3 6 Je all that persecute me, and deliver thou me. Lest he tear in pieces my soul like a lion; breaking where there is none delivering. hovah my God, if I have done this, if there be injurious evil in my hands: If I have rewarded evil to him that had peace with me: (yea I have released my distresser without cause :) Let the enemy pursue my soul and take it, and tread down my life on the earth, and my glory, let him make it dwell in the dust. Selah. Rise up Jehovah in thy anger, be thou lifted up, for the rages of my distressers, and wake thou up unto me, the judgment thou hast commanded. And the congregation of people shall compass thee about, and for it return thou to the high place. 9 Jehovah will VER. 3.-LION,] Called here in Heb. arjeh, that is a renter or tearer; and elsewhere, laby, that is, hearty and courageous, Ps. lvii. 5, and kephir, that is, lurking, or couchant, Ps. xci. 13, the reason of these names is shewed, Ps. xvii. 12. The renting lion (arjeh) as greedy to tear; and the lurking lion (kephir) as biding in covert places. Other names are also given to this kind, as shachal, of ramping, or fierce nature, Ps. xci. 13; and lajish, of subduing his prey, Prov. xxx. 30. MY SOUL,] That is, me, or my life. BREAKING,] This may be referred to the lion, breaking asunder, or renting his prey: the word also is used for breaking of yokes of afliction,' that is saving, rescuing, redeeming, or delivering; as, Ps. cxxxvi. 24; Lam. v. 8. The Gr. so turneth it here, "there being none redeeming nor saving." Thus the denial none set after in the Heb. serveth for both words, (as after in Ps. ix. 19.) And it is the property of this tongue sometimes to want, sometimes to abound with words; as in 1 Kings x. 31, there be two denials, when in 2 Chron. ix. 20, there is but one, in the same narration. VER. 4.-DONE THIS,] which Cush accuseth me of. He speaketh of some common slander. INJURIOUS EVIL IN MY HANDS,] Or, in my palms, that is, bad, dishonest dealings in secret: the palm or hollow of the hand, being a place where filthiness may be hidden: the hand also is put for the actions. So Jonah iii. 8; Ps. cix. 27; lxxviii. 42. VER. 5.-THAT HAD PEACE WITH ME,] My friend and confederate. Such treachery David much blameth in his foes, that in time of peace made war, Ps. xli. 10; lv. 13, 15,21. YEA I,] Heb. And I; which may be resolved: Yea, or when I released my distresser:' which may have reference to his sparing of Saul, and delivering him from death, 1 Sam. xxiv. 6, 7, 8, 11, 12; xxvi. 9-11, &c. WITHOUT CAUSE,] Or, without effect and fruit in vain. VER. 6.-MY LIFE,] In Heb. lives; so usually called for the many faculties and ope rations that are in life; the many years, de. grees, estates thereof. The apostles in Gr. retain the singular number, life, Acts ii. 28 from Ps. xvi. 11; 1 Pet. iii. 10 from Ps. xxxiv. 13. MY GLORY,] Or, honour; meaning either his honourable estate, renown and posterity, as Hos. ix. 11; Job xix. 9, or his soul, as Gen. xlix. 6. IN THE DUST,] That is in base estate and ignominy, as Ps. exiii. 7; Job xvi. 5; or, the dust of death, the grave,' as Ps. xxii. 16; Is. xxvi. 19. Ver. 7.—In thE RAGES,] Or, because of the outrages, surpassing indignations, so called of the passing out of the heat and choler. WAKE UP,] Or, raise up, to wit, thyself, and come unto me; for judgment thou hast commanded or appointed. It may also be read, "raise up to me the judgment which thou hast commanded:" so the Chald., paraphrase here supplieth the word which, saying hasten unto me, (or for me) the judgment which thou hast commanded:' the Heb. itself sometimes doth the like, as 1 Kings ix. 8, this house is high,' 2 Chron. vii. 21, this house which is high.' VER. 8.-FOR IT,] For the same congre gation's sake, which cometh about thee expecting judgment. TO THE HIGH PLACE,] Or, to the height, that is, the throne of judg ment, for thrones were set high, 1 Kings xiii. 19. This word height is also used for heaven, Ps. xciii. 4; and there God's throne is, Ps. xi. 4. The Chald., saith, "return to the house of thy divine habitation," or majesty. VER. 9.