1 Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the When a man has once given place to evil counsel, or to his own sin nature, he begins to forget himself in his sin, and so falls into contempt of God, which is called the seat of the scorners. counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. The Argument - This book of psalms is given to us by the Holy Spirit, to be esteemed as a precious treasure in which all things are contained that bring to true happiness in this present life as well as in the life to come. For the riches of true knowledge and heavenly wisdom, are here set open for us, to take of it most abundantly. If we would know the great and high majesty of God, here we may see the brightness of it shine clearly. If we would seek his incomprehensible wisdom, here is the school of the same profession. If we would comprehend his inestimable bounty, and approach near to it, and fill our hands with that treasure, here we may have a most lively and comfortable taste of it. If we would know where our salvation lies and how to attain to everlasting life, here is Christ our Redeemer, and Mediator most evidently described. The rich man may learn the true use of his riches. The poor man may find full contentment. He who will rejoice will know true joy, and how to keep measure in it. They who are afflicted and oppressed will see what their comfort exists in, and how they should praise God when he sends them deliverance. The wicked and the persecutors of the children of God will see how the hand of God is always against them: and though he permits them to prosper for a while, yet he bridles them, so much so that they cannot touch a hair of ones head unless he permits them, and how in the end their destruction is most miserable. Briefly here we have most present remedies against all temptations and troubles of mind and conscience, so that being well practised in this, we may be assured against all dangers in this life, live in the true fear and love of God, and at length attain the incorruptible crown of glory, which is laid up for all who love the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his In the holy scriptures. law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and God's children are so moistened with his grace, that whatever comes to them, tends to their salvation. whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 Though the wicked seem to prosper in this world, yet the Lord drives them down that they shall not rise nor stand in the company of the righteous.The ungodly [are] not so: but [are] like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the But tremble when they see God's wrath. judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD Approves and prospers, in the same way that to not know is to reprove and reject. knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
1 Why do the The conspiracy of the Gentiles, the murmuring of the Jews and power of kings cannot prevail against Christ. heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The Kings of the earth band themselues, and the princes are assembled together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
3 Thus the wicked say that they will cast off the yoke of God and of his Christ.Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 But he that dwelleth in the heauen, shall laugh: the Lord shall haue them in derision.
5 God's plagues will declare that in resisting his Christ, they fought against him.Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Euen I haue set my King vpon Zion mine holy mountaine.
7 I will declare the To show that my calling to the kingdom is from God. decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this That is to say, concerning man's knowledge, because it was the first time that David appeared to be elected by God. So it is applied to Christ in his first coming and manifestation to the world. day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the Not only the Jews but the Gentiles also. uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession.
9 Thou shalt krush them with a scepter of yron, and breake them in pieces like a potters vessell.
10 He exhorts all rulers to repent in time.Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serue the Lorde in feare, and reioyce in trembling.
12 In a sign of homage.Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye When the wicked will say, Peace and rest, then will destruction suddenly come, (1Th_5:3). perish [from] the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in him.
1 «A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.» LORD, how are they This was a token of his stable faith, that for all his troubles he turned to God. increased that trouble me! many [are] they that rise up against me.
2 Many [there be] which say of my soul, [There is] no help for him in God. Selah here signifies a lifting up of the voice, to cause us to consider the sentence as a thing of great importance. Selah.
3 But thou Lorde art a buckler for me: my glory, and the lifter vp of mine head.
4 I did call vnto the Lord with my voyce, & he heard me out of his holy mountaine. Selah.
5 I layed me downe and slept, and rose vp againe: for the Lord susteined me.
6 I will not be afraid of When he considered the truth of God's promise, and tried the same, his faith increased marvellously. ten thousands of people, that have set [themselves] against me round about.
7 O Lord, arise: helpe me, my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies vpon the cheeke bone: thou hast broken the teeth of the wicked.
8 No matter how great or many the dangers may be, yet God always has ways to deliver his.Salvation [belongeth] unto the LORD: thy blessing [is] upon thy people. Selah.
1 «Among those who were appointed to sing the psalms and to play on instruments, one was appointed chief to set the tune, and to begin: who had the charge because he was most excellent and he began this psalm on the instrument called Neginoth or in a tune so called. To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.» Hear me when I call, You who are the defender of my just cause. O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me [when I was] in Both of mind and body. distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
2 O ye You who think yourselves noble in this world. sons of men, how long [will ye turn] my glory into shame? [how long] will ye Though your enterprises please you, yet God will bring them to nothing. love vanity, [and] seek after leasing? Selah.
3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is A king who walks in his vocation. godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
4 For fear of God's judgment.Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be Cease your rage. still. Selah.
5 Serve God purely, and not with outward ceremonies.Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.
6 [There be] many that say, Who will shew us [any] The multitude seeks worldly wealth, but David sets his happiness in God's favour. good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
7 Thou hast giuen mee more ioye of heart, then they haue had, when their wheate and their wine did abound.
8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, This word in Hebrew may be referred to God, as it is here translated, or to David, signifying that he should dwell as joyfully alone, as if he had many about him, because the Lord is with him. only makest me dwell in safety.
1 «To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David.» Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my That is, my vehement prayer and secret complaint and sighings. meditation.
2 Hearken vnto the voyce of my crie, my King and my God: for vnto thee doe I pray.
3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct [my prayer] unto thee, and will Or wait, with patience and trust till I am heard. look up.
4 For thou [art] not a God that hath pleasure in Seeing that God of nature hates wickedness, he must punish the wicked and save the godly. wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
5 Who run blindly after their carnal desires.The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
6 Thou shalt destroy them that speake lyes: the Lorde will abhorre the bloodie man and deceitfull.
7 But as for me, I In the deepest of his temptations he puts his full confidence in God. will come [into] thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: [and] in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness Because you are just, therefore lead me out of the dangers of my enemies. because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
9 For no constancie is in their mouth: within, they are very corruption: their throte is an open sepulchre, and they flatter with their tongue.
