15 The eyes of the LORD are 1 Pet. 3. 12. upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. + Heb. to the broken of heart. + Heb. contrite of spirit. 16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18 The LORD is night unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth + such as be of a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. 20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. 21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and Or, shall be they that hate the righteous || shall be desolate. guilty. 21. - shall be desolate.] This should be rendered with the Chaldee Paraphrase, shall be condemned to die." Green, Rosenmüller. This Psalm is among the noblest and most edifying: David here teaches us, both by his instructions and example, that when God grants us any favour, we should not only thank Him for it, but invite other men to praise Him with us; that the Lord never fails to hear and deliver those who call upon Him in their distress; that his eyes are always over the righteous, whom, if exposed to many misfortunes, He delivers at the last; whereas He sets his face against the wicked for their destruction. Ostervald. He who seeketh the Lord shall find Him; and he who hath found Him can want nothing. Faith, hope, charity, temperance, purity, patience, and contentment, are the true riches; and the lack of them the poverty most to be dreaded. Moreover, God is never wanting to provide for his servants, what He seeth needful and best in matters temporal. Bp. Horne. Psalm XXXV. This Psalm, from the contents of it, seems to have been composed by David when he was persecuted by Saul, and falsely accused by Doeg, and others of his enemies; from whom he begs of God for deliverance. Edwards. This Psalm, though in some measure applicable to David, the author of it, is more strictly so to Jesus. See John xv. 25. Dimock. Ver. 2. shield and buckler,] The word, here rendered shield," seems to denote the lesser kind of shield; and that translated" buckler," the great shield. Edwards. 4. Let them be confounded &c.] Concerning this and 66 David prayeth for his own safety. 2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. 3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. 5 Let them be as chaff before b Job 21. 18. the wind: and let the angel of the Isa. 29. 5. LORD chase them. 6 Let their way be dark and slippery and let the angel of the LORD persecute them. 7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul. Hos. 13. 3. Heb. darkslipperiness. ness and 8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that het Heb. which hath hid catch himself: into that very not of. destruction let him fall. 9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. 10 All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and he knoweth the like imprecations, which may seem strange and severe, it must be considered, 1. That they did not proceed from any passionate or revengeful spirit in David towards his enemies; from which how free he was, appears not only from his own words here, ver. 12-14, but from the whole course of his life, and the frequent instances mentioned in his history of his meek and merciful carriage to his enemies when they were in his power. These imprecations, therefore, proceeded from his zeal for God, and for piety and justice; to which they shewed themselves to be constant and implacable adversaries: and by the direction of the prophetical Spirit of God, wherewith he was endued; which Spirit did exactly know the condition of his enemies; and that those, against whom they were levelled, were hardened and incurable. 2. That they contain nothing but a prayer to God, that He would accomplish his own threatenings, and execute his own law of retaliation, of 66 eye for eye, and tooth for tooth;" and so bring upon them the evils which they designed against him. Which also was of great and good use, both to glorify God's justice, and to warn and reform other sinners by the terrour of their example. 3. That they may be taken only for predictions. Poole. See the note on Psalm v. 10. 6. Let their way be dark &c.] So that none of them may be able to escape on account of the darkness and slipperiness of their way: but that all of them may be easily overthrown by the pursuing angel. Rosenmüller. 7.-in a pit,] See the note on Psalm vii. 15. 10. All my bones shall say,] By this figure David means to declare, that he would praise God with all the and his enemies' confusion. + Heb. Witnesses of wrong. PSALMS. the needy from him that spoileth him? 11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that +Heb. they I knew not. asked me. + Heb. depriving. 12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. 13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I Or, afficted. humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. 1 Heb. walked. + Heb. as a friend, as a brother to me. + Heb. halting. + Heb. my only one. e Ps. 40. 9, 14 I +behaved myself + as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. 15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: 16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. 17 LORD, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. 