-JEHOVAH,] The Chald. trans. lateth it," The word of the Lord shall judge." &c. JUDGE,] Two words are here used in Heb. for judging, 1st Dan, and 2d, Shaphat. The first is more special to give doom or sentence in controversies: the latter more gene ral, for judging or doing right in all causes. The apostle expresses these two by one Gr. word, krino, judge, as Heb. x. 30, from Deut xxxii. 36; Rom. iii 4, from Ps. li. 6. MY JUSTICE,] The justice and equity of my : judge the people judge thou me Jehovah according to my justice, and according to my perfection in me. 10 Oh let the malice of the wicked be at an end, and stablish thou the just for thou triest the hearts and reins, just God. "My shield is in God, the Saviour of the upright in heart. 12 God is a just judge, and God angerly threateneth every day. 13 If he turn not, he will whet his sword: he hath bent his bow and made it ready. 14 And for him he hath made ready the instruments of death: his arrows he worketh for the hot persecutors. Lo he shall be in travail of painful iniquity; for he hath conceived molestation, and shall bring forth a lie. hath digged a pit and delved it, and is fallen into the corrupting ditch he wrought. 17 His molestation shall return upon his head, his crown shall his violent wrong descend. 18 I will confess Jehovah according to his justice, and will sing Psalms to the name of Jehovah most high. and upon 15 cause, in respect of my persecutors. So Ps. xviii. 21-25. Elsewhere he appealeth to 'God's justice,' Ps. xxxv. 24. MY PERFECTION,] Or, integrity, the simplicity of my ways, and simplicity of my heart. See Ps. xxvi. 1. IN ME,] Or, unto me, to wit, reward thou, as the Chald. explaineth it. VER. 10. FOR THOU TRIEST,] Or, he trieth. God, who is possessor of the reins, Ps. exxxix. 13, doth also try them as metal in the fire. The heart may signify the cogitations, and the reins the affections. So Ps. xxvi. 2; Jer. xi. 20; xx. 12; Rev. ii. 23. VER. 12.-ANGRILY THREATENETH,] Or, detesteth, disdaineth in wrath, namely, the wicked, and menaceth their destruction. So the Chald. paraphraseth it, "he is mightily angry against the wicked every day." VER. 13.-IF HE,] That is, if the wicked turn not as the Chald. explaineth it, "If he turn not unto his fear." The Gr. translateth, "If ye turn not." VER. 14.-HE WORKETH FOR THE HOT PERSECUTORS,] Or, polisheth, to wit, to shoot at them that fervently persecute, namely, the just, as the Chald. addeth. The Heb. delak, which signifieth burning, Ezek. xxiv. 10, is applied to hot persecution. See Ps. x. 2; Gen. xxxi. 35; Lam. iv. 19. VER. 15. HE SHALL BE IN TRAVAIL,] Or, continually travaileth, that is, taketh great pains to accomplish iniquity, as a woman with child to be delivered. MOLESTATION,] Or, moil, misery. The Heb. ghnamal signifieth 16 He toilsome labour and molestation, both which a man endureth himself, Ps. xxv. 18; lxxiii. 5; and which he causeth another to endure, Ps. xciv. 20; lv. 11. And thus it is here meant, as the 17th verse showeth. BRING FORth a LIE,] Or, falsehood, meaning either ca. lumny and slander of others, (which in ver. 17 seemeth to be called violent wrong,) or, a deceit of himself, frustrating his own expectation. This similitude of the conception, travail, and birth of sin, is memorable, mentioned also in Job xv. 35; Is. lix. 4; James i. 15; much like another simile of ploughing, sowing, and reaping iniquity, Job iv. 8. VER. 16.—IS FALLEN,] To wit, unto his own perdition, as Prov. xxvi. 27; Eccl. x. 8; or, to lurk there for the perdition of others. See Ps. x. 10. THE CORRUPTING DITCH HE WROUGHT,] Or, pit of corruption which he made. The original shachath signifieth corruption, Ps. xvi. 10, and is applied to any pit or ditch where one perisheth and corrupteth,' Ps. lvii. 7; xciv. 13; and sometimes the word pit is plainly added, as in Ps. lv. 24. 'the pit of corruption.' VER. 17.-HIS CROWN,] The scalp or head's top, meaning also abundantly, and apparently in the view of all. See Est. ix. 25. VIOLENT WRONG,] The word chamas signifieth injury done by force and rapine, violation of right and justice. VER. 18.