the heathen armies. 20G PSALM LXXX. And they've his habitation made ' Completely " desolate/ 8 Ovir ancestors"* iniquities 8 'Gainst us remember not : Haste, let thy sympathies meet us ; For very low we're brought. 9 Us, God of our salvation, help, 9 For thy name's glory 'now;* And for thy name's sake rescue us, And our sins cover" thou. 10 Why should the heathen say, ' "Wliere's their 10 Be vengeance in our view [God?' Known 'mong the heathen,™ for the shed Blood of thy servants 'true.*^ ' See the varia- tions on this verse in Jer. X. 25. "Lev. sxvi. 45." 11 Come® in before thy presence, 'Lord," ] 1 O let the prisoner's sigh : After the greatness of thine arm, Reserve those doomed to die." 12 And to our neighbours, their reproach 12 Into their liosom pay Thou sev'nfold back, with which, Lord, Eeproached thee have they. ' The heathen are come into thine inherit- ance ; let the sigh of the prisoner come into thy pre- sence. ' the sons of death. 13 And we thy people, and the sheep Of thine own pasturage. Will thank thee evermore, and tell Thy praise to age and age. 13 PSALM LXXX. By the Chief Musician, concerninf? the Lilies of the Testimony, liy Asaph, a Psalm. 1 Shepherd of Israel ! give ear. Thou that dost Joseph guide Like as a Hock ; do thou shine forth,'" O thou that dost abide 'Enthroned'' between the cherubim, Before the face of Ephraim, Before the face' of Benjamin, Manasseh's face before : I cf. Ps. 1.x. 1, title, Ixix. 1. cf. rs. 1. 2. and. PSALM LXXX. 207 Wake up thy might, ° to save us' come : O God, do us restore ; And make thy face to shine 'again :* And we shall be deliver'd' 'then.* " and. o ' for salvation God,' Jehovah,* Sabaoth, How long against the pray'r Of thine own people wilt thou smoke ? Thou tear-bread mak'st their fare ; ' And makest them to drink of tears A measureful, 'with many fears. *" Thou to our neighbours makest us A thing contended for ; ^ " Our foes at us make sport : do us, God Sabaoth, restore ; And make thy face to shine 'again :" And we shall be deliver'd^ 'then.^ 5 ' feedest them with. ° See Ges. Lex. 7 " and. A vine from Egypt thou didst fetch ; "^ 8 ■■Ps.lxxviii.26. Didst drive the nations out, And plant it: thou didst 'room" prepare 9 Before it 'round about ;'^ And down it struck its roots 'with strength," And fill the land it did 'at length.'' The 'very'' movmtains covered o'er 10 Were with its shadow 'broad;* And 'covered" with its branches were The cedar-trees of God :* Its boughs unto the sea it sent ; 1 1 Its shoots out to the river 'went." Why hast thou broke its fences down, 12 That all who pass the way* Pluck it? the boar from out the wood 13 Doth make of it a prey 5 ' And 'also" feed of it 'at will," The creature of the field doth 'still." O pray,® God Sabaoth, return ; 14 Look down from heav'n : " behold, And visit this thy vine ; and what 1 5 Thy hand' did plant 'of old" Establish ; "" ev'n for the Son's sake,™ Whom for thyself thou strong didst make.'' waste it. "and. ' right hand. ' so H., D., and rightly. "' Messiah's. " i.e. invest with power as governor of all. 208 PSALM LXXXI. 5 It's burnt with fire, cut down ; "" perished 16 'so H., D., AV. ; Is° at thy ftice's frown : ' ip« ^""g-' 1 1 v. G Then" let thy hand, 'LORD,* be the man 17 ' rebuke. Of thy right hand upon ; The Son® of man, whom 'all along" Thou didest for thyself make strong.^ So we will not go back from thee ; 1 8 Revive us, 'we implore,* And on thy name we'll call: O LORD 19 God Sabaoth, restore Us : make thy face to shine 'again," And we shall be deliver'd 'then." Ver. 15. Estahlish.—Sec II., D. For — 'on accomit of — a coimnou meaning of py (Ps. xxxii. 6, xliv. 22 ; Job xxxiv. 36). The Son does not here, as in Gen. xlix. 22, mean the branch or shoot of the vine, but God's own Sou (cf. ver. 17) ; yet not Israel (as H. and D. suppose), but Christ, liis only-begotteu Son (AV.) ; called also ' Son of man,' as in Ps. viii. 4 and throughout the Gospels. Ver. 10. Cut down — so H., D., W. ; but Hy. and G. translate : 'like dung, or refuse.' Perished is. — The 1 should be disjoined from nns\ and prefixed to ^■|^• Nothing could be more awkward than the abrupt change from 'it' to 'they' (in the A.v. and other translations) ; and there is no need for such a change, if this simple correction be made ; for though the word for ' vme' be fern., it is quite in accordance with Heb. usage to employ the masc. 13X\ provided the other verbs nearer to the subject are of the fern, gender (see Ges. Gr. § 144, rem. 1). PSALM LXXXI. By the Chief Musician, on the Gittith,' by Asaph. Ps. viiL title. 1 Shout to God, our strength ; aloud 1 To the God of Jacob cry ; Raise a psalm: the timbrel sound,*" 2 "■ I- 'give.' Pleasant harp and' psaltery; ' with. In the month *" the trump" be blown,' 3 ■" others, 'at In our feast-day, at full moon. l^^ |"°""-* J ' " or horn, cornet. 2 For an ordinance is this 4 '^^"^^ ^^" To 'the tribes of" Israel; To the God of Jacob 'this" Is a right" 'that's due as well ; " « Dent. xxi. 17, 'As" a testimony he 5 ''^''l: ^J ^^''- Did in Joseph it decree. XXXll. % PSALM LXXXI. 209 3 When through Egypt-land he went ; 'When* the language I did hear Of — One whom I did not know, ' I have set his shoulder clear Of 'the pressure of* the load; Passed his hands have from the hod.' 4 Thou in 'thy" distress didst call, And deliver thee did I ; In the thunder covering Unto thee I did reply ; At the streams' of Meribah, Proof of thee I sought and saw.' 5 O my people, do thou hear. And ril testify to'' thee ; Isr'el, if thou wilt me hear : In thy midst there shall not be Any strange god ; neither bow To a foreign god shalt thou. 6 I'm Jehovah, thine own God, From the land of Egypt who, 'With a high hand,* brought thee up, 'And thine enemies o'erthrew:* Open wide thy mouth, and I Fill it will 'abundantly.* 7 But my people to my voice Would not heai'ken ' on their part ; " ° Israel would none of me : Off in hardness® of their heart Them accordingly I sent ; They in their own counsels went. 8 Would my people had me heard ! Israel in m// way gone ! I had soon their en'mies crushed ; Turned my hand their foes upon : Haters of Jehovah 'then* Would to him^ have had to feigu.' 9 But for ever would their time Have continued ; and, 'beside,* With the fatness ^ of the wheat He would them*" have satisfied ; And with honey from the rock"" I would thee have fed, 'my folk.* o ' Ges. Gr. § 121, 2 (c). 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 waters. I made. "■ cf. Gen. xliii. 3, 1 Kings ii. 42, though the prep, is tram lated 'against, in Dent. viii. 19, E.v. " and. ' margin, and Ges. "■ or ' them,' the people of God ; cf. Deut. xxxii. 30. ' feigned. " according to the promise, Deut. xxxii. 14. ■■ I. him. ■"of. Deut. xxxii. 13. 210 PSALMS LXXXII. LXXXIIT. PSALM LXXXII. A Psalm by Asaph. 1 In God's as.semb]y God hath ta'en 1 His stand ;" he'll judge the gods among : •" How long will ye judge vilely wrong,' 2 And have respect to wicked men ? Selah. 2 The weak® and fatherless judge ye ; 3 Eight ye the poor and desolate ; The weak'^ and needy vindicate ; 4 Them from the wicked's hand set free. ' A.V., H., D. ' unrighteouslj'. 3 They do not know, 'nor thought do take ;'^ Of understanding they have none ; ' In darkness do they 'stilP walk on : The earth's foundations all do shake.® stand uot. 4 I've said that ye are gods, and all Of you the sons of the Most High ; But ye like common men shall die, And like one of the princes fall."^ 5 Arise thou up, O 'righteous* God ; Do thou 'thyself the earth judge 'now For have inheritance shalt thou In" all the nations 'far abroad.* Ver. 7. And like. — W. translates : And as one man,' ye princes, fall. PSALM LXXXIII. A Song, a Psalm, by Asaph. 1 O let there not be silence," God, To thee ; O be not dumb ; And quiet be not thou, O God : For, lo ! a 'mighty" hum Thine enemies 'around" have made ; And up thy haters hft 'their" head. 2 They 'gainst thy people crafty make® Their secret ' plan ; " ' and take Counsel against thy treasured*" ones. ' Come,' say they, ' let us break so H., D., A. v. *cf.Num. xviii. 20. ■■ cf. Ezra ii. 64, iii. 9 ; Ges. //ex. (7)- ' their secret. ' or ' hidden.' PSALM LXXXIII. 211 Them, that a nation they be not ; ° That Isr'el's name be clean forgot.' " 3 For they together do consult, 'With* heart 'that quite consents;' 'And" make a covenant they do Against thee ; 'ev'n" the tents Of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Of Moab and the Hagarites ; ° and. " no more re- membered. Of Gebal and of Amnion 'too,* 7 Of Amalek as well ; Philistia 'as readily," With those in Tyre that dwell : With them doth Asshur'" too unite, 8 To Lot's sons they're an arm 'of might." Selah. To them do as to Midian, 9 As unto Sisera, As unto Jabin at the vale" Of Kishon 'once, O JAH:'^ At Endor they were swept away ; 10 Become dung for the ground did they. ' probably the people of this name, men- tioned Gen. XXV. 3 ; or the tribe of Asher, called Ashiu- ites (2 Sam. ii. 9). " so H., D. ; or 'brook.' 6 As Oreb and as Zeeb make them, 1 1 — The leaders of them — 'now ; * ° As Zebah and Zalmunnah 'make" Their chieftains'" all do thou: T\Tio said, ' Let us for our abode' 12 The habitations'" seize' of God.' 7 My God, O make them as a whirl ;" 13 As chaff the wind before ; As fire the forest burns, ° as flame 14 Kindles the mountains o'er. So Avith thy storm pursue them 'all," 15 And with thy tempest them appal. " and. ■■ or anointed ones. ' selves. ' so H., D. (Ps. Ixxiv. 20) ; or pasturages. ' possess. ° and. 8 Their face with ignominy fiU, That they may seek thy name, Jehovah : s let them be ashamed. And be appalled let them To perpetuity ; and may They blush ; and perish 'quite" may they. 16 17 212 PSALM LXXXIV I) In order that it may 'by this" 'For certainty" be known," That thou — thy name Jehovah is*" — Tliou art thyself alone™ The Most High over all the earth : 'That known it well may be henceforth.' "/. 'And let people know ' (cf. Vs. cvii. 43). ■■ cf. Amos V. 8, 9. " Ex. xviii. 14. PSALM LXXXIV. By the Chief Musician, on the Gittith,, by the sons of Korah," a Psalm. David. 1 How well-beloved" thy dwellings are, 1 Jehovah Sabaoth ! For JAH'S' courts longs my soul, yea faints ; 2 Shout" to the living God 'their plaints" My heart and flesli do 'both." 2 Ev'n the sparrow finds a house ; 3 The swallow, too, a nest 'Finds" for herself, wherein she may Her young ones near® thine altars lay, " My King, my God,'" 'to rest." 3 O great's the nappiness of those 4 Within thy house who dwell ; They ever and anon*" thee bless. Selah. Chorus. O great is that man's happiness, 5 Whose strength's in thee 'as well." 4 Those, 'by" the roads' in midst *■ of them 6 The valley" passing through. May it a fount with" tears ^ have made : The Guide'' may have himself arrayed" W^ith soft demeanour,' too. 5 'Nevertheless," from might'^ shall they 7 Go forward unto might ; ^ He* shall before God 'yet" appear, 'Unto Jehovah shall draw near" In Zion, 'his own height." Written on the outbreali of Absa- lom's rebellion, as David loolied back from Olivet on tlie sanctuary he was leaviiiK behind. » Vs. viii. title. " Ps. iv. intro- duction. " as in Isa. V. 1 ; not ' lovely.' ' Jehovah's. ' as in 1 Kings ix. 26; 1 Sara, vii. 16 ; Job ii. 13. " Jehovah Sabaoth. ■" but I must flee afar from it. ■■ or ' again and again ' (CJen. xlvi. 29 ; Kuth i. 14 : see Ges. Lex.). ' I. highroads. ' I. heart (cf. Ps. xlvi. 2). " of Kidron. ' ' weeping ' (2 Sam. XV. 23). ' David. "■ or ' covered : ' its invariable meaning (P.i. civ. 2, cix. 29). ' I. softnesses. " David. DnvirJ. G O LORD God Sabaoth, my pray'r Hear; Jacob's God, list 'now." Chorus. Our Shield"^ behold ; and look upon The face of thine Anointed One,*" O 'living" God, do thou.' Selah. ■■ i.e. David himself. PSALM LXXXIV. 213 David. 7 For better thaa a thousand is 10 A day thy courts within : I'd rather at the threshold wait^ ° not 'be door- In my God's house, than I'd locate"* ^Theterm in Myself in tents of sin.' o. is of very rare use. ' wickedness. 8 For God Jehovah is a Sun, 11 And is a Shield ; he'll grace And glory give : Jehovah back Will not keep good from those who walk 'With him"' in uprightness. Chorus, y O great is that man's happiness, 12 Jehovah Sabaoth, Who placeth confidence in thee ; 'And in the hour of jeopardy Trust stedfastly who doth." Ver. 3. Nec^\ — The prep, frequently means so: exx. 1 Kings ix. 26, 1 Sam. vil. 16, ' at ; ' Job ii. 13, ' with.' The translation often proposed, ' Thine altai-s 'for me,*' is totally inadmissible. Ver. 6. By the roads — I. highroads or highways— the same word as in Isa. Ixii. 10 ; of. Ps. Ixviii. 4, margin. The prep. ' by ' is often left out in such cases (Ps. Ixxxix. 41 ; Num. xiv. 25, xxi. 4 ; Deut. i. 2, 40). Midst — a frequent acceptation of the word ' heart' (Ps. xlv. 5, xlvi. 2). Passing througli — or ' passing over,' — the word so frequently employed in the historical accoimt of this incident (2 Sam. xv. 22, 23). With tears — /. 'with weeping' (2 Sam. xv. 23, 30); not, 'of Baca,' as univer- sally rendered. The prep., as in preceding clause, is left out (cf. Ps. xvii. 13). Those. — The reference is to the people pouring out of Jerusalem by aU the gates, and aU the different roads, leading to ' the valley' of Kidron, and ' toward the way of the wilderness.' For we are told (2 Sam. xv. 14), ' David said unto all his servants that were with him, . . . Flee.' So the king (ver. 17) and Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him (ver. 22) ; and aU the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over the brook Kidron . . . And David went up by the ascent of Ohvet, and wept (ver. 30). Every one of the roads would be thronged with people coming by the nearest route to the place of rendezvous, and weeping as they left their homes, and crossed the valley of Jehoshaphat, fleeing for their lives. The rendering of this clause in the A.v. and other translations conveys no mtelli- gible sense ; and the same may be said in reference to the clause that follows. Guide. — This is the hteral meaning of the Heb. term, coming as it does from the verb ' to show the way,' ' to direct ' (Ps. xxv. 12). The person meant is David himself — the guide and leader who du*ected all the movements on that sorrowful day. Arrayed or ' covered ' hmiself — the invariable meaning of the Heb. term ; not ' to fill,' as m A.v. With soft demeanour. — Some translate, as A.v., ' pools ;' others, as H., D., W., 214 PSALM LXXXV. ' blessings.' Both renderings are wide of the mark. 2 is here a preposition, and 0131 I- means ' softnesses.' It occurs in Job xli. 3, and is rendered ' soft words.' Here it refers to David's soft words and gentle demeanour imder Absalom's treachery, and Shimei's shameful treatment of him. According to the common interpretations of the 6th and 7th verses, there seems no pertinency in the statement of the 5th verse, ' Blessed is the man whose strength is in tliee ; ' for that strength is represented as domg notliuig for him. And yet that clause was evidently intended to be emphatic ; for we find it repeated in almost identically the same words in the last verse. In the transla- tion here offered, the pertinency and force of that clause are seen at once. For however dispirited David and his adlierents might be, God would show himself strong in their behalf, would turn the tide of battle in their favoiu-, and bring David asraiu to Jerusalem and Zion. PSALM LXXXV. By the Chief Musician, by the sons of Korah, a Psahu. 1 Thou pleasure taken hast,® Jehovah, in thy land ;"■ Jacob's captivity Turned back® 'with outstretched hand." Probably written on occasion of the three yeais' famine for the ^Gibeonitcs (2 Sam. xxi. 1-14). ' i.e. in fonner days. 2 Thou taken hast away"" Thy people's trespasses ; ^ Hast cover'd all their sin,' 'And their iniquities :" Selah. 3 Thine indignation all Hast ' also " gathered in : ® Thou back hast turu'd^ the heat Of thy displeasure 'keen." ' or 'forgiven.' ' iniquity. ' of which they were guilty in tlie time of Absalom and Sheba. 4 Turn us back,^ O thou God Of our salvation 'now ;* And thine offence at us, O lay aside do thou. 5 O, wilt thou angry be For evermore 'gainst us ? Wilt thou to age and age® Draw out thine anger ' thus ? ' G O wilt not thou turn back ?* Wilt thou not us restore ?' That so thy people may Be glad in thee 'once more." " Tho famine continued for three years ; and each would seem an age. PSALM LXXXY. 215 7 Jehovah, unto us Do thou thy mercy show ; And thy salvation, 'Lord,* Do thou on us bestow. 8 I 'now* will hear what God Jehovah is to speak ; '' For sure he will speak peace Unto his people 'meek," 9 And to his holy ones,* 'In his exceeding grace :* And let them not turn back'^ Again to foolishness. 10 Sure his salvation 'now* For those is near at hand Who fear him ; that Glory May dwell within our land. ' ' David in- quired of Jehovah ' (2 Sam. xsi. 1). saints. 11 Mercy and truth '' are 'now* Together met ' anew ; * 'While" righteousness and peace Kiss one another'"'^ 'too." 12 Truth, 'like a rising shoot," Shall spring from out of earth ; And down from out of heaven Shall righteousness look forth. 13 Jehovah what is good Shall also give 'us then :" And give its increase shall Our land^ 'to us again." 14 'Moreover," righteousness Shall go before his face ; And to the way*^ its steps Shall 'presently" address." 10 ■■ God's mercy and Israel's truth ; ' for the children of Israel had sworn to the Gibeonites.' '■■' Now that satisfaction was given, ' atonement ' made, for Saul's offence in slaying the Gibeonites, God might righteously grant 7jeace to the land. ' 'And after that God was entreated for the laud ' (2 Sam. xxi. 14). " or ' apply,' as translated Ps. ix. 20. Ver. 13. Righteousness — not 'deliverance' (W.), wliich it never means; but ' the righteousness of God,' so much spoken of both in the o.t. and the N, To the icay — i.e. shall forthAvith commence its march. The rendering here proposed is strictly literal. Neither of the interpretations suggested by D. suits the context, nor is recommended by its simplicity. Equally at fault are those of H. and W. 11 12 13 216 PSALM LXXXYT. PSALM LXXXVI. ■ A Prayer, by David ' 1 Jehovah, O incUne thine ear ; Do thou to me reply, For I am poor and needy ;•■ keep My soul, for kind" was I/ 2 O thou, my God, thy servant save That doth in thee confide : Be gracious. Lord, to me, for I All day to thee have cried. 3 The soul of thine own servant 'now O gladden thou 'ancAV ;^ For imto thee lift up my soul, O Lord 'my God," I do. 4 For good thou and forgiving art, O Lord ; and unto all Thou rich in loving-kindness art, Wlao do upon thee call. 5 Jehovah, list to ?«y requests ; To 77iy pray'r's voice attend : In trouble's day' I call on thee, For thou reply *■ dost send. 6 Nothing, O Lord, like unto thee Among the gods there is ; And nothing is there Hke 'at all* To thy performances. ' Probably for safety in his ad- venture at the trench (1 Sam. xxvi. 5). It would thus follow r.s. cxL, and be followed by Ps. Iviii., which con- tains his 'curse' on his relentless pursuers, to escape whom he had to retire to Gath. ' cf. Ps. cxl. 12. " not ' holy ' or 'pious,' which it does not mean ; but ' kind/ ' merci- ful' (see Ps. cxlv. 17, u., ■where D. renders it so). ' in saving Saul's life before in the ' in the day of my trouble. 7 All nations whom thou mad'st shall come, 9 Lord,* and before thee bow, And praise' thy name : for great thou art, 10 And wonders doest tliou. glorify. 8 Thou, 'even thoia," art God alone ; Thy way, LORD, show me 'clear I in thy truth will walk ; unite My heart thy name to fear. 11 9 O Lord my God, with all my heart Thee will 1 'now" adore :' 12 thank. PSALM LXXXVII. 217 And I will glorify thy name For 'ever,* evermore. 10 For great 'at all times* towards me Thy loving-kindness is ; And thou hast freed my soul from out The lowermost abyss. 110 God/ the proud against me rise ; °My soul tK assemhly 'base* Of formidable® men seek for ; Nor thee before them place. 12 But^ thou, O Lord, 'thou* art a God Gracious and merciful, Long-suffering; and 'art* of truth* And lovin 2; -kindness® full. 13 14 ■■ This verse is nearly word for word the same as Ps. liv. 4. The italics mark the variations. ■' This verse is word for word the same as Ex. xxxiv. 