10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them Let their devices come to nothing. fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.
11 But Your favour toward me will confirm the faith of all others. let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour So that he will be safe from all dangers. wilt thou compass him as [with] a shield.
1 «To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.» O LORD, Though I deserve destruction, yet let your mercy pity my frailty. rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
2 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I [am] weak: O LORD, heal me; for my For my whole strength is abated. bones are vexed.
3 His conscience is also touched with the fear of God's judgment.My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?
4 Returne, O Lord: deliuer my soule: saue me for thy mercies sake.
5 For in He laments that opportunity should be taken from him to praise God in the congregation. death [there is] no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
6 I fainted in my mourning: I cause my bed euery night to swimme, and water my couch with my teares.
7 Mine eye is dimmed for despight, and sunke in because of all mine enemies.
8 God sends comfort and boldness in affliction, that we may triumph over our enemies.Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.
9 The Lord hath heard my petition: the Lord will receiue my prayer.
10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return [and] be ashamed When the wicked think the godly will perish, God delivers them suddenly, and destroys their enemies. suddenly.
1 Shigaion of Dauid, which he sang vnto the Lord, concerning the wordes of Chush the sonne of Iemini. O lorde my God, in thee I put my trust: saue me from all that persecute me, & deliuer me,
2 Lest He desires God to deliver him from the rage of cruel Saul. he tear my soul like a lion, rending [it] in pieces, while [there is] none to deliver.
3 O LORD my God, if I have done With which Cush charges me. this; if there be iniquity in my hands;
4 If I did not reverence Saul for affinities sake, and preserved his life, (1Sa_26:8-9).If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)
5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take [it]; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine Let me not only die, but be dishonoured forever. honour in the dust. Selah.
6 Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me [to] the In promising me the kingdom. judgment [that] thou hast commanded.
7 So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore Not only for mine, but for your Church's sake declare your power. return thou on high.
8 The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my As concerning my behaviour towards Saul and my enemies. righteousness, and according to mine integrity [that is] in me.
9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the Though they pretend a just cause against me, yet God will judge their hypocrisy. hearts and reins.
10 My defence is in God, who preserueth the vpright in heart.
11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry [with the wicked] He continually calls the wicked to repentance by some sign of his judgments. every day.
12 If Unless Saul changes his mind, I will die, for he has both the men and weapons to destroy me. Thus considering his great danger, he magnifies God's grace. he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
13 Hee hath also prepared him deadly weapons: hee will ordeine his arrowes for them that persecute me.
14 Beholde, hee shall trauaile with wickednes: for he hath conceiued mischiefe, but he shall bring foorth a lye.
15 Hee hath made a pitte and digged it, and is fallen into the pit that he made.
16 His mischiefe shall returne vpon his owne head, & his crueltie shall fall vpon his owne pate.
17 I will praise the LORD according to his In faithfully keeping his promise to me. righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
1 To him that excelleth on Gittith. A Psalme of Dauid. O lord our Lord, how excellent is thy Name in all the worlde! which hast set thy glory aboue the heauens.
2 Out of the mouth Though the wicked would hide God's praises, yet the very babes are sufficient witnesses of the same. of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I beholde thine heauens, euen the workes of thy fingers, the moone and the starres which thou hast ordeined,
4 What is It was sufficient for him to have set forth his glory by the heavens, though he had not come so low as to man who is but dust. man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the Concerning his first creation. angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou hast made him to haue dominion in the workes of thine hands: thou hast put all things vnder his feete:
7 All By the temporal gifts of man's creation, he is led to consider the benefits which he has by his regeneration through Christ. sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The foules of the ayre, and the fish of the sea, and that which passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lorde our Lorde, howe excellent is thy Name in all the world!
1 «To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David.» I will praise [thee], O LORD, with my God is not praised unless the whole glory is given to him alone. whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
2 I will bee glad, and reioyce in thee: I will sing praise to thy Name, O most High,
3 For that mine enemies are turned backe: they shall fall, and perish at thy presence.
4 For However the enemy seems for a time to prevail yet God preserves the just. thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.
5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen: thou hast destroyed the wicked: thou hast put out their name for euer and euer.
6 A derision of the enemy that minds nothing but destruction: but the Lord will deliver his, and bring him into judgment.O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.
7 But the Lorde shall sit for euer: hee hath prepared his throne for iudgement.
8 For he shall iudge the worlde in righteousnes, and shall iudge the people with equitie.
9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the Our miseries are meant to cause us to feel God's present care over us. oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
10 And they that know thy Name, will trust in thee: for thou, Lorde, hast not failed them that seeke thee.
11 Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: shewe the people his workes.
12 Though God does not suddenly avenge the wrong done to his, yet he does not permit the wicked to go unpunished.When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
13 Haue mercie vpon mee, O Lorde: consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate mee, thou that liftest me vp from the gates of death,
14 That I may shew forth all thy praise in the In the open assembly of the Church. gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.
15 The heathen are For God overthrows the wicked in their enterprises. sunk down in the pit [that] they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.
16 The mercy of God toward his saints must be declared and the fall of the wicked must always be considered.The LORD is known [by] the judgment [which] he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.
17 The wicked shall turne into hell, and all nations that forget God.
18 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation God does not promise to help us before we have felt the cross. of the poor shall [not] perish for ever.
19 Vp Lord: let not man preuaile: let the heathen be iudged in thy sight.
20 Put them in fear, O LORD: [that] the nations may know themselves [to be but] Which they cannot learn without the fear of your judgment. men. Selah.
1 Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? [why] hidest thou [thyself] in As soon as we enter into affliction, we think God should help us, but that is not always his due time. times of trouble?
