Isai. 43. 2, 3.

Ps. 58. 10.

Isai. 66. 24.

Mal. 1. 4, 5.

Ps. 71. 2, &c.

Prov. 12. 21.

Matt. 4. 6.
Heb. 1. 14.

Job 5. 23.

Mark 16. 18.

6 For the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noon-day.

7 A thousand shall fall beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Yea [Only], with thine eyes shalt thou behold, and see the reward of the ungodly.

9 For [Because] thou, Lord, art my hope; thou hast set thine house of defence very high.

10 There shall no evil happen unto thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee [up] in their hands, that thou hurt[dash]not thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt go upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet.

called God's arrow; still it admits of a reasonable doubt, whether that word is not here used indefinitely for any open evil or violence. Deut. xxxii. 23, 24. Ezek. v. 16.

9 For thou, &c. We have now the answer of the person or persons addressed. The assurances of protection and security just made must be believed with unshaken confidence, for (that) or because (see on Psalm xvi. 9) thou, Lord, art my hope.- -Thou hast set, &c. The place of refuge, which thou hast mercifully provided for all, who need assistance and safeguard, is high and inaccessible; no enemy can approach to assail it.

10 Plague. See on Psalm xxxviii. 17.

11 To keep thee, &c. To hold thee up and preserve thee from stumbling, whithersoever thou goest: to be thy constant and faithful guardian under every circumstance. Psalm LXXXIX. 22.

12 That thou hurt not, &c. Our two authorized translations must not be thought to vary in the sense, which they assign to the present passage, inasmuch as the word "hurt" is here used according to its meaning in the French language. Nor need this be a cause for wonder to any person, who only bears in mind, that Coverdale and his coadjutors revised and nearly printed the first edition of "The Great Bible" at Paris, of which fact, indeed, the book itself, in the mode of spelling adopted all through it, affords numerous and evident proofs. Another instance of deference to the French language may, doubtless, be found, in the employment of the definite article, as noticed on Psalm LXV. 2.

13 Thou shalt go, &c. Thy angelic attendants will always keep thee safe and unhurt, though thou shouldst pass through places so filled with the most savage and venomous creatures, that it would become necessary for thee even to walk over them. The idea of their

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him up [on high], because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will hear him; yea, I am [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and bring him to honor.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and Luke 2. 23, &c. shew him my salvation.

PSALM XCII.

THIS is a Psalm of thanksgiving, containing an exhortation to the pious to praise God for the marvellous works of his providence, for his judgments on the wicked, and for his favor towards his faithful servants. It is entitled "a Psalm or song for the sabbath-day," but it is quite uncertain, whether the sabbath-day, properly so called, is meant, or that rest from persecution, which God had promised to give his Church under the reign of the Messiah. The Levites, however, we are told, were in the habit of singing it in the temple on the sabbath-day. Neither the name of the author, nor the time of its composition, can be determined.

IT

T is a good thing to give thanks unto the Ps. 52. 10. Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Ephes. 5. 19. most Highest;

2 To tell of thy loving-kindness early in the Acts 16. 25. morning, and of thy truth [faithfulness] in the

night-season,

3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and 2 Thess. 2. 13, 14. upon the lute; upon a loud instrument, and

upon the harp.

4 For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through Zeph. 3. 14, &c. thy works; and I will rejoice in giving praise 2 Cor. 2. 14. for the operations of thy hands.

subjection to him may also be included. See on Psalm cx. 1.The dragon. Some species of serpent is generally signified by this word, but the particular one cannot be ascertained. It stands, Psalm LXXIV. 14, for a crocodile; and, Psalm cxLviii. 7, for a sea-monster.

14 I will set him up, &c. Jehovah himself now speaks and declares, that because he, who is the subject of the Psalm, had devoutly acknowledged him for his Lord and his God, therefore he would place him on a high rock, where his enemies could not reach him. Psalm xviii. 1.

