Lest I be [or, for I am become] like unto them that go down into the pit. 8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning;-for in thee do I trust: * Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; For I lift up my soul unto thee. 9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies :- I flee unto thee to hide me. 10 Teach me to do thy will;-for thou art my God: Thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.2 11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: For thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. 12 And of thy mercy "cut off mine enemies, 1 And destroy all them that afflict my soul:-for I am thy servant.3 T PSALM CXLIV. A Psalm of David. 4 BLESSED be the LORD P my strength, Which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: 2 My goodness, and my fortress;-my high tower, and my deliverer; My shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me. 3 LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! "Or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! 4 Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away. Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. 6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: Shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them. ( 7 & Send thine hand from above;-rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, 5 From the hand of strange children;" 8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, And their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.7 9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: Upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. 10 It is he that giveth salvation [or, victory] unto kings: 11 Who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword. 'Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, Whose mouth speaketh vanity,-and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood: 12 That our sons may be as plants-grown ups in their youth; That our daughters may be as corner stones, Polished after the similitude of a palace: 8 13 That our garners may be full,-affording all manner of store: That our sheep may bring forth thousands-and ten thousands in our streets: 14 That our oxen 10 may be strong to labour; 15 That there be no breaking in, nor going out; Happy is that people, that is in such a case: Yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD. 1 That is, 'soon,' or 'early;' as the same word is rendered in Psa. xlvi. 5. 2 Rather, 'in a land of directness' or 'evenness;' along a straight and plain path. 3 Who may hope for aid from thee, as one who is engaged in thy service. 4 Psalm exliv. is composed chiefly of passages taken from various psalms of David, especially viii. and xviii., and is probably on this account attributed to him. The psalmist blesses Jehovah for his protection and condescension (vers. 1-4), prays for his interposition on his own behalf (5-8), which he gratefully anticipates (9, 10), and then extends his prayer to embrace the welfare of the whole people (11-15). The marginal references will direct to other similar passages on which there are notes. 5 See note on Psa. xviii. 16. see refs. Job 11. 13. y see refs. Pe. 42. 1, 2. # Ps. 40. 13, 17. a see refs. P. 27. a & Ps. 28. 1. d see Ps. 30. 5: 46. 5. see refs. Ps. 5. 8; Is. 48. 17. see refa Ps. 25. 1. g see refs. P. 27. 5. A see refs. Ps. 25. 4, 5; 139. 21. í Ne. 9. 20. * Is. 26. 10. I see refs. Ps. 119. 25. m ver. 1. "Ps. 54. 5. o see refs. P. 116. 16. p see refs. Ps. 18. 2, 31. 9 Ps. 18. 34; 2 Sam. 22.35. r see refs. 2 Sam. 22. 2, 3, 40, 48. s Ps. 18. 47. tsee refs. Ps. 8. 4. Ps. 146. 3, 4. see refs. Pa. 30. 5, 6; Job 4. 19: 14. 2. y see refs. Ps. 102. 11. see refs. Ps. 18. 9. a Ps. 104. 32; Ex. 19. 18. b Ps. 18. 13, 14. e see refs. Ps. 7. 12, 13. d Ps. 18. 16. e ver. 11; Ps. 69. 1, 2, 14, 15. P. 54.3: Mal. 2. 11. g sec refs. Ps. 41. G. A Ps. 33. 2, 3; 40. 3. iPs. 18. 50; 33. 16-18. * Ps. 140. 7. ! vers. 7, 8 m Ps. 128. 3. n P 33. 12: 65. 4; 146. 5; Deu. 33. 29. 6 Or, of strangers; as the same phrase is translated in Psa. xviii. 44, 45. 7 That is, of perjury;' the right hand being lifted up in taking an oath. 8 That is, 'grown vigorous.' The blessings desired in vers. 12, 13 are those promised in Deut. xxviii. 4. 9 Or, 'corner pillars;' ornamental, and therefore well suited to express female beauty, as the flourishing 'plants' represent manly strength. 10 The Hebrew word here used does not anywhere else mean an or, but a guide, friend, governor, or captain; as in Prov. ii. 17; xvi. 28; Zech. xii. 5, 6; Jer. xiii. 21. It may therefore be rendered, That our captains may be strong; that there be no breaking in [of the enemy], and no going out [of the people into captivity],' etc. PSALM CXLV. David's Psalm of praise. 1 1 I WILL extol thee, my God, O King; • Ps. 10), title. And I will bless thy name for ever and ever. 2 Every day will I bless thee;-and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised ;—and his greatness is unsearchable. 1; 4: 4 One generation shall praise thy works to another, T And shall declare thy mighty acts. 5 I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty,-and of thy wondrous works. 6 And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: And I wilt declare thy greatness. 7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, 8 And shall sing of thy righteousness. The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; Slow to anger, and of great mercy. 9 "The LORD is good to all :-and his tender mercies are over all his works. 