PSALM XXVII. 1 David sustaineth his faith by the power of God, 4 by his love to the service of God, 9 by prayer. A Psalm of David. THE LORD is 'my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? "the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, 'came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. I Mic. 7. 8. Psal. 118. 6. 8 Heb. approached against me. 4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold 'the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me upon a rock. 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: there fore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my 4 Psal. 3. 6. 5 Or, the delight. Heb. of shouting. voice: have mercy also upon me, and an swer me. 8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. 9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. 11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of "mine enemies. 12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. 8 Heb. will gather me. 9 Psal. 25. 4, and 86. 11, and 119. 7 Or, My heart said unto thee, Let my face seek thy face, &c. 10 Heb. a way of plainness. 11 Heb. those which observe me. 12 Psal. 31. 24. TITLE.-The Septuagint and Vulgate add to the title "before he was anointed;" but he was three times anointed, and the words are of no authority. Calmet thinks that, as well as the two preceding, it was written during the Captivity. Bishop Patrick conceives that it was probably composed by David on occasion of that danger and deliverance, mentioned in 2 Sam. xxi. 17, which induced his subjects to request that he would no more go to battle in person. Verse 13. "I had fainted," &c.-The words, "I had fainted," are not in the original. Most of the versions have supposed that something was here wanting to complete the sense, and which accordingly has been variously supplied. On the other hand, Dr. Hammond contends that nothing ought to be supplied, there being an intentional and beautiful abruption, which he compares to the famous one in the threat of Neptune, in Virgil. Dr. Boothroyd completes the sense without a marked abruption, on the one hand, or conjectural addition on the other: "Yet I believe that I shail enjoy good, O Jehovah, in the land of the living." In this, however, as well as in the common version, the expression of this confidence is less strongly put than in the original. It is emphatic: "I firmly believe ;" or, as in the Prayerbook version, "I believe verily." PSALM XXVIII. 1 David prayeth earnestly against his enemies. 6 UNTO thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be 2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands 'toward thy holy oracle. 3 Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts. 4 Give them according to their deeds, 1 Heb. from me. * Psal. 143. 7. and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert. 5 Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up. 6 Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. 8 The LORD is their strength, and he is the 'saving strength of his anointed. 9 Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever. Or, towards the oracle of thy sanctuary. 4 Psal. 12. 2. Jer. 9.8. 5 Or, his strength. PSALM XXVIII.-This Psalm is usually conceived to have been composed during the revolt of Absalom. Calmet, however, attributes it to the captives in Babylon. Verse 2. "When I lift up my hand."-This seems to have been a common attitude of prayer among the Hebrews. The action is very natural, and not by any means confined to the Jews. The Greeks, Romans, and others also lifted up their hands in prayer; and, judging from their sculptures and cylinders, the ancient Persians and Babylonians did the same. At present the hands are elevated in one of the attitudes which the Moslems assume in their prayers; and in their occasional and less formal devotions, this more than any other is the posture they assume-standing or walking with uplifted hands. PSALM XXIX. 1 David exhorteth princes to give glory to God, 3 by reason of his power, 11 and protection of his people. 4 B 2 A Psalm of David. GIVE unto the LORD, O 'ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. 2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. 1 Heb.ye sons of the mighty. 2 Heb. the honour of his name. 3 Or, in his glorious sanctuary, 555 3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is 'powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and 'Sirion like a young uni corn. 7 The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire. Heb. in majesty. 8 The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds 'to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple "doth every one speak of his glory. 10 The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever. 11 The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace. 7 Deut. 3.9. 8 Heb. cutteth out. 10 Or, every whit of it uttereth, &c. Or, to be in pain. 4 Or, great waters. 5 Heb. in power. PSALM XXIX.-This Psalm was perhaps composed during or after some remarkable thunder-storm-such as it describes and which had possibly been connected with some peculiar circumstances of judgment or mercy. Verse 3. "The voice of the Lord."-Thunder is intended, as shown by the ensuing clause. 4. "Breaketh the cedars.”—It is the lightning, the electric fluid, that produces the effect which is here poetically ascribed to the thunder, or rather, perhaps, to the storm in general. 9. “Maketh the hinds to calve.”—This image does not seem to assort well with the others, or to sustain the dignity of the subject. Most recent translators have adopted the well-supported opinion of Bishop Lowth, that the word (78) translated "hinds" should be rendered "oaks," or, at any rate, "trees." So Boothroyd: "The voice of Jehovah shaketh the oaks." With respect to the sense conveyed in our common version, it may however be observed that it is a very ancient and still subsisting belief, that many animals cast their young prematurely under the terror which thunder-storms inspire. I WILL extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. 2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. 3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. 4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks 'at the remembrance of his holiness. 5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. 6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. 7 LORD, by thy favour thou hast 'made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled. 8 I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication. 9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? 'shall it declare thy truth? 10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper. 11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; 12 To the end that 'my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. 3 Heb. in the evening. 4 Heb. singing. 1 Or, to the memorial. Heb. there is but a moment in his anger. Heb. settled strength for my mountain. 6 Psal. 6. 5, and 88. 11, and 115. 17. 7 That is, my tongue, or, my soul. TITLE," A Psalm and Song."