18 I will give thee thanks in the 10. & 111. 1. great congregation: I will praise thee + Heb.strong. among + much people. + Heb. falsely. 19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. 11, 12. False witnesses-spoiling of my soul.] This was never more literally true of David, than it was of the holy Jesus, when, standing before Pontius Pilate, He received no other return from the Jews for all the gracious words which He had spoken, and all the merciful works He had done among them, than that of being slandered and put to death. Bp. Horne. 12.-to the spoiling of my soul.] Attempting to rob me of my life. Green. 13.. my prayer returned &c.] The meaning seems to be, My prayer returned with blessings on my own head. Merrick. The sentence may perhaps be better explained thus, "My prayer rested or settled in my bosom;" that is, I was never without a prayer for them in my breast. Mudge, Dr. Kennicott. The Hebrews used various attitudes in prayer; the one here alluded to was that used in great grief, at which time they prayed with the head inclined on the bosom. Rosenmüller. 15.- and I knew it not;] This may mean, that the perfidy of his enemies was unknown to him; he suspected no such thing from them. Rosenmüller. 16. With hypocritical mockers &c.] Together with these were profane flatterers and buffoons; and their rage against me was as violent as if they could have devoured me. Bp. Patrick. Or the passage should perVOL. II. He moveth God to do him right. 20 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land. 21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, Aha, our eye hath seen it. 22 This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O LORD, be not far from me. 23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my LORD. 24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me. 25 Let them not say in their hearts, +Ah, so would we have it: + Heb. Ah, let them not say, We have swallowed ah, our soul. him up. 26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me. righteousness. 27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous + Heb. my cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. 28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long. PSALM XXXVI. 1 The grievous estate of the wicked. 5 The 19. - that hate me without a cause.] This is applied to Christ by Himself, John xv. 25. Bp. Wilson. 21.- -our eye hath seen it.] They openly avow that they themselves have been eye-witnesses of my treasonable practices. Dr. Wells. Or the meaning may be, We have seen what we wished, we have had our will. Green. 24. Judge me,] Vindicate me. Green. What David in this Psalm says against his enemies, must not be misunderstood. Nor must we believe that we are allowed to wish evil to those who do evil to us, or to rejoice when that evil happens to them. We are to consider, that the enemies of David were enemies to God Himself; and that David, being a prophet, and having an express promise of the Divine assistance, might denounce destruction to them: but, in his heart, he did not wish it to befall them, and he was even afflicted at the evil which did befall them, as he himself testifies in this Psalm. Ostervald. Psalm XXXVI. There are three parts of this Psalm : D The grievous estate of the wicked. PSALMS. David persuadeth to patience and excellency of God's mercy, 10 David pray-fied with the fatness of thy house; Trang mig 2 For he flattereth himself in his + Heb. to find own eyes, until his iniquity be his iniquity to found to be hateful. hate. || Or, vanity. a Ps. 57. 10. & 108. 4. + Heb. the mountains of God. + Heb. precious. + Heb. watered. 3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. 4 He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil. a 5 Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. 6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are 9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. out at length. me to from the thee, and 11 Let not the foot of pride come 12 There are the workers of ini quity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise. PSALM XXXVII. David persuadeth to patience and confidence a great deep: O LORD, thou pre- FRET servest man and beast. A Psalm of David. a 17. & 24. 1. RET not thyself because of a Prov. 23. evildoers, neither be thou envi7 How + excellent is thy loving-ous against the workers of iniquity. kindness, O God! therefore the chil- 2 For they shall soon be cut down dren of men put their trust under the like the grass, and wither as the shadow of thy wings. green herb. 8 They shall be abundantly satis the first, in which the author describes the treacherous and false contrivances of wicked men: the second is the address of the good man to God, in which he acknowledges all those attributes which are the support of righteous men, to be infinite and boundless; and from thence his assurance of being supported: the last, as the consequence of this, represents the downfall of the wicked. Mudge. Ver. 1. The transgression of the wicked &c.] The transgressions of a bad man shew plainly, in the apprehension of a good one, that the former is destitute of the true fear of God. Abp. Secker. Or differently, thus; "The wicked man, according to the wickedness of his heart, saith, There is no fear of God before mine eyes." Bp. Lowth. Or this passage may be rendered with some ancient versions; "The wicked man hath an oracle of rebellion in his heart." The wicked man hath no regard to the oracles of God; he hath one in his heart which dictates nothing but rebellion. Mudge, Green. he flattereth himself &c.] He soothes himself in his own conceit, and cunningly imagines that he shall not be discovered: yet at length shall his iniquity come to light, and make him hateful to all men. Bp. Patrick. 