NOTE S

ON THE

PSALMS OF DAVID.

PSALM I.

1. Counsel, way.-The Syriac tranfpofes these nouns, which is better, and probably right.

2. Doth meditate.—The verb in the original is in the future tense. Whatever happens by custom, habit, or the course of nature, is commonly expreffed in Hebrew, in the future tenfe; the import whereof is, that the thing not only happens fo now, but will continue to do fo.

3. Streams.-Channels or trenches which are cut for the conveyance of water to the different parts of

an orchard.

Whatfoever be doeth-The Hebrew poets often mix the literal with the figurative. See Ezek. xxxi, 11, 17, Lowth de S. P. H. Præl. 10.

5. Stand in the judgment.-Prevail or carry their caufe. Mudge.

6. Knoweth, regardeth, taketh care of.

The way. Their councils, projects, pursuits. Cocceius.

PSALM II.

3. Cords.-Affixed to the yoke, by which the plough or burden was drawn along.

5. Subdue. See Pfalm xviii. 48. Rout.-See Pfalm xlviii. 5.

6. I am appointed. So the lxx and Vulgate. His boly bill.-So the lxx and Arabic, reading TP

קדשי for

and

12. Kifs.-A kifs, throughout the eaft, was a token of subjection and allegiance, 2 Sam. v. 2, viii. 10. I Sam. x. I.

Left be.-The Lord. In the way. You and your counfels be destroyed, way.-You fee Pf. 1.

In him.-The Lord.

PSALM III.

2. To my foul.-Say to me, to my face, as Semei did. 2. Sam. xvi. Venema.

4. I have cried. He confoles himfelf with the affurances of God's protection, from the experience

of his former favours: Venema. 8. Thee O Lord.-See Venema.

PSALM IV.

1. Enlarged.-Extricated me from

my difficulties.

2. Heavy of Heart.-This is the reading of the

-is undoubt עד מה כבודי לב למה : lxx and vulgate

edly the true reading. Dr. Louth.

Vanity.-Vain murmurs against God, and falfe calumnies against me.

4. Be fill.-Let not any outward fignification of your discontent manifest itself even in your most fecret retirement. He alludes to the difcontent and murmurs of his friends at his misfortune.

5. Offer the facrifice.-Inftead of murmuring, fubmit yourselves to God.

6. Plenty. The world is eager after an increase of wealth; give me the light of God's countenance. Mudge.

7. When their corn and wine.-Excitasti gaudium in corde meo, pro tempore quo frumentum et muftum eorum aucta funt." hoc eft, præ gaudio ejus temporis." Lowth, Præl. 10.

PSALM V.

3. Prepared for thee.-He fays, that he will be prepared in the morning for God, and will watch

what he will fignify unto him; as a centinel who ftands ready and watchful at his post. Venema. Mudge and Kennicott think the metaphor is taken from facrifices, in which after all things were prepared and fet in order, the priest waited for the fignal of divine acceptance.

8. Because of mine enemies.-Left they fhould have any opportunity of cenfuring me, remove from me every impediment, which might obftruct the course of my virtue.

11. Thy name.-The name of a person or thing is an Hebræism, whereby the perfon or thing itself is expreffed.

PSALM VI.

4. Return.-Once more deliver my foul. Ken

nicott.

10. Let all. This is the fupplication mentioned in the preceding verfe. Venema.

3. This.-Of which I am accufed.

--

4. Injured me. So the lxx, who read hun in Pibel.

Oppreffed.-Houbigant reads with the Chald. and Syriac, by the tranfpofition of a letter nŻNI

aut oppreffi; which perfectly clears up the fenfe. Louth.

6. Lift thyself up.-David here alludes to the cuf tom of the eastern kings, who afcend a high throne placed in the midst of the affembly, when they dif pense justice.

7. Thou haft commanded.-The different tenfes here: used, as Venema obferves, fhew the connection between the parts." As foon as you have issued your decree, that a court of justice fhould be held, the people will affemble together, and thou wilt afcend the tribunal over them." The next verfe continues the fubject.

8. Reward me.-The Chaldee supplies

before: by, with which this verb is constructed, Pf. xiii. 6. Green.

11. Not always.-So the Syriac, making ↳ a negative, which seems better.

12. Return.-Repent.-If a man repents, God's anger ceases; but if not, he prepares for him the inftruments of deftruction.

14. Conceived. In the first part of this period, the verbs in the original feem to have changed: places. Mudge.

PSALM VIII.

2. Out of the mouth.-The indications of thy glory are fo manifest in the material world, that