10 All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD;- and thy saints shall bless thee. 11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom,-and talk of thy power; 12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of his kingdom. a 13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, 14 And thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.2 The LORD'upholdeth all that fall, C And raiseth up all those that be bowed down. 15 The eyes of all wait upon thee; с And thou givest them their meat in due season. 3 16 Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways,—and holy in all his works PRAISE ye the LORD.- Praise the LORD, O my soul. 2 While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.7 3 Put not your trust in princes,- -nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.s 4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth9 to his carth; In that very day "his thoughts perish. 6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: 7 Which keepeth truth for ever:- which executeth judgment for the oppressed: Which giveth food to the hungry.- The LORD looseth the prisoners: 1 This is an alphabetical psalm (see note on title of Psa. xxv.); celebrating in the most beautiful manner the majesty, righteousness, and goodness of God. 2 As in the Hebrew there is here no couplet beginning with the next alphabetical letter, some supply from the ancient versions, Faithful is Jehovah in all his words, and holy in all his works' but on such deficiencies, see note on Psa. xxv. title. 3 Rather, in its season.' The psalmist teaches us to regard God as a kind Father, distributing from day to day what is needful for the wants of his great family, whom he represents as confiding and expectant children, having their eyes fixed on him. Rather, merciful.' Justice and mercy are united in Jehovah's government. Comp. Psa. lxxxv. 10; Rom. iii. 26. 5 These are said, in ver. 20, to 'love him;' for godly reverence is perfectly compatible, and is indeed always united, with holy love. 6 Psalm exlvi., and all that follow it, are evidently hymns of public praise, and appear to have been composed for the service of the second temple. In the Sp this psalm is ascribed to Haggai and Zechariah; and if they were not the actual authors, these psalms were probably composed during their times. Psa. cxlvi. presents Jehovah, in opposition to earthly princes, as the s object of praise and confidence (vers. 1-4); since his power, truth, justice, compassion, and eternity, all insere the happiness of his people (5-10). 7 This is almost the same as Psa. civ. 33. 8 Who cannot save either himself or others, bat is wholly dependent on a higher power. 9 Even with the best intentions, men are often unable to assist others, or are cut off in the midst of their efforts. 1 8 & The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: The LORD raiseth them that are bowed down :-the LORD loveth the righteous: 9 The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: But the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.1 10 The LORD shall reign for ever, even " thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD. For it is pleasant; and P praise is comely. 2 The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: "He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. 3 3 'He healeth the broken in heart,-and bindeth up their wounds. 4 'He telleth the number of the stars;-he calleth them all by their names. 7 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving;—sing praise upon the harp unto our God: 8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, Who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. 9 He giveth to the beast his food,—and to the young ravens which cry. 10 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: He taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. 4 11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them" that fear him, 12 In those that hope in his mercy. Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem ;-praise i thy God, O Zion. 13 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; * He hath blessed thy children within thee. 14 'He maketh peace in thy borders,—and filleth thee with the " finest of the wheat. 15 He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: His word runneth very swiftly.5 16 He giveth snow like wool:- he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. 17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels-who can stand before his cold? 19 He showeth his word unto Jacob,-' his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. 20" He hath not dealt so with any nation: Praise ye the LORD from the heavens:-praise him in the heights. 2 Praise ye him, all his angels :-praise ye him, all his hosts. 3 Praise ye him, sun and moon:-praise him, all ye stars of light. b 4 Praise him, a ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. 1 Rather, 'turns aside;' i. e. he defeats their designs. 2 Psalm cxlvii. beautifully mingles the recognition of God as the Lord of Nature with grateful acknowledgment of him as the Shepherd of Israel, and exhibits the greatness and wisdom of the Supreme in connection with his condescension to the meek and humble. Its transitions from one subject to another are frequent and rapid, allowing no regular analysis of its contents, but giving the greater force and beauty to the representations of God's works of power and of grace. See vers. 3, 4; 5, 6; 10, 11; 18, 19. Many of its expressions are evidently suggested by earlier psalms and prophecies. 3 Rather, 'The Lord is building up Jerusalem: He is gathering together the outcasts of Israel.' A grateful acknowledgment of the present fulfilment of the promises in Isa. xi. 12; xlv. 26, 28; lvi. 3. 