5, 6. Thy mercy, O Lord, &c.] This passage is truly sublime. Here the mind of the Psalmist seems to exert its utmost faculties in vain to describe the attributes of God, whose unparalleled magnitude mocks its feeble endeavours; and to this end it employs the grandest imagery that universal nature can suggest and yet this imagery, however great, proves totally inadequate to the purpose. Bp. Lowth. 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; 9. in thy light shall we see light.] The images of light and darkness are commonly made use of in all languages to imply or denote prosperity and adversity, agreeably to the common sense and perception which all men have of the objects themselves. But the Hebrews employ those figures more frequently, and with less variation than other people. Bp. Lowth. 10.-thy righteousness] Rather, thy beneficence or bounty. Street. 11. remove me.] Or cause me to fall. Dr. Wells. 12. There are the workers &c.] The expression used in the original, represents strongly before the eyes the sudden downfall of the wicked. Upon the very spot where they practise their treachery, they receive their downfall. Mudge. We have here represented to us the behaviour of wicked men, who fear not God, and soothe themselves in their sins, instead of hating them; and the very different conduct of the righteous, who adore the justice of God, and are grateful for his favours. The use we should make of this Psalm is, to avoid the sentiments of the wicked, and to cleave to God by a sincere love and holy fear; to the end that we may rejoice in Him with the righteous, and say with David, "O God, how excellent is thy loving-kindness!" Ostervald. Psalm XXXVII. In this Psalm David seems to intend to prevent the scandal or offence against religion, which might be taken from observing the wicked in prosperity, and the godly under affliction. Dr. Wells. He may be supposed speaking to himself, or exhorting others to trust in God from his own example. Dimock. Ver. 1. Fret not thyself &c.] In other words, Be not vexed at the prosperity of the wicked, neither be provoked by it to accuse the providence of God, nor wish thyself in their situation. Bp. Patrick. confidence in God, by the different + Heb. in truth, or, stableness. + Heb. Roll thy way upon the LORD. PSALMS. so shalt thou dwell in the land, and 4 Delight thyself also in the b 5+ Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall Matt. 6. 25. bring it to pass. b Prov. 16. 3. 1 Pet. 5. 7. + Heb. Be silent to the LORD. e Matt. 5. 5. | Or, practiseth. d Ps. 2. 4. † Heb. the upright of way. 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. 7+ Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his estate of the godly and the wicked. shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. 18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. 19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20 But the wicked shall perish, 21 The wicked borroweth, and 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. : 9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12 The wicked || plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 13 The LORD shall laugh at him for he seeth that his day is coming. 14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright con versation. 15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. 16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked 5. Commit thy way &c.] We are exhorted here to commend our honest designs to God, and to leave the event to Him, in full confidence that He will direct it for the best. Travell, Bp. Patrick. 10.-thou shalt diligently consider &c.] When thou seekest for his place, there shall not be found any footsteps of his prosperity. Dr. Wells. 12.- gnasheth upon him &c.] Could even tear him with his teeth. Bp. Wilson. 13. The Lord shall laugh &c.] The Lord, who takes notice of all his secret plots, shall laugh him to scorn; for, howsoever the foolish wicked man flatters himself in the conceit of his safety, yet the all-wise God sees that his destruction is at hand. Bp. Hall. 22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. preciousness 26 He is ever merciful, and lend- + Heb. all the day. eth; and his seed is blessed. 27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. 28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. 30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his || steps shall | Or, goings. slide. 32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. 18. The Lord knoweth &c.] The actions of good men are seen, and will not fail of being rewarded by God; not only with the comforts of this life continued to them and their posterity, but with a never-failing possession in heaven. Dr. Hammond. 