Rev. 5. 9, 10. 2 Kings 5. 1. Isai. 45. 1, &c. 2 Sam. 16. 5, &c. 9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God, and sing praises unto thee, upon a ten-stringed lute. 10 Thou hast given victory unto kings; and hast delivered David thy servant from the peril of the sword. 11 Save me, and deliver me, from the hand 17. 1, &c. of strange children, whose mouth talketh of [speaketh] vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of iniquity; Job 42. 15. Isai. 44. 3, &c. Deut. 30. 9, 10. Neh. 9. 25, 26. 12 That our sons may grow up, as the young plants; and that our daughters may be, as the polished corners of the temple; 13 That our garners may be full and plenteous with all manner of store; that our sheep may bring forth thousands, and ten thousands, in our streets; 9 A new song. For this fresh instance of thy favor and protection. Ver. 1. The next verse, in all likelihood, forms the subject and burden of his "new song." 12 As the young plants. Vigorous, and strong, and healthy, capable of undertaking, when necessary, the defence of their country.As the polished corners, &c. It is altogether uncertain, what parts of the temple are meant, nor can any advantage result from endeavoring to search out the point, since the design of the comparison is quite obvious without such knowledge. The Israelitish maidens were to grow up, adorned with every grace both of body and mind, and to become the ornament of their families, like so many wellproportioned, highly-polished, and richly-decorated columns. In a time of peace, sons, as well as daughters, would be able to be better trained and educated. 13 In our streets. The common meaning of the word "streets" does not well accord with the previous part of the sentence, nor with the subject in hand; wherefore another has sometimes been sought for it, derived from the Saxon language, into which it was introduced from the Latin, and where it is said to signify any place for rest or repose, a yeaning-place. See on Psalm iii. 3. Still, because no person can possibly assert, that the translators of both our versions did not employ the term in its usual acceptation, (in which it undoubtedly occurs immediately after,) it seems better to understand the passage in this manner:-that our sheep may bring forth so abundantly and increase so fast, as completely to fill the wide places of our towns and villages, when they pass through them, in their passage to and from the fields. A figurative sense has been assigned to the phrase "in our streets," which is supposed to imply openly:-so that not only we ourselves, to our great joy, but our adversaries to their great grief, may behold the increase of our wealth. Psalm xxiii. 5: xxxi. 21. 14 That our oxen may be strong to labor; Zech. 8. 3, &c. that there be no decay, no leading into captivity, and no complaining in our streets. 15 Happy are the people, that are in such a case; yea, blessed are the people, who have the Lord for their God. PSALM CXLV. Deut. 33. 29. For From this Psalm to the end of the book, we find everywhere the same delightful strain of praise and thanksgiving, without the admixture of one complaint or petition. It is not improbable that David, at the close of his life, on surveying the divine wisdom, mercy, and goodness, resolved to celebrate, not only the glory and power, which shine forth in all God's works, but, especially, his loving-kindness towards the whole human race, and chiefly towards all such, as flee to him for succour. these last he sustains and nourishes with his bounty; their prayers he readily answers, and them he loves to preserve from all danger. Though the Psalm contains no great connexion of sentiment, it is considered to have an undoubted reference to the Messiah's kingdom. The ancient Jews used to declare, that "he could not fail to be a child of the world to come, who would say this Psalm three times every day." WILL magnify [extol] thee, O God, my Dan. 4. 37. King; and I will praise thy name for ever Matt. 25. 34, &c. and ever. 2 Every day will I give thanks unto thee, Ps. 119. 16, &c. and praise thy name for ever and ever. 14 Our oxen. As horses were not permitted to be multiplied in the land of Israel under the Mosaic dispensation (Deut. xvii. 16), the ox, particularly that species of it called the buffalo, was exclusively used, both for agriculture and for every other laborious work. 2 Sam. vi. 6.- -No decay. Whether this expression relates solely to the oxen, or, which is more likely, to the Israelites themselves, it implies no diminution either of number or strength.—No complaining, &c. The Psalmist now entreats, that his countrymen may be saved from the horrors attendant on the irruption of an enemy into their towns. 15 The Lord. Jehovah, in opposition to the tutelary gods of the heathen. 1 My King. The government of the people of Israel was a theocracy, which commenced at the time of their departure from Egypt, and continued, in some degree, until the coming of Christ. Exod. xix. 4, &c. 2 Kings xx. 5. See on Psalm ii. 2.-Thy name. See on Psalm v. 12. Rom. 11. 33. Isai. 38. 19. Ps. 66. 3, 4. Isai. 12. 4. Josh. 2. 9, &c: 9. 9, 10. 2 Cor. 9. 8, &c. Phil. 3. 9. Num. 14. 17, &c. Ps. 100. 4. Isai. 43. 21. 1 Pet. 2. 5. Dan. 7. 13, 14. Acts 2. 8, &c. 3 Great is the Lord, and marvellous, worthy to be praised; there is no end of his greatness. 4 One generation shall praise thy works unto another, and declare thy power [mighty acts]. 5 As for me, I will be talking of thy worship [majesty], thy glory, thy praise, and wondrous works; 6 So that men shall speak of the might of thy marvellous acts; and I will also tell of [declare] thy greatness. 7 The memorial of thine abundant kindness shall be shewed, and men shall sing of thy righteousness. 8 The Lord is gracious, and merciful, longsuffering, and of great goodness. his 9 The Lord is loving unto every man; and mercy is over all his works. 10 All thy works praise thee, O Lord, and thy saints give thanks unto thee: 11 They shew the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; 12 That thy power, thy glory, and mightiEphes. 