2 The wicked with pride doeth persecute the poore: let them be taken in the craftes that they haue imagined.
3 For the wicked The wicked man rejoices in his own lust he boasts when he has that he would; he brags of his wit and wealth and blesses himself and thus blasphemes the Lord. boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, [whom] the LORD abhorreth.
4 The wicked is so proude that hee seeketh not for God: hee thinketh alwayes, There is no God.
5 His wayes alway prosper: thy iudgements are hie aboue his sight: therefore defieth he all his enemies.
6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for [I shall] The evil will not touch me, (Isa_28:15) or else he speaks thus because he never felt evil. never [be] in adversity.
7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceite and fraude: vnder his tongue is mischiefe and iniquitie.
8 He shows that the wicked have many ways to hide their cruelty and therefore should be even more feared.He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.
9 He lyeth in waite secretly, euen as a lyon in his denne: he lyeth in waite to spoyle the poore: he doeth spoyle the poore, when he draweth him into his net.
10 He croucheth, [and] humbleth himself, that the By the hypocrisy of them who have authority the poor are devoured. poor may fall by his strong ones.
11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten, he hideth away his face, and will neuer see.
12 He calls to God for help, because wickedness is so far overgrown that God must help now or never.Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not Therefore you must punish their blasphemy. require [it].
14 Thou hast seen [it]; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to To judge between the right and the wrong. requite [it] with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil [man]: seek out his wickedness [till] thou find For you have utterly destroyed him. none.
16 The LORD [is] King for ever and ever: the The hypocrites or such as live not after God's law, will be destroyed. heathen are perished out of his land.
17 Lorde, thou hast heard the desire of the poore: thou preparest their heart: thou bendest thine eare to them,
18 God helps when man's help ceases.To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
1 «To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David.» In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, This is the wicked counsel of his enemies to him and his companions to drive him from the hope of God's promise. Flee [as] a bird to your mountain?
2 For loe, the wicked bende their bowe, and make readie their arrowes vpon the string, that they may secretly shoote at them, which are vpright in heart.
3 If the All hope of help is taken away. foundations be destroyed, what can the Yet am I innocent and my cause good. righteous do?
4 The LORD [is] in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne [is] in heaven: his eyes Though all things in earth are out of order, yet God will execute judgment from heaven. behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
5 The Lorde will try the righteous: but the wicked and him that loueth iniquitie, doeth his soule hate.
6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, As in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: [this shall be] the Which they will drink even to the dregs, (Eze_23:34). portion of their cup.
7 For the righteous Lorde loueth righteousnes: his countenance doeth beholde the iust.
1 «To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.» Help, LORD; for the Who dare defend the truth and show mercy to the oppressed. godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: [with] He means the flatters of the court which hurt him more with their tongues than with their weapons. flattering lips [and] with a double heart do they speak.
3 The Lorde cut off all flattering lippes, and the tongue that speaketh proude things:
4 Who have said, They think themselves able to persuade whatever they take in hand. With our tongue will we prevail; our lips [are] our own: who [is] lord over us?
5 The Lord is moved with the complaints of his, and delivers in the end from all danger.For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will Because the Lord's word and promise is true and unchangeable he will perform it and preserve the poor from this wicked generation. set [him] in safety [from him that] puffeth at him.
6 The wordes of the Lorde are pure wordes, as the siluer, tried in a fornace of earth, fined seuen folde.
7 Thou shalt keep That is, yours though was only one man. them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
8 The wicked walk on every side, For they suppress the godly and maintain the wicked. when the vilest men are exalted.
1 «To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.» How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? He declares that his afflictions lasted a long time, and that his faith did not waver. for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
2 How long shall I take Changing my purposes as the sick man does his place. counsel in my soul, [having] sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
3 Beholde, and heare mee, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, that I sleepe not in death:
4 Lest mine enemy say, I have Which might turn to God's dishonour: if he did not defend his. prevailed against him; [and] those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
5 But I have trusted in thy The mercy of God is the cause of our salvation. mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath Both by the benefits past and by others to come. dealt bountifully with me.
1 «To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David.» The fool hath said in his heart, He shows that the cause of all wickedness if forgetting God. [There is] no God. They are There is nothing but disorder and wickedness among them. corrupt, they have done abominable works, [there is] none that doeth good.
2 The Lord looked downe from heauen vpon the children of men, to see if there were any that would vnderstand, and seeke God.
3 They are David here makes comparisons between the faithful and the reprobate, but Paul speaks the same of all men naturally, (Rom_3:10). all gone aside, they are [all] together become filthy: [there is] none that doeth good, no, not one.
4 Doe not all the workers of iniquitie know that they eate vp my people, as they eate bread? They call not vpon the Lord.
5 Where they think themselves most sure.There were they in great fear: for God [is] in the generation of the righteous.
6 Ye have You mock them who put their trust in God. shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD [is] his refuge.
7 Oh that the salvation of He prays for the whole Church whom he is assured God will deliver: for no one else but he can do it. Israel [were come] out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, [and] Israel shall be glad.
1 A Psalme of Dauid. Lorde, who shal dwell in thy Tabernacle? who shall rest in thine holy Mountaine?
2 He that He shows that we cannot call on God unless we trust in him. walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
3 He that slandereth not with his tongue, nor doeth euill to his neighbour, nor receiueth a false report against his neighbour.
4 He who flatters not the ungodly in their wickedness.In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. [He that] sweareth to [his own] hurt, and changeth not.
5 [He that] To the hinderance of his neighbour. putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these [things] That is, will not be cast from the Church as a hypocrite. shall never be moved.
1 «Michtam of David.» Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my He shows that we cannot call on God unless we trust in him. trust.