20. But the wicked shall perish, &c.] They shall vanish away into smoke; as the fat of lambs, which is laid upon the altar in sacrifice, so shall they be suddenly consumed. Bp. Hall. The different end of good and bad men. PSALMS. David moveth God 33 The LORD will not leave him them from the wicked, and save in his hand, nor condemn him when them, because they trust in him. he is judged. PSALM XXXVIII. 34 Wait on the LORD, and keep 35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself Or, a green like a green bay tree. tree that groweth in pitiful case. ¶ A Psalm of David, to bring to re- 36 Yet he passed away, and, lo. LORD, rebuke me not in thy his own soil. he was not: yea, I sought him, but he I could not be found. 37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. 38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. 39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. 40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver The original simply signifies, "a native tree;" a tree growing in its native soil, not having suffered by transplantation: such a tree spreads itself luxuriantly. Script. illust. Expos. Ind. 36. Yet he passed away, &c.] Yet, firm as he seemed to stand, he vanished on a sudden like a cloud: I looked about for him, to see whether he might not, like a tree, be transplanted to some other spot; but there was no such man to be seen. Bp. Patrick. 38. the end of the wicked shall be cut off.] They and their posterity shall be destroyed. Dr. Hammond. The design of this whole Psalm is, to convince men of the justice of God's dealings with all his people; to persuade them not hastily to conclude or judge of the ways of Providence, but to wait to see the end; not to depend upon their own reason, but to apply to God for light and satisfaction; for human reason, being too short to pass judgment upon the ways of an infinitely wise and just God, would only lead men into doubts and fears, and rash censures of his providence. Bp. Wilson. The "meek," mentioned at ver. 11, are they, who bear their own adversities, and the prosperity of their enemies, without envy, anger, or complaint. For these there is a possession in the kingdom and city of the Prince of "peace," which "the Lord the righteous Judge shall give them at that day.' "Blessed are the meek," saith that Lord and Judge Himself, "for they shall inherit the earth," Matt. v. 5. In the mean time, they, and they only, possess the present earth, as they go towards the kingdom of heaven, by being humble, and cheerful, and content with what their good God has allotted them. They have no turbulent, repining, vexatious thoughts that they deserve better; nor are vexed, when they see others possessed of more honour, or more wrath neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. 3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones be- ↑ Heb. peace, cause of my sin. 4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. 5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. or, health. 6 I am troubled; I am bowed ↑ Heb. wried. riches, than their wise God has allotted for their share. But they possess what they have with a meek and contented quietness; such a quietness as makes their very thoughts pleasing, both to God and themselves. Bp. Horne. Psalm XXXVIII. This is another of those Psalms, which are called penitential, and therefore applicable to Ash-Wednesday; it was composed by David under some great affliction and anguish of mind. It is not certain whether he here describes the state of his mind under various images, chiefly borrowed from bodily diseases and pains; or whether he was actually afflicted with sickness: very probably he was suffering from both. His complaints strongly express the anguish he felt from the conviction of his sinfulness, the displeasure of God, the coldness of his friends, and the insults of his enemies. He humbly supplicates the pardon of God, confesses his guilt, and, with patience and resignation, declares his hope and confidence to be only in the Divine favour. Travell. to bring to remembrance.] That is, either that by this humble and mournful prayer he might prevail with God to remember and pity him; for now He seemed quite to have forgotten him: or that, by reviewing this Psalm afterwards, he might call to mind his former danger and misery, and God's wonderful mercy in delivering him from them; which all are too apt to forget. And that others also might remember and consider what God had done for him; first in chastening, and then in restoring him: and might make use of his example for their benefit. Poole. Ver. 2. -thine arrows &c.] The arrows, and the hand of God, are his judgments on sin; those internal pangs which pierce the soul, and those external afflictions which weigh down the spirits. Bp. Horne. 4. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head:] That is, my sins have brought so many evils upon me, that they overwhelm me like a flood. Bp. Patrick. 5. because of my foolishness.] Meaning, the affliction had been justly brought upon him by his sin foolishly committed. Bp. Hall. |