4 Thou hast loved unrighteousness more than goodness, and to talk of lies [and lying] more than righteousness. 5 Thou hast loved to speak all words that may do hurt, O thou false tongue. Ŏ Therefore shall God destroy thee [beat thee down] for ever: he shall take thee and pluck thee out of thy dwelling; and root thee out of the land of the living. 7 The righteous also shall see this, and fear; and shall laugh him to scorn: 8 Lo, this is the man, that took not God for his strength, but trusted unto the multitude of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness. 9 As for me, I am like a green olive-tree in the house of God: my trust is in the tender mercy of God for ever and ever. 10 I will always give thanks unto thee, for that [because] thou hast done [it]; and I will hope in thy name, for thy saints like it well. rejoicest to spread abroad respecting them, is similar to that inflicted by a keen-edged razor, which, "working deceitfully," wounds before any one is aware of the fact. 4 To talk of lies. See on Psalm xxxviii. 12. 6 Therefore shall God, &c. The utter destruction, which was inevitably to come upon the wicked Doeg, is announced in very strong language. He was to be laid prostrate, like a building overthrown by violence: to be forcibly driven from the place of his usual habitation; and to be totally deprived, as well of existence, as of posterity, like a tree torn up root and branch from the spot, on which it grew. 7 The righteous, &c. The pious, on perceiving the severity of this vengeance, will be awe-struck at the power of God; will venerate, in a still greater degree than before, the avenger of his servants, and will thenceforward become more fearful of committing any transgression of his laws. 8 But trusted, &c. Instead of leaning upon the divine love and mercy for support, he foolishly deemed his great wealth, and his readiness to do any wicked action, sufficient to ensure his protection. Perhaps the words are designed to express, that, from confidence in his abundant possessions, he hesitated not to perform whatever evil deed came into his mind. 9 I am like, &c. Doeg, indeed, will assuredly perish; whilst I, whose trust has uniformly been in the divine favor, like a luxuriant and vigorous olive-tree, shall abide and flourish, the object of God's constant care, and, as it were, the inmate of his house. See on Psalm xxxvii. 36: xcii. 12. 10 For that thou, &c. Because (see on Psalm xvi. 9.) thou hast gra ཐ་ Evening Prayer. PSALM LIII. THERE is no very considerable difference between this Psalm, and the fourteenth as it stands in the Hebrew (see on ver. 5); nevertheless To it is not known, nor has it been conjectured with probability, why the same sentiments are here, for the most part, repeated. The variations, however, are sufficient to shew, that the Psalm was intentionally altered, which may have occurred, in consequence of some change in the circumstances of the writer, subsequently to its first publication. Luke 12. 19, 20. Rom. 3. 10, &c. 2 Chron. 15. 2. Ps. 33. 13. Gen. 6. 5. Jer. 8. 5, 6. Jer. 4. 22. Rev. 20. 9, 10. Lev. 26. 17, 36. Amos 9. 14, 15. Isai. 52. 8, &c. THE foolish body hath said in his heart, There is no God. 2 Corrupt are they, and become abominable in their wickedness: there is none that doeth good. 3 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any, that would [did] understand, and seek after God. 4 But they are all gone out of the way; they are altogether become abominable; there is also none that doeth good, no, not one. 5 Are not they without understanding, that work wickedness, eating up my people, as if they would [as they] eat bread? they have not called upon God. 6 They were afraid, where no fear was; for God hath broken the bones of him that besieged thee: thou hast put them to confusion [shame], because God hath despised them. 7 Oh, that the salvation were given unto Israel out of Sion! Oh, that the Lord would deliver his people out of captivity! 8 Then should Jacob rejoice, and Israel should be right glad. ciously answered my petitions, and inflicted punishment upon my enemy and calumniator. David speaks with the full assurance of one, who knew that the vengeance of heaven would, sooner or later, overtake the evil doer.- -Thy saints, &c. Thy sincere worshippers highly approve such devotedness; they love to behold me, or indeed any person, depending resignedly on thy goodness, and patiently waiting for the accomplishment of thy promises. 6 For God hath broken, &c. This would seem to be a prophetic declaration, both of the re-establishment of the Jews in their native land, and of the complete rebuilding of Jerusalem, notwithstanding every opposition. PSALM LIV. DAVID is reported to have composed the present Psalm at a time of great distress, when, having hidden himself in the wilderness of Ziph, the inhabitants of that district gave information of the circumstance to Saul, who accordingly went with a body of forces to take him. 1 Sam. xxiii. 19, &c. Complaints are here mixed up with supplications; expressions of anticipated triumph with grateful vows of thanksgiving. SAVE me, O God, for thy name's sake, and avenge me in thy strength. 2 Hear my prayer, O God, and hearken unto the words of my mouth; 3 For strangers are risen up against me; and tyrants, which have not God before their eyes, seek after my soul. Jer. 50. 33, 34. Acts. 4. 12. Ps. 5. 2: 143. 7. Matt. 27. 20. John 16. 3. 4 Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is Rom. 8. 31. with them, that uphold my soul. 5 He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: 2 Pet. 3. 9. destroy thou them in thy truth. 6 An offering of a free heart will I give thee, and praise thy name, O Lord, because it is so comfortable; 7 For he hath delivered me out of all my trouble, and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies. 1 Deut. 12. 5, &c. Gen. 48. 15, 16. 2 Tim. 4. 17, 18. 