6. ■ 'goodness' in Ex. (A.V.) is apt to convey the sense of ' excellence ' instead of ' mercy.' ^ be gracious to me. " and. ■■ not ' of thy truth,' as some translate. " i.e. accom- plish with me something that shall serve as a sign or evidence to them that thou art with me. His pi-ayer was granted in ' the deep sleep from Jehovah ' that fell on Saul and all his men (1 Sam. xxvi. 12). ■■ Saul did see, and was greatly ashamed, and said, 'Behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly ' (ver. 21). 13 O do thou turn thee unto me, And pity on me have : ^ Tliy servant give thy strength ; Of thy handmaiden'' save. the son 14 Perform® a sign with^ me" for good ; That so those may behold Who hate me, and be shamed,"" that thou Hast me helped and consoled. 15 16 17 PSALM LXXXVII. This is a very difficult Psalm, by universal confession ; and tliougli our translators had given a half of it in the Heb. text, it would have been scarcely less intelligible than it is in their version. The translation here offered brings out a connected and most beautiful sense, without the slightest violence to the originab Argument: — 1. The Psalmist opens by declaring God's love for Zion, ver. 2: IT. This love shovra in the glorious things he has to announce regarding her; (1) to herself, ver. 3 ; and (2) to the nations, ver. 4 : III. All that hear shall spread the glorious tidings, ver. 5: IV. God himself shall write them in an enduring record, ver. 6 : V. And all who hear or read them shall rejoice with ecstasy over them, ver. 7. 218 PSALM LXXXVII. By the sons of Korali,' a Psalm, a Song, its theme' about' the holy mountains.i 1 Zion's gates the LORD doth love, Jacob's dwellings all above. Speaking glorious things is he, O city of God, of thee. Selah. ' In remembrance"" I'll 'anon" Rahab put, and Babylon ; Touching him who doth me know.*" Lo ! Philistia, ° Tyre, and lo !' Ethiopia, THIS ONE there was born.' ' Ps. Iv. introduc- tion. ' /. foundation or basis. r cf. Lev. vi. 8 ; Job xxvi. 14; Jcr. xxxviii. 24. " Ps. cxxxlii. 1. ' cf. Isa. xliii. 26. *■ Ps. xci. 14. " and. ' /. with. ' cf. Ts. lix. 16, Ixxxix. 1. 2 And of '^ Zion shall aver ' 5 ' touching. Each one,"" PIE was born in her : , cf' Lev xvii And establish her he shall, 10, 13 ; Esther 'He,'' the Most High 'over all" - ^- ^• When the peoples down the LORD 6 Writeth, he shall 'then" record THIS ONE there was born 'indeed." Selah. And they all shall singing® be, As 'with" pipes'' of my Fountain in thee. Ver. 1. Its theme — I. its foundation or basis, the subject of it, is ' about the holy moimtains,' called ' the Mountains of Zion' (Ps. cxxxiii. 1). I agree with W., that inTlD'' should be considered as being part of the title. To suppose it part of the Psahn, and to translate, ' his foimdation,' is to leave tlie pronomi ' his' without any antecedent, — a thing unexampled in the Psalms. About — a common signification of 2 (cf. ver. 3 ; Lev. vi. 3 ; Deut. vi. 7 ; Job xxvi. 14 ; Jer. xxxviii. 24). Ver. 3. Speaking. — I regard the Heb. term as being the partic. Piel, not Pual. Ver. 4. In rememhrance . . . put — as in Isa. xliii. 26. Touching — ' concerning' — a frequent meaning of 7 (cf. ver. 5 ; Ps. iii. 2 ; Gen. XX. 13 ; Job ix. 19). Him who doth me know — I. ' my knower.' !Most commentators consider the Heb. term to be in the pi. ; it may be equally well in the sing., which gives excellent sense, and explams the use of the succeeding term, ' This One,' and why so much unportance is attached to his bu-th. The same description of Christ we find in Ps. xci. 14, xxii. 22 ; Matt. xi. 27 ; John vii. 28, 29. ' No man hath seen God at any time ; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared liim' (John i. 18). Hence the celebration of his birth in the lofty strains of this Psalm. Rahab — i.e. Egypt. It is noteworthy that aU the countries here mentioned were the first advertised of Clu'Lst's birth : the wise men of the east from ' Babylon ;' the flight into ' Egypt ;' ' Philistia,' a part of Judea in the time of Christ ; the Syrophoenician woman, and earlier multitudes from the coasts of 'Tyre' (Mark iii. 8, vii. 24); the ' Ethiopian' eimuch (Acts viii. 27). Ver. 5. Each one. — So tlie term is rendered, Lev. xvii. 10, 13, Esth. i. 8, and by many interpreters here. .S7/((// sai/ — the /. ivudering of the Heb. word. PSALM LXXXVIII. 219 He — the personage referred to in the previous verse. Shall establish her. — Christ is the King of Zion, and shall defend and extend her ; and the gates of hell shall not prevail agamst her (Isa. liv. 17) ; for he is The Most High — 'the mighty God' (Isa. ix. 6), 'over all, God blessed for ever' (Rom. ix. 5), 'the Almighty' (Rev. i. 8). Ver. 7. They all. — I disjoin o from ''J''J??D, and annex it to PD, and translate : ' And singing shall be all of them' (of. a parallel ex., Deut. xxix. 10). Of my fountain — ''j''];. The verb 'to sing' in such cases dispenses with the prep. (cf. Ps. ILx. 16, Ixxxix. 1). This rendering seems preferable to that of D., 'singing, My fountain is in thee.' py, equally with pj?J3, signifies 'a fountain' (Gen. xvi. 7, xlix. 22 ; Prov. vih. 28). Under the figure of a fountain Christ is elsewhere represented (Joel iii. 18 ; Zech. xiii. 1). As iclth pipes — tl'hhPi- The word for 'pipes' occurs in 1 Kings i. 40, and is so translated in the A. v. ; as also in Isa. v. 12, xxx. 29, but in the sing, there. The A.v. and others render it ' players,' ' pipers,' as if it were the participle and not a noun ; but in that case it should be D'^^irtO, as in 1 Kings i. 40, being in Piel. The liighest manifestation of joy was made in this fashion (see Isa. xxx. 29). The prep, 'with' is often left out before the instrmnent (Ps. xvii. 13), and not less so when a D precedes (cf. Ps. Ixiii. 6, Ixxviii. 15 ; Job xli. 5, 20 ; Zech. x. 7). PSALM LXXXVIII. A Song, a Psalin, by the sons of Korah, by the Chief Musician, on the disease to aiflict,' Instructive, by Heraan the Ezrahite." 1 O Jehovah 'Sabaoth," God of my salvation, I In the day-time cry aloud ; ' In the night before thee 'cry.* ■■ i.e. for the pur- pose of afflicting: evidently Messianic. " Ps. iv. intro- duction. 2 Let my pray'r before tliee^ come ; To my shout" incline tliine ear: For my soul is full of ills ; ^ To the grave my life draws near. ' to thy presence. 3 I accounted am with those, Who unto the pit go down ; I am like unto a man Destitute of vigour grown. 4 I'm among the dead, the freed ; '^ Like the pierced, lodged in the tomb ; Whom thou ne'er rememb'rest more, ° Who thy hand are sever'd from.® 5 Me in lowest pit thou sett'st, In dark places, in dec]> caves : ■■ by the hand of death. " and. ^ i.e. from thy protecting hand (II.). 220 PSALM LXXXVIII. On me rests thy wrath ; and me 7 Thou afflict'st^ with all thy waves.' Selah. () Mine acquaintance far from me 8 Thou dost put ; thou me hast set An al)horrence unto them : I'm shut up, nor forth can get. 7 With' affliction^ doth mine eye 9 Pine away; I have beseeched' Thee, Jehovah, ev'ry day;"" I to thee my hands have reached. 8 Wilt thou wonders, 'O my God," lU For the dead eifectuate ? Shall deceased'" ones rise up ? Shall they thank 'and praise" thee 'yet?'' Selah. breakers. ' by reason of. ' called upou. ' Ps. vii. 12' (Ges. Gr. § 109, 1). Isa. xxvi. 14. U Shall thy loving-kindness, 'Lord," In the sepulchre^ be told ? Shall thy faithfulness 'and truth* In destruction 'be extolled?" 11 tomb. 10 Shall thy righteousness,* '0 God," In the darkness '^ 'e'er" be known ? And thy wonders* in the land Of fororetfulness 'be shown?" 12 1 1 Therefore unto thee have I, O Jehovah, called*^ aloud : In the morning, too, my pray'r Shall precede^ thee, 'O my God.*^ 13 ^ cried. 12 Why cast off my soul dost thou, O Jehovah ? 'why" from me Hide thy face ? Afflicted « I'm, And expiring 'soon will be." 14 15 13 I've from youthP thy terrors borne ; I distracted shall become : Over me thy fiiries pass ; By thy horrors I'm struck dumb.' 14 Like luito the water -floods,' Compass me alxuit do they : IG /. silcuced. waters. PSALM LXXXIX. 221 They together me enclose ; 'They beset me" all the dnj^ 15 Lover and 'familiar" friend, Mine acquaintance 'round about," To a distance from me 'now,* By' the darkness* thou hast put. 18 ' 'by reason of,' as in ver. 9. Ver. 18. By the darkness — "jtiTlO- D is the prep., here meaning 'by reason of,' 'on accoimt of,' as in ver. 9 ; and "^j^TI is the same word for ' darkness' as is foimd ver. 9. It refers to the darkness that brooded over the close of the Redeemer's life, on the descent of which all the disciples forsook him and fled. The translation of H. and D. has ahnost a touch of grotesqueness in it. PSALM LXXXIX. Instructive, by Ethan the Ezrahite., I'll sing for evermore The mercies of the LORD : To age and age I'll with my moiith Thy faithfulness record. For mercy, I have said, Shall evermore be built : The heav'ns establish, 'and^ in them Thy faithfulness thou wilt."^ I with my chosen one A covenant have made ; Unto my servant David, I Have made an oath,' 'and said :" ' I, ev'n^ for evermore. Establish •will thy seed ; And biald thy throne to age and age* I will 'in very deed."' Selah. Then let the heav'ns, O LOED, Thy wondrous deeds confess ; And in th' assembly, holy ones 'Confess" thy faithfulness.™ For what one in the sky May "\vith Jehovah 'once" Compare ? who's like Jehovah, Among the mighty's sons ? Ps. iv. intro- duction. ■who' ■» I find Hy. notes this as a rendering that bad been pro- posed. It had previously occurred to myself. 999 PSALM LXXXIX. — A God"" miicli had in awe In private gathering" Of holy ones ;^ and dread* o'er all Him round encompassing. ' so D. ; but n.: 'God is Jehovah, God of hosts, Who is like thee 'at all ?'^ The strong one, JAH;"" and round thee is Thy faithfulness 'withal.'' ■^ different from Ps. Ixxx. 4. ■• See Ps. xi. 9 The swelling of the sea 'Tis thou that rul'st ; and when The waves are lifted up, 'tis thou That stillest them 'asain." 10 'Twas thou*" that Rahab^*" brok'st Like one pierced through ■" that is ; That didest with thine arm of strength Disperse thine enemies. 10 ■■ ' thou ' is emphatic in the o. " i.e. Egypt. 'Ps. lxxxviii.5. 11 The heav'ns belong to thee ; To thee the earth 'and seas:* The world and fulness of it, thou' It was that foundedst these. 11 ■ emphatic in o . 12 The north and south, 'twas thou' That didest'^them create : Tabor and Hermon in thy name Rejoice "■ 'with gladness great." 1 2 ■■ emphatic iu o. I. shout. 13 There unto thee belongs An arm with might 'replete;* Strong^ is thine arm, and thy right hand. Exalted 'hio-h"^ is it. 13 14 Judgment* and righteousness,* 14 '0 LORD,^ are of thy throne The basis ; ^ ' while " mercy and truth Before thy face pass*" on. 15 Happy the people are, 15 The joyful sound that know ! They, O Jehovah, in the light Of thy face on shall go.*^ ' establish- ment (.') (cf. Prov. xvi. 12, XXV. 5). "■ different from the word in Ps. Ixxxv. 13. PSALM LXXXIX. 223 16 In thy name they shall be Exultmg all the day ; And in thy righteousness be 'all' Exalted 'high'' shall they. 16 19 20 For of their strength thou art 17 The splendour 'and the praise ;^ And thou, in thy good pleasure,"" dost Our horn exalted raise : ^ When"" our 'protecting* Shield '"'' 18 The side of God's upon ; And 'when" our King is on the side" Of Isr'el's Holy One. Then spok'st thou to thy saint "^ 19 In vision ; ° said'st, I've placed Help on a strong^ one ; from the folk A chosen one I've raised.^ David my servant found 20 I have ; 'and'' him have I Anointed with my holy oil : With whom ' unalt'rably " 21 ■■ And dost in thy com- placency, i.e. when thou art well pleased with us : cf . Ps. cvi. 4. ' cf. Ps. V. 2, cxlix. 4. " i.e. our niler (cf. Ps. Ixxxiv. 9). " cf. Ps. cxviii. 6, cxxiv. 1 ; Ex. xxxii. 26 (see Ps. xlvii. 9, n. ; in fulfil- ment of Deut. xxxii. 30). ^ David him- self, so called Ps. iv. 3.' " and. ' exalted. 21 My hand shall stablished be ; " Him strengthen shall mine arm : 'And" him the foe shall not beguile,® 22 Nor son of mischief harm. 22 And from before him^ I'll 23 Beat down his en'mies 'quite ;'' And those that hatred bear to him, I them with plagues will smite. 23 ° With him my faithfulness 24 And mercy 'still" shall be; And be exalted shall his horn In my name 'gloriously." 24 His hand upon the sea, 25 Moreover, I will set ; And out upon the rivers I Will stretch his right hand 'yet." ° also. « Gen. iii. 13 ;' I. 'cause to err,' ordinarily rendered 'de- ceive ' (2 Kings xviii. 29 ; Jer. iv. 10); never but here, ' exact on.' Evident refer- ence to first Adam. The foe tried hard in the 40 days' temptation to beguile the ' last Adam,' but in vain. ° and. 224 PSALM LXXXIX. 25 lie unto me shall cry, 'My Father, thou, my God And rock of my salvation art : ' 'Thus he shall cry aloud." '2& 26 And as for ine^ I him For First-born will set forth ; The Most High over all the kings 'And potentates* of earth. 27 27 My mercy I'll for him For evermore secure ; And vinto him my covenant Shall stedfast be, 'and sure.' 28 28 I also will his seed To everlasting 'ev'n* Set up 'before me ;" and his throne Like to the days of heav'n. 29 29 If his sons quit' my law, 30 ' forsake. And from my judgments swerve ; ' ' walk not in. If they my statutes shall profane," 31 Nor my commands observe. 30 Then with a rod their faults' I visit will 'betimes;"' And their iniquity with stripes, 'With chastisement their crimes." 32 ' transgression. 31 But from off him will I My mercy not remove ; Neither unto my faithfulness False Avill I 'ever" prove. 33 32 I mine own covenant Will not profane ; ^ and what From out my lips proceeded hath, I will not alter 'that."" 34 33 Once by my holiness I ' with an oath " have sworn, ' If' unto David I shall he, 'Or from my purpose turn." 35 PSALM LXXXIX. 225 34 ' His seed continue shall' 36 ' shall be. For 'ever,"' evermore ; And like unto the sun his throne 'My presence be" before. 35 ' Established like the moon 37 It evermore shall be ; And 'like* the witness in the cloud, Faithful 'continually."' Selah. 36 But thou hast 'now" cast off; 38 But thou hast 'now" abhorred : Thou hast with thine Anointed One*" ■• David him- Been furious,'' '0 LORD." ^e"- 37 Thy servant's covenant 39 Thou 'quite" hast overthrown • 'Even" unto the 'very" ground Thou hast profaned® his crown. 38 Thou down 'indignantly" 40 Hast all his hedges cast ; 'And" his defenced places thou Brousrht to destruction hast. 39 A spoil of him make all 41 The passers by the way : *" ■• cf. Ps. Unto his neighbours a reproach ^^• Is he become, 'and prey." 40 'And" thou exalted^ hast 42 The right hand of his foes : * His adversaries,* 'every one," Hast gladdened 'by his woes." 41 Moreover, thou hast turned 43 Back the edge of his sword ; And in the battle thou hast not Caiised him to stand, 'O LORD ;" 42 But* made his brightness'' cease, 44 ' thou hast. " His throne hurl'd to the ground ; ° ^t^^- Hast of his youth the days cut short, 45 With shame hast wrapp'd him round. Selah. P 226 PSALM XC. 4.3 How long, O LORD? e wilt thou 40 Thyself for ever hide ? O, shall thine indignation burn Like fire, 'and ne'er subside V" 44 Do thou remember 'what 47 A lifetime I have had ; " To what an emptiness'" thoii all The sons of men hast made ! " 45 What man is he that lives, 48 And never seeth death ? Out of the hand of Hades,'"'" 'who" His soul delivereth ? Selah. 46 Thy former mercies. Lord, 49 Which unto David thou Didst 'once" swear in thy faithfulness, O where, 'Lord," are they 'now?" 47 Remember the reproach 50 Of thine own servants 'true," O Lord ; in mine own bosom bear The Avhole' 'of it" I do. 48 ]\Iany the people? who 51 Reproach ; thy foes they are : The steps of thine Anointed One'"'" Reproach, O LORD,* who 'dare?" O blessed be Jehovah, 'then," 52 For ever. Amen and amen. " what = what sort of (cf. Num. xiii. 18, 19; Josh. xxii. IG; Jobvi. 11; 1 Kings ix. 13 ; Isa. xxxvi. 4) : lifetime or age, as in Vs. xxxix. 5 ; not 'How fleeting I am,' as ahvaj'.s inter- preted ; but, ' Wliat a troubled life I have had — fleeinoj from Saul.Vighting with foreign foes, a fugitive from my son.' "■ s"i! is not = S"™''5, ' in vain,' but the noun 'emptiness,' ' 'notliingnesS;' and the mean- ing of tlie Psalmi.st, 'To wliat a poor, worthless, unsatisfactory existence thou hast created all mankind!' hy, ' to ' or ' unto ' (cf. Ps. xlviii. 14, margin). '■'' the unseen world. ■■ cf. Gen. xvi. 12. " David him- self. PSALM XC. A Prayer,^ Moses, the man of God.' Lord, thou a dwelling-place for us In age and age® hast been ; Before the mountains were brought forth. And thou begotten'' hadst the earth And world, 'with all therein," Ev'n from everlasting, thou Art God, to everlasting 'too." ' Written toWards the close of Israers wander- hiffs. The wail of tlic vilderncss rings through it all. •^ Deut. xxxii. 18 ;' Job xxxviii. 28. PSALM XC. 227 ■ Thou turnest man back, till he down 3 Is broken," and dost say, Eetiirn, ye sons of Adam's 'race ;* For 'of a thousand years 'the space" 4 With thee's' like yesterday, When it hath passed ; or 'in thy sight* 'Is like'' unto a watch by night. Away thou sweep'st them with a flood ; *■ 5 Become a sleep do they :" They in the morn resemble do The grass, that's flourishing anew,*^ Which in the morning 'ray'' 6 Is thriving on and flourishing. At eve's cut down and withering. For in thine anger we're consumed, 7 And in thy rage dismayed : Thou sett'st our sins ' before thy sight ; 8 Our hidden ones before® the light Of thine own face 'arrayed : '^ For mid thine ire' our days all end ; 9 Our years we like a mourning" spend. The 'whole" days of our years — in them^ 10 Are threescore years and ten : And if, through vig'rousness, fourscore,*' Yet woe and wickedness"^ press sore" Upon them ; for 'amain'* The mowing do^vn is hasting on," And fly away must we 'full soon." Who knows thine anger's strength ? that*" as 11 Thy fear is, so's thine ire ? ^ O do thou therefore make 'us" know 12 To count oiu^ days up, that we so A wise heart may acquire."" Return, O LORD, how long? do thou 13 Repent thee for thy servants 'now." 7 O, in the morning*' satisfy Us 'early" with thy grace : That so we joyfully may shout. And glad be all our days throughout. Gladden us like the days. That thou hast us afflicting been. The years that we have evil seen. 14 15 in thy sight. ■■ so quickly and univer- sally they fell in the wilderness. " so D. (cf. Jer. li. 39). " so D. iniquities. fury. " years. '■ See Ps. V. 6, n. ' as in vers. 12 and 14 (see Ps. V. 11, n). ' so Ges , D., H. 228 PSALM XC. 8 Shown' to thy servants be thy work, IG ' /. seen. Thy grandeur' on their seed:'' ' majesty. The beauty of the LORD our God " s»««- Be also on us 'shed abroad :'' Stablish on us, 'we plead," 'J'he doing of our hands ; yea, what Our hands are doing,' stablish that. > the doing of our bauds. Ver. 9. Mid thine ire — I. all our days pass away in thy fury, i.e. beneath thy frown. The Israelites were then in a state of rejection. Like a 7nounting. — So the Avord is rendered in the well-known Ime in Ezek. ii. 10. It properly means the sounds of grief, the moans, the outcries beard on such occasions : hence we find it applied to the rumbling of thunder (Job xxxvii. 2). There is no proof that it ever signifies ' meditation,' ' thought,' ' tale ;' nor would these meanings be suitable, though it did. What Moses means to say is, that they spent the period of their rejection like a time of moirrning — in moans, and murnuirs, and loud laments. They knew they were cast off by God, and would all perish where they were, without ever seeing the good land that had been promLsed them. The reference is not, as invariably supposed, to the brevity of human life ; but to the misery of then- wilderness life — so aimless, hopeless, weai'isome — as the preceding context might have shown. For thus the context runs : Thou settest up our iniquities before thee ; for our whole life flows on amidst the tokens of thy displeasm-e : we are, as it were, in a state of public moiii-ning from year to year. For a parallel case, cf. Ex. xxxiii. 