2 [O my soul], thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou [art] my Lord: my Though we cannot enrich God, yet we must bestow God's gifts for the use of his children. goodness [extendeth] not to thee;
3 But to the Saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent: all my delite is in them.
4 Their As grief of conscience and miserable destruction. sorrows shall be multiplied [that] hasten [after] another [god]: He would neither by outward profession nor in heart, nor in mouth consent to their idolatries. their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
5 The Lorde is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou shalt mainteine my lot.
6 The With which my portion is measured. lines are fallen unto me in pleasant [places]; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
7 I wil prayse the Lorde, who hath giuen me counsell: my reines also teach me in the nightes.
8 I have set the LORD always before me: because [he is] at my right hand, I The faithful are sure to persevere to the end. shall not be moved.
9 Therefore That is, I rejoice both in body and in soul. my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
10 For thou This is chiefly meant by Christ, by whose resurrection all his members have immortality. wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy Where God favours there is perfect happiness. presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore.
1 «A Prayer of David.» Hear My righteous cause. the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, [that goeth] not out of feigned lips.
2 Let my The vengeance that you will show against my enemies. sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
3 Thou hast When your Spirit examined my conscience. proved mine heart; thou hast visited [me] in the night; thou hast tried me, [and] shalt find nothing; I am purposed [that] my I was innocent toward my enemy both in deed and thought. mouth shall not transgress.
4 Concerning the works of men, by the Though the wicked provoked me to do evil for evil, yet your word kept me back. word of thy lips I have kept [me from] the paths of the destroyer.
5 Stay my steps in thy paths, that my feete doe not slide.
6 I have called upon thee, He was assured that God would not refuse his request. for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, [and hear] my speech.
7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust [in thee] from those that For all rebel against you, who trouble your Church. rise up [against them].
8 Keepe me as the apple of the eye: hide me vnder the shadowe of thy wings,
9 From the wicked that oppress me, [from] my deadly enemies, [who] compass For their cruelty cannot be satisfied but with my death. me about.
10 They are inclosed in their own They are puffed up with pride, as the stomach that is choked with fat. fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
11 They haue compassed vs now in our steps: they haue set their eyes to bring downe to the ground:
12 Like as a lyon that is greedy of pray, and as it were a lyons whelp lurking in secret places.
13 Arise, O LORD, Stop his rage. disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, [which is] thy sword:
14 From men [which are] thy By your heavenly power. hand, O LORD, from men of the world, [which have] their And not feel the pain that God's children often do. portion in [this] life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid [treasure]: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their [substance] to their babes.
15 As for me, I will behold thy face This is the full happiness, comforting against all assaults to have the face of God and favourable countenance opened to us. in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I And am delivered out of my great troubles. awake, with thy likeness.
1 To him that excelleth. A Psalme of Dauid the seruant of the Lorde, which spake vnto the Lord the wordes of this song (in the day that the Lorde deliuered him from the hande of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul) and sayd, I will loue thee dearely, O Lord my strength.
2 He uses this diversity of names to show that as the wicked have many means to hurt, so God has many ways to help.The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower.
3 I will call upon the LORD, [who is worthy] to be For no one can obtain their request from God if they do not join his glory with their petition. praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
4 He speaks of the dangers and malice of his enemies from which God had delivered him.The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
5 The sorowes of the graue haue compassed me about: the snares of death ouertooke me.
6 But in my trouble did I call vpon the Lord, and cryed vnto my God: he heard my voyce out of his Temple, and my crye did come before him, euen into his eares.
7 A description of the wrath of God against his enemies, after he had heard his prayer.Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and He shows how horrible God's judgments will be to the wicked. fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and Darkness signifies the wrath of God as the clear light signifies God's favour. darkness [was] under his feet.
10 And he rode upon a This is described at large in (Psa. 104:1-35). cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his As a king angry with the people, will not show himself to them. secret place; his pavilion round about him [were] dark waters [and] thick clouds of the skies.
12 At the brightnes of his presence his clouds passed, haylestones and coles of fire.
13 The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave Thunders, lightnings and hail. his voice; hail [stones] and coals of fire.
14 Yea, he sent out His lightening. his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the That is, the deep bottoms were seen when the Red sea was divided. foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.
16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many Out of many great dangers. waters.
17 He delivered me from my That is, Saul. strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were Therefore God sent me help. too strong for me.
18 They preuented me in the day of my calamitie: but the Lord was my stay.
19 He brought me forth also into a large place; The cause of God's deliverance is his favour and love for us. he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20 The LORD rewarded me according to my David was sure of his righteous cause and good behaviour toward Saul and his enemies and therefore was assured of God's favour and deliverance. righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
21 Because I kept the wayes of the Lord, and did not wickedly against my God.
22 For all his judgments [were] before me, and I did not put away his For all his dangers he exercised himself in the law of God. statutes from me.
23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine I neither gave place to their wicked temptations nor to my own desires. iniquity.
24 Therefore the Lorde rewarded me according to my righteousnesse, and according to the purenes of mine hands in his sight.
25 With the Here he speaks of God according to our capacity, who shows mercy to his and punishes the wicked, as is also said in (Lev_26:21, Lev_26:24). merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
26 With the pure thou wilt shewe thy selfe pure, and with the froward thou wilt shewe thy selfe froward.
27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt When their sin is come to the full measure. bring down high looks.
28 Surely thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God wil lighten my darkenes.
29 For by thee I have He attributes it to God that he both got the victory in the field and also destroyed the cities of his enemies. run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
30 [As for] God, his way [is] perfect: the No matter how great or many the dangers may be, yet God's promise must take effect. word of the LORD is tried: he [is] a buckler to all those that trust in him.
31 For who is God besides the Lord? And who is mightie saue our God?
32 [It is] God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my He gives good success to all my enterprises. way perfect.
33 He maketh my feet like hinds' [feet], and setteth me upon my As towers and forts, which he took out of the hands of God's enemies. high places.
34 He teacheth mine hands to fight: so that a bowe of brasse is broken with mine armes.
35 Thou hast also given me the To defend me from dangers. shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy He attributed the beginning, continuance and increase in well doing only to God's favour. gentleness hath made me great.