-SING PSALMS TO,] Or, praise with psalms, and this importeth a song artificial and skilfully composed. See Ps. iii. 1. PSALM VIII. God's glory is magnified by his works. 6. A prophecy of Christ, his humiliation, glory, and dominion. To the master of the music upon Gittith; a Psalm of David. 2 JEHOVAH our Lord how wondrous excellent is thy name in all the earth, which hast given thy glorious Majesty above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast founded strength, because of thy distressers, to make cease the VER. 1.-GITTITH,] Or, the gittith, which title is also given to the 81st and 84th Ps. Gath in Heb. is a wine press, Is. xiii. 2. It is also the name of a city of the Philistines, 1 Sam. xvii. 4. A city also of the Levites was called Gath-rimmon, Jos. xxi. 25, whereupon Obed-Edom the son of Jeduthun, a Levite and singer in Israel, was called a Gittite, 2 Sam. vi. 10. So by Gittith here may be meant, either such instruments as were used by the posterity of Obed-Edom the Gittite, or that these psalms were made upon occasion of transporting God's ark from the house of that Obed-Edom, the history whereof is in 2 Sam. vi. 6-12, &c., or that these psalms were to be sung for praise of God at the vintage, when grapes were pressed. And ac. cording to this the Greek translateth it "the wine presses." Or it may be the same musical instrument; and so the Chald. paraphrast translateth it, "To sing upon the harp that came from Gath." VER. 2.-OUR LORD,] Or, our sustainers: See the note on Ps. ii. 4. WONDROUS EXCELLENT,] Or, wondrous ample, illustrious and magnificent. The original word signifieth ample, or large, and excellent withal, clear and resplendent in glory: the Gr. turneth it "wonderful:" the Chald., "high and laudable." So in ver. 10. NAME,] This word is often used for renown, or glory, Gen. vi. 4; Eccl. vii. 3; Phil. ii. 9; as on the contrary, vile persons are called 'men without name,' Job xxx. 8. God's name is also used for his kingdom and gospel, Mat. xix. 29, compared with Luke xviii. 29; Mat. x. 29. And this psalm treateth of the spreading of Christ's kingdom and gospel, as after is manifested. HAST GIVEN,] That is, put, or set; as 'I have given,' Is. xlii. 1, is by the evangelist in Gr. "I will put," Mat. xii. 18, and in the Heb. text, as, "he hath given thee over them for king,' 2 Chron. ix. 8, for which is written in 1 Kings x. 9, he hath set (or put). It may also import a setting sure or stablishing; as, thou hast given thy people,' I Chron. xvii. 22, that is, thou hast stablished thy people, 2 Sam. vii. 24. Here also is a grammatical change in the Heb.; to give, for thou hast given. GLORIOUS MAJESTY,] Venerable or praiseworthy glory. The word hodh is general for any laudable grace or virtue for which one is celebrated, reverenced, and commended. ABOVE,] Or, over, or upon the heavens. This phrase is used of God, Num. xxvii. 20, where he willeth Moses to give of his glorious majesty upon Joshua;' and may have use in the mystical applying of this psalm to Christ's kingdom, as Mat. xxi. 26, teaches us: heavens being also often used in scripture for the church of Christ, Is. lxv. 17; lxvi. 22: Rev. xxi. 1. VER. 3.-HAST FOUNDED,] That is, firmly decreed, appointed, and consequently fitted, and perfected, as the Gr. katirtiso, (which the apostle useth) signifieth, Mat. xxi. 16. So in Esther i. 8, 'the king had founded,' that is, decreed, appointed. See also before, Ps. ii. 2. STRENGTH,] That is, strong praise, for so this word seemeth often to be used, as Ps. xxix. 1; xcvi. 7; cxviii. 14; therefore the Gr. which the apostle followeth, Mat. xxi. 16, translateth it praise.' This word, strength, or firmness, may be taken for 'kingdom firmly strengthened,' as in this place, so in Ps. cx. 2; lxxxvi. 16; lxxxix. 11. TO MAKE CEASE,] That is, put to silence, or do away, abolish, and destroy. So after in Ps. cxix. 119; lxxxix. 