4, 5. Ver. 10. Woe and ^vickedness — the meaning which the two Heb. words, so often found conjoined, bear wherever else they occur together (see Ps. v. 5) ; only necessity, therefore, could justify a departure from it here. Press upon them. — I take D3n"l to be the verb, and not the noun, as interpre- ters universally suppose it to be — some renderiug it 'their strength,' 'their pomp;' others, ' their prolongation,' as if it were Dim ', though, if it were a noun, its true rendermg would be, 'their pride, or fierceness.' The verb properly signifies, ' to be fierce, to bear one's self proudly ; ' and it does not require a prep, after it, but may be followed by the bare ace. , as in Prov. vi. 3 : ' ^lake sure of thy friend,' I. ' Press huu hard, be importunate with, him.' So here, ' woe and wickedness bear hard upon them, press them sore ;' i.e. ovu" years are but few at best — 70, or at most 80 ; but suffering and sin press heavily upon them, deprive them of much of the worth they would otherwise possess, blight them. To a certain extent this is true of himaan life under all circumstances ; but how eminently true was it of the wUderness Ufe of Closes and his contemporaries ! ' Woe and wickedness ' largely characterized the period preceding the final rejec- tion ; and we may be very sure still more characterized the dreary, weary period that succeeded it, when hope was quite extinct, and aU the elements of misery were in active operation ; when the cm'se of Heaven was resting upon them, and the sword of Heaven mowing them down. For — the proof of what he has just said. Their rapid fall impressively pro- claimed their guilt, and at the same time greatly aggravated their misery. The mowing (hum. — ti. I apprehend, is not a verb here, but a noun signifying PSALM XCI. 229 properly, ' a shearing, a mowing ; ' and by meton. ' the thing shorn or mown,' such as 'a fleece' (Deut. xviii. 4), 'a mown meadow' (Ps. Ixxii. 6). The existence of such a verb as fiJ, ' to pass away ' (Ges., D.), admits of doubt. The mowing referred to is the execution upon them of the divine sentence, ' But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness' (Num. xiv. 32). Hunting 07). — l^T[, as in Ps. Ixxi. 12, instead of the commoner form ti^in, is the inf., but here used for the thii'd per. sing, after the nom. 'mowing;' for the inf. abs. is not only often used for the finite verb, but also occasionally for the finite verb with the subject : cf. Deut. xv. 2 ; Ezek. i. 14 ; Ps. xvii. 5, n (see Ges. Gr. § 128, 4, rem. 1 ; and for fiu-ther exx. Ew. Gr. § 328, b). The verb Moses here employs m his prayer, is the very one he also employs in his song (Deut. xxxii. 35). PSALM xcr. Psahiiist's 1 In covert of the Most High 'God" \st address: Let him that sitteth make abode his counsel In the Almighty's shade : to the 'Still" of Jehovah saying 'this," Messiah. " My refuge, ° fort, my God he is ; In him I'll trvist' 'for aid."" For*^ from the fowler's snare — he 'thence' Shall save thee ; from the pestilence That work destructions doth : ' Shall with his feathers cover thee ; Thou 'neath his wings shalt refuged® be : Buckler* and shield's his truth. Not dread the terrors of the night. The arrow that by day hath flight, Shalt thou ; nor shalt thou fear The pestilence in dark that walks, Nor the infection'^ 'forth that stalks' To waste at noon-tide 'clear." Probably by Moses, like the last. It is Messianic. " aud. ' take refuge (cf. Ps. xviii. 2''). •■ By translat- ing as above, 13 gets its usual signiii- cation, and tliere is no change of speakers, as in A.v. ' /. of destruc- tions (Ps. v. i)). Fall at thy side a thousand, 'yea," At thy right hand a myriad, may ; It shall not reach to thee : Thou only with thine eyes shalt view ; And thou the retribution 'due" Of wicked men shalt see. 230 PSALM XCll. Psahm'sfs 5 Because 'the Lord" JehoA'ah 'now," 9 2d address: My refuge, 'ev'n* the Most High, thou ivhen that Thy dwelling-place hast made ; counsel There shall no evil thee befall, 10 is taken. Neither thy tabernacle shall The plague come to invade." ' /. come near. 6 For charge, with reference to thee, Unto his angels give shall he, That thee they keep 'with care" In all thy ways : they, lest a stone Thou shouldest strike thy foot upon, Shall on their hands thee bear. 11 12 Thou shalt upon the lion fell,"" Upon the adder shalt as well 'Victoriously" tread : The lion young and dragon 'yet" Thou down shalt, underneath thy feet. Trample 'discomfited." 13 ■■ or fierce (Job iv. 10, .X. 16). cf. Ts. Ixxi. 2. God : 8 Becaiise he unto me doth cleave, 1 4 tvhat he I will escape for him achieve ; "" is to do I will him set on high, for the Because he knows my name 'indeed : Messiah. He shall upon me call ; ' with speed " I will to him reply. 9 I'll be with him in trouble 'still ;" Him free and glorify I will : With length of days "^ 'untold" I 'also" will him satisfy ; Moreover, my salvation I Will caiise him to behold. Ver. 1. Let him. — By translating so, and taking "i^x as the participle, there is no need to suppose a new speaker in ver. 2, as iu all the cun-eut translations ; and ""a at the beginning of ver. 3 gets its usual sig. ' for ; ' and the whole sense flows on in perfect continuity. 15 IG " cf. Ps. xxiii. 6, PSALM XCII. This Psahn has for the heading, 'A Psalm for the Sabbath-day.' I suppose it to have been written after Absalom's death and Sheba's defeat ; and not, as some imagine, after the death of Saul and of liis wicked counsellors. For (1) in the 84th Psalm, written cat the outbreak of Absalom's conspiracy, he dwells on his delight iu the house of God, and the pleasure of a day spent there ; and now that PSALM XCII. 231 lie was i-eturned to enjoy its ordinances, it was natural for him to write ' a Psalm for tlie Sabbath-day, ' expressive of his gratitvide, and explanatory of the apparent mysteries of God's providence, in permitting the temporary triumph of wicked men. (2) The allusions in the Psalm agree well with this supposition. He speaks about ' hearing ' of his enemies ; and he would hear of Absalom's fate, of Ahitho- phel's, of Sheba's. This is the very form of expression he uses, while preparing to return to Jerusalem: ' The sj)eech of all Israel is come to the king ' (2 Sam. xix. 11). It is further noticeable, that one of the two messengers who brought him tidings of Absalom's overthrow and death, used the words, ' The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee /or harm^ {I. ), — words that naturally would stick to David's memory, and be reproduced in the commemorative Psalm ; and here we have them almost in that identical form, ' those that arose against me doing hann. ' Equally well will that other expression of his in the Psalm, ' Mine eye looks upon those that laid wait for me, ' apply to this occasion. He had seen them all hiimbled, dispersed, or suppliant ; had seen Shimei, Amasa, and all Israel abase themselves before him, as much as they had magnified themselves against him. (3) He also speaks in this Psalm as if he were anointed afresh (ver. 10) ; and how similar is his expresion (2 Sam xix. 22), ' Do not I know that I am this day king over Israel ?' It was like a second consecration. A Psalm, a Song, for the Sabbath-day. 1 'Tis good to give Jehovah thanks ; 1 And thy name, O Most High, to praise : ' 'to play to To show thy mercy forth at morn, 2 y ■ ■ • And in the nights® thy faithfulness. 2 Upon the ten-string'd instrument, 3 As also on the psaltery ; 'And'' with^ a meditation'' 'too," 'Conjoined"^ with the harp's 'melody." 3 For, O Jeliovah, 'mine own God," 4 Gladdened me with thy work hast thou : Over the doings of thy hands Will I shout 'rapturously now." 4 How great thy doings are, O LOED I 5 Exceeding deep thy purposes ! A brutish person knoweth not, 6 Nor doth a fool consider this, 5 While wicked men are flourishing 7 Like grass, that,^ to their overthrow ■■ See Ps. Perpetually, the workers all ^- ^^^ ^• Of wickedness'^ are thriving 'so." 6 But 'still" on high'^' foi- evermore^' 8 ■■ cf. Ps. Thou art Jehovah : ^ for, behold ! 9 ^'^i- 2, "• 232 PSALM XCIII. Thy foes, Jeliovah — for, boliold ! Thy foes are perished, 'once so bold," 7 The workers all of wickedness^ Are parted ;^ but thou liftest high 10 My horn, like as a buffalo's ; Suffused ^\^th A^erdant" oil am I. 8 And looked mine eye hath upon those, 1 1 Who lay in wait for me ; * of those Mine ears have heard, who, doing harm,'' Against me up 'in arms" arose. 9 The just shall flourish like the palm ; 12 Spread' like a cedar in Lebanon : Those planted in Jehovah's house 13 Shall in our God's courts flourish on. •■ cf. Ps. xxii. 14, margin ; Gen. X. 32 ; Deut. xxxii; 8 ; refcmng to the sep (E\v. Gr. § 211, h, 1). The word never signifies ' sorrow' or ' affliction' (cf. ver. 17 ; Ps. cvi. 43"). PSALM CVIII. A Song, a Psalm, by David. 1 Fixed is my heart ; I'll sing and phiy, My glory too 'shall laud : * Awake up psaltery and harp ; I'll wake the morn, O God.* 2 Among the peoples unto thee, Jehovah, thanks I'll pay ; And unto thee I 'also* will Among the nations play. 3 For great up to the heavens is Thy mercy, 'thou Most High ;" . And great, 'moreover," is thy truth, Ev'n to the very sky. 4 O be thou 'then" exalted 'high" Over the heav'ns, O God ; And let thy glory 'also* be O'er all the earth abroad. The first part is almost word for word the same as in Ps Ivii. 7-11: the second part, as in Ps. Ix 5 12. For notes, see these Psalms. The italics mark the variations. 5 In order that deliver' d may Be thy beloved ones, O do thou save with thy right hand, And make to us"" response. 6 God promised by his holiness, ' That^ I for joy shall shout ; Shall for my portion Shechem have. And Succoth's vale mete out : 7 That Gilead shall be mine, '■and" mine Manasseh, 'did aver;" ° Ephr'im the strength be of my head ; Judah my lawgiver : 8 Moab my Avashpot ; that I shall O'er Edom cast my shoe ; Over Philistia that I Shall shout in triumph Hoo.^ ' C'thib; but 'me,' K'ri. ° and. PSALM CIX. 259 9 Who to the city of defence^ 10 'The strong one,'' Avill me bring ? Who even unto Edom will Conduct me ' triumphing ? " 10 O wilt not Hhou,^ O God, 'thou" who 11 Hast us rejected 'so P'' And Avilt not thou 'again," O God, Forth with our armies go ? 1 1 Grant us deliverance* from straits ; 12 For vain is 'all* man's aid :* Through God we shall do feats ; and he 13 Our en'mies down shall tread. PSALM CIX. By the Chief Musician, by David, a Psahu. God of my praise, O be not dumb : For they've open'd on me The mouth of wickedness, ° the mouth Of guile 'and treachery." " and. 2 With falsehood's tongue they speak with ^ me : With words of hate 'and spite" 3 Beset me ; and without a cause They do against me fight. 3 They for my love do me oppose ;"" 4 And as for me, I pray :' With ill for good,^ and for my love 5 With hate, they me repay. 4 Appoint o'er him a wicked one, 6 And at his right hand, 'lo !" Let Satan stand ; when he is judged, 7 Forth let him guilty^ go. 5 And let his prayer 'in thine eyes" Become sin ; but a few 8 His days become ; another one Take his appointment^ 'too." 6 His sons be orphans, and his wife 9 A widow ; vagrants let 10 ' W. ' accuse.' ' am prayer. ' cf. Ps. XXXY. 12. wicked. 260 PSALM CIX. His sons become, and beg and seek From mid their ruins 'yet." 7 'And* let the creditor a snare, 11 For all he owneth, lay : " And strangers of his labour make A phmd'ring 'and a prey." 8 Let there be no one unto him 12 Compassion to extend : '^ And let there not be any one His orphans to befriend.' 9 Cut oiF let his posterity 13 Be 'also, branch and root:" In th' after generation let Their names be blotted out. ■■ ' draw out ' or 'prolong.' ' I. to show favovir to.. 10 Remembered with Jehovah, 'too," Be the iniquity Of his fathers ; and blotted out His mother's sin not be. 14 11 Before Jehovah let them be Continually 'set forth," And let their memory be 'quite' Cut off from out the earth. 15 12 Because to practise mercy he 16 Remember'd not ; but 'still" A man poor, ° needy, and heart-crush'd, • and. Pursue he did to kill.* ' put to death 13 And he loved cursing, and let it Upon him ' therefore " stream ; ' ° In blessing he delighted not. And be it far from him. 17 come. • and. 14 *• As with his garb, with cursing he "Was cloth'd,' and let it go ^ Like water into him ; " like oil Into his bones 'o'erflow." 18 " and. ' clothed him- self. ' come. • and. 1 5 Let it to him be like a robe 'Which" covers 'him throughout;' 19 PSALM CIX. 261 And fox' a girdle, 'him* to bind Continually about. 16 This, from Jehovah, the reward 20 Of mine opposers^ be ; And of those Avho against my soul Speak evil 'spitefully." 17 But deal with me, Jehovah Lord, 21 For thy name's sake, 'I plead,* For good thy loving-kindness is ; 'To* rescue me 'make speed.* 18 For poor and needy, 'Lord,* am I ; 22 " My heart within me's riven ! ' Like a length'ning shadow gone I am : 23 I'm like a locust driven. 19 My knees through fasting feeble are;' 24 ° My flesh in fatness fades : I'm' a reproach to them; they me 25 Behold ; they wag their heads. 20 Help me, O LORD my God ; O save 26 Me in^ thy grace ;^ that so 27 That this is thy hand, that thou, LORD, Hast done it, they may know. 21 Let them ciu'se on; but O, bless thou : 28 They rise up 'now, they rise!* But they shall be ashamed, and 'I,* Thy servant, shall rejoice. 22 'For* with confusion clothe themselves 29 Shall mine opposers 'all;* Cover themselves with their own shame As with a mantle shall. 23 'Then* thank Jehovah with my mouth 30 Exceedingly will I ; And in the midst of many 'yet* I will him magnify.' 24 For at the needy one's right hand, 31 He standing doth abide ; "" Him, from the judges of his soul,'' To save, 'when he is tried.* and. ' titUUible. " and. ' aud I U.1U become. ' I. according to. praise. ■■ I. btandetli of. ver. 6. 262 PSALM ex. PSALM ex. One of the most difficult Psalms in the whole collection. The translation here given brings out a connected and an excellent sense, requiring no explanatory comments to make it intelligible. Ari/umcnt : — Part I. The encouragements Messiah has, when taking the reins of government into his hands : (1) Jehovah has jilaced him on the throne, ver. 1 ; (2) will send forth the rod of his strength, ver. 2 ; (3) his people come crowding to his standard, ver. 3 ; (4) Jehovah -wall stand true to his promises, ver. 4. Part II. The prom]5tuess with which Messiah asserts his supremacy : (o) smiting his adversaries to the dust, ver. 5 ; (A) extending his kingdom ; (c) multiijlying his slaughters ; {d) crushing his chief antagonist ; (e) acquiring universal renown, ver. ; (/) raising his head higher and higher, ver. 7. David, addressing MessiaJi, says : By David, a Psalm. Thus saith'' Jehovah to my Lord, ' At my right baud sit thou, Till I tliy foes thy footstool make : ' Jehovah forth shall 'now* From Zion send thy rod of pow'r ; " Eiile thou thine adversaries o'er. Thy people, free-will offerings" Upon thy day of might, Are early seeking after thee,'* In holy grandeurs'" 'bright :" O merciful 'and loving* One, Take up" thy youth, 'and bear them on.* ' The A.v.'s usual rcuder- iug of this specially solemn Heb. expresiiiou (see Ps. xxxvi. 1). ' the rod of thy streugth. ' of. Rev. xix. 14. 3 Jehovah sworn hath, and will not David, Repent — 'his oath not break* — (iddressiiKj ' A priest for ever, on my word,*' Jehovah, Art thou, Melchizedek.' says: My Lord,^ upon thy right hand hath' The kings dash'd in his day of wrath. ' not 'shall dash.' 4 Hath 'moug the nations judg'd ; hath fill'd 6 With carcases ' them all ; " Hath dash'd the head ; grown great" on Drink of the brook he shall [earth : 7 Upon the way ; and shall on high Lift up 'his" head accordingly. Ver. 3. Frce-iciU ofleriiH/s—irom same root as the verb rendered 'offered themselves wilhngly,' in Deborah's song, to which there is a manifest allusion here. Just as the volunteers of that day came early and frankly at Barak's call, PSALM ex. 263 so Messiah's people are seeu offering themselves Avilliiigly to him in the day of his might, i.e. when he begins to take to him his great power and to reign : and Early seeking after him. — I take IPl^D, as in Job xxiv. 5, to be the partic. Piel, from the verb to seek early (Ps. Ldii. 1), and in the nom. case, correspond- ing to ' thy people*; ' with *]7, ' for thee,' or ' after thee,' as its accompanying pronoun. The verb generally takes the ace. after it ; but in the verse of Job above cited, is followed by p just as here. It caimot be the noun for ' morning,' as invariably rendered, for that is "intJ*, never "inti^JO- Merciful one — as in Ps. cxvi. 5, not 'from the womb.' This epithet is per- fectly suitable to the martial character of the Psalm ; for it is the Lamb they are enrolling themselves imder ; just as in Eev. xvii. 14 it is said, ' These shall make war with the Lamh, and the Lamb shall overcome them.' Take vp. — ^t3 I take to be the impera. of the verb 7£3J, to take up, used in Isa. xl. 15, ' He taketh up the isles as a very little thing ; ' and in a connection similar to the present, in Isa. Ixiii. 9, ' And he took them up, [bare them], and carried them all the days of old.' It does not occur again in the same connec- tion, but .the sentiment is of frequent recurrence, and the verb ^^^ of kindred import employed to express it : see the early declarations in Ex. xix. 4, 5, Deut. xxxii. 11 ; the complaint of Moses, Nmn. xi. 12 ; the promise in Isa. xl. 11, xlvi. 3, 4 ; and the prayer in Ps. xxviii. 9. The meaning here is, ' Take up thy people when they offer theii* services to thee, and bear them on in their youth and feebleness, from conquest to conquest : ' cf . 2 Cor. ii. 14, Rev. xix. 14. Thy youth = thy young followers. It is scarcely needful to refer to the other translations that have been given of this verse : merely to state them may suffice. Here is H.'s translation : ' Thy people free-will gifts in thy day of might, in holy beauty ; out of the womb of the morning-heaven, to thee thy youth dew ' ! Here is D.'s : ' Out of the womb of the early dawn deweth to thee thy youth ' ! Here is W.'s : ' Thy people shaU freely offer themselves iu thy victorious day : hke new-born babes, in holy ornaments, shall they come early to thee, by thy regenerating dew ' ! About equally intelligible is our authorized translation : ' Thy people shall be wiUiug iu the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning : thou hast the dew of thy youth.' Who would have supposed that the beauties of holiness were out of the womb of the morning ? Or, if the punctuation be changed, that the dew of his youth — the multitude of his followers, — that the peojale of Christ were out of it ? Or is the rendering given by others a whit more intelligible, ' More than the womb of the morning is the dew of thy youth ? ' To make something like sense of the verse, we often hear it explamed as if it stood, ' Like dew from the womb of the morning are thy youthful followers ; ' but any one knows it does not stand thus, as written by David. Ver. 4. On my word. — The Heb. term answering to ' word ' is not the one of most frequent occurrence, but a lengthened form of it, of coniparatively rare occurrence. Both have precisely the same signification. We find this one bearing the usual meaning of the shorter form in our own A. v. of Deut. xxxiii. 