4 The two clauses of this verse are probably intended to describe caralry and infantry, as forming the military strength of nations. It is not to those who trust in such 7 Probably the hail is meant, which descends like so many crumbs of ice. 8 In Psalm cxlviii. the whole of creation is summoned to praise Jehovah, whether in heaven (vers. 1--6) or on earth (7-12), for his universal glory and his special favour to his people (13, 14). 9 The immutability ascribed, in passages like this, to the works of nature is not absolute, but relative to the will of the Creator. No created powers can revoke the laws which he has imposed on their being. 7 Praise the LORD from the earth,- ye dragons, and all deeps: 8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours;-stormy winds fulfilling his word: 11 Kings of the earth, and all people;-princes, and all judges of the earth: For his name alone is excellent ;- his glory is above the earth and heaven. 14 'He also exalteth the horn of his people," the praise of all his saints;3 Even of the children of Israel," a people near unto him. 1 Praise ye the LORD. PRAISE ye the LORD. PSALM CXLIX.4 Sing unto the LORD a new song,—and his praise in the congregation of saints. 2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him:5 Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 3 Let them praise his name in the dance: Let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. 4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: 5 He will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory: 6-let them sing aloud upon their beds.7 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand;8 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; a - Dea. 7. 1, 2 9 To execute upon them the judgment written: 10—6 this honour have all his saints. Picar Praise ye the LORD. 1 2 3 PRAISE ye the LORD. PSALM CL.11 Praise God in his sanctuary: 12-praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: Praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet [or, cornet]; iPraise him with the psaltery and harp. 4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: Praise him with "stringed instruments and " organs. 13 5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals :-praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. 6 P Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. 14 1 An agency which appears the least subject to control. 2 That is, 'fruit trees;' in distinction from forest trees, which are represented by 'cedars.' 3 That is, He gives them occasion for the highest praise. 4 Psalm exlix. is wholly composed of the praises of the God of Israel as their King, who favours them (ver. 1—4), and will execute through them judgments on his and their foes (5-9). 5 God made the Israelites a nation, formed for his praise; and on their deliverance from Babylon, by a kind of new creation, restored them to their temple to worship Him. Comp. Isa. xliii. 1-7. 6 Meaning either 'gloriously,' or 'on account of their present glorious state.' 7 In opposition to the nights of sleepless grief which many had spent while exiles. See IIos. vii. 14. 8 That is, at the same time: see Neh. iv. 17, 18. 9 Not their own vengeance, but that of God, to whom all vengeance belongeth.' This was partially fulfilled in the successes of the Jews under the Maccabees; and in a far nobler sense may be said to be so in the spiritual triumphs of the religion of Christ, especially in those which are yet to come. 10 The punishment denounced in the law against the idolatrous heathen. See Deut. vii. 2; xxxii. 41, etc. 11 Psalm cl. is a doxology which marks the end of the fifth book of Psalms and of the whole Psalter. It wa probably intended to be sung with all the musical instruments used in the temple worship. It describes the piz (ver. 1), the theme (2), the mode (3-5), and the wiivetsality (6) of the praise to be presented to Jehovah. 12 The temple on earth. "The firmament of his po is the heavenly temple. According to a Jewish traditio this psalm was sung by persons who came to present th first-fruits, while the Levites met them singing Pen 13 Rather, 'pipe;' denoting the whole class of $1. instruments, as the timbrel' represents all of the pas tile kind. 14 The Psalms,' says Dr. Chalmers, have their f and most appropriate outgoing in praise, that higheste all the exercises of godliness.' 'As the life of the fat! ful,' says Hengstenberg, and the history of the chur so also the Psalter, with all its cries from the depths out in a hallelujah.' 'There is nothing in the Psalvr. says Alexander, more majestic or more beautiful ther this brief but most significant finale, in which solemnit predominates, without disturbing the exhilaration which the close of the Psalter seems intended to produce, as in emblematical allusion to the triumph which w the church, and all its members, when, through mah tribulation,' they shall enter into rest.' THERE is every reason to believe that the whole of the book | of Proverbs, excepting the last two chapters, was either written by Solomon or adopted by him; but the various titles (see ch. i. 1; x. 1; xxii. 17; xxv. 1), and the repetition of some of the proverbs (comp. ch. xviii. 8 with xxvi. 22; xix. 24 with xxvi. 15; xx. 16 with xxvii. 13; xxi. 9 with xxv. 24; and xxii. 3 with xxvii. 