36 Thou hast enlarged my steps vnder mee, and mine heeles haue not slid.
37 David declares that he did nothing besides his calling, but was stirred up by God's Spirit to execute his judgments.I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
38 I haue wounded them, that they were not able to rise: they are fallen vnder my feete.
39 For thou hast girded me with strength to battell: them, that rose against me, thou hast subdued vnder me.
40 Thou hast also You have given them to my hands to be slain. given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
41 They They who reject the cry of the afflicted, God will also reject them when they cry for help, for either pain or fear causes those hypocrites to cry. cried, but [there was] none to save [them: even] unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
42 Then I did beate them small as the dust before the winde: I did treade them flat as the clay in the streetes.
43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; [and] thou hast made me the head of the Who dwell round about me. heathen: a people [whom] I have not The kingdom of Christ is prefigured in David's kingdom, who by the preaching of his word brings all to his subjection. known shall serve me.
44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall Or lie: signifying a subjection constrained and not voluntary. submit themselves unto me.
45 The strangers shall Fear will cause them to be afraid and come forth from their secret holes and holds to seek pardon. fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
46 Let the Lorde liue, and blessed be my strength, and the God of my saluation be exalted.
47 It is God that giueth me power to auenge me, and subdueth the people vnder me.
48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the That is, Saul who out of malice persecuted him. violent man.
49 Therefore will This prophecy belongs to the kingdom of Christ and calling of the Gentiles, as in (Rom_15:9). I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his This did not properly belong to Solomon, but to Jesus Christ. seed for evermore.
1 «To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.» The He reproaches man for his ingratitude, seeing the heavens, which are dumb creatures, set forth God's glory. heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 The continual success of the day and night is sufficient to declare God's power and goodness.Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 [There is] no speech nor The heavens are a schoolmaster to all nations, no matter how barbarous. language, [where] their voice is not heard.
4 Their The heavens are as a line of great capital letters to show God's glory to us. line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which [is] as a bridegroom coming out of his Or vail. The custom was that the bride and bridegroom would stand under a vail together, and after come forward with great solemnity and rejoicing of the assembly. chamber, [and] rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going out is from the ende of the heauen, and his compasse is vnto the endes of ye same, and none is hid from the heate thereof.
7 The Though the creatures cannot serve, yet this should be sufficient to lead us to him. law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lorde are right and reioyce the heart: the commandement of the Lord is pure, and giueth light vnto the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD [is] clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD [are] So that all man's inventions and intentions are lies. true [and] righteous Everyone without exception. altogether.
10 More to be Unless God's word is esteemed above all worldly things, it is contemned. desired [are they] than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: [and] in keeping of them [there is] great For God accepts our endeavour though it is far from perfect. reward.
12 Who can understand [his] Then there is no reward of duty, but of grace: for where sin is, there death is the reward. errors? cleanse thou me from secret [faults].
13 Keep back thy servant also from Which are done purposely and from malice. presumptuous [sins]; let them not have dominion over me: If you suppress my wicked affections by your Holy Spirit. then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the That I may obey you in thought, word and deed. meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
1 «To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.» The By this kings are also admonished to call to God in their affairs. LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the The virtue, power and grace of God. name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
2 Send thee helpe from the Sanctuarie, and strengthen thee out of Zion.
3 Remember all thy offerings, and In token that they are acceptable to him. accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
4 And graunt thee according to thine heart, and fulfill all thy purpose:
5 We will rejoice in thy Granted to the king in whose wealth our happiness stands. salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up [our] banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.
6 Now The Church feels that God had heard their petition. know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his As by the visible sanctuary God's familiarity appeared toward his people, so by the heavenly is meant his power and majesty. holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots, & some in horses: but we will remember the Name of ye Lord our God.
8 The worldlings who do not put their trust in God alone.They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
9 Save, LORD: Let the king be able to deliver us by your strength, when we seek him for help. let the king hear us when we call.
1 «To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.» The king shall When he will overcome his enemies, and so be assured of his calling. joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
2 Thou hast giuen him his hearts desire, and hast not denyed him the request of his lips. Selah.
3 For thou You declared your liberal favour toward him before he prayed. preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.
4 David not only obtained life, but also assurance that his posterity would reign forever.He asked life of thee, [and] thou gavest [it] him, [even] length of days for ever and ever.
5 His glory is great in thy saluation: dignitie and honour hast thou laid vpon him.
6 For thou hast made him most You have made him your blessings to others, and a perpetual example of your favour forever. blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.
7 Because the King trusteth in the Lord, and in the mercie of the most High, he shall not slide.
8 Here he describes the power of Christ's kingdom against the enemies of it.Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.
9 Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his This teaches us patiently to endure the cross till God destroys the adversary. wrath, and the fire shall devour them.
10 Their fruite shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seede from the children of men.
11 For they They laid as it were their nets to make God's power bend to their wicked enterprises. intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, [which] they are not able [to perform].
12 Therefore shalt thou make them As a mark to shoot at. turn their back, [when] thou shalt make ready [thine arrows] upon thy strings against the face of them.
13 Maintain your Church against your adversaries that we may have ample opportunity to praise your Name.Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: [so] will we sing and praise thy power.
1 «To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.» My Here appears that horrible conflict, which he sustained between faith and desperation. God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [why art thou so] far from helping me, [and from] the words of my Being tormented with extreme anguish. roaring?
2 O my God, I crie by day, but thou hearest not, and by night, but haue no audience.
3 But thou [art] holy, [O thou] that inhabitest the He means the place of praising, even the tabernacle or else it is so called, because he gave the people continuous opportunity to praise him. praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didest deliuer them.