3 ; and it has not, in certain other cases, a meaning peculiar to itself, as some — and not without the countenance of Ges. — are disposed to think. The two are like our own words ' command ' and ' commandment,' which signify precisely the same thing, although m some cases the latter may be preferably employed 264 PSx\LM ex. as the more solemn and dignified term. It is quite unwarrantable to seek new meanings for a word, when the well-known and thoroughly authorized ones bring out a preferable sense ; and a glance at the three citations in Ges., where a new meanuig is sought to be imposed on this term, will show with how httle occasion this is done. Eccles. iii. 18 — I. ' I said in my heart regarding the word of the sons of men, God is to search them out [or rather, perhaps, to purge them out, to separate, to sever them, as in Ezek. xx. 38] ; and they are to see for themselves that they are beasts !' Solomon had seen ' the place of judgment,' that Avickedness was there, but said in his heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked ; said in his heart regarchng the word or sentence of the wicked judges seated there, God is to search them out, and show them what sort of men they are, and what sort of motives led to the decision they pronounced [or is to separate them, to purge them out, from the place of judgmeut they have profaned] ; and they themselves are to sec that they are beasts — viler criminals tlian those who stood before them, and reserved for no better fate than that of beasts. Is not that meaning more natural and pertinent than any of the conjectural ones ? Eccles. vii. 14 — I. ' for the cause that ; ' an equally recognised meaning of the shorter form : see Ges. Lex. (4). Eccles. viii. 2 — I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that ' on account of the word of the oath of God,' i.e. you have come under ' an oath of God' (cf. Ex. xxii. 11 ; 1 Sam. xx. 8, 42) to obey the king, have solemnly repeated the words of that oath, and therefore ' you must needs be subject not only for wrath, but for conscience' sake.' The only other place where the word occm-s is Job v. 8, where, like the shorter form (see Ges. Lex. (5)), it means ' cause ' or ' plea,' and is so rendered in the A.v. The very uncommonness of the word would thus render it all the more suitable to be used by God, on an occasion so solemn as the swearing of this oath to his Son. If it be thus difficult to find an undoubted example of the noim bearing the signification of ' order' or ' manner,' it will be no less difficult to find an example of the prep, bearing the signification of ' accordmg to,' ' after.' But it may be objected that this rendering of both is endorsed by the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, who frankly accepts of the rendering of the Sept., x«t« tu^iv. I answer, he accepts it so far as to quote it as the rendei-ing of the conmaou version of the time, and to a certain extent answering his pm-pose (cf. Ps. viii. 5, n.) ; but at the same time he brings prominently into notice its defectiveness, by dilating on ' the word of the oath,' which constituted Melchizedek king (Heb. vii. 21). Now, as given in the Sept. and in oiu- A.v., the fom-th verse of the Psalm is not an oath, but a declaration, a simple statement : there is merely mention that an oath had been made, but that oath is not given. In the present translation, that oath stands recorded in the exact terms in which it was sworn, just as in the similar cases mentioned, Ps. Ixxxix. 35, xcv. 11. Melchizedek is in the voc, and Messiah is so called either in the same way as he is called David (Jer. xxx. 9 ; Ezek. xxxvii. 25) ; or rather because the Melchizedek of Genesis was an anticipatory appearance of the Son of God in his kingly and priestly character, similar to his appearance to Joshua (v. 13) and Gideon (Judg. vi. 11), and others. PSALM CXI. 265 Ver. 5. My Lord — as in ver. 1, rather than ' the Lord.' Hath dashed. — The Psalmist sees already fulfilled what had been said to Messiah in ver. 1, ' Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.' He has over- thrown the kings that opposed him, and executed judgment among the nations, tUl the gi'ound is covered with the slain. To all this we have an exact parallel in Rev. xix. 15-21 (cf. also Isa. Ixvi. 15, 16) ; and to the third verse an equally exact parallel in vers. 11-14 ; and to the remaiuder of ver. 6, and to ver. 7, have we not the parallel in Rev. xx. 1-6 ? For by the expression Ver. 6. Hath dashed the head, is not Satan meant, rather than the earthly leader of the combined hostile armies, or the heads of bis enemies in general ? Grown great. — It seems to me far more natural to regard nn as beiug a verb here, like 'dashed,' 'filled,' 'judged,' than as being anadjec, as is invariably done. PSALM CXI. Halleluiali ! 1 '^loud" I'll the LORD with my Avhole heart adore,* I '^oth^ the meeting of saints' and tli' assembly before: ' ^ommandingly ^ great are the deeds of the LORD ; 2 pesir'd are of all who with joy them regard.' 2 'Exceedingly" glorious his work is, and grand :•" . 3 Jfor ever his righteousness also doth stand." ' (flood "^ memorials' raised of his wonders he hath : 4 ^e' is gracious and merciful, 'slow unto wrath." 3 Jehovah' 'supply" gave"" his fearers 'of food ; 5 ^ept his covenant ever in mind 'for their good:" ^et the might of his deeds to his people be known, 6 faking o\^cr to them what the heathen did own.'' 4 'fought but ^judgment* and truth* were the deeds 7 of his hands : ^ % faithful, 'most faithful," were all his commands:*" propped up" 'and sustain'd" they were ever and aye: 8 '^uite" in truth and uprightness accomplished were they. 5 Redemption he sent, and his people made free ^et his covenant'' up 'then" for ever did he ; 9 Commemorating God's doings of old. ' thank. ' /. the upright. ' I. delight in them ; so Ges. against H. ■■ I. his work is glory and grandeur, i.e. his work of delivering Israel. ' I. a memorial. ' Jehovah. ■■ TJie verbs are all, with one exception, in the preterite. ■■ I. the inherit- ance of . . . ■■ in destroying the Canaauites. ■■ to destroy them. ' by his own power in the course of their execution. ' I. to his people. '■ with Abraham, and Israel at Sinai. 266 PSALM CXI I. '^hrice" holy and dread is his name, 'and adored:" Der'ly wisdom's beginning's the fear of the LORD : 10 ^J^ise-hearted"" are all who perform what he says;' 'i^es," vinto eternity^ standeth* his praise. ' good seuse have. ' I. tbera. ' for ever. Ver. 1. The meeting — i.e. the fellowship meetings ; and the assemhlij, i.e. the whole congi'egation. Ver. 2. Desired — I. 'sought,' 'sought for,' not 'sought out' (as m .\.v.). God's doings were longed for by those, who delighted in the display of them given of old, and wlio wished to see them in operation again. Ver. 3. His loork — of delivering Israel of old — a work singularly illustrative of his righteousness in its commencement, course, and completion. Ver. 7. Were. — The verbs should all be in the past tense, as referring to past events ; not in the present, as if stating general truths. Faithful. — His commands to destroy the Canaanites were all given forth ui faithfulness to his character as righteous Judge, and were all intended to be carried out ; and were all Ver. 8. Propped up — i.e. backed up by liis direct interference on every special occasion. PSALM CXIl. Halleluiah ! 1 ^ blest man is he that feareth the LOKD ; 1 '^lest," who feels for his precepts exceeding regard :' Commanding'' on earth shall his progeny' be; 2 't)oubIe*-blest with"" a race of upright men is he. 2 ^v'n substance and wealth's in his house 'at command;" 3 Jfor ever his righteousness also doth stand -.^ ^leam' a light to the upright in dax'kness he doth ; 4 'Me's® gracious and merciful, "righteous 'in truth." 3 It is good tlip,t'" one," fav'ring" and lending, shoidd 5 'still ilnow to* guide his affairs with judgiuent 'and skill." l^ittle' moved he shall then be for ever ; but shall G '1|tost" just^ prove for lasting remembrance* 'to all." 4 ^ot fear upon hearing of evil shall he ; 7 (^n Jehovah confiding, his heart firm shall be : Descriptive of the hapijiness of the tiiily good man. ' I. delights ill his preccii)ts exceedingly. ■■ /. mighty. ' seed. ■■ cf. Dent. xii. 7, xxxiii. 1. ' as truly a.s God's ; de- scribed Ps. cxi. 3. ' /. rise. ' the good mau, not God, as g(?uerally iuterpivted. ■■ cf. Lam. iii. 2G. ' a mau. ' not. '• lighteous. ' I. to everla^t- ing remem- bratice prove a righteous man. PSALM CXIII. 267 ^propped up* 'and supported,*his heart shall not quail; ^ 8 '#uite calm* till he gaze on^ his enemies 'feU." ' Pa. cxi. 8.' ■ fear, cf. Ps. Uv. 7. 5 'Richly* he disperseth ; he gives to the poor : 9 ^tand for ever his righteousness doth,'' 'and stands sure.'' ' therefore ^ shall his horn high in glory be raised ; ^iew it shall the wicked, "provoked 'and amazed." 10 '^ith his teeth shall he gnash, and be melted" away ; -'^es," the wish of the wicked shall perish 'for aye.'' ■■ ie. he ever acts the part of a righteous ' steward of the manifold grace of God.' " and shall be. Ver. 2. Cummandimj. — The A. v. and others render the couplet thus : ' Commanding and " mighty on earth is his seed ; 'Qouble "-blest is the race of the upright 'indeed.* PSALM CXIII. HaUeliuah ! 1 Praise, O servants of Jehovah, 1 Praise Jehovah's name do ye : Be Jehovah's name from this time'' 2 Blest,® and to eternity. Praised, from the rising of the sun, 3 Even unto his going down. Is Jehovah's name to be. Ps. cxv. 18. High 's Jehovah o'er all nations ; 4 O'er the heav'ns his glory's great. Who is like our God Jehovah,' 5 That aloft doth elevate Himself to sit?" 'Jehovah," who 6 Himself doth humble 'low," to view Heav'n and earth, 'and aU their state?" ' Jehovah our God. From the dust who rears the feeble,'' From the dunghill lifts the poor. Him with nobles," with the nobles Of his folk, to seat 'secure. '^ The barren woman of the house™ A glad mother seat of sons who does : 'Scorn no longer to endure. * Halleluii 268 PSALMS CXIV. CXV. PSALM CXIV. 1 Wlicn Isr'el did from Egypt pass,' The house of Jacob from among A people of a barbarous tongue, His sanctuary Judah -was ; And his dominions Isr'el's 'throng." 1 ' I go forth. The sea saw it, and lied : The Jordan backward sped : The mountains skipp'd like rams, The 'little" hills like land)S. 3 What ails thee, sea, that thou dost flee ? 5 Jordan, that thou speed'st backward 'now?" Ye mountains, that ye skip like rams? 6 'And you," ye 'little" hills, like lambs? 4 In presence of the Lord, earth, quail ; 7 Before^ the God who beareth rule In Jacob ;^ to a water-pool 8 Changing the rock; the flint 'as well" Into a fount of waters 'cool." ' m presence of. /. of Jacob. PSALM CXV. Tuis Psaka, by most expositors, and among these H. and D., is supposed to have been written after the captivity ; but it would rather seem to have been penned by David, before the commencement of some gi'eat conflict, to implore divine aid, and to encourage the hearts of Israel ; and Psalm cx\'iii. to have been penned after the same conflict had at length been brought to a close, to celebrate the goodness and triumph of God. It would be difficult to jiersuade one that the 118th Psalm was not written by David, the whole strain of it is so eminently his; and if it be his, then almost as certainly this 115th is his also : for theh mutual correspondence has not escaped the notice of expositors ; and the threefold refer- ence to Israel, to the house of Aaron, to the fearers of Jehovah, makes that corresj^ondence still more striking. The conflict referred to is probably the one with the Philistines (2 Sam. v. 17) and the neighbouring nations (vii. 1), which began at his coronation, and was only newly terminated at the time he received the promise of a divine Son, the coming deliverer. 1 Not unto us,'" Jehovah, 'no," 1 ■■ i.e. Give us Not unto us ; but O do thou victory now, , . not to bring Unto thme own name glory give, glory to us, For thy grace, for thy truth's sake 'now." ^^^ ^o bring J a ' •! glory to tliiue own name ; do it for thy mercy and for thy truth's saki': not, as often understood, 'Not to us, but to thy name bo glory for thy mercy shown to us.' PSALM CXV. 269 O wherefore should the nations say, 2 Pray," where 's their God, 'in scorn of us?^ But in the heavens is our God : 3 Whatever pleaseth him he does. 3 Their idols* silver are and gold, The work of men's hands 'totally/ A mouth® they have, but do not speak; Eyes have they, but they do not see. 4 Ears have they, but they do not hear ; They have a nose,*' yet smell they not : Their hands,® but handle not ; their feet, Yet walk not, nor talk through their throat. 5 Their makers like to them become ; ™ Each one who trust on them doth build. O Isr'el, in Jehovah trust ; 'Tis HE their help is, and their shield. ' I. images. The Philis- tines, to strike greater terror, had corae up with a host of their gods ; and when routed, David and his men burned 'their images '* (2 Sam. V. 21), according to the divine command (Dent. vii. 25). 6 Trust in Jehovah, Aaron's house; 10 'Tis HE their help is, and their shield : Trust in Jehovah, ye that fear 11 Jehovah, HE's their help and shield. 7 Jehovah doth remember us ; 'And* he will bless 'us in his grace He'll bless the house of Israel, He will the hoiise of Aaron bless. 12 Jehovah's fearers he will bless. The small 'together" with the great Jehovah unto you will add,"" To you, and to your children 'yet.* 13 14 ■• cf. Dent. i. 11. 9 Bless'd by Jehovah may you be. The maker of the earth* and heav'n.* The heav'n, heav'n for Jehovah is,"^ The earth he to men's sons hath giv'n. 10 The dead praise not Jehovah ; ° none That down to silence go ; but we. From this time,"^ will Jehovah praise, And 15 16 17 18 even to eternity. Halleluiah ' so H., D. ; but A. v., ' The heav'ns, the heav'ns, Jehovah's are.' ° and. ■■ Ps. cxiii. 2, csxi. 8, cxxv. 2, cxxxi. 3. 270 PSALM CXVI. PSALM CXVI. 1 I love,'' for heard Jehovali hath 1 My voice, my suppHcating cry ; ' For he hath bowed his ear to me ; 2 And call throughout my days will 1. * The cords of death engirt me round,' '"'' 3 And me the pains of Hades'" found ; I trouble found,* and agony. 2 Then on Jehovah's name I called : 4 Jehovah, save* my soid, 1 plead. Gracious Jehovah is, and just, 5 And mercif Ill's our God 'indeed." Jehovah doth the simple giiard : 6 I feeble^ was become ; the LORD Hath me 'effectually'' freed.* 3 Turn back, my soul, unto thy rest,"" 7 For grace Jehovah doth thee show ; For thou my soul from death, mine eyes 8 From tears, my feet from overthrow*" Deliver'd hast : I will again 9 Into*" the lands" of Uving men. Before Jehovah's presence, go." 4 I did believe when I did speak ;"■ 10 I was exceedingly distressed : I 'therefore* in my hasty flight," 11 That ' all men are a lie,' *" expressed.* what unto Jehovah shall 12 1 render for the favours all He towards me did manifest? 5 The cup I'll of salvations'' lift, 13 And on Jehovah's name will call ; My vows I'll to Jehovah pay, 14 In presence may it be® of all His people. Precious in the eyes 15 Of 'God* Jehovah's the demise*" Of his own saints, 'where'er they fall." G I pray, Jehovah, sure I am 16 Thy servant; I'm thy servant 'true:" The son of thy handmaiden am ; My bands 'for me" thou didst undo. Written for David's return to Jerusalem, after Absalom's over- throw. ' my supplica- tion. " Vs. xviii. 4." ■■ the unseen world. deliver. ' saved. " i.e. place of rest — 'the city of David ' (cf. Ps. cxxxii. 14). ■■ r.s. xxxvi. 1, n. " cf. Ps. xxvii. 13," Hi. S.-* " back from the east of Jordan into the still more sacred lands on the other side (Josh. xxii. 1 9). ' See note at the end. "■ from Jerusa- leni (2 8am. XV. 14) ; cf. Ps. xxxi. 22 on a different occasion. ■■ i.e. not to bo depended on, alluding to Ahithophel and his other trusted ones, and to the people in general (cf. Ps. Ixii. 9). ' said. •^ many de- liverances. ■■ not the com- mon word for death. " such as had fallen in battle, fighting for David and for God. PSALMS CXVII. CXVIIT. 271 The sacrifice of thanksgiving 1 7 I 'therefore" unto thee will bring,' ' sacrifice. And on the LORD's name call 'anew.* \ 7 My vows I'll to Jehovah pay, 18 In presence be it, I implore,'^ ' may it be. Of all his people, in the courts 1 9 Of GOD's own house, 'while as before I lift my voice along with them,* In midst of thee, Jerusalem : 'O do Jehovah's name adore." Halleluiah ! Ver. 10. Did believe. — This verse might, and probably should, be rendered : I did beheve that 1 destroy'd r 2 gam. xv. 14 Should be ; "■ greatly was I distress'd, xvii. 16. *in occasionally has this sense (2 Chron. xxii. 10) ; and what is rather remark- able, this seems to be its meaning in the Psalm so kindred to this one, viz. the 18th (ver. 47). As generally interpreted, there is little coherence m the jjass- age ; and '>3 cannot bear the sense of ' therefore.' If it be objected that the apostle has quoted the verse in the common form (2 Cor. iv. 13), I reply, he merely quotes the Septuagint rendering as sufficiently answering his purpose, without meaning to endorse its correctness : cf. Ps. ex. 4, n. PSALM CXVII. Praise Jehovah, all ye nations ; All ye people, him adore : ' For to us great is his mercy, And his' truth's for evermore. Halleluiah. ' ' laud ; ' I. soothe. ' Jehovah's. ' For date see Ps. cxv. intro- duction. " for. ° for, or that. PSALM CXVIII.^ 1 O thank Jehovah, for he's good ; 1 ° His mercy is for evermore : O pray,® let Isr'el say 'aloud," 2 ° His mercy is for evermore : 2 Say, let the house of Aaron, pray,^ 3 " His mercy is for evermore : Pray,® let Jehovah's fearers say, 4 ° His mercy is for evermore. 3 I from the^ strait place'' called on JAH," 5 "■ 2 Sam. v. 1: JAH" in a wide place answer'd 'true :" 272 PSALM CXVIII. Jehovah is for me, I will Not fear what man to me may do.' cf. Ps. Ivi. 4. 4 Jehovah is for mc, as one That for my helper"^ is to be : Accordingly I yet shall gaze" On those that haters are of me. soD. ■■ Ps. liv. 7.' 5 Tis better on the LORD to trust/ 8 ' Uike refuge in. Than confidence on man to set ; 'Tis better on the LORD to trust, 9 Than to confide in princes 'great." 6 All nations compassed me 'in fight;" 10 " I've in the LORD's name cut them down : " sure. They compassed me, yea, compassed quite ; 1 1 ° I've in the LORD's name cut them down. 7 They compassed me about like bees; 12 'Extinguished are they every one;" Put out" like to the fire of thorns : ° I've in the LORD's name cut them down. " Prov. XX. 20, xxiv. 20. 8 Thou sore hast thrust at me to fall ; " But help for me Jehovah was : ' ' My strength and psalm is JAH ; ' ® and he Become salvation to me has. 13 14 ' Jehovah helped. - Ex. XV. 2. 9 Within the tabernacles 'now" Of those that righteous are, the voice Of shouting and salvation is, 'Of triumph and exalted joys." 15 10 'Jehovah's right hand feats hath done : 16 Jehovah's right hand, 'it alone," Exalted is in mightiness : Jehovah's right hand feats hath done.' "■ 11 I shall not die, but live, and tell 17 The deeds of JAH," 'as heretofore:" Sorely hath JAH" corrected me, 18 But unto death not jriv'n me o'er. ■■ See 2 Sam. V. 19-25. . 12 Open the gates of righteousness To me; I'U enter," I'll thank JAH. 19 into them. PSALM CXIX. 273 This is Jehovah's gate ; by it The rirfiteous enter may 'with awe. 20 1 3 Thanks will I rendei' unto thee, That unto me replied^ thou hast ; And that salvation unto me Thou art 'indeed"^ become 'at last.* 21 iiuswered. 14 Become head of the corner has 22 The Stone the builders did despise :^' This by Jehovah's brought to pass, 23 And it is wondrous in our eyes. 15 This is the day Jehovah made, 24 In it exult and joy let us :^' O pray,^ Jehovah, save ; O pray, 25 Jehovah, pray, make prosperous. '' David, so long- despised and rejected, was now crowned tlieir king ; so also would it be with his promised Son (Acts iv. 11). ■• so H., D. 16 blessed, 'blessed'' be the One That's coming in Jehovah's name. We do you bless from out the house, Jehovah for his own doth claim." 26 of Jehovah. 1 7 God is Jehovah ; and he hath Made light upon us to arise : Bind ye unto the altar's horns With cords the festal" sacrifice. 27 18 Thou art my God, and thee I'll thank ; My God, and I wiU thee adore : ' O thank Jehovah, for he's good; " His mercy is for evermore. 28 29 exalt. for. PSALM CXIX. Aleph. ^U-blest the perfect in the way, Walk in Jehovah's law who do. ^U-blest his precepts' who observe ; With all their heart who seek him 'too. 2 ' testimonies. 2 ^Iso no evil do they work : Walk in his ways they do 'with heed." Attentively'" thy laws' to keep Thou hast commanded us 'indeed." 4 ■■ exceedingl)^ ' precepts. 274 PSALM CXIX. 3 ^h ! would my ways established were, To keep thine ordinances, 'LORD." ^shamed then I shall not be, "UHien I all thy commands regard. 