1 Save me, &c. The divine honor was deeply concerned in the preservation of David, since God had engaged to raise him eventually to the kingdom. Psalm Lxxix. 10. 3 Strangers-tyrants. The Ziphites belonged to the same nation, and even to the same tribe, as David, yet they acted towards him as if they had been foreigners: Saul, too, with his men, could only be regarded in the light of most cruel and tyrannical oppressors. Psalm Lix. 5. Matt. xviii. 17.- -My soul. See on Psalm vii. 2. 4 The Lord, &c. Did our translators understand the words to mean, that Jehovah condescended to assist those, who favored David; or, that Jehovah was himself one of David's supporters, and, therefore, that he experienced divine as well as human succour ? 6 An offering, &c. David pledges himself (out) "of a free heart" to offer unto God a sacrifice: it would be one, to which he was not bound by the precise letter of the Mosaic law. Lev. vii. 16: xxii. 21. 7 Mine eye, &c. This could not have been added, as if the reverses of his personal enemies were capable of giving the meek and pious David any satisfaction. See on Psalm Lxix. 23. PSALM LV. In this Psalm, which was, probably, written during his flight from Jerusalem, whilst suffering under the combined effects of the unnatural rebellion of Absalom and of Ahithophel's treachery, David portrays the consternation and distress, which then oppressed his mind. He begins with praying to God for help in such great affliction, earnestly beseeching him to frustrate the counsels of his enemies, whose perfidious and treacherous actions he minutely recounts: he next expresses his firm belief, that he should be readily assisted in answer to his entreaties; and concludes by encouraging himself to cast all his care upon that Almighty Being, who is both the protector of the good, and the destroyer of the wicked. The Psalm is usually regarded, as a prophecy respecting the treachery of Judas Iscariot. 1 Pet. 3. 12. Isai. 38. 14. 2 Sam. 16. 7, 8. HEAR my prayer, O God, and hide not thyself from my petition. 2 Take heed unto me, and hear me, how I mourn in my prayer, and am vexed [make a noise]. 3 The enemy crieth so, and the ungodly 2 Cor. 11. 23, &c. cometh on so fast; for they are minded to do me some mischief, so maliciously are they set against me. -John 12. 27. 2 Cor. 1. 8. 2 Sam. 15. 14. Luke 22. 44. Prov. 6. 4, 5. Jer. 9. 2. Isai. 17. 12, &c. Jer. 6. 7. Matt. 23. 37, 38. 4 My heart is disquieted within me, and the fear of death is [the terrors of death are] fallen upon me. 5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me; 6 And I said, O that I had wings like a dove! for then would I flee away, and be at rest; 7 Lo, then would I get me away far off, and remain in the wilderness; 8 I would make haste to escape, because of the stormy wind and tempest. 9 Destroy their tongues, O Lord, and divide them; for I have spied unrighteousness [violence] and strife in the city : 2 And am vexed. My mind is in a violent tumultuous agitation, like the waves of "the troubled sea, when it cannot rest.” Psalm LXXXViii. 6. See on Psalm xxxviii. 17. 6 A dove! This bird is noted for the swiftness of its flight. 9 Destroy, &c. David had in his mind the confusion of tongues at Babel, and, therefore, prays, that God would bring to nought the designs of the conspirators by distracting their counsels, and causing them, as it were, to speak different languages, thus leaving them to 10 Day and night they go about within the John 18. 3. walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in Acts 9. 24. the midst of it: 11 Wickedness is therein: deceit and guile go not out of their streets. 12 For it is not an open enemy, that hath done me this dishonor; for then I could have borne it; Isai. 59. 7, 8. Acts 7. 51, 52. Ps, 41. 9. 17.12. 13 Neither was it mine adversary, that did John 13. 18: magnify himself against me; for then, peradventure, I would have hid myself from him; 14 But it was even thou, my companion, my guide, and mine own familiar friend. 15 We took sweet counsel together, and walked in [unto] the house of God as friends [in company]. 16 Let death come hastily upon them, and let them go down quick into hell; for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. 17 As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. 18 In the evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I pray, and that, instantly; and he shall hear my voice. 2 Sam. 16. 23. Mark 14. 44, 45. Ezek. 33. 31. Matt. 26. 24. Luke 6. 11, 12. Luke 18. 1. disunion and mutual jealousies. This petition was granted, when Hushai's advice was preferred to that of Ahithophel. 2 Sam. xv. 31: xvii. 7, 23. 10 They go about, &c. "Unrighteousness" and "strife" are declared to go their rounds within the walls of Jerusalem, like an armed watch, that they may guard the city against the approach of piety and loyalty, as if they were the most dangerous foes. 12 For it is not, &c. These words manifestly refer to the former part of the Psalm, and assign the reason for the writer's grief. 15 We took, &c. We were always together, in private as well as in public. 16 Let them go down, &c. An allusion is designed to the fate of Korah and his company. Num. xvi. 33. Ahithophel hanged himself; consequently, as he died not "the common death of all men," but put a violent end to his existence, he may be said to have gone down alive (see on Psalm iii. 3), or in the full strength and vigor of his days, to the grave. See on Psalm xvi. 11: Lxix. 23.- -For wickedness, &c. We have now a personification of wickedness, (as before, ver. 11,) which is mentioned by David, as the constant inmate of the dwellings of his enemies, and their sworn associate. 18 In the evening, &c. The stated hours of prayer were at the time of offering the morning and evening sacrifice, or at the third and ninth hours, answering to our nine in the morning and three in the afternoon, though it was clearly the custom of the more devout Jews |