45; xlvi. 10. SELFAVENGER,] Or, him that avengeth himself; the proud and mighty which will not suffer his honour or gain to be diminished. So Ps. xliv. 17. This was fulfilled, when children crying hosanna to welcome Christ, the chief priests and scribes disdained, and sought to destroy him: but he stopped their mouths by alleging this scripture, Mat. xxi. 15, 16; Mark xi. 18. God's people are taught, though they suffer wrong, not to avenge themselves, but to give place unto wrath,' Rom. xii. 19. enemy and self-avenger. • When I behold thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast stably constituted; What is sorry man that thou rememberest him, and the son of Adam that thou visitedst him? For thou hast made him lesser a little than the gods, and crowned him glory and comely honour. 'Thou gavest him dominion over the works of thy hands; all thou didst set under his feet. Sheep and oxen all of them, and also the beasts of the field. The fowls of heaven, and the fishes of VER. 5.-WHAT IS SORRY MAN,] To wit, thus think I with myself, what is man, &c. Here man is called Enosh, (the name of Adam's nephew, Gen. iv. 26,) which signifieth doleful, sorry, sorrowful, wretched, and sick incurably. And this name is given unto all men, to put them in mind of their misery and mortality; as Ps. ix. 21, "let the heathens know that they be Enosh." SON OF ADAM,] Or, of earthly man. As before men are called 'Enosh,' for their doleful estate by sin; so are they called Adam,' and 'sons of Adam,' that is, earthly, to put them in mind of their original and end, which were made of Adamah, the earth, even of the dust, and to dust shall again return, Gen. ii. 7; iii. 19. Adam was the name both of man and woman, Gen. v. 2, and is also the name of all their children, Ps. xxii. 7; xxxvi. 7; xxxix. 6, and in many other places. See the note on Ps. xlix. 3. VISITEST HIM,] That is, hast care of, providest for, and lookest to him. The original word thus largely signifieth, and is used indifferently for visiting with favour,' as Ps. lxv. 10, or with displeasure,' as Ps. lix. 6. Here it is meant for good; for God's providence is singular towards man, and his visitation preserveth our spirits,' Job x. 12. Compare also here. with, Ps. cxliv. 3; Job vii. 17, 18. VER. 6. FOR THOU MADEST HIM LESSER,] Or, and thou madest him lack; or though thou madest him to want a little of the gods. A LITTLE,] The original word signifieth either 'a little while,' Ps. xxxvii. 10, or a little deal,' Ps. xxxvii. 16; 1 Sam. xiv. 29. The Gr. brachuti (which the apostle useth) also signifieth both, Acts v. 34; John vi. 7; howbeit, by his applying this to Christ, he seemeth to mean a little or short time, Heb. ii. 7, 9. THAN THE GODS,] Or, than God; but by gods here is meant the angels, as the apostle expoundeth it, according both to the Gr. version and Chald. paraphrase. And those heavenly spirits are for their office and service called angels, that is, messengers; but for their honourable dignity they are called gods, here and in Ps. xcvii. 7, and the sons of God,' Job i. 6; xxxviii. 7. The princes of the earth are named gods, Ps. VOL. II. 3 II lxxxii. 6, how much more may the angels be called so, that are chief princes,' Dan. x. 13. AND CROWNEDST HIM,] This may be understood of man as he was first made in God's image, and Lord of the world, Gen. i. 26, but since the transgression, it is peculiar to Christ and to Christian men that have their dignity restored by Christ. Unto him the apostle applieth this psalm, thus: We see Jesus crowned with glory and honour, which was a little made lesser than the angels, through the suffering of death, that by the grace of God he might taste death for all,' Heb. ii. 9. Glory seemeth to respect inward virtues, as wisdom, holiness, &c., and honour for his outward estate in ruling over the creatures, as ver. 7-9. COMELY HONOUR,] The Heb. hadar denoteth all honourable comeliness, honest, grave, adorned decency. VER. 7.-ALL, thou didst seT,] In the first creation, God gave man 'rule over fishes, fowls, beasts, and all that moveth upon the earth,' Gen. i. 26, but after, for his sake and sin, the earth was cursed, and he enjoyed it with sorrow, Gen. iii. 17. But the Son of man,' who is heir of all things,' Heb. i. 2, restoreth our loss, and will cause the remnant of the people, even whosoever overcometh, to inherit all things,' Zach. viii. 12; Rev. xxi. 7; though unto man living here in sorrows, we yet see not all things subdued,' Heb. ii. 8. VER.8.