4 '^nd" when I learn thy judgments just,' I'll thank thee with an upright heart :' '^nd" I'll thine ordinances keep; From me O do not clean depart. Beth. 5 ^y what shall a youtli cleanse his path ? Watching* according to thy word, ^ent I've my whole heart thee to seek:"" Err let me not from thy laws,' LORD. 6 '^iSetimes," lest I against thee sin, Thy word"" up in my heart I lay." ^lessed be thou, Jehovah ; ' teach, "• O teach thou me thy statutes, 'pray." 7 ^y my lips I declared abroad Have all the judgments of thy mouth ; ^eyond all riches, in the way Of thy commands I joy, 'in truth.* 8 ^e musing on thine institutes,* And heedful of thy paths I'll 'still :" ^e with thy precepts* charmed Avill I; Forget thy word I never will. 10 11 12 13 14 15 k; ' the judgments of tliy riglit- eousness. ' uprightness of heart. ■■ 1 have sought thee with. ' commands. 'or saying. " cf. Ps. xxxi. 19; Prov. vii. 1. ordinances GiMEL. 9 (Ij^onfer good on thy servant, 'LORD;" 17 Live and observe thy law let me : ^^lear*" thou mine eyes, and Avondrous things 18 Out of thy law I 'then" shall see. unveil. 10 (J^onccal not thy commands from me ;* 19 A stranger in the earth am I.* (J^rushed" is my soul, through longing 'sore" 20 At all times for thy judgments 'high." 11 (J^hided thou hast the proud, the curs'd, Who from thy testimonies* swerve.'' '(J^lean" off me roll° reproach and scorn ; For thy commandments* I observe. 21 22 PSALM CXIX. 275 12 (Communing 'gainst me " princes sit;*" 23 Thy servant on thy laws doth muse : (J^harming to me thy precepts are ; 24 The men of counsel whom I choose." ° even. ■■ I. sit and commune. /. my counsel. Daleth. 13 'l^ownward" to dust doth cleave my soul : 25 Revive m' according to thy word, ^eclare my ways I did; and thou 2% Me heard'st;"" teach me thy statutes, 'LORD." answeredst. 14 Mo make me know thy precepts' path, 27 And I'll muse on'" thy wondrous ways : propping away's my soul through grief; 28 According to thy word me raise." 1 5 ^o thou remove the way of lies From me, and with thy law me grace : Pesire"" the way of faithfulness I do ; thy judgments up I place." 16 '^evoutly" to thy law' I cleave, O LORD ; to shame put me not 'now :" 'S^aily*^ the way of thy commands 32 I'll run, enlarge my heart shouldst thou. or 'talk of.' 29 30 ■■ choose. = or 'I em- brace.' 31 ' testimonies. He. 17 Explain to me thy precepts' way," LORD, and I'll keep it to the end : Enlighten ^ me, ° I'll keep thy law ; " With all my heart to it attend. 33 34 35 18 '^ver" direct me in the path Of thy laws ; for I joy' therein. 'Entirely" towards thy statutes' bend 36 My heart, and not towards gain 'unclean." 19 ^strange mine eyes from viewing ought That's light : *" revive me in thy way : (Establish to thy servant, who 'Clings* to thy fear, thy word, 'I pray." 37 38 20 (^vanish make thou the' reproach 39 I dread ; ° thy judgments, 'LORD," are good : ^agerly' long I for thy laws ;*■ 40 Revive me in thy rectitude. ' the way of thine ordinances. ' make me know. ° and. ' delight. ' testimonies. ■■ or trifles (cf. Ps. xxiv. 4). ■ my. ° for. ' behold ■■ precepts. 276 PSALM CXIX. Vau. 21 JFortli let thy mercy come on me, Thy help,' as thou didst promise,'" LORD : ' -fjiast," then, I'll my reproacher give The answer,"" that I trust thy word. 22 JFrom my mouth snatch not clean the word Of truth ; " thy judgment I hope for. jFor ever, then, I'll keep thy law Continually, yea, evermore. 23 J| orth in a wide place shall I walk ; For thy commandments I have sought. ' Jjreely" before kings will I speak Thy word, and be asham'd will not. 24 ' Jtondly" with thy commands I love Will *l delight myself, ' JAH : « ' -((fondly,"' to thy commands 1 love. My hand lift, and muse on thy law.' Zain. 25 'graciously* to thy servant keep' Thy word, since"" thou mad'st me to hope: ^riev'd though I am,' my comfort's this, That me thy promise "■ cheereth up. 26 greatly the proud do me deride : I have not from thy law declined ; '^^ladly" thy judgments from of old Remember I °, and comfort find.* 27 ^rasp'd hold of me, because of those Bad men who leave thy law, hath rage, '^rand" psalms to me thy statutes are. In the house of my pilgrimage. 28^^1adly'' do I thy name by night Remember **, and I'll keep thy law. ^ood this hath held concerning me. That I've thy precepts kept 'with awe." Chlth. 29 ' Menceforth ** thou, LORD, my portion art: To keep thy word I've promise made: l^eart-earnest"" I entreat thy face : Pity me, as thy promise said.' 41 42 43 44 45 40 47 48 57 58 ■ salvation. ■■ according to thy promise. ■■ word. " for. statutes. 49 ' remember. ' H., D. 50 ' / in mine affliction. ■■ of. Ps. Ixxvii. 51 8 ;" I. saying. 52 53 " Jehovah. ' comfort m3'self. 54 55 » Jebovali. 56 ■■ with my whole heart. ' according to thy promise (ver. 50). PSALM CXIX. 277 30 ^eed to my ways I've paid, and turn'd 59 Back to thine institutes' my feet : Masten. I do, and linger not, 60 To keep thy charges, 'as is meet." 31 'gemming me round the wicked's bands 61 Are ; I thy law forget not ; ' nay, Migh'' praises for thy judgments right ^ 62 I rise at midnight thee to pay. 32 pold fellowship I do with all 63 Who fear thee, and observe thy word : ' 'Mow" doth thy mercy fill the earth ! 64 O teach thou me thy statutes, LOED.*^ ' testimonies. ' the judgment.' of thy right- eousness. precepts. Teth. 33 Jjehovah, to thy servant well. According to thy word, dost thou : ^nsight"" and knowledge good teach me. For I believe thy precepts' 'now.'' 34 % erred ere I afflicted was ; But now do I observe thy word. Jehovah good, and doing good Thou art ; teach me thy statutes, 'LORD. 35 !^nvent lies on me do the proud : "With all 'my" heart thy word' I keep, ^nsensate is their heart as fat : I in thy law find pleasure deep.' 36 'Mt's good for me, afilicted that I was ; that learn thy laws' I might : "instruction from ^hy mouth excels'" Thousands of gold and silver 'quite.* 65 66 ' H. ' commands. 67 68 69 70 71 72 ' precepts. ' I am charmed with. ' statutes. '■ /. the law of thy mouth is better than. JOD. 37 Mept me and made' me have thy hands Teach me, and learn thy laws* I will : 'Meen" do thy fearers joy to see,'" That for thy promise I hope 'still." 38 Mnow I that just thy judgments are. And thou in faithfulness griev'st' me: '^indly," as thou thy servant told'st ; Pray, let thy grace my comfort be. 73 ' ' made and established ' (Deut. xxxii. 74 h). ' commands. 'I. Thy fearers see me, and 75 are glad that. 76 afHictest. 278 PSALM CXIX. 39 Mind pity*" come on me, and let Me live ; for thy law charm me does : 'Meen" be the proud shamed, who by lies Me brand:'' I on thy precepts muse. 40'^indly'' let those return to me. Who fear thee, and who know thy word.' '^ept" perfect in thy statutes be My heart, that shamed I be not, 'LORD.' 77 ■■ let tliy syiii- patliies como. 78 79 80 ■■ pervert. testiiuunius. Capii. 41 ^anguish for thy salvation doth 81 My soul ; I for thy promise hope : ^anguish mine eyes do for thy word, 82 Saying, When wilt thou cheer me up ? 42 ^ike a skin-bottle in the smoke 83 I am ; thy word forget I not : '^ORD,'' what's thy servant's life?' when wilt 84 Thou judgments on my foes ° have wrought? 43 '^ook down ;" the proud dig pits for me. Who 're' not according to thy law. '^o ! " thy commands all faithful are ; Falsely they hunt' me ; help me, 'J AH." 44 'W'ORD," they've nigh ended me on earth : Yet I ne'er from thy precepts swerve : ' '^ORD,"^ me according to thy grace Revive, and I'll thy laws' observe. 85 86 87 ' days. " and perse- cutors. so H., D. persecute. ' forsake not. testimonies. 45 Lamed. '^tost sure's'' thy word for ever, LORD ; It in the heav'ns is settled fast ; 'Mlid ages alV thy faithfulness : Thou earth did'st found, and it doth last. 89 90 'to geuei-ation and generation. 46 'llfleans" for thy judgments do they stand To-day; for they're thy servants all : Mly joy were not thy law, I then In mine affliction down shotild fall.' 91 92 " i.e. ready to bo used as the instruments of thy judgments. ' pei'ish. 47 MIy heart' shall ne'er thy laws'" forget; For thou by them dost me revive : 'M|ost truly" I am thine, save me; For after thy commands' I strive. 93 ' I. ■■ precepts. 94 ' precepts. PSALM CXTX. 279 48 Wtaliguaut men me watch to slay : I thy commandments heed, 'O JAH;* l^ine eye' to all perfection sees An end : exceeding broad's thy law. Mem. 49 '^ow* how I love thy law; it 'still" My meditation is all day : 'Mow" 'bove my foes thy charges make Me wise, for with me still are they. 50 'May," 'bove my teachers all I've sense. For, for my theme thy statutes serve : ' 'l^^ay," 'bove the elders I've insight, For I thy precepts do observe. 51 'Mow," I from every evil path Eestrain my feet, to keep thy word : ^e'er from thy judgments do I turn, For thou directest me, 'O LOED," 52 'Mow" to my taste how sweet thy words ! More so than honey to my mouth : ' M^"^ ^ insight get I from thy law ; ' Hence hate I each path of untruth. 95 96 'I see. 97 98 99 /. thy testi- -. ,-, -. mouies are uiy ■* '-"' meditatiou. 101 102 103 104 ' precepts. Nun. 63 '^ LOED," thy word is to my foot^ A lamp, and to my path a light : (^ath have I made, and I perform It will, to keep thy judgments right.^ 54 (^ppress'd^ I'm sore; revive me, LOED, As thou hast promised,^ 'I beseech:" @f my mouth's free-will off 'rings, pray,* Accept ;*" and me thy judgments teach. 55 d^h, ever in my hand my soul Is ; yet I've not thy law forgot : (i^ut have the bad put snares^ for me. But from thy precepts I stray not. lOo 106 107 ' the judgmcuts of th}- right- eousuess. ' afflicted. 108 ' according to thj' word. 109 ■• \.\. (cf. Ezek. XX. 40 ; Amos V. 2-2). 110 ' a snare. 56 ^'er as a heritage for aye 111 Thy laws^ I take ; ° they're my heart's joy : ^n ever to the end, my heart 112 To do thv statutes bend will I. ' testimonies. " for. 280 PSALM CXIX. Samech. 57 Iflersons who undecided are I hate, but love thy law, '0 LORD ;" Ifllace of my hiding, and my shield Art thou ; I hope upon thy word. 58 1|ass from me, hurtful"^ men ; for I'll Observe my God's commandments 'all:'' ^rop me up, as thou said'st ; ' then live, Nor of my hope be shamed, I shall. 59 10rove my support ;* then I am saved, And ever heed thy laws^ shall I : ■^ut down all from thy laws'" who err Thou dost, for their fraud proves a lie. 60 iput all earth's bad ones off 'like* dross Thou dost ; hence I thy laws revere :^ 'ipierced" with the dread of thee, my flesh Shudders ;" and I thy judgments fear. 113 114 115 ' Ps. xxvi. 4, n. lie ' according to thy word. 117 ' support me. 118 ' continually respect thy •statutes. ■■ statutes. 119 ' I. love thy 120 testimonies. AiN. Gl '^uick" judgment I've and justice done : 121 ]\Ie to my spoilers give not o'er : '^uick," guarantee thy servant good ; 122 Let not the proud ones spoil me 'more." ' be surety to thy servant for. 62 '^uite" faint for thy salvation do 123 Mine eyes, and for thy righteous word : ' '^uite" graciously "■ thy servant treat, 124 And teach thou me thy statutes, 'LORD." 63 'Questionless" I'm thy servant ; train 125 Me, I shall know thy precepts'" then, '^uite" time 'tis for Jehovah 'now* 126 To act : ^ made void thy law have men. 64 '^tiite* above gold, above fine gold, 127 I thy commandments love 'indeed :" ^^uit therefore each false path I do ;* 128 I all thy precepts to me heed.* ' the word of thy righteous- ness. ' according to thy grace. testimonies. ' See note at the end. Pe. 65 Remarkable *■ thy precepts' are; My soul's observant of them then : 'Richly* the op'ning of thy word Sheds light, instructing simple men. 129 130 ■ /. wondei-s. testimonies. PSALM CXIX. 281 66 ^ight op'n I set my mouth, and pant ; 131 Tliy precepts, how I long for them l"" '^ound to me turn, and pity me, 132 As wont,^ towards those who love thy name. 67 '^rletain ^ my footsteps in thy word. And master me let nothing ill : Redeem me from man's plundering,^ And keep thy precepts then I will. 68 '^viglit'' on me^ make thy face to shine ; ° Thy statutes teach thou me, 'O JAH." fillets of waters'" down mine eyes Descend, since men' keep not thy law. TZADDI. 69 'Supremely* righteous, LORD, art thou: Upright thy judgments are^ no less : ^trictly'" thou, by° thy precepts,^ hast Justice enjoined, and faithfulness. 70 '^orely" consuming me's my zeal. Because my foes thy words forget : ^potlessly"^" pure's thy saying; hence Thy servant's love to it is great.^ 71 ^mall I'm, and scorn'd, yet do I not Forget the precepts of thy mouth : * '^ure" thine 's a righteousness that is Eternal,'" and thy laAV is truth. 72 ^orrow and trouble have me found : Joy thy commandments to me give.' '^trict" righteousness are evermore Thy words ; ' teach me, and I shall live. KOPH. 73 '^0 thee,'' with all my heart, I call : LORD, hear' me; keep thy laws' I will. ^o thee I call; save me, and I'll Observe thy testimonies 'still.* 74 ^he day's dawn I outstrip, and cry, 'LORD,** I thy promises'" hope for : ^he watches of the night mine eyes Outstrip, upon thy word to pore. ' I. for I long for thy com- mandments. ' ' after the manner' (cf. 2 Kings xi. 14, 133 134 xvii. 3% 40 ; Gen. xl. 13). ■■ 'establish.' 135 ' thy servant. " and. 136 ' Ps. i. 3.' ' they. 137 ■■ so D., Ges. 138 ■■ exceedingly. ' testimonies. 139 140 ' exceedingly. ' thy servant loves it. 141 142 ' thy precepts. 143 144 ■■ I. thy right- eousness is an eternal right- eousness. ' thy com- mandments are my joy. ' testimonies. 145 146 ' answer. ' statutes. 147 ' C'thib. 148 282 PSALM OXIX. 75 ^rue to thy grace,' LORD, hear my voice : True to thy wont,'" revive me, 'pray." ^liose near are, who do vilhmy Pursue ; far from thy law ai'e they. 149 150 ' according to thy grace. •■ of. ver. 132. 76 ^hou 'too" art near, O LORD; and truth 151 Ai"e thy commandments every one : ^hat thou thy statutes* founded hast 152 For ever, I of old have known.'" Resh. 77 jljiew mine affliction, and me free ; For I do not thy law forget : Uphold my cause, and me redeem : After thy word revive me 'yet." 153 154 ' testimonies. ' I. of old I have known thy testi- monies, that thou hast founded them for ever. 78 =(^er'ly salvation from the bad 155 Is far ; for they seek not thy word.' ^ast are thy mercies ; me revive, 156 According to thy judgments, LORD. statutes. 79 ^ast is the number of my foes "; 157 From thy commands' I do not swerve. =|piew treacherous men I do, and feel 158 Loath'd ; "" since thy word they ne'er observe. 80 ^iew how I love thy precepts, LORD; 159 Oh, in' thy grace revive me 'quite." Der'ly thy word's sum is the truth : • 1 GO For aye are all thy judgments right.' SCHIN. 81 ^jj^ithout cause princes me jjursue ; 161 My heart doth dread thy words meanwhile : ''^ith joy" I o'er thy word rejoice, 162 As one that findeth a great spoil. 82 'family" I falsehood hate, I it 163 Abhor ; but love thy law I do : ''^ont am" I seven times in a day 164 'To*^ praise thee for thy judgments true.' 83 ^Ij^ho love thy law, great peace have they : 1 65 A stumbling-block for them there's none. I^aited for thy salvation, LORD, 1 66 Have I; and tliv commands I've done. " and perse- cutors. ' testimonies. ■■ Hithp. ; cf. Niph., Ezek. XX. 43, xxxvi. 31. according to. ' the judgments of thy right- eousness. ' the judgment p of thy right- eousness. PSALM CXX. 283 84 'Mell* hath my soul thy statutes' kept, 167 And them I love exceedingly : '^ell^ have I kept thy word and law ;' 168 For all my ways are known to thee."" Tau. 85 ^ield passage for my shout' to thee "; 169 According to thy word teach me : 'P'ea,'' let my pray'r before thee come ; 170 After thy promise set me free. 86 P'ield streams of praise, 'LOED," shall my hps, 171 When thoix thy law* hast taught me 'quite i'' 'P'es,^ to thy promise shall my tongue 172 Respond, for all thy laws* are right. 87 3field help unto me let thy hand ; 173 For chosen thy commands have I : 'Jfea,^ I for thy salvation long, 174 O LORD ; and thy law is my joy. 88 'ifet^^ live and praise thee let my soul; 175 And help me let thy judgment, 'LORD :"' 'pet^ err I like a lost sheep ; seek 176 Me, for I ne'er forget thy word.' testimonies. ' thy precepts and testi- monies. ' I. before thee are. ' Let my shout come near. ° Jehovah. ' I. pour out praise. ' statutes. ' commands. commands. H. strangely connects Ps. cxix. with the preceding ten, as a conclusion to a set of festival songs ! and, in his cabalistic way, finds, that ' in accordance with the division into 22 Parts, the name Jehovah occurs 22 times,' though, had he coimted right, he would have foimd that it occiu-s 23 times, — a number not spe- cially symbohcal ! That no attention was paid by the Psalmist to the number of times he uses this name, is fiu-ther evideiit from the u-regular way iu which it is introduced. In some Parts it does not occm- at aU ; in others, twice or thi-ice. It is, however, worthy of notice, that this is the name by which he imiformly addresses the Deity throughout the Psalm ; never using the word ' God ' in direct address, and only once in the whole Psalm (ver. 115). It is also worthy of notice, that ver. 122 is the only one containing none of the designations of the word of God. Ver. 128. Retain the same Heb. letters, but, as W. suggests, arrange them thus : Tllti' "h "inipD h'Z ; the verb lie' signifies ' to respect,' Job xxxv. 13. PSALM CXX. Fifteen Psalms now occur, each bearing the title, ' A Song of the Ascendings, ' or, as it reads in next Psalm, 'A Song/o?- the Ascendings ;' so called from being used by pilgrims in their ' ascendings ' to Jerusalem at the great festivals. The word in the Heb. is from the verb found in Ps. cxxii. 4, and translated in a. v. 'go up.' 284 PSALM CXXI. Ges. and others derive the name from the step-like progression observable in several of the Psalms of this group, but with less ijlausibilitj'. The author of the 120th is not named ; but I take it to be one of Da\ad's, and written, not, as often supposed, on occasion of Doeg's speech against the priests, but at the time when Saul was ensnaring Da\ad with a promise of his daughter, and sending him out continually to light with the Philistines, in order to ensure his death. A Song for the Ascendings I in my straits called on the LORD, And he replied to me : From lip of falsehood, tongue of guile, O LORD, my soul set free. 1 2 What shall he'" give thee, tongue of guile? 3 What add to thee 'for doom?" A strong man's arrows sharpened," 4 Alonjr with coals of broom.® ' so H., D. ; but A. v., W., 'be giv'n.' ' uot 'sharp.' 3 woe is me that I sojourn, 'My stay thus" lengthening;'' 'O woe is me" that with" my tents'' I dwell 'thus" sorrowing. 4 O much® for her, my soul hath dwelt With him that hateth peace : T 'am for" peace ; but when I speak, For battle 'then" are these. 5 ■■ i.e. in the teuted field : uo sooner done with cue fight, thau urged forth to another. Ver. 5. Leiujthening — /. drawing out; Scottice, 'dreeing out;' not a proper name, but the participle of the verb to draw out. When was he ever in Mesecli, or among the Moschi? When was he ever with the tribe of Kedar? How could he possibly bo with both about the same time ? Could these difficulties be got over, the A. v. might stand, and the verse would read : woe is me that I sojourn In Mesech 'tlms so long :" ' woe is me" that I the tents Of Kedar dwell amoufi:. PSALM CXXI. A Song for the Ascendings. 1 Up to the hills I lift mine eyes. From whence doth come mine aid Mine aid^ out from Jehovah 'comes,""* Who heav'n and earth hath made. L PSALM CXXIl. 285 2 May he not'" let thy foot be moved ;' 3 ' See Ew. Gr. Nor slumber thee who keeps : § ^^'^ (f)- ^ ' ' grant thy Lo ! he that keepeth Israel 4 foot to slip,' as Slumbereth not nor sleeps. ^^ ^^- ^^- ^'^• 3 Jehovah's keeping thee ; thy shade 5 Jehovah's on thy right : The sun shall not smite thee by day, 6 Nor shaU the moon by night. 4 'The Lord^ Jehovah shall thee keep 7 From everything that's ill : 'In loving-kindness '^ he shall keep Thy soul 'securely still.* 5 Thy going out and coming in, 8 Jehovah, 'ever nigh,'' Shall keep ' from this time forth, and ev'n Unto eternity."" ■■ Ps. cxv. 18. PSALM CXXIL The title tells us David was the writer of this Psalm ; and he probably wrote it soon after the capture of Zion, and the establishment of divine service there, in order to endear Jerusalem to the nation as the new centre of their homage. From 2 Sam. V. 9 we learn that a great building and embellishing took place after Zion became ' the city of David. ' A Song for the Ascendings, by Dayid. 