1. 19, &c. ness [the majesty] of thy kingdom, might be 1 Tim. 1. 17. known unto men. 13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all ages. 3 There is no end, &c. The power and majesty of Jehovah, our King, are far different from those of any mere earthly ruler; for no one can, by inquiry, search out their extent, much less, worthily describe them. Psalm XL. 7. 5 Worship. See on Psalm iii. 3. 6 And I will also, &c. I will not, therefore, leave to others (ver. 4.) the whole of this pleasing duty, but will readily and joyfully engage in it myself. Ver. 5.- -Tell of. See on Psalm xxxviii. 12. 7 The memorial, &c. The memory of the numerous benefits, which, in agreement with thy faithful promises, thou delightest to send upon us, shall be diligently perpetuated by fresh generations of men, who will never cease to declare thy praises. 10 All thy works, &c. All the productions of God's creating hand, by answering, in one way or another, according to their several natures, the purpose of their being, and, consequently, by fulfilling his will, serve to display the divine glory. But his saints, "even the children of Israel" (Psalm cxLviii. 13), with admiring and grateful hearts, zealously offer him the spiritual sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. See on Psalm xxx. 4. 14 The Lord upholdeth all such as fall, and lifteth all those that are down. up 15 The eyes of all wait upon thee, O Lord, and thou givest them their meat in due season. 16 Thou openest thine hand, and fillest all things living with plenteousness. 17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy [merciful] in all his works. 18 The Lord is nigh unto all them, that call upon him, yea, [to] all such as call upon him. faithfully. 19 He will fulfil the desire of them, that fear him; he also will hear their cry, and will help [save] them. 20 The Lord preserveth all them, that love him; but scattereth abroad all the ungodly. 21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; and let all flesh give thanks unto his holy name for ever and ever. PSALM CXLVI. THE author here extols the Lord Jehovah for his faithfulness and mercy, for his ready aid in time of trouble, as well as for the justice of his kingly rule; he likewise calls upon all men, instead of trusting in earthly potentates, to put their confidence in Him alone, who is the creator, the governor, and the preserver of the universe. This with the four remaining Psalms are by some persons conjectured to have been severally written for the second dedication of the temple. PRAISE the Lord, O my soul: while I live, Ps. 71. 12, 13. will I praise the Lord; yea, as long as I Rev. 7.9, &c. have any being, I will sing praises unto my God. 14 The Lord upholdeth, &c. Jehovah," with the saving strength of his right hand," supports effectually those, who are in the act of falling; he also mercifully raises from the ground such, as have already fallen under the heavy burthen of their afflictions. 17 The Lord, &c. In all his dispensations Jehovah is faithful, just, and benevolent, towards his creatures, extending to them his promised care, and making due provision for their wants: moreover, all the works, which he has ever wrought on account of the sons of men, are full of mercy and loving-kindness. 20 Scattereth abroad. Like the ruins of a demolished building; or, rather, like an army, which the enemy has completely routed. R Ps. 118. 8, 9. Isai. 2. 22 Eccles. 12. 7. Gen. 28. 15: 48. 15, 16. Rev. 14. 7. Jam. 1. 17. Matt. 9. 30. Luke 4. 18. John 16. 27. 2 Cor. 7. 6. Deut. 10. 18. 20 put not your trust in princes, nor in any child of man; for there is no help [salvation] in them. 3 For, when the breath of man goeth forth, he shall turn again to his earth, and then [in that very day] all his thoughts perish. 4 Blessed is he, that hath the God of Jacob for his help, and whose hope is in the Lord his God; 5 Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that therein is; who keepeth his promise for ever; 6 Who helpeth them to right, that suffer wrong; who feedeth the hungry. 7 The Lord looseth men out of prison: the Lord giveth sight to the blind: 8 The Lord helpeth [raiseth] them, that are fallen: the Lord careth for the righteous: 9 The Lord careth for the strangers: he defendeth the fatherless and widow: as for the way of the ungodly, he turneth it upside down. 2 Child of man. See on Psalm iv. 2. 3 All his thoughts perish. All his schemes and calculations with respect to this world; but, particularly, all those designs and intentions, which he has no longer any power to execute, in favor either of himself, or of such dependants as trusted in him. 4 The Lord his God. Jehovah, Jacob's God. Psalm xx. i. 7 Looseth men, &c. The allusion of the Psalmist is by no means clear, though it may be to the wonderful deliverances from bondage and exile, which God had vouchsafed to his chosen people, both in former and in later times. Psalm LXviii. 6: Lxix. 34.- -Giveth sight, &c. By this expression is, probably, described, in the first place, either the restoration of a captive, who had pined in some dungeon, to the light of heaven (Isai. Lix. 9, 10); or the general invigorating of the human frame, which, in the scriptures, is often pointed out under a similar figure. 1 Sam. xiv. 27. Still, we have here an evident prediction of our blessed Saviour, to whom alone was reserved the great miracle of giving sight to a man, that had been born blind. John ix. 32. If one part, however, of the Psalmist's words belongs to Christ, the remainder must do so likewise (Isai. XLix. 9), whereby every difficulty, which appears to attach to the explanation of them, will be removed. Luke xiii. 16. 9 The strangers. Perhaps the two tribes, who, when in captivity, were strangers to their own land, and whom God brought back" with singing unto Sion;" or, generally, all those, who are, at any time, destitute of worldly means of succour. Psalm xxxix. 13, 14.As for the way, &c. But subverts and confounds the devices of the wicked oppressor, by causing them to be brought to nought; at |