5 They called vpon thee, and were deliuered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
6 But I [am] a And seeming most miserable of all creatures, which referred to Christ, and in this appears the unspeakable love of God for man, that he would thus abase his son for our sakes. worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7 All they that see me, haue me in derision: they make a mowe and nod the head, saying,
8 He trusted in the Lorde, let him deliuer him: let him saue him, seeing he loueth him.
9 But thou [art] he that took me out of the Even from my birth you have given me opportunity to trust in you. womb: thou didst make me hope [when I was] upon my mother's breasts.
10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou [art] my God from my mother's For unless God's providence preserves the infants, they would perish a thousand times in the mother's womb. belly.
11 Be not farre from me, because trouble is neere: for there is none to helpe me.
12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong He means that his enemies were so fat, proud and cruel that they were more like beasts than men. [bulls] of Bashan have beset me round.
13 They gape vpon me with their mouthes, as a ramping and roaring lyon.
14 I am poured out like Before he spoke of the cruelty of his enemies, and now he declares the inward grief of the mind, so that Christ was tormented both in soul and body. water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou You permitted me to be without all hope of life. hast brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they Thus David complained as though he were nailed by his enemies in both hands and feet, but this was accomplished in Christ. pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: yet they beholde, and looke vpon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lottes vpon my vesture.
19 But be thou not farre off, O Lorde, my strength: hasten to helpe me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my My life that is solitary, left alone and forsaken by all, (Psa_35:17, Psa_25:16) darling from the power of the dog.
21 Christ is delivered with a more mighty deliverance by overcoming death, than if he had not tasted death at all.Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
22 I wil declare thy Name vnto my brethren: in the middes of the Congregation will I praise thee, saying,
23 Ye that fear the LORD, He promises to exhort the Church that they by his example might praise the Lord. praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the The poor afflicted are comforted by this example of David, or Christ. afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25 My praise [shall be] of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my Which were sacrifices of thanksgiving which they offered by God's commandment, when they were delivered out of any great danger. vows before them that fear him.
26 He alludes still to the sacrifice.The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
27 All the endes of the worlde shall remember themselues, and turne to the Lord: and all the kinreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28 For the kingdome is the Lords, and he ruleth among the nations.
29 All [they that be] fat Though the poor are first named as in (Psa_22:26) yet the wealthy are not separated from the grace of Christ's kingdom. upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: In whom there is no hope that he will recover life: so neither poor nor rich, quick nor dead will be rejected from his kingdom. and none can keep alive his own soul.
30 Meaning, the prosperity which the Lord keeps as a seed to the Church to continue his praise among men.A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath That is, God has fulfilled his promise. done [this].
1 «A Psalm of David.» The LORD [is] my shepherd; He has care over me and ministers all things to me. I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to rest in greene pasture, and leadeth me by the still waters.
3 He He comforts or refreshes me. restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the Plain or straight ways. paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the Though he was in danger of death, as the sheep that wanders in the dark valley without his shepherd. shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a Even though his enemies sought to destroy him, yet God delivers him, and deals most liberally with him in spite of them. table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou As was the manner of great feasts. anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the He does not set his happiness in the pleasures of this world, but in the fear and service of God. house of the LORD for ever.
1 A Psalme of Dauid. The earth is the Lordes, and all that therein is: the worlde and they that dwell therein.
2 For he hath founded it upon the He notes two things: the one, that the earth to man's judgment seems above the waters: and next, that God miraculously preserves the earth, that it is not drowned with the waters, which naturally are above it. seas, and established it upon the floods.
3 Who shall ascende into the mountaine of the Lord? and who shall stand in his holy place?
4 Euen he that hath innocent handes, and a pure heart: which hath not lift vp his minde vnto vanitie, nor sworne deceitfully.
5 He shall receiue a blessing from the Lorde, and righteousnesse from the God of his saluation.
6 This [is] the Though circumcision separates the carnal seed of Jacob, from the Gentiles, yet he who seeks God, is the true Jacob and an Israelite. generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7 David desires the building up of the temple, in which the glory of God should appear and under the figure of this temple, he also prays for the spiritual temple, which is eternal because of the promise which was made to the temple, as it is written, (Psa_132:14).Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glorie? the Lord, strong and mightie, euen the Lord mightie in battell.
9 Lift vp your heads, ye gates, and lift vp your selues, ye euerlasting doores, and the King of glorie shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? the Lorde of hostes, he is the King of glorie. Selah.
1 «[A Psalm] of David.» Unto thee, I did not put my trust in any worldly thing. O LORD, do I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, I That you will take away my enemies, which are your rods. trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
3 So all that hope in thee, shall not be ashamed: but let them be confounded, that transgresse without cause.
4 Retain me in the faith of your promise that I swore not on any side.Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou [art] the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait Constantly and against all temptations. all the day.
6 Remember, O Lorde, thy tender mercies, and thy louing kindnesse: for they haue beene for euer.
7 Remember not the He confesses that his many sins were the reason that his enemies persecuted him, desiring that the cause of the evil may be taken away, so that the effect may cease. sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.
8 Good and upright [is] the LORD: therefore will he That is, call them to repentance. teach sinners in the way.
9 The meek will he He will govern and comfort them that are truly humbled for their sins. guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
10 All the pathes of the Lorde are mercie and trueth vnto such as keepe his couenant and his testimonies.
11 For thy For no other respect. name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it [is] great.
12 What Meaning, the number is very small. man [is] he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way [that] he shall He will direct such with his spirit to follow the right way. choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at He will prosper both in spiritual and corporal things. ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
14 The His counsel contained in his word, by which he declares that he is the protector of the faithful. secret of the LORD [is] with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
15 Mine eyes are euer towarde the Lorde: for he will bring my feete out of the net.
16 Turne thy face vnto mee, and haue mercie vpon me: for I am desolate and poore.
17 The troubles of my heart My grief is increased because of my enemies cruelty. are enlarged: [O] bring thou me out of my distresses.