1 Glad was I when"" they said to me, 1 ■■ so D., rather ' Go to Jehovah's house we would : ^]^^^ 'oyer -ITT- 1 • T (-11 those who Withm thy gates, 'full soon 2 said'(H.). Our feet, Jerus'lem, stood." ' P^st tense Jerusalem ! O thou 'fair" builded'" one ! 3 22; Judg. i. 7); Like to a city which 'all round ^ so H., D., W. . ' Ges Gr. Has thoroughly unto itself been bound. § lojj rem. 2. 2 Whither the tribes, the tribes of JAH," 4 , . ' ' ' ascend. Unto the testimony 'there'* ■■ not 'they sit For Israel, repair,' ^ip thrones,' as 1 , . „ Ges. in Lex. ; In order that 'agam* for in the ex- They thanks may render to Jehovah's name ; pressian so For thrones there 'in Jerusalem'' 5 sit on the For judgment, thrones for David's house, remain. *■ tin-one,' the prep, is never wanting, even 3 Ask ye Jerus'lem's peace : may those 6 '^^ poetry (of. _ Who love thee rest secure : " may peace 7 8,''cxxxii. 12). " Within thy rampart® be. The verb often Rest' in thy palaces : S?remain.' security. 286 PSALMS CXXIII. CXXIV. Because of friends* and brethren* let me speak/ 8 " my. I pray," let there he peace in thee : Because^ of "our God's house thy good I'll seek. 9 " Jebovali. PSALM CXXIII. A Song for the Ascendings. Up towards thee I lift mine eyes, O thou that sittesf in the skies.' Behold! as servants' eyes are towards The hand 'directed* of their lords, As a handmaiden's eyes 'intent" Towards the mistress' hand are 'bent ;* So our eyes towards the LORD our God Ai-e, till he us have pity show'd. ■ cf. Ps. ii. heavens. Show pity to us, LORD ; O show Thou pity unto us ; for 'lo I"^ With 'ridicule and'' mockery We're satisfied abundantly. Abundantly for her,*^ 'in sooth,* Our soul is satisfied Avith 'both" The scorn of those that are at ease, 'And* with the proud men's mockeries. mockery. PSALM CXXIV. A Song for the Ascendings, by David. Had not Jehovah been for us. Say now let Israel ; Had not Jehovah been for us, When men upon us fell ; ' Then us alive they had devour'd. Against iis when their anger glow'd : Then had the waters us o'erpower'd ; Over our soul the stream had How'd : Flow'd o'er our soul then had the waters proud. ' against us rose. O let Jehovah l)lessed be, That"" over for a prey U^ to their teeth not given hath he : Our soul's escaped away. Like as a bird out of the snare Of fowlers 'freed;" the snare 'they laid' so H. PSALMS CXXV. CXXVI. 287 Is broken, and escaped we are. 'Yes,'' in Jehovah's name's our aid : 'Yes, in Jehovah's,* heav'n and earth who made. J PSALM CXXV. A Song for the Ascendings. Those in Jehovah who confide. They hke are unto Zion hill ; 'Which'' shaketh not, 'but still" Doth evermore abide. Jerusalem! the mountains round her 'lie:'' And round his people is the LORD, From this time forth and to eternity. ■" For 'verily" the sceptre-rod Of wickedness, upon the lot Of righteous men, shall not 'Permitted be to" rest ; In order that^ the righteous ones 'of God" May not, 'in their extremity," 'E'er" put their hands forth unto knavery.'" Do good, Jehovah, to the good. And to those upright in their heart ; But those men that depart Into their own byways,® O let Jehovah carry them away,"" With those who practise naughtiness : May"* there be peace on Israel 'for aye." Ps. cxxi. 8.' Ps. Ixiv. 6. ° Judg. V. 6.' ■■ 2 Kings xxiv. 15 ; I. make them go awaJ^ ■• H„ D. PSALM CXXVI. Written soon after Zion was wrested from the Jebusites, and made the seat of divine worship, to commemorate the joyful event, and be a fitting song for the pilgrims who went yearly up to appear before Jehovah there ; not written after the Babylonish captivity, as most commentators strangely suppose. Argument: — (1) The happiness of the nation on the return of Jehovah after a lengthened estrangement, vers. 1-3 ; (2) a prayer for a fuller manifestation of his presence, ver. 4; (3) an assurance that the night of sorrow will always be succeeded by a time of gladaess to the true people of God. A Song for the Ascendings. 1 When back Jehovah did return,"" At Zion's recovery ; " ■■ of. 1 Sam. xxviii. 16, 19. " 2 Sam. V. 6. 288 PSALM CXXYI. Like dreaming men were we : Then filled with laughter was our mouth, 2 Our tongue with shouts 'of glee.' 2 Among the nations, then, ' Great things Jehovah hath,' they said, 'With these accomplished :' Great things with" us Jehovah hath 3 Accomplish'd ; glad we're made. 3 Return^ like torrents in the south, 4 Jehovah, 'thou Most High,' To our captivity : "" ' Ps. liii. 6, n. Those who 'may have to" sow in tears 5 Shall reap with shouts 'of joy." 4 At going forth he may go forth, 6 And may be weeping 'then,* Bearing the draught* of grain :' ' seed. Coming, he with a shout, bearing His sheaves, shall come 'again." Yer. 1. Recovery. — The word n3"'B' is generaUy rendered 'captivity.' as if it were n^3*J', as in ver. 4 (Kri) ; but H. justly ob.serves that such a rendering is inadmissible, for the words come from quite separate roots, which are never interchanged. The mistake is probably occasioned by the lateness of the date usually assigned for the Psalm's composition. But H. is equally under mistake himself, when he considers it merely another form of nziC*. and translates it ' turning back.' This explanation might be accepted were there no such form as nSltJ' in use ; but there is such a form derived regularly from the Kal of 31C'» and occurring ia Isa. xxx. 15 : whereas n3^J^ is derived from the Hiplul of that verb, and naturally means ' bringing back,' ' recovery.' Is it objected that Zion could not be spoken of as ' recovered ' at its captm-e by David, since it never had been in Israel's possession before? The same thing might have lieen said of Israel's border at the Euphrates ; yet we read in 2 Sam. viii. 3, of David • as he went to recover his border' there; and the Heb. word is the very one from which the noun here is formed. This meaning also agrees well with what is said in the second verse of the Psalm. There was immense joy at the recovery of Zion, which had so long defied the utmost efforts of Israel, though well known to be the place Jehovah had chosen for his rest, and deemed so important that the office of commander-in-chief was offered to the man who should first scale its heights. Tlie joy rose to a still higher pitch when the ark of God was brought within its walls. AD Israel was gathered together ' from Shihor of Egypt, even unto the entering of Hamath ' (1 Chron. xiii. 5) ; and ' all Israel brought up the ark with shouting, and with the somid of the cornet, and with tnmipets ' (1 Chron. XV. 28); and 'David danced before the LORD with all his might' (2 Sam. vi. 14). Equally appropriate to such an occasion is the expression, PSALM CXXVir. 289 • when JehoTah returned ; " for David, in proposing the removal of the ark. says to the congregation. • Let us bring again the ark of our God to us. for ire inquired not at it in the days of Said' (1 Chron. xiii. 3). Our translators themselves had remarked the difference of the words notwith- standing their close resemblance, and on the margin give "tium again the return- ing.' Thus they had in their very hand the clue which, if followed, would have led them to a correct understanding of the Psalm. Yet they did not follow it up. Still one would have thought they might have been led to the right interpretation by another circumstance. Did it not strike them as peculiarly strange that there should be 15 Ascension Psalms to be used in going up to Ziou. or at the festivals there, and no mention in^y one of them of the capttire of Zion. — an event that had spread such an excitement and joy throughout the nation, one of the most memorable events in the whole course of their history? Did not that strike them as surpassingly strange, and lead them to inquire whether this Psalm might not refer to that event ? Yer. 3. Great things icith us — not • for us.' — The taking of Zion was a great feat itself : but it was also the prelude to other achievements of like character. For when the Philistines, moved by it. came up to attack the rising kingdom, they twice over met with immense discomfiture ; so that David was constrained to cry out, ' Jehovah has broken forth upon mine enemies before me as the breach of waters ' (2 Sam. v. 20). Thus ' David went on, and grew great: and Jehovah God of hosts was with him' (ver. 10), and ' cut off all his enemies out of his sight, and made him a great name, like imto the name of the great men that are in the earth ' (vii. 9). Yer. 4. Torrents in the south of Palestine, bordering on the desert, dry up in stmuner. and leave their channels bare : but return in their strength when the rains set im and sweep along with mighty force. Like them, Jehovah is entreated to return from his lengthened withdrawal since the days of Saul, and sweep away all the remaining enemies. And many such there stiU were, as we learn from 2 Sam. viiL; but they soon vanish before Jehovah, who comes back to Zion at the entreaty of his people and their king, 'and sends forth the rod of his strength from it. and preserves David whithersoever he went ' (2 Sam. viii. 6, U). Yer. 5. Shall reap. — It had been so with David himself. He had long been sowing in tears ; he was now reaping in joy. ■ Solomon is n-.TAr ,.x-^T-TT espresslT named r S'AJ^Ji (_ AA \ Li. as the author of this Psalm, and it A Song for the Ascendings, bv Solomon.' ^^11 accords with 1 Unless Jehovah btdld the house, 1 ^.Lf^^!" In vain its builders labour then : ' **°°^ Unless Jehovah the city keep, ' /. at it. The keeper sleepless^ is in vain- Ps. ciL 7. who eat. Tis vain for you who* early rise, 2 p -Thus' Are late of sitting down, who keep should be r. • i T 1 , ^ 1 , 1 „ loined to this hating' the bread ot troubles thus:P clause: it He gave his LOYED OXE it -in' sleep." makes no ' sense if joined T to the next. 290 PSALM CXXVIII. Gen. XXX. 18.' ' j'outb, or, So sous of youth are ' to their sire.* 2 Behold, Jehovah's heritage 3 Is sons ; the womb's fruit is 'his* hire :"" As arrows in a strong man's hand, 4 So are the sons of youthful sire.' O happy is the man 'indeed," 5 Who hath his quiver full of these ! They shall not be ashamed, when they Speak in the gate with enemies. Ver. 2. Gaoe. — The verb is in the fut. in the c, but the fut. is here used in the sense of the past, as in Ps. xviii. 4, 5, and often. Loved one. — The Heb. word is ' Jedid,' the name expressly given Solomon by God himself (2 Sam. xii. 25) ; and there is therefore peculiar propriety ia calling himself by it here. He appeals to his own case in confirmation of what he is here inculcating. His grand qualification for his high post was given him by Jehovah, and given him In sleep. — The prep, is often left out in such cases ; e.g. in, Ps. xxiv. 8, cxxxiv. 2, Deut. ii. 24 ; from, Ps. ii. 12 ; ly, Amos ix. 6 ; before, Xum. xxv. 6 ; with, Isa. XXXV. 4, cf. Ps. xvii. 13, n. ; for, Mic. vi. 7 ; at. Lev. viii. 35, Judg. xix. 27 ; beside, 2 Kings xi. 20. Ver. 3. Heritage of Jehovah sometimes means the inheritance belonging to him, as 2 Sam. xxi. 3 ; and sometimes the inheritance bestowed by him, derived from him, as Job xxxi. 2, cf. Prov. xix. 14. The latter is manifestly its mean- ing here. PSALM CXXVIII. A Song for the Ascendings, Happy's each one that fears the LORD ; That walketh in his ways 'and word :* The labour of thy hands Thou eat of shalt assuredly:"^ O happy" thou ! ° 'tis well with thee :^ Thy wife, a fruitful vine is she Along thy house 'that stands:* 'And stand" around thy table 'too* Like olive plants thy children 'do." Behold, thus bless'd assuredly^ The man that fears the LORD shall be. From out of Zion, let 'The Lord" Jehovah bless thee 'now:" And on Jerus'lem's good look thou, The whole days of thy life 'below :" And look thou also 'yet' Upon thy children's seed^ 'as well." May there be peace on Israel.'" ■■ ■'s, Ew. Gr. § 330, b (D.) ; cf. Ps. cxviii. 10. "■ Deut. xxxiii. 29. ° and. ■■ Num. xi. 18 ; Eccles. viii. 12 ; Jer. xxii. 15. ' children. ' Ps. cxxv. 5' (H., D., W.). PSALMS CXXIX. CXXX. 291 Ver. 3. Along. — ' Behind ' would be an exacter rendering ; but to translate so here would convey a false impression to the general reader, the construction of an eastern house being so different from that of ours. The Jewish house was dead wall in front, along the street ; and only inside or ' behind ' had its cheerful court, with foimtain and trees and pleasant aspect. To a vine trained along this secluded but chief side of the house, the wife is compared. PSALM CXXIX. A Song for the Ascendings. 1 Sore* have tliey pressed me from my youth, Say now may Israel ; Sore pressed me from my youth ; yet could Not over me prevail. 2 The ploughers ploughed upon my back ; Their furrows long they drew : Jehovah's'" righteous; he hath cut The wicked's cords in two. ' ' much,' not 'oft;' cf. Ps. cxxiii. 3, 4. 4 ■■ cf. Ps. xi. 7, n. 3 Shamed shall be all who Zion hate, And back to tiu'n be made ; Shall as the grass of® housetops be, Which, ere pull'd out,'" doth fade. ' so H., D. 4 With Avhich the reaper fiUeth not His hand; and 'wherewithal" The binder of the sheaves 'fills not' His arm'" 'at harvest-fall.* H., D. 5 And the by-passers do not say, ' Jehovah's blessing be Upon you ; in Jehovah's name We bless you 'heartily.*' PSALM CXXX. A Song for the Ascendings, 1 Out of the depths I call to thee, Jehovah ; hearken to my voice. Lord : O, attentive be thine ears Unto my supplicating cries.' ' supplications. 2 Should'st thou watch o'er^ iniquities, c O J AH — * Lord, who shall then stand ' cleared ? ' Job xiv. 16. 292 PSALMS CXXXI. CXXXII. Buf yet with thee forgiveness is, 4 ' not 'for,' as In order that" thou may'st be feared. S- (?.®® ^®- *' 111. i ). 3 I for Jehovah wait ; my soul 5 Waits ; and I hope upon his word : My soul 'bove those who watch ^ for morn, 6 Who watch for morn, 'waits* for the Lord. 4 ' O"" Isr'el, on Jehovah hope,'" 7 "■ so H., D. ; For grace and rich redemption is i;^et isi'ae].'' With JAH ; * and he will Israel 8 " Ps. cxxxi. 3. Redeem from all his trespasses.' ' iniquities. Ver. 3. Watch oVr— as in Job xiv. 16, of. John xx. 23. The A. v. and others render it ' mark,' but this term is apt to convey a false meaning. It would be suitable only in the sense in which we find it in Jer. ii. 22, where it represents quite a different Heb. verb ; but this is not the sense which an ordinary English reader would most readily attach to it. The Heb. word occiu-s twice again in this Psalm, ver. 6. It properly means to watch, to keep, to guard; and should God keep watch over our sin as the watchman over a city, should he preserve it, retam it — ' seal it up,' as Job explains it (xiv. 17) — none of us could stand ; but in his mercy he is ready to hide his face from it, to cast it behind his back, to remember it no more. PSALM CXXXI. A Song for tlie Ascendings, by David. My heart, Jehovah, is not high ;° 1 ' Jobxi. 8; Ps. Nor are mine eyes, 'LOIID,'^ lifted up ; *''• ^' ""• ^^• Nor do I into matters go" Too great and wonderful for me : Composed and stilled my soul O have not I ? ' 2 ' ^. if I have Like wean'd one with' its mother, 'so" °°!" ^ My soul's like a wean'd one with^ me. xxxii. 11; Ps. ' O Isr'el, on Jehovah hope '" 3 ,?V>^"' °- ^ T-l 1 • • r> T 1 • "S. CXXX. /. 1 rom this time forth, and to eternity.'" ■■ Ps. cxv. 18, cxxi. 8, cxxv. 2. Ver. 2. With — a sense the prep, often has ; cf. Ps. vii. 10. The meaning is, ' As a weaned child demeans itself with its mother, my soul demeans itself with me.' It ceases to struggle ; it is quite chastened, submissive and meek. PSALM CXXXII. A Song for the Ascendings. 1 Do thou to David all his pains'" 1 ■■ i.e. his Remember, O Jehovah ; how" 2 trouble and _-. , . ' ' care to provide He did unto Jehovah swear, a suitable To Jacob's Mighty One did vow. ""^"^^ for «hee. ^ J " A. v., W. rSALM CXXXII. 293 If* I enter my house's tent, Upon my bed's couch if I go, Unto mine eyes if I give sleep, Or 'let* mine eyelids slumber 'know,' 3 Until I find a place for J AH,' 5 Dwellings for Jacob's mighty God/ Lo ! in^ Ephratah'" we heard of it ;" 6 In the fields we found it of the Wood.'" 4 Let us into his dwellings^ go ; 7 Down at his footstool let us bow. Arise, Jehovah, to thy rest,'" 8 Thou, and the ark of thy strength 'now.* 5 Clothed be thy priests with righteousness, 9 And let thy saints glad shoutings raise : ' For thine own servant David's sake, 10 Back turn not thine Anointed's face. ' Jehovah. ' Mighty Oue. ■■ Bethlehem, i.e. in his youth ; but it was little sought after ; cf. 1 Chron. xiii. 3. "■"■ cf. Job xlii. 5. ■■ Kirjath- jearini. ' cf. 2 Chrou. vi. 41. shout. 6 Jehovah truth "" to David swore, 11 'And* back he will not turn^ from it: I of thy body's fruit will place Upon the throne for thee® 'to sit.* 7 My cov'nant if thy sons shall keep. And testimonies I make known To them,' their sons too evermore For thee shall sit upon the throne. 8 For choice of Zion JAH ' hath made, Desired it for his seat 'acqvdi-ed:* ' This evermore's my rest ; I'll here Seat® me ; for I have it desii'ed.^ 9 ' I'll her provision richly bless,' With bread her needy® satisfy; "Her priests I'll with salvation clothe, "Her saints shall shout exceedingly.' 10 'There I'll for® David make a horn Bud forth ;"" for^ mine Anomted trim A lamp : ■" his foes I'll clothe with shame, But flovu'ish shall his crown on him.' 12 • teach them. 13 ' Jehovah hath chosen. 14 15 ' blessing I will bless. 16 " and. ' shouting shall shout. 17 18 ' Ezek. xxix. 21.» ■• cf. 1 Kings xi. 36. 294 PSALMS CXXXIII. CXXXIV. CXXXV. PSALM CXXXIII. A Song for the Ascendings, by David. Behold, how good, ° how pleas'rable, When quite^ together bretlaren dwell ! 'Tis like the good" oil on the head, Adown upon the beard descending," The beard of Aaron, which'" did spread^ Down o'er his vestments' neck' 'extending : 'Tis like the dew of Hermon, which Descendeth Zion's mountains o'er ; For there the LOliD the blessing 'rich' Commandeth,'' Life for evermore. I ° and. 2 ' viz. ' tho beard.' • descend. ' I. ' mouth ; ' not ' skirts,' as in A.v. ' or ' ap- pointeth.' PSALM CXXXIV. A Song for the Ascendings. ' Lo ! bless ye Jehovah, All ye servants of Jehovah, Standing in Jehovah's house In the nights : Yovir hands lift 'in* the sanctu'ry, And bless Jehovah 'fervently."' ' May Jehovah, Maker of heaven and earth, bless thee, Out of Zion's 'heights." 1. Call to the night-attend- ants in the temple. 3 2. Kesponse by them. PSALM CXXXV. Halleluiah. 1 Praise the name of 'God* Jehovah ; O ye servants of Jehovah, praise ; Standing*" in Jehovah's temple,' In the courts of our God's holy place.' Praise ye J AH," for good Jehovah is ; Play ye to his name, for pleasant's this. 2 For"" Jehovah chose him Jacob, Isr'el for his special property : For" I know that great's Jehovah, And our Lord above all gods 'is high.* AVhat things please Jehovah, he does these, In the heav'ns and earth, all deeps* and seas.' 3 From the end of earth the vapours, 'Up on high,* he causeth to arise :' who stand, house. first reason. " second reason. ascend. PSALM CXXXVI. 295 For the rain he makes the lightnings ; Brings the Avind out of his treasuries. Who the first-born ones of Egypt's ' might," Both of man and ev'n of beast, did smite. To the midst of thee, O Egypt, 9 He did signs and 'tokens,* marvellous things,' Send on Pharaoh and ° his servants. Who great nations smote, and slew stout kings; 10 Namely Sihon king of th' Amorites, 1 1 Namely Og the king of Bashan's 'heights," And the kingdoms all of Canaan. Then for an inheritance did he Give their land, 'and their possessions Thenceforth'^ an inheritance to be ; *An inheritance* to Israel, 'To* his people, 'whom he loved so well.* O Jehovah, thy name's for ever ; Thy memorial, LORD, to ages all.' For Jehovah rules his people. And repent he for his servants shall."" Th' idols of the nations 'of all lands* Silver are, and gold, work of men's hands. 12 marvels, all. 13 14 15 ' to generation and genera- tion. ' Dent, xxxii. 36. " Ps. cxv. 4-8. 7 They've a mouth,® but yet they speak not ; 16 They have eyes, but yet they see not ' ought ; * They have ears, but yet hear nothing ; 17 Breath, moreover, in their mouths there's not. Like to them their makers grow 'apace;* 18 Every one who trust on them doth place. 