1 Most Highest. See on Psalm ix. 2.

4 Thy works. The subject treated of throughout the remainder of the Psalm seems to afford evident proof, that neither the creation nor the preservation of the world is here pointed at, as some persons suggest, but solely God's providential care in the government of human

Rom. 11. 33, 34.

5 O Lord, how glorious are thy works! thy 1 Cor. 2. 11, &c. thoughts are very deep.

Ps. 73. 14, &c.

Jer. 12. 1, 2.
Mal. 3. 15.

Num. 10. 35.
Luke 21. 24.

Ps. 89. 18, 25.

Ps. 37.35:

112.8.

Isai. 65. 22.

Hos. 14. 5, &c.

6 An unwise man doth not well consider this, and a fool doth not understand it.

7 When the ungodly are green as the grass, and when all the workers of wickedness do flourish, then shall they be destroyed for ever; but thou, Lord, art the most Highest for evermore. 8 For, lo, thine enemies, O Lord, lo, thine enemies shall perish, and all the workers of wickedness shall be destroyed.

9 But mine horn shall be exalted like the horn of an unicorn, for I am [shall be] anointed with fresh oil.

10 Mine eye also shall see his lust of [desire on] mine enemies; and mine ear shall hear his desire of the wicked that arise up against me.

11 The righteous shall flourish like a palmtree, and shall spread abroad like a cedar in Libanus.

affairs.- -For the operations, &c. For the frequent instances of thy unerring justice, by which we perceive, that the righteous, equally with the wicked, receive the due reward of their actions.

5 Thy thoughts, &c. Thy counsels and designs towards mankind lie hidden from mere human understanding, and are so deep as to be "past finding out."

6 An unwise man, &c. They who, being destitute of heavenly wisdom, look merely to the outward appearance of things, do not perceive the vast depth of God's thoughts; nor are they aware, until the event makes it manifest, that the wicked are allowed to be prosperous only to render their destruction the more unexpected and remarkable.

7 But thou, &c. Jehovah dwells to all eternity in heaven, and there overrules the designs of men, so that they may contribute to his own glory and to the good of his servants.

9 Like the horn, &c. See on Psalm xviii. 1: xxii. 21. The horn of the rhinoceros is particularly erect.—I am anointed, &c. To besmear the head and face with oil was a sign of joy and gladness. Psalm XLV. 8. "Fresh oil" signifies the purest and sweetest oil, and, therefore, is rightly made to represent the greatness of those pleasures, of which the Psalmist confidently expected to be partaker.

10 Mine eye, &c. See on Psalm Liv. 7.

11 The righteous, &c. The prosperity of the wicked (ver. 7.) is inconsiderable, short-lived, and ever decaying; that of the righteous, on the contrary, vast, durable, and continually increasing.- -A palmtree. This tree is distinguished for its longevity and fruitfulness, as well as for the permanency and perpetual flourishing of its leaves. Hence it became, in former times, an emblem of immortality among many nations. The palm-trees of Judea were very celebrated, and

12 Such, as are planted in the house of the Rom. 6. 5. Lord, shall flourish in the courts of the house of Ephes. 3. 17, &c. our God.

13 They also shall bring forth more fruit in Col. 1. 9, 10. their age, and shall be fat and well-liking [flou

rishing];

14 That they may shew how true the Lord my strength [rock] is, and that there is no unrighteousness in Him.

Evening Prayer.

PSALM XCIII.

DAVID may, perhaps, have written this Psalm of thanksgiving, which celebrates God's majesty, glory, and power, together with the sure dependence, which may be placed on His promises. The Jews acknowledge, that we have here a prediction respecting the times of the Messiah, and the stability of his kingdom.

THE HE Lord is King, and hath put on glorious Isai. 52. 1, &c. apparel: the Lord hath put on his apparel, John 18. 36.

and girded himself with strength.