18 Looke vpon mine affliction and my trauel, and forgiue all my sinnes.
19 Consider mine The greater that his afflictions were and the more that his enemies increased, the more near he felt God's help. enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.
20 Keepe my soule, and deliuer me: let me not be confounded, for I trust in thee.
21 Let As I have behaved myself uprightly toward my enemies, let them know that you are the defender of my just cause. integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
22 Deliuer Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
1 «[A Psalm] of David.» Judge me, He flees to God to be the judge of his just cause, seeing there is no equity among men. O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; [therefore] I shall not slide.
2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my My very affections and inward motions of the heart. reins and my heart.
3 For thy He shows what stayed him, that he did not recompense evil for evil. lovingkindness [is] before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
4 I have not He declares that they cannot walk in simplicity before God, that delight in the company of the ungodly. sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
5 I haue hated the assemblie of the euill, and haue not companied with the wicked.
6 I will I will serve you with a pure affection, and with the godly that sacrifice to you. wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:
7 That I may declare with the voyce of thankesgiuing, and set foorth all thy wonderous woorkes.
8 O Lorde, I haue loued the habitation of thine house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
9 Destroy me not in the overthrow of the wicked.Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:
10 In whose hands [is] Whose cruel hands execute the malicious devises of their hearts. mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.
11 But I will walke in mine innocencie: redeeme me therefore, and be mercifull vnto me.
12 My foot standeth in I am preserved from my enemies by the power of God, and therefore will praise him openly. an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.
1 «[A Psalm] of David.» The LORD [is] my Because he was assured of good success in all his dangers and that his salvation was surely laid up in God, he did not fear the tyranny of his enemies. 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, euen mine enemies and my foes came vpon mee to eate vp 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 That God will deliver me and give my faith the victory. this [will] I [be] confident.
4 The loss of country, wife and all worldly conveniences would not grieve me as much as this one thing, that I may not praise your name in the midst of the congregation.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 hee shall hide mee in his Tabernacle: in the secrete place of his pauillion shall he hide me, and set me vp vpon a rocke.
6 David assured himself by the Spirit of prophecy that he should overcome his enemies and serve God in his tabernacle.And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
7 Hearken vnto my voyce, O Lorde, when I crie: haue mercie also vpon mee and heare mee.
8 [When thou saidst], He grounds on God's promise and shows that he is most willing to obey his commandment. Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
9 Hide not therefore thy face from mee, nor cast thy seruat away in displeasure: thou hast bene my succour: leaue me not, neither forsake mee, O God of my saluation.
10 He magnifies God's love toward his, which far passes the most tender love of parents towards their children.When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
11 Teache mee thy way, O Lorde, and leade me in a right path, because of mine enemies.
12 Deliver me not over unto the But either pacify their wrath, or bridle their rage. 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 this present life before I die, as in (Isa_38:11). in the land of the living.
14 He exhorts himself to depend on the Lord seeing he never failed in his promises.Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
1 A Psalme of Dauid. Vnto thee, O Lord, doe I crie: O my strength, be not deafe toward mee, lest, if thou answere me not, I be like them that goe downe into the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy He counts himself as a dead man, till God shows his favour toward him, and grants him his petition. holy oracle.
3 Destroy not the good with the bad.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 He thus prayed in respect to God's glory and not for his own cause, being assured that God would punish the persecutors of his Church.Give them according to their deeds, 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 Let them be utterly destroyed as in (Mal_1:4). destroy them, and not build them up.
6 Because he felt the assurance of God's help in his heart, his mouth was opened to sing his praises.Blessed [be] the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
7 The Lorde is my strength and my shielde: mine heart trusted in him, and I was helped: therfore mine heart shall reioyce, and with my song will I praise him.
8 The LORD [is] Meaning his soldiers who were means by which God declared his power. their strength, and he [is] the saving strength of his anointed.
9 Saue thy people, and blesse thine inheritance: feede them also, and exalt them for euer.
1 «A Psalm of David.» Give unto the LORD, O ye He exhorts the proud tyrants to humble themselves under God's hand, and not to be inferior to brute beasts and dumb creatures. mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
2 Giue vnto the Lorde glorie due vnto his Name: worship the Lorde in the glorious Sanctuarie.
3 The The thunder claps that are heard out of the clouds should make the wicked tremble for fear of God's anger. voice of the LORD [is] upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD [is] upon many waters.
4 The voyce of the Lorde is mightie: the voyce of the Lord is glorious.
5 The That is, the thunderbolt breaks the most strong trees, and will men think their power able to resist God? 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 Called also Hermon. Sirion like a young unicorn.
7 The voice of the LORD divideth the It causes the lightnings to shoot and glide. flames of fire.
8 The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of In places most desolate, where it seems there is no presence of God. Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to For fear makes them deliver their calves. calve, and Makes the trees bare, or pierces the most secret places. discovereth the forests: and in his Though the wicked are not moved by these lights, yet the faithful praise God. temple doth every one speak of [his] glory.
10 The LORD sitteth upon the To moderate the rage of the tempests and waters that they not destroy all. flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.
11 The Lord shall giue strength vnto his people: the Lord shall blesse his people with peace.
1 «A Psalm [and] Song [at] the dedication of the After Absalom had polluted it with most filthy fornication. house of David.» I will extol thee, O LORD; He condemns them for great ingratitude who do not praise God for his benefits. 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 Restored from the rebellion of Absalom. healed me.
3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my Meaning, that he escaped death most narrowly. 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 The word signifies them who have received mercy, and show mercy liberally to others. saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
5 For he endureth but a while in his anger: but in his fauour is life: weeping may abide at euening, but ioy commeth in the morning.
6 And in my I put too much confidence in my quiet state as in (Jer_31:18; 2Ch_32:24-25). prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.
7 LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my I thought you had established me in Zion most surely. mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, [and] I After you had withdrawn your help, I felt my misery. was troubled.