8 Bless Jehovah, house of Isr'el ; 19 Bless Jehovah, house of Aaron 'too;* Bless Jehovah, house of Levi ; 20 , Bless Jehovah, ye, fear Him' who do. Out of Zion be Jehovah bless'd ; 21 In Jerus'lem who his seat hath placed. •" Halleluiah. ' Jehovah. who dwells. PSALM CXXXVI. 1 Thanks to Jehovah pay, for good is he : For his mercy is for ever. 296 PSALM CXXXVI. Thanksgiving to the God of gods pay ye : 2 For his mercy is for ever. 2 Thanksgiving pay the Lord of lords ixnto : 3 For his mercy is for ever. To him, who only wonders great can do : 4 For his mercy is for ever. 3 Him, who the heav'ns by understanding "■ made : 5 ' Ex. xxxi. 3.' For his mercy is for ever. The earth who out above the waters spread : 6 For his mercy is for ever. 4 To him, who made the great lights 'of the sky :" 7 For his mercy is for ever. The sun to rvde throughout the day ' on high : " 8 For his mercy is for ever. 5 The moon and stars to rule throughout the night : 9 For his mercy is for ever. Him, who did Egypt in their first-born smite : 10 For his mercy is for ever. 6 And Isr'el from the midst of them who fetched : 1 1 For his mercy is for ever. With a strong hand, and with an arm outstretch'd: 12 For his mercy is for ever. 7 Him, who the Red Sea into parts did part :' 13 For his mercy is for ever. And who made Israel pass through its heart :' 14 ' midst. For his mercy is for ever. 8 "Shook Pharaoh and his force off in its tide :'' 15 " and. For his mercy is for ever. Ked' Sea ^'^ Who did his people through the desert guide : 1 6 For his mercy is for ever. 9 Him, who great kings 'effectually" smote : 17 For his mercy is for ever. And slew illustrious kings ' of highest note : " 18 For his mercy is for ever. 10 Namely Sihon, the king of th' Amorites : "" 19 For his mercy is for ever. PSALM CXXXVII. 297 And also Og, the king of Baslian's 'heights :* 20 For his mercy is for ever. 11 Then give their land for heritage did he : 21 For his mercy is for ever. His servant Isr'el's heritage to be : 22 For his mercy is for ever. 12 Who did remember us in our low state : 23 For his mercy is for ever. And from our en'mies did us liberate : 24 For his mercy is for ever. 13 Who food to all flesh giveth 'day by day :' 25 For his mercy is for ever. Unto the God of heav'n thanksgiving pay : 26 For his mercy is for ever. PSALM CXXXVII. 1 Beside the streams of Babylon, 1 There sat w^e down, and still wept on, Remember Zion while we did. Upon the willows, her amid, 2 We hung our harps: yef there, 'ere long," 3 Our captors ask'd us words® of song, Our spoilers" for rejoicing too, ' Sing us a song of Zion, do.' 2 How shall we sing Jehovah's song ■ 4 On a strange soil,® 'our foes among?" Jerus'lem, if I thee forget, 5 Forget let^ my right hand : cleave let 6 My tongue to my mouth's roof 'in me," If I do not remember thee : If I Jerus'lem at the top Of my rejoicing bring not up.® 3 Remember, LORD, Jerus'lem's day 7 To Edom's sons, who 'then* did say, ' Raze, raze 'her!* to the ground^ with her!' Daughter of Babylon, laid 'bare 8 And" waste!'' Blest's he, pay back who does To thee thy recompense ° to us : Blest's he, thy little ones who takes, 9 And 'gainst the cliff in pieces breaks. "" health at the head of all the sentiments proposed at all our festive gather sort. ' foundation. ' I. ^0 wasted one;' not 'to be wasted.' recompensed. ■■ 2 Chrou. xxv. 12, where the same Heb. word for Stanley's Sinai and ralestine, p. 94, n.). ■■ "^3 does not here mean 'for,' which is unsuitable, but 'yet,' 'never- theless,' 'but;' cf. Ps. iii. 7, xlii. 4. "■ This pro- bably was not in mockery, but to cheer them up, and make them forget their over- throw. ■■ others, ' for- got be.' ^ 1 Sam. ii. 19, viii. 8, 2 Sam. ii. 3, vi. 1.5 ; i.e. if I do not on all occasions bring up Jerusalem at the head, on the forefront, of my gladness, as we bring up the sovereign's ings, of whatever ° thou hast cliff ' is used (see 298 PSALM CXXXVIll. PSALM CXXXVIll. By David. "With all my heart I will thee thank 1 'Though" ruler," LORD,' I'll play to thee. I'll worship towards thy holy place,*" 2 And for thy truth,* and for thy grace,* I'll thank thy name 'continually." 2 For thou along with" all thy name, 'O God," hast magnified thy word. Upon the day I called, then^ thou 3 Didst answer me ; thou didst endoAv Me in my soul with strength, 'O LORD." 3 Jehovah, when the kings of earth 4 Hear of thy mouth the promises. Thank 'and adore" thee they shall all :*" "Sing in Jehovah's ways they shall : 5 For great Jehovah's glory is. 4 For Hfted up Jehovah is ; 6 And yet vipon the base® 'and low* He looketh down : but him that's high, 'And walketh with a prideful eye," Him from afar off he doth know. 5 If I in midst of trouble walk, 7 Thou wilt keep me alive : wilt send Thy hand forth 'gainst the wrath of those Who are mine enemies 'and foes :" And thy right hand shall me defend.' Written almost certainly on oc- casion of Mlchal mocking (2 Sam. vi. 20) ; certainly not at the be- ginning of his history, a.s W. supposes. ' God. ' Ps. V. 7.' " not 'above,' but 'along with ' all thine other perfec- tions, thou hast magnified thy word of promise. ' as well as myself at present. " and. 6 Jehovah will 'assiu'edly" The things regarding me complete : Thy grace endures for evermore, Jehovah : O do not gi^^e o'er Thy hands' performings, 'I entreat. = Ps. Ivii. 2 ; and not take away his mercy from me, as from Saul. Ver. 1. Ruler. — 1J3 is not here the prep. ' before,' but the noun signifying ' ruler ; ' the very word employed by David while addressing Michal (2 Sam. vi. 21), only written short, without "•, as in 1 Chron. ix. 11. i\nd what he said to Michal he would do, he here repeats substantially, ' I mil play before Jehovah.' The word ' play' in 2 Sam. vi. 21, it is true, means properly to sport and dance, while the word in the Psalm means to play on a musical instrument ; still the display of humility and homage is nearly the same. According to the cmront PSALM CXXXIX. 299 translations of the Psalm, there is no mention made in it of the person addressed, — a thing imexampled in any other Psalm in the whole collection ; for though there be no mention of God's name in the first clause of Ps. cxvi., the second makes it evident to whom the Psalmist is speaking. Apart from this, what meaning can we attach to the expression, 'before the gods'? Was David in a foreign land at the time? or did he frequent idol temples, there to praise Jehovah ? As I render the Psalm, there is a beautiful comiection throughout. Not only would he, the anointed ruler of Israel, play before God like the humblest woi-shippmg priest, but all the kings of the earth would yet do the same, however degrading Michal might deem such service to be ; and God would not let him suffer in dignity by this humbling of himself before God, but would complete in his behalf all the great promises he had made him, and not take the kingdom from him, as he had taken it from Michal's father. Ver. 2. Along with. — py does not here mean ' above,' as all interpreters trans- late ; for how is God's word magnified above his name ? above all his name ? His truthfulness is part of his name. The prep, here means ' along with,' as in Ex. XXXV. 22, Lev. xix. 26, Job xxxviii. 32, Amos iii. 15 (see rem. on title of Ps. vi.). God had strikingly displayed all his glorious attributes in his dealings with David ; and his truthfulness he had displayed quite as much as his other attributes. He had wonderfully kept his word to David. PSALM CXXXIX. By the Chief Musician, by David, a Psalm. 1 Jehovah, thou hast searched me out,® 1 And knowest 'me:" my sitting down 2 And my uprising thou hast known : Hast from afar discerned my thought.'" 2 My path and couch thou hast explored,' 3 And scann'd"" my whole ways 'all along :" When" not a word was in my tongue, 4 Lo, thou didst know it all, O LORD. 3 Thou hemm'st me in behind, ° before, 6 And on me lay'st thy hand ; 'but this" G Knowledge too wondrous for me is ; 'Tis high, I cannot to it 'soar." Like the 26th, written on the murder of Ish- bosheth, by Rechab and Baanah, to ex- press David's abhorrence of the crime, and liis entire freedom from tlie guilt of suggesting it. ' so D. The word scarcely found in this sense, except in this Psalm. ' I. sifted. ■■ been familiar with. " cf. Ps. v. 2, h. ° and. 4 From thy face whither shall I go ? And from thy Spirit whither fly ? Climb I the heav'ns, there thou art 'nigh :' Couch I in hell, lo ! 'there" art thou. Take I the wings of morning-daAvn, 9 And dwell upon the sea's far side ; There also shall thy hand me guide, 10 " Thy right hand hold me ' un withdrawn." and. 300 PSALM CXXXIX. 6 And sliould I say, The darkness 'quite" Will surely overshadow'" me; 'Then* round about me 'suddenly' The night itself becometh light. 11 ■ ■ Geu. iii. 16 : ' bruise.' 7 Ev'n the 'very" darkness doth 12 Not darken as regards" thee; 'nay,' But night doth shine like as the day ; Alike"" are light and darkness 'both.' 8 But *" of my reins possession Thou 13 Acquired'"'" hast, who'" didst 'of old" Me in my mother's womb enfold. I thanks to thee will render 'now,' 14 9 Because been signalized® have I By dreadful things : '" O, marvellous Thy doings are ; and know it does My soul, 'and that' most thoroughly.' 10 From thee my body* was not hid, 15 What time I was in secret made ; 'Wliat time' I was embroidered,* The lowest parts of earth amid. 11 Thine eyes my members saw unwrought, 16 And in thy book they all were writ. The days they should be formed,* while yet A single one of them was not. 12 How pi'ecious too, O God, towards me 17 Have been thy thoughts ! their sums how vast ! I'd count them, they've the sand surpass'd : 18 I rouse up, yet I'm still with thee.'" 13 If thou in very deed wilt slay 19 The wicked man, 'Almighty' God,** Then 'hence, O you,' ye men of blood, ' Begone ; ' depart from me away. 14 Those in regard to the device,''*" 20 Who speak of thee,'" O thou 'most High,' Who lift up to a falsity '"'" 'Thy name," they are thine enemies. " from thee. ' /. as darkness, so light. ' cf. Ps. cxxxvii. 3, not ' for.' '■'■ as iu Ruth iv. 9, 10, Prov. iv. 7, xvi. 16 ; aud uot 'held possessiou.' ' The emphatic 'thou 'in theo. enables the writer to omit ' who ; ' but the English idiom requires its insertion, as in Isa. li. 22, liv. 1, 17, Ps. Ix. 10, Ixiii. 9. ' Ps. iv. 3, u. The rendering of the A.v. is quite inad- missible. ' Ps. Ixv. 5.' ' exceedingly. ' i.e. when I bestir myself to any enter- prise, it is never without thy sanction and thy presence. " Ps. xxi. 11 ; Job xxi. 27. "■ i.e. who name thee in connec- tion with such an infamous deed. They had said, ' Jehovah hath avenged my lord ' (2 Sam. iv. 8), as if Jehovah had any need of the assassin's sword, or could have any sym- pathy with the assassin's deed, "cf. Ps. xxiv. 4. PSALM CXL. 301 15 Shall" I not hate thy haters, LORD ? And those that rise against thee loathe ? ' With perfect hatred hate them 'both* I do : my foes I them regard.' 21 22 16 Search® me, " and know my heart 'indeed ;"■ 23 Try me, and know my thoughts ; and see 24 If there be grievoxis way in me, And in th' eternal way me lead. Ps. cxix. 158. ' they become to me as foes. " God. PSALM CXL. By the Chief Musician, a Psalm by David. 1 Jehovah, from the evil man"^ O do thou set me free : O from the Man^ of vi'lences,* 'My God,®^ preserve thoii me. 2 Who in 'their* heart do evils plan, 'For*^ wars meet*" all day long : Asp's poison's 'neath their lips;* they whet As doth a snake their tongue.* Selah. 3 O keep me from the wicked's' hands, Jehovah ; from the Man Of vi'lences^ preserve thou me, T' o'erthrow my steps who plan. 4 The proud'" conceal'd a snare for me. And cords ; they spread a net Out at the border '"'' of the trench ;" A gin for me they set. Selah. 5 I to Jehovah said, Thou art My God ; an ear O reach Unto my suppUcation's voice, Jehovah, 'I beseech." After taking Saul's spear and cruse away (1 Sam. xxvi.). ■" probably the ringleader of the Ziphites, or else of Saul's courtiers, who stirred him up against David (2 Sam. xxvi. 19). '' a more digni- fied tenn (Ps. xlix. 1): Saul. « referring to the I'epeated acts of violence against David's life. ■■ cf. Ps. Ivi. 6, lix. 3.^ ' wicked man's. " Saul, so called Ps. xviii. 48. ■■ the Ziphites ; cf Ps. xvii. 10. 6 " or side ; /. hand. 6 thou, Jehovah, Lord, the strength Of my salvation, thoix My head upon the day of arms® Hast cover'd 'oft ere now.* completely into his power a second time. a temptation, such a trap ? ' 1 Sam. xxvi. 5, 7.' A more dangerous net they spread 7 for him than they were aware of. It was a great temptation to have his enemy brought so Who but David could have got out of such 302 PSALM CXL. 7 The -wishes of the wicked man, 8 Jehovah, do not grant ; His purpose further not ; they"" up Would lift themselves, 'and vaunt/ 8 The head one tread p thou down" of those 9 Who are environing Me round ; the mischief of their hps *" Be their ovra covering.' 9 Let them bring down® coals on themselves, 10 O let him fling them o'er*" Into the fire, into whirlpools : " Up let them rise no more. 10 O let not in the earth a man 1 1 Of tongue^ established be : The Man of vi'lence,*^ let ill Hunt him with urgency/ 111 know that execute the cause 1 2 Of the afflicted one,*" The judgment of the needy ones," Jehovah will 'anon/ 12 Assuredly the righteous ones 13 Thanks to thy name shall give : In presence of thy countenance"^ The upright ones shall live. " David's adherents. "■ though now ' di-iven out from abiding in Jehovah ' (1 Sam. xxvi. 19). Ver. 9. Tread thou doion. — n?D here is not the musical mark, Selah, as universally supposed, but the impera. of the verb translated ' tread under foot ' in Lam. i. 15, and ' put away' in Ps. cxix. 118, and it should begm the new sentence. To this conclusion interpreters might have been led by the violation of gi'ammar involved in the cmreut translations, ' The head one of my sur- rounders, let mischief cover thein.' A similar case has already occurred in Ps. Iv. 19. Ver. 10. Bring down coals — as they did ; for when David was driven off from Ziph, the Amalekites invaded tlie south of Caleb, to the grievous devastation of the locaUty. Ver. 12. I knotv. — With all liis occasional doubts and fears, David had firm faith that God would right him in the end, and that ere long. ■■ i.e. he and his accomplices. p See note at the end. ■■ i.e. caused by their lips ; by their words of calumny (1 Sam. xxiv. 9), of infoiTua- tion (xxvi. 1), of instigation (xxvi. 19). ' cover them. • C'thib. ■■ This is an expansion of the curse in 1 Sam. xxvi. 19. " so Ges., D. A terrible curse, but not causeless. David had uttered it in brief form in the very hear- ing of the king. « i.e. too ready with his tongue ; ready to use it to the hurt of others ; a talebearer. "^ here in sing. ^ as the Ziphites hunted David. ■■ David, the inheritance of PSALM CXLI. 303 PSALM CXLI. A Psalm by David. 1 Jehovah, unto thee I call ; hasten unto me : Unto my voice lend thou an ear, Upon my call to thee. 2 Establish'd® as the incense be My prayer before thine eyes ; ' The lifting upwards of my hands As th' evening sacrifice. 3 Place at my mouth a guard ; the door Of my lips, LORD,* watch thou : "■ Bend not my heart to an ill word," Deeds mine own self to do, 4 In wickedness upon men, who Iniquity'^ commit ; And of their dainty fare, may 1 never eat 'of it."^ 5 In*" kindness let the Righteous One Strike me, and me correct : The oU of gaU° let not my head 'Impatiently" reject: 6 When it again, and 'stiE* again, 'Falls on me day by day,®^ And in the evils they inflict,' O may I 'ever* pray. 7 Cast down their judges 'now* have been By the Rock's hands;® and ear*" They've given unto words, because They pleasant are ' to hear.* 8 Even as when a person ploughs And cleaves into the ground,' Our bones are scattered the mouth Of Hades® all around. 9 But,"* O Jehovah Lord, mine eyes Are towards thee ; I take Written on the first evening of ills flight from Absalom. ' not 'set forth.' Let mj' prayer be ac- cepted by thee, in lieu of the incense and the daily sacrifice [' the estab- lished' re- quirement in ordinary times], which I cannot now .present, while a fugitive from mv son (cf. Ps. V. 3, n.). ' face. ' In Psalm iv. he exhorts his men to silence ; here he pleads for a guard to his own mouth. He cannot trust himself to speak in such a case. ® ' word ' rather than ' thing ' (A.V., H., D.), be- cause more in keeping with the preceding clause ; and because any improper feel- ing, rising up within him, was likely to vent itself first in ' words,' and then in ' deeds.' 'The prep, ia wanting, as in Jer. XX xi. 3 (cf. Ps. cxxvii. 2, n.). ' I. their evils ; cf. Ps. Ixx. 3. ' have heard words. ' earth. " the invisible world. " as in A. v. (cf. Ps. cxxxvii. 8, n.) ; not ' for," as H., D., W. 304 PSALM CXLl. Refuge in thee ; my soul, ' O God,' Do thou not naked make. 10 O from the meshes^ of the snare,*" 9 ' hands. They've for me laid, keep me ; '^s^^ And from the gins of those men, who to pursue at Commit iniquity.^ once. 11 O let the wicked ones" — 'let them, 10 "Absalom and I earnestly implore,*^ ^h'is^r^""'"'" Together fall into his® toils, Hushai's trap ; Until I shall pass o'er."- °ot ' <^«> toU^-' i ' the Jordan. Ver. 4. Mine oicn self to do. — The verb is in Hithp., and means 'to do at one's own hand.' David did not wish to avenge himself with liis own hand, but to leave the matter with God (2 Sam. xvi. 11). Deeds. — The noun from this same verb. Li wickedness. — David felt it would have been acting improperly for him to have done deeds himself in heat and passion Upon such men as Shimei. The prep, properly signifies ' with,' but in such connections is equivalent to ' towards' or 'upon' (see Zech. vii. 9). The same holds true of the kiadred prep. Dy (Josh. ii. 12 ; see Ges. Lex. (d)). And of their dainty fare. — As httle would he court their favour or accept their friendship as he would revenge their instilts. The word for ' dainty fare ' or ' dainties ' is in pliu-al, and occurs only here. Ver. 5. The Righteous One — i.e. God, whom he knew to be chastening him in this way, for the part he had acted towards Uriah. Gcdl. — The Heb. word for ' head ' means also ' gall ' (Deut. xxxii. 32 ; Ps. Ixix. 21). Here it is used first for the one, and then for the other. By ' the oil of gall ' he means the shower of invectives and calumnies poured out upon him. Reject. — '•J'' = X'':'', fut. Hiph. of K13 (Ew. Gr. § 224, b), to reject, discourage, disallow (Num. xxx. 5, 8, xxxii. 7, 9). When. — So ""a often signifies ; cf. Ps. v. 2. Again and again. — See Ps. Ixxxiv. 4, n., I. ' when it is again and again,' i.e. when this oil of gall is again and again poiued upon me. Even Abishai and the rest might have paid no heed to Shimei's conduct had he simply vented a volley of curses as David passed liun ; but he ' went along on the hill's side over agauist him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at hmi, and cast dust,' tOl his insolence seemed unendurable to all but David. Pray. — The same very peculiar expression wliich he employs in Ps. cix. 4, written on the same occasion ; and ' pray ' he did, while Shimei cursed. Ver. 6. Their judges — Absalom's counsellors. Are cast dozen. — Absalom's main chance was to do as Ahithophel advised ; and David clearly saw what a blow the rebel cause had suffered at the hands of the Rock, i.e. Hushai ; or it may bo God, the Rock of David's salvation, who, by PSALM CXLII. 