12) make it evident that it was brought to its present form by the labours of different persons at different times. Though the book contains some continuous discourses, it derives its name from those short, pithy, pointed sentences of which it chiefly consists. Proverbial teaching has been employed from the most remote antiquity, and was particularly adapted to the simplicity of the early ages. When books were but few, and the reasonings of systematic philosophers almost unknown, just observations on life and manners, the results of long experience and reflection,-and useful moral precepts, delivered in concise language, and often in verse, would form a body of the most valuable practical wisdom, which, by its influence on the views and conduct of men, must have contributed largely to the well-being of society. And in every age the maxims of proverbial wisdom are not only well fitted to impress the minds of the young and uninformed; but they are also most valuable guides in the affairs of life, when men are called upon not to deliberate, but to act. Accordingly, every nation has its proverbs. But this mode of communicating instruction appears to be peculiarly suited to the genius and disposition of the Asiatics, among whom it has prevailed from the earliest ages. The Proverbs of Solomon possess in the highest degree all the excellencies of this species of composition. The great object in each of them is to enforce a moral or religious principle in words so few that they may be easily learned, and so skilfully selected and arranged that they may strike and fix the attention instantaneously; while, to prevent the mind from becoming fatigued by a long series of detached sentences, they are perpetually diversified by the changes of style and figure. Sometimes the style is rendered striking by its peculiar simplicity, or the familiarity of its illustration; sometimes by the grandeur or beauty of the simile employed on the occasion; sometimes by an enigmatical obscurity, which rouses the curiosity; very frequently by a strong and catching antithesis; occasionally by a playful iteration of the same word; and, in numerous instances, by an elegant pleonasm, or the expansion of a single or common idea by a luxuriance of agreeable words. The religious teachings of this book are peculiarly clear and spiritual. Jehovah is set forth as the Creator and Governor of the universe, and the Disposer of human destinies (ch. iii. 19; viii. 22-29, etc.), incomprehensible alike in his nature and his works (xxv. 2; xxx. 3, 4). His providence is represented as ever active and universal (v. 21; xv. 3), controlling not only the outward fortunes (x. 22), but the minds (xxi. 1) of men. He is declared to be holy and just; loving, commending and rewarding piety and virtue, and abhorring and punishing PART I. all sin (iii. 33; x. 3, 29; xii. 2), not only in this life, but also in a future state (xiv. 32). The necessity of religion, the fear of the Lord,' is inculcated in this book, in strong and emphatic language, as the beginning of wisdom' (1. 7) and the fountain of happiness (xiv. 27; xix. 23). Trust in God (iii. 5, 6; xvi. 3, 20; xviii. 10), reverence for him (iii. 31; x. 27; xxiii. 17), cheerful submission to his paternal chastisements (iii. 11, 12), the love of our fellow-men (xi. 17; xiv. 21), justice (xi. 1), kindness (iii. 27, 28; xix. 17), gentleness of spirit and demeanour (xv. 1), charity (x. 12), prudence (xiv. 15; xxii. 3), active diligence (x. 4; xii. 24; xxii. 29), purity of heart (iv. 23), humility (viii. 13; xv. 33), modesty (xxv. 6, 7), temperance (xxiii. 20, 21), and, in short, all those things which make men happy in themselves, and create a happy state of society, are here exhibited and urged in the most forcible manner; and, after all the light which the Gospel has shed upon us, we are still thankful to resort to this book for guidance, encouragement, and warning. The very nature of the book of Proverbs is such, that it has a direct application to people of all times, all conditions, and all countries. It says very little about the sacrifices and offerings, and other ceremonial institutions, of the Mosaic economy, but is almost wholly occupied with the substantial duties of morality and religion; and it is so comprehensive, that all ranks and classes have here their word in season.' As we may judge, to some extent, of the social, moral, and religious culture and condition of a nation by its proverbial lore, we must surely place the Hebrews in the highest rank among the nations of former times. A people amongst whom such maxims as these were brought into popular use, must have made great advance in civil and social life. This book may be divided into five distinct parts:- I. A series of discourses on the excellency and advantages of wisdom, and the hatefulness and mischievous consequences of sin. They are addressed chiefly to the young, and are marked by peculiar earnestness, beauty, and tenderness. II. A collection of unconnected maxims on various subjects (ch. x.-xxii. 16). III. Short discourses, on a variety of subjects (ch. xxii. 17-xxiv. 22); with a brief appendix of maxims (ch. xxiv. 23-34). IV. A second collection of Solomon's Proverbs made in the time of Hezekiah (ch. xxv.-xxix.) V. The remainder of the book (ch. xxx., xxxi.) contains precepts delivered by Agur, admonitions given to king Lemuel by his mother, and a description of the excellencies of a virtuous wife. The thirtieth chapter affords examples of a species of writing closely allied to the proverb, and equally in favour among the Orientalsnamely, a kind of riddles or enigmas, designed to exercise the ingenuity of the hearer, as well as to impart instruction. General Introduction. 1 THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON THE SON OF DAVID, KING OF ISRAEL; 2 To know wisdom and instruction;-to perceive the words of understanding; 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, 2-justice, and judgment, and equity; 1 Written in order that we may know, etc. 2 The word wisdom,' in most parts of this book, means a considerate, thoughtful state of mind in relation to truth a ch. 10. 1; 25. 1; 1 KI. 4.32; Ece. 12.9. 62 Sam. 12. 24, 25. e ch. 2. 1, 9. and duty, religious, moral, or prudential; but here the Hebrew word is different, and means prudence or circumspectness. |