-The "and" is supplied; "Psalm-song" would be more correct. A psalm, properly speaking, is a piece for instrumental performance; a song, to be sung by the voice. It may be conjectured that in a "psalm-song," the instruments preceded the voice, while in the "song-psalm" the voice preceded the music. Or, as it may perhaps be traced that the compositions designated by either of these compound terms are of a responsive character, we may suppose that part was vocal and part instrumental, and that the title not only denotes this, but by the order of the words, "psalm-song," or "song-psalm," expresses whether the instruments or the voices were to open the performance. PSALM XXXI. 1 David shewing his confidence in God craveth his help. 7 He rejoiceth in his mercy. 9 He prayeth in his calamity. 19 He praiseth God for his goodness. To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. IN 'thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. 2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. 3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. 4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. 5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. 6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD. 7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; 8 And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my foot in a large room. 9 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. 10 For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. 11 I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me. 1 Psal. 22.5. Isa. 49. 23. 12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. 13 For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. 14 But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. 15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. 16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake. 17 Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave. 18 Let the lying lips be put to silence which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. 19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! 20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. 21 Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city. 22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. 23 O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. 24 'Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. Heb. to me for a rock of strength. Luke 23. 46. Heb. a vessel that perisheth. "Or, let them be cut off for the grave. PSALM XXXI.-It is generally conceived that this psalm was composed upon, or with reference to the occasion stated at the latter end of 1 Sam. xxiii., when David was so closely pursued by Saul in the wilderness of Maon that he must infallibly have been taken, had not the king been providentially recalled from the pursuit by the intelligence of an invasion from the Philistines. Mudge, however, is of opinion that there are various circumstances in the phraseology and allusions which might rather lead to the impression that the psalm was composed by Jeremiah. Verse 9. "Mine eye is consumed with grief.”—The Rabbi Jarchi explains this to mean, that his sight was so dim as that of a man who is obliged to put a glass before his eyes to see what is beyond the glass. This is of no value as an explanation; but as Jarchi died in the twelfth century, it might be cited as affording probable evidence that spectacles were known at least two centuries before the date ascribed to the invention. PSALM XXXII. 1 Blessedness consisteth in remission of sins. 3 Confession of sins giveth ease to the conscience. 8 God's promises bring joy. 1A Psalm of David, Maschil. BLESSED is he whose 'transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. 1 Or, A Psalm of David giving instruction. *Rom. 4.7. 3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed | preserve me from trouble; thou shalt com old through my roaring all the day long. pass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. 5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. 'I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. 6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee 'in a time when thou mayest be found surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. 7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt 8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: 'I will guide thee with mine eye. 9 "Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule. which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. 10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. 11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous and shout for joy, all ye that at upright in heart. : 3 Prov. 28. 13. Isa, 65. 24. 1 John 1.9. 4 Heb. in a time of finding. $ Psal. 9. 9. 6 Heb. I will counsel thee, mine eye shall be upon the 7 Prov. 26. 3. TITLE, "Maschil."-Thirteen psalms bear this title, which, as usual, Aben Ezra supposes to denote the tune to which it was to be performed. The usual explanation given of it, is, in the various versions, more or less equivalent t that which the marginal reading conveys, " A Psalm of David, giving instruction."-This psalm is usually supposed to have been composed when the rebellion of Absalom awoke David to renewed lamentation for his sin in the matter of Uriah-the calamities into which he then fell having been predicted by Nathan as a punishment for that deplorable transgression. Verse 4. "The drought of summer."-We are not to suppose that the Psalmist alludes to any season of extraordinary drought, but to the ordinary heat and dryness of the summer-to which the most extraordinary drought of our ow summers cannot be compared. Near rivers and other sources of natural or artificial irrigation, verdure and beauty is preserved; but as no rain falls, the verdure of the unwatered plains soon disappears under the intense warmth of the season;-every flower fades, and every green thing withers, and a brown and arid desert alone remains, the parche herbage of which crackles beneath the feet of those who walk. A little rain, when it comes in its season, produces equally rapid and marked change of an opposite character. PSALM XXXIII. 1 God is to be praised for his goodness, 6 for his power, 12 and for his providence. 20 Confidence is to be placed in God. REJOICE in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. 2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. 9 For he spake, and it was done; he com manded, and it stood fast. 10 The LORD 'bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. 11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God i the LORD; and the people whom he hath 3 Sing unto him a new song; play skil-chosen for his own inheritance. fully with a loud noise. 4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. 5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: 'the earth is full of the 'goodness of the LORD. 6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 1 Psal. 119. 64. 2 Or, mercy. 4 Isa. 19. 3. 13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. 14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. 15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. 16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. 17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. 18 'Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; Heb. maketh frustrate. 6 Prov. 19. 21. Isa. 46. 10. 8 Psal, 65. 4, and 114. 15. |