2 He hath made the round world so sure, Isai. 45. 12, 18. that it cannot be moved.

Heb. 1.2.

constituted the usual symbol of that country, which is personified on ancient coins under the figure of a disconsolate woman sitting (see on Psalm cxxxvii. 1.) beneath one of them.A cedar, &c. See on Psalm xxix. 5.

12 Such, as are planted, &c. It would be in vain to seek for trees actually planted in, or even near, the temple, the Israelites being expressly forbidden to place them there. Deut. xvi. 21. Still it is not, in any way, difficult to explain, either this verse, or Psalm Lii. 9, where we have a similar allusion to trees, as if they were constantly found in the neighbourhood, at least, of God's sanctuary. For, since the righteous are compared, in several passages of scripture, to trees (Isai. LX. 21: Lxi. 3), surely, when considered under this image, they may, to express the divine protection of them, with exactly the same propriety, be here said to be planted, to take root, and flourish, “in the house of the Lord." Jer. xii. 2. Matt. xv. 13.

13 They also, &c. The palm-tree is affirmed to possess the remarkable peculiarity of becoming more fruitful in proportion as it advances in age.

1 The Lord, &c. Jehovah is now introduced as a warlike sovereign, assuming the kingly robes and preparing himself for battle, in the same manner as an earthly champion puts on his armour for the purpose of attacking and destroying his enemies. See on Psalm LXviii. 17.- -And girded himself, &c. See on Psalm xviii. 32.

2 The round world, &c. See on Psalm LXXXIX. 12. He, who created the world and established it so firmly, that it cannot be unsettled

Mic. 5. 2.
Heb. 13. 8.

Acts 4. 25, &c.

1sai. 17. 12, 13.

Zech. 14. 20, 21.
John 4. 24.

3 Ever since the world began hath thy seat been prepared: thou art from everlasting.

4 The floods are risen, O Lord: the floods have lift up their voice: the floods lift up their

waves.

5 The waves of the sea are mighty, and rage horribly; but yet the Lord, who dwelleth on high, is mightier.

6 Thy testimonies, O Lord, are very sure: holiness becometh thine house for ever.

PSALM XCIV.

THOUGH the Babylonish captivity is sometimes conceived to have given occasion to the present Psalm, yet the circumstances of that event, do not, apparently, agree with the omission observable in it, inasmuch as we find here no reference to a dispersed and banished people: moreover, the Chaldeans did not attack and overthrow the Jews on account of their religion. The author seems, therefore, to speak rather in the name of the righteous part of his nation; and, writing at some period of general corruption, to pray for God's vengeance upon their wicked and blasphemous oppressors, who doubted his noticing of their guilt, as well as his power to punish them. Good men, on the other hand, he encourages to be cheerful under persecution, and to wait for "a happy issue out of all their afflictions" through the divine mercy, which will never fail those, who trust to it patiently.

Rom. 12. 19.
2 Thess. 1. 7, 8.

LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth, thou God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.

must necessarily be able to prevent every human power from disturbing any of his appointments; he must also necessarily be the only Being, who can effectually punish the wicked and reward the good.

3 Thy seat. The throne of thy power and of thy justice, on which thou sittest to give laws to all mankind.

4 The floods, &c. The terrific and devastating invasion of a mighty enemy is often compared to an overwhelming inundation. Jer. xLvi. 7, 8. See on Psalm xviii. 3.

6 Thy testimonies, &c. The promises contained in the scriptures of assistance to his servants, when in affliction, are those things, to which God has given his attestation, and which will never fail of their accomplishment. By the due performance of such promises, God not only shews his own holiness, but likewise declares holiness to be the proper and inseparable ornament, grace, and beauty of his house; wherefore it is the bounden duty of all his worshippers, those living stones that compose it, to endeavor, in some measure, to resemble him. 1 Cor. iii. 9. Ephes. ii. 20, &c. "Sacred and inviolable is the word of our King; sacred and inviolable should be the loyalty of his subjects." Lev. xix. 2. Ephes. v. 27.