305 Hushai's means, defeated the good counsel of Ahithophel, so likely to have proved fatal, had not Absalom's coimsellors Given ear — I. ' heard.'' Words — because they were pleasant ; i.e. hearkened to the pleasmg picture Hushai drew, to the magniloquent speech he delivered, because it flattered their vanity and promised them a magnificent trivunph. """UDX, ' words,' is here with- out the final D, like >i'n in 1 Sam. xx. 38, and i~inx hi Ps. xvi. 2, and ''JO, according to Ges., in Ps. xlv. 8. Tliis omission sometimes occurs, though very rarely (Ges. Gr. § 86 ; Ew. Gr. § 177). Ver. 7. As tchen. — In this verse David seems to me to be quoting, and jeering at, their boastful talk regarding the grand destruction that was to overtake him : ' Our bones are scattered round the grave's mouth like the stones and clods and heaps of earth round one that cleaves into the ground ; or spread out in mounds like the ridges the ploughman turns up ! ' ' Of him, and of all the men with him, there was not to be left so much as one,' according to Hushai. Ver. 8. Naked make. — This is the ordinary meaning of the verb. In Isa. liii. 12 it is rendered ' pour out ' by the a. v. ; and this rendering is foUowed by Ges., H., D., in the verse before us. Should it be preferred to the other, the verse would run : But mito thee, Jehovah Lord, Mine eyes ' turn evermore : "^ In thee I refuge take ; 'then" out My soul do not pour. Ver. 10. His toils — i.e. Hushai's, not ' their own toils.' The pronomi forbids such a rendering. The Heb. word is used only in the plural, but with the singvdar signification, like our own English word ' toils,' when meaning a snare. Until I. — Ew. remarks the inversion in the Heb. here as being rare, indeed unexampled (§ 362 (n. 2)). Pass o'er — the Jordan. Interpreters, not knowing to what he alludes, suppose ' pass over ' = ' escape ' here. ' See Ps. xxxii. title. " of Adullam. PSALM CXLII. forcing liim to a T 1 i- -^ y •:, X. X. • i. „ Ti new and very Instnictive.t by David when he was m the cave," a Prayer. serious step viz. 1 To GOD* I'll with my voice cry out ; ' 1 the^head"of a To GOD^ I'll with my voice make pray'r ; onlhe^defe", Before him my complaint™ pour out : 2 —a step veiy _ . , . "^ ,. -^ , liable to be mis- iJeiore mm my distress declare, understood, and When overwhelm'd my spirit is 3 stmed by mZy In me i'" and thou my way wilt know : " i"*" an act of ' ..•'•' open rebellion. A snare they've privily for me He therefore T • 1 • . 1 i.1 • 1 • 1 T - cries to God for Laid m the path in which 1 go. guidance in this very critical hour of his Ufe. Jehovah. I 2 I to the right hand look, and see ; And to acknowledge me there's none : """a.v", "rJ D., W. ■■ Ps. xJii. 4." '■'■ i.e. my course wilt show — wilt tell me the proper course for me to take. For tenses, see Ges. Gr. § 124, 4. U 30G PSALM CXLIII. Escape'' is perish'd from me 'quite;* To seek my soul there is not one. To thee, Jehovah, I've cried out ; 'To thee, Jehovah,* I've said 'then," My refuge thou, my portion 'thou* Art in the land of living men." 3 Do thou attend unto my shout, ° For weak*-' am I exceedingly: From my pursuers rescue me, For they are mightier than I. From prison bring thou forth my soul. Thanks to thy name to render 'glad The righteous shall encircle '' me, When thou on me hast mercy had." Job xi. 20.' " i.e. of those who are truly alive — in thiue own land, amons; thine own poople. He was newl)- returned from Gath. so Ges., H. ' P.S xiii. 6.' Ver. 4. / . . . luok. — The verhs are in the inf. according to A. v. and Ew. (6rr. § 328, 1), and to be translated as here ; but H., D., and W. translate them in the impera. But even if the connection were equally good, it seems strange to say to God, ' Look on the right hand.'' Ver. 7. Encircle. — So Ges., H. ; but W., ' The righteous shall in me be crown'd ; ' D., ' The just shall put on me the crown.' PSALM CXLIII. A Psalm by David.r Jehovah, hearken to my 'prayer;' Unto my supplicating cry List in thy faithfulness : to me Do, in thy righteousness, I'eply. (And into judgment come not thou, 'LORD,* with thy servant;"" for, 'if tried. There shall not any living man Before thy face be justified.) For"' 'hard* the foe'' piirsues my soul; My life down to the earth doth tread : * Makes me in places dark to dwell,' Like those that are for ever® dead. My spirit too's' o'erwhelm'd in me; My heart within me's desolate : The days of old I call to mind,'" On all thy work I meditate : ' and not nierelj- lost to sight for a little, rememljcr. /. 'for : ' a second >■ To fiillowup the preceding one; to entreat an answer to the ' prayer ' wliich it contained. In proof of iliis, see, in addiiion to individual verbal resemblances, the striking simi- larity of ver. 3 of this to ver. G of that, of ver. 4 to ver. 3, of ver. 11 to ver. 7. ■• David felt that his con- duct of late was far from what it ought 3 to have been. He could not justify his coij- duct in going to Gath, or in Gath, much 4 less at Nob. '■■' first reason. -• Saul. 5 ' bruise, crush. ■■ in dens and caves of the eartli. reason ; cf. Ps. xi. 3. PSALM CXLIV. 307 Upon the doing of thy hands I muse : I towards thee spread out My hands ; 'yea," unto thee my soul Like as a weary land of droiight. Selah. Haste, answer^ me, my spirit faints, Jehovah ; fi-om me hide not thou Thy face : then ■" should I like to those Become, down to the pit who go. 7 " reply. ■■ Ps. xxxvi. 7, n. At morn announce® to me thy grace, 8 For upon thee do I rely : Show'" me the way that I should go. For lift my soul to thee do I. Free me, Jehovah, from my foe \^^ 9 In'" thee myself I cover o'er: Thy pleasure teach thou me to do, 10 For thou my God art 'evermore." May thy good"^ Spirit me conduct Into the land of uprightness : ^ For thy name's sake keep me alive : 1 1 O bring my soul forth from distress, Jehovah, in thy righteousness ; And in thy grace my foe subdue :' 12 And all the enemies of my soul Destroy: for I'm thy servant 'true." Ps. Ixxvi. 8.' ' make me know. The prayer was soon answered, for Gad came to him with directions (lSain.xxii.5). " Saul. ' The prep, sometimes signifies 'in ' (Deut. xvi. 6 ; 1 Kings viii. 30). "» so H., D., W. ' of. similar expression, Isa. xxv"i. 10. ' /. silence, ex- tinguish (Ps. ci. 5). Job XV. 15. PSALM CXL[V. By David. Bless'd be Jehovah, my 'strong" rock ; Who trains my hands for battle's 'shock," For war® my fingers 'trains :" My fav'rer,'" ° fort, my bulwark's 'he," My shield,* deliv'rer,* trust ; ^ 'neath me My people who constrains.'" O what is man, that thou, O LORD, KnoAv'st him ? the son of man, regard To him that thou dost pay ? Man is like vanity ; his days Are as a shadow, which 'apace" Is vanishing* away. Probably soon after being crowned king over all the tribes; while warring with all the neighbouring nations. In this respect it differs from Ps. xviii , — otherwise so like it, — which was penned at the close of aU his wars. and. accepted him as their king. ' and lie in whom I tmst. '■'■ Isa. liii. 3 : 'esteem. ' or ' my 3 mercy ' (cf. Ps. lix. 17); but is not ^-;on, the short form for 4 ■>-i^ol-! — my kind one, my benefactor, my favourer.^ cf. 1T~p, in the short form, in ' the ten tribes had recently ' piissing. 308 PSALM CXLIV. LORD, bow thy heav'ns, ° descend withal ; 5 The moiintains touch, and smoke they shall: O do thou lightning ply,^ 6 And scatter them ; send thou abroad Thy shafts, and trouble them, ' O God : " Thy hands send from on high. 7 " and. ' lighten. From many waters, from the hand Of children of an alien 'land,* Do thou me rid"" and free : Whose mouth doth speak untruthfulness, And whose right hand a right hand is Of 'utter" falsity. ■■ occurs in this sense only in this Psalm. A new song I wiD sing to thee : Upon the ten-stringed psaltery I'll play to thee, O LORD.* 'Tis he salvation gives to kings, Who his own servant David brings^ Back from the evil sword. 'In loving-kindness,'' from the hand Of children of an alien 'land* Do thou me rid and free : ® Whose mouth doth speak untruthfulness, And whose right hand a right hand is Of 'utter" falsity. 10 11 God. ' rids from. The same re- mark occurs twice over in the historj- of this part of his life (2 Sam. viii. 6, 14). 7 That so OUT sons may be 'in truth" Like plants, expanding in their youth ; That so our daughters 'thus" As corner-columns'" may be seen. Which on the model carved have been Of palace 'beauteous : " 12 so Ges., W. 8 Our garners may be full ; 'nay more,' Supplying every kind of store :" Our sheep producing young Upon our Avalks'" in thousands, 'nay," In myriads ; that our oxen may Well laden be, 'and strong :" 9 That breach® be not, nor going out : And in our thoroughfares no shout Of anguish 'after this." 13 14 " A. v., H. ; but W., 'replete from store to store.' ' i.e. sheep- walks, or fields ; cf. Job V. 10, Prov. viii. 26 (W.). ' Streets,' A. v., H., D. PSALM CXLY. 309 Happy the people that's so placed : * Happy the people is, 'and blest,* "Whose God Jehovah is. PSALM CXLV. Praise,' by David. 1 '^11 times,* my God, O King, I'll praise thee ' and adore ; " And I will bless thy name For ever, evermore. 2 '^less thee each day will I ; 'Thanks forth to thee will pour And I will praise thy name For ever, evermore. 15 'to whom it is ' The Heb. name for ' the book of Psalms ' is ' Praises,' the pi. of this word. This Psalm is an epitome of the whole coUection ; breathing his praise in every verse and every clause. 3 'Confess'dly* great's the LORD, °Much to be praised is he ; Nor of his greatness can There any searching be. aud. delightedly* shall race To race thy doings laud ; And they thy mighty acts Shall publish all abroad. 5 Enlarge I 'also* will Upon the glorious height^ Of thy magnificence. And on thy wonders 'bright. ' glorious grandeur. 6 " * Jfreely * of thy dread acts Shall men relate the force "Thy great performances ''- I will of them^ discourse. shall they, 'and* at large, The memory express Of thy rich goodness, 'LORD ; And sltout thy righteousness.'" " and. "■ 2 Sam. vii. 23." ^ the sing. fern, often used for pi. (2 Sam. xxii. 23 ; 2 Kings iii. 3 ; see D.). ' Ps li. 14." Slow* gracious is the LORD, And merciful ! he's slow To anger; and is great® In loving-kindness 'too.* ' nearly word for word, ,is in Ps. ciii. 8. Jfliovali. 310 PSALM CXLV. 9 ^eliovah unto all 9 - Is good, 'near and afar:" And over all his Avorks Ills tender mercies are. 10 ^ling everlasting," all 10 Thy Avorks shall thee confess,* 'And thanks to thee shall pay;' And thee thy saints shall bless. 11 'll'argely around them," they 11 The glory shall rehearse Of thy kingdom ; and they Shall of thy might converse: 12 ^Hen's sons to make to know 12 His mighty acts, 'and high ;" And of his kingdom 'too," The glorious majesty. 13 ® LORD, thy kingdom's one^ 13 ' =1 kiugdom. Of all eternities ;" '' :i different And thy dominion, 'LORD," f.XtiTin Through age of ages is. Dau. iv. 34, vii. 27. 14 Iflfop up all falling® ones 14 The LORD doth, 'and sustain;" And all the bowed down He raiseth up again. 15 '^uick" do the eyes of all 15 Look up*" to thee ; and thou, ■■ Ts. civ. 27. 'LORD," in its season, dost Their food on them bestow. IG 'l^espondiug to their call," 16 Thy hand thou openest ; And thou dost satisfy Each living thing's request.' • ' wish. 17 '^^upremely" righteoTis is 17 ^ The LORD in all his ways ; ''■' '^ ^'}fl. And he in ail his works as iu rs. xviii. Is full of kindnesses.' 25, Jer iii 12; not 'holy, as in A.v, PSALM CXLVT. 311 1 8 ^0 all calling^ on him 'The Lord'' Jehovah's near; 'Near'' unto aU who call** On him in truth 'sincere." 19 ^nto his fearers he Will their I'equest fulfil ; And will their loud cry hear, And resciie* them he will. 18 19 ' save. 20 *®ith care" Jehovah doth All those who love him keep ; But all the wicked he Will to destruction sweep."" 21 'ije. saints," my mouth shall forth Jehovah's praises pour : ' All flesh his holy name Bless ever, evermore. 20 21 ■■ /. will lay waste. ' shall speali. PSALM CXLVI. Halleluiah. Extol Jehovah, O my soul : I will throughout my life extol Jehovah ; unto my God 'stUl" Throughout my being play® I will. Trust not in princes, in man's son. In whom salvation there is none : His breath goes forth, back to his earth He turns ; that day his thoughts decay. Happy is he who for his aid Hath Jacob's God ; whose hope is stayed Upon Jehovah, his own God : Who made heav'n, " earth, the ocean 'broad," 6 And all that's in them, 'by his pow'r : " Who keepeth truth for evermore ; Doth judgment for the plundered ;® 7 Unto the hungry giveth bread. ' perish. md. Ps. Ixxii. 4. 3 Jehovah doth the bound unbind ; Jehovah eyesight gives the blind : "' Jehovah lifts the fall'n" again ; Jehovah loveth righteous men : 8 '■ I. Jehovah openeth the blind. ' ' bowed down ' (Ps. cxlv. 14"). 312 rSALM CXLVII. Jehovah guard the strangers doth : The orphan and the widow 'both" Maintams'' he 'hi the evil day r*^ Yet crooketh* he the wicked's way. Jehovah reign for ever shall, Zion ! thy God to ages all.' Halleluiah. 10 Ps. cxlvii. 6.' ' to genei-dtion iiiid genera- tion. PSALM CXLVII. Halleluiah. 1 C to our God 'tis good to raise 1 Psalms ; O 'tis pleasant, comely's praise. Jehovah builds Jerusalem ; 2 Isr'el's dispersed' — he's gath'ring them. 2 He heals those that heart-broken are, 3 And biudeth up their wounds 'with care :* The number of the stars proclaims ;"" 4 He calleth all of them by names. ProbaMy written soon after David iiiaile Jerusalem the capital of the kingdom. ■■ or ' sure ; ' A.v. and others, 'for.' ' ()utca.sts — tliose wlio for- sook the cities after Gilbpa's fatal day (2 Sam. xxxi. 7). ■• tells. 3 Great is om* Lord, and rich in might : 5 His understanding's infinite. Jehovah doth the meek maintain,® 6 Down to the earth casts wicked men. Ps. cxlvi. 9.' 4 llespond® to J AH* with praises'" 'loud ;' Upon the harp play to our God : The heav'n with clouds who covers o'er. Who for the earth prepares the show'r: 7 ' Jehovah. ' thanksgiving 5 Who makes grass on the mountains grow, Doth on the beast its food bestow ; Upon the young ones of the raven. Which lift their cry* up 'unto heaven." 6 The horse's strength deUghts not him,"" Nor takes he pleasure in man's limb : ' GOD in his fearers pleasure has. In those who hope upon his grace. 10 11 which call. ■■ he delights not in. 7 Jerusalem! O do thou laud 12 Jehovah ; Zion ! praise thy God : For thy gates' bars make firm doth he, 13 Thy sons doth bless in midst of thee. PSALM CXLVIII. 313 Who makes thy border peace 'complete, Thee satisfies with fat of wheat : Who sendeth his command on earth ; His word with fleetness runneth forth. 14 15 9 Who giveth snow like wool ; hoar frost Like ashes scatters ; forth is tossed.'' His ice like morsels 'by his hand :* 'And^ who before his cold can stand? 16 17 he casts. 10 He sends his word, and melts them 'so Blows with his wind, the waters flow. His word in Jacob forth he puts ; ' His judgments* and his institutes'" 19 declareth. I. statutes. 11 'Declareth* unto Israel. He with no nation thus doth deal : °As for the judgments of his grace,' No knowledge they of these possess. Halleluiah, 20 ° 'and' or ' his judg- ments. for.' Ver. 1. ""a is by almost all interpreters rendered 'for' in both clauses, and would make excellent sense when so rendered, if Halleluiah formed a part of the sentence : but Halleluiah stands detached, as is evident from the alpha- betical Psalms cxi. and cxii. ; and it seems strange to begin a Psalm with ^ For to our God 'tis good.' 1 apprehend 13 has here the signification of 'verily' or 'surely,' a sense it sometimes has (Ew. Gr. § 330 (h)), and to which, in a case like this, our EngUsh word ' O ' seems an exact equivalent, and a more idiomatic form of expression. PSALM CXLVIII. Halleluiah. Praise Jehovah from the heavens ; Praise him in the heights 'supreme : " Praise him, all of you, his angels ; Praise him, all his host^ — 'praise him.* Praise him, sun and moon 'together ;* Praise him, all ye stars of light : Praise him, heav'n of heavens ; and waters Which are o'er the heav'ns 'in height.* ' as in Gen. ii. 1 ; Ps. xxxiii. 6 ; Isa. xl 2*5. Let them praise Jehovah's name 'now,^ For he spoke, and form'd they were ; And for aye and ever® fix'd them. Made a law' they'' pass shall ne'er. ' I. gave a de- cree. ' so H., D., W. : others ' which ' (a. v., Sept.). 314 PSALM CXLIX. 4 Praise Jehovah from the earth 'too;" 7 Whales," and all ye deeps, 'each rill:* "so H., D. Fire and hailstones, snow and vapour, 8 Stormy wind that does his will. 5 All ye hills,* and you, ye mountains ; 9 Fruitful trees and cedars tall :' ' all. Wild beasts 'also," and all cattle ; 10 Creeping things, and wing'd birds all : 6 Kings of earth, and all ye people ; 11 Princes, and all judges here r*" 'of tlio eartli. Young men also, and young maidens ; 12 Aged men, with children 'dear.* 7 Let them praise Jehovah's name 'now," 13 For his name alone is 'high And" exalted : o'er the heavens,* O'er the earth's* his majesty. 8 And a horn unto his people, 14 'One" to all his saints a praise, Ev'n to Isr'el's sons, a people Near to him, he up shall raise." Ver. 14. And a horn. — This verse seems to me imiversaUy misimderstood by interpreters, who translate, 'who exalteth, or hath exalted the horn of his people.' The verb is in the fut. ; and though the clause might admit the sense they put on it, it more natiu-ally means ' he shall exalt or raise up a horn to his people.' So interpreted, the last stanza is the crowning reason why all nature, animate and inanimate, should praise the LORD, — namely, the fact that he is to raise a mighty deUverer for his people, and one through whom the whole creation is to be 'delivered from the bondage of corruption' (Rom. viii. 19-23). The term ' horn ' here employed is the very one we find appUed to Christ in this connection, both in the o.T. and in the N. ; cf. Ps. cxxxii. 17, Luke i. 69. Indeed, the latter place and sm-rounding context bears so strikmg a resemblance to this verse, that it almost seems to be an intended quotation of it, or at least an mtended allusion to it. PSALM CXLIX. Halleluiah. O sing a new song to Jehovah, His praise in the saints' gathering: Let Isr'el be glad*^ in his Maker, Zion's children exult" in their Kins PSALM CL. 315 His name let them praise in the dance's 'array,* To him with the timbrel and harp let them play. 2 When"^ Jehovah dehghts in his people, He the meek with salvation decks out ; His saints are" triumphant in glory. Aloud on their beds do they shout : In their throat, 'then," extoUings® there are of the Lord;i In their hand there is also a two-edged sword : 3 On the nations to execute vengeance. Rebukes on the people 'to deal ;* Their kings to bind 'also" in shackles, And their grandees in fetters of steel ;"* The judgment that's written upon them to do : The whole of his saints HE 's'' a glory unto. Halleluiah. ' ' when,' as in Ps. viii. 3, xc. 4 (see Ps. v. 2, n.), and not 'for,' as almost universally rendered. It is ' when ' God is pleased with his people's behaviour that they become the head and not the tail, according to the promise (Deut. xxviii. 1, 7). _ The meaning here is surely far better than tlie common one ' of God. as in Ps. xxiv. 10 ; but A. v., ' is this glory unto.' Ver. 9. He. — While the Heb. word might mean ' this,' it far more frequently means ' he : ' and surely the latter is the preferable rendering here. God is their glory (Isa. Ix. 19), their ornament, their defence. It is in his strength they are exalted, and do exploits. PSALM CL. Halleluiah. Praise God for'" his holiness ; Praise him for heav'n's strong expanse ;' Praise him for his great performances ; Praise him, 'too," according to his greatness vast : Praise him with the cornet's blast ; Praise him with the psaltery and harp ; Praise him with the timbrel and the dance ; Praise him with string'd instruments and organ's 'swell Praise him with the cymbals tinkling sharp ; Praise him with the cymbals in loud peal : Ev'ry breathing thing praise, JAH. Halleluiah. ' or, ' on ac- coimt of ; ' cf. Ps. Ixviii. 14. ' /. the expanse, or firmament of his strength ; cf. Job xxxvii. 18. For his holiness. — Such seems to be the meaning here, and the Psalm to be a call for praise to God. specifying: 1. the (/rounds on which it is claimed, («) bis 316 PSALM CL. . moral excellence, (h) the displays of his creative power, (c) his providential actings ; 2. the measure of it ; 3. the mode of it ; 4. the parties who are to render it. If we follow the a. v. and most other translations, the first three lines will run : Praise God in his sanctuary ; Praise hun in his firmament of strength ; Praise hiin in his mighty acts do ye. THE END. ISUKRAY AND GTBB, KDlNnritOII, IMilNTI' l:s TO UKK MAJKsTy's STATIONKUV OFKUIi. 1 I Ji ) '• i ■ 1 )