-SHEEP AND OXEN,] Or flocks and herds; the flocks comprehending both sheep and goats, Lev. i. 10. VER. 9.-THE FOWL,] That is, fowls or birds; one is used for many or all, so the Heb. often speaketh of other things, as ship, for ships, 1 Kings x. 22, with 2 Chron. ix. 21; spear, for spears, 2 Kings xi. 10, with 2 Chron. xxiii. 9. So Ps. xx. 8; xxxiv. 8. OF THE HEAVENS,] That is, of the air, for all this outspread or firmament spread over the face of the earth, God called, 'heavens,' Gen. i. 17, the place also above where the sun and stars are, he called heavens,' Gen. i. 17, and the highest place where the angels dwell, (and God himself is said to sit in) is likewise called heaven,' Mat. v. 9; and xxiv. 36, and by the apostle named 'the third hea the sea, that which passeth through the paths of the seas. "Jehovah our Lord, how wondrous excellent is thy name in all the earth. David praiseth God for executing judgment. 12. He inciteth others to praise him. 14. He prayeth that he may have cause to praise him. 16. The judgments that shall come upon the wicked. 7 To the master of the music upon Muth-labben; a Psalm of David. I WILL confess Jehovah with all my heart, I will tell all thy marvellous works. I will rejoice and shew gladness in thee, I will sing Psalms to thy name, O most High. When mine enemies turned backward, they stumbled and perished from thy face. For thou hast done my judgment and my doom, hast sitten on the throne, judge of justice. Thou hast rebuked the heathen, hast brought to perdition the wicked one; their name thou hast wiped out for ever and aye. The desolations of the enemy are wholly ended VER. 1.-UPON MUTH LABBEN,] This, if given sentence, and executing according to it be referred to the music, seemeth to be a the right of my cause. kind of tune like that we call the counter- Chald. expoundeth it, tenor. Otherwise it may be read For the TEN ON THE THRONE,] death of Labben; but who he was is uncer- the throne, the seat of judgment, or tribunal. tain; some think it was Goliah; the Chald. This noteth both kingly authority, Ps. cxxxii. saith, "For the death of the son." It seem- 11, 12, and the acting or executing of the eth to me, as the former Psalm was of the same, 2 Chron. xviii. 18; Is. vi. 1; Dan. propagation of Christ's kingdom, so this is of vii. 9; Rev. xx. 11. the destruction of Antichrist's. VER. 2.-MARVELLOUS WORKS,] Or, wonderful things, miracles. The original word signifieth high and hidden, such as man's power cannot perform, nor reason reach unto, and therefore are admired. VER. 3.-IN THEE,] The Chald. saith, "in thy word." VER. 4.-WHEN MY ENEMIES TURNED,] This may be taken for a sum of his praise for deliverances past, or, in faith for like to come, and may be read, when my foes turn back they shall stumble and perish.' FROM THY FACE,] From before thee, because of thy presence, that is, for fear of thee, and shut out from thy face or presence. So after Ps. lxviii. 2, 3, 9. So the apostle speaketh of the wicked's perdition, from the face of the Lord,' 2 Thess. i. 9. VER, 5.-DONE MY JUDGMENTS,] That is, See Ps. vii. 9. The my vengeance.' SITOr, set thee down on VER. 6. HAST REBUKED,] With rough and severe words: but this, when God doth it, commonly importeth confusion, as being to his enemies, and therefore joined with the curse, Ps. cxix. 21; lxviii. 31; lxxvi. 7; xviii. 16; Zach. iii. 2. So elsewhere he saith, at the rebuke of thy face they perish,' Ps. lxxx. 17. WIPED OUT,] Or, wiped away, as with the hand. And this wiping out the name, noteth the utter abolishing with great wrath, Deut. ix. 14; xxix. 20; Ps. cix. 13. FOR EVER AND AYE,] Or, for ever and yet, or, to eternity and perpetuity. The Heb. ghned, yet, is added to eternity, or ever, to increase the durance of it, and to note all eternities, Ps. x. 16; and xxi. 5; civ. 5; cxlv. 1, 2, taken from Moses, Exod. xv. 18. VER. 7.-THE DESOLATIONS,] Which the enemy made in spoiling our land, or the desolate places which the enemy builded for |