8 Then cried I vnto thee, O Lord, and praied to my Lord.
9 What profit [is there] in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the David means that the dead are not profitable to the congregation of the Lord here in the earth: therefore he would live to praise his Name, which is the end of man's creation. dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?
10 Heare, O Lorde, and haue mercy vpon me: Lord, be thou mine helper.
11 Thou hast turned my mourning into ioy: thou hast loosed my sacke and girded mee with gladnesse.
12 To the end that [my] Because you have preserved me that my tongue should praise you, I will not be unmindful of my duty. glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
1 «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 For then God declares himself just, when he preserves his as he has promised. righteousness.
2 Bowe downe thine eare to me: make haste to deliuer mee: be vnto me a stronge rocke, and an house of defence to saue me.
3 For thou art my rocke and my fortresse: therefore for thy Names sake directe mee and guide me.
4 Pull me out of the Preserve me from the crafty counsels and subtle practise of my enemies. net that they have laid privily for me: for thou [art] my strength.
5 Into thine He desires God not only to take care of him in this life, but that his soul may be saved after this life. 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 This affection should be in all God's children to hate whatever is not grounded on a sure trust in God, as deceitful and vain. trust in the LORD.
7 I wil be glad and reioyce in thy mercie: for thou hast seene my trouble: thou hast knowen my soule in aduersities,
8 And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a Largeness signifies comfort, as straitness, sorrow and peril. large room.
9 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine Meaning, that his sorrow and torment had continued a great while. eye is consumed with grief, [yea], my soul and my belly.
10 For my life is wasted with heauinesse, and my yeeres with mourning: my strength faileth for my paine, and my bones are consumed.
11 I was a My enemies had drawn all men to their part against me, even my chief friends. 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.
12 I am forgotten, as a dead man out of minde: I am like a broken vessell.
13 For I have heard the slander of They who were in authority condemned me as a wicked doer. 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, I had this testimony of conscience, that you would defend my innocence. Thou [art] my God.
15 My Whatever changes come, you govern them by your providence. 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 vpon thy seruant, and saue me through thy mercie.
17 Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, [and] let them be Let death destroy them to the intent that they may hurt no more. silent in the grave.
18 Let the lying lips be made dumme, which cruelly, proudly and spitefully speake against the righteous.
19 [Oh] how great [is] thy goodness, which thou The treasures of God's mercy are always laid up in store for his children, even at all times they do not enjoy them. 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 That is, in a place where they will have your comfort, and be hid safely from the enemies pride. 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 Meaning, there was no city strong enough to preserve him, as the defence of God's favour. strong city.
22 For I said in my And so by my rashness and infidelity deserved to have been forsaken. haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
23 Loue ye the Lorde all his Saintes: for the Lord preserueth the faithfull, and rewardeth abundantly the proud doer.
24 Be of good courage, and he shall Be constant in your calling, and God will confirm you with heavenly strength. strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
1 «[A Psalm] of David, Concerning the free remission of sins, which is the chief point of our faith. Maschil.» Blessed [is he whose] transgression [is] To be justified by faith, is to have our sins freely remitted, and to be declared just, (Rom_4:6). forgiven, [whose] sin [is] covered.
2 Blessed is the man, vnto whom the Lorde imputeth not iniquitie, and in whose spirite there is no guile.
3 When I kept Between hope and despair. silence, my bones waxed old through my Was not eased by silence nor crying, signifying that before the sinner is reconciled to God, he feels a perpetual torment. roaring all the day long.
4 (For thine hand is heauie vpon me, day and night: and my moysture is turned into ye drought of summer. Selah)
5 I He shows that as God's mercy is the only cause of forgiveness of sins, so the means of it are repentance and confession which proceed from faith. 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 When necessity causes him to seek you for help, (Isa_55:6). time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters That is, the waters and great dangers. they shall not come nigh unto him.
7 Thou art my secret place: thou preseruest me from trouble: thou compassest me about with ioyfull deliuerance. Selah.
8 I will David promises to make the rest of God's children partakers of the benefits which he felt, and that he will diligently look and take care to direct them in the way of salvation. 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 If men can rule brute beasts, do they think that God will not bridle and tame their rage? mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
10 Many sorowes shall come to the wicked: but he, that trusteth in the Lorde, mercie shall compasse him.
11 Be glad in the LORD, and He shows that peace and joy of conscience in the Holy Spirit is the fruit of faith. rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all [ye that are] upright in heart.
1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: [for] praise is It is the duty of the godly to set forth the praises of God for his mercy and power showed to them. comely for the upright.
2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery [and] an To sing on instruments, was a part of the ceremonial service of the temple, which does not belong to us any more than the sacrifices, censors and light. instrument of ten strings.
3 Sing vnto him a newe song: sing cheerefully with a loude voyce.
4 For the That is, counsel or command in governing the world. word of the LORD [is] right; and all his That is, the effect and execution. works [are done] in truth.
5 He However the world judges God's works, yet he does all things according to justice and mercy. loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
6 By the worde of the Lorde were the heauens made, & all the hoste of them by the breath of his mouth.
7 He By the creation of the heavens and beautiful ornament with the gathering also of the waters, he sets forth the power of God, that all creatures might fear him. gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth feare the Lord: let al them that dwell in the world, feare him.
9 For he spake, and it was done: he commanded, and it stood.
10 The LORD bringeth the No counsel can prevail against God, but he deserves it, and it will have evil success. counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
11 The counsell of the Lord shall stand for euer, and the thoughts of his heart throughout all ages.
12 Blessed [is] the nation whose He shows that all our happiness stands in this, that the Lord is our God. God [is] the LORD; [and] the people [whom] he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
13 The LORD He proves that all things are governed by God's providence and not by fortune. looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
14 From the habitation of his dwelling he beholdeth all them that dwell in the earth.
15 He Therefore he knows their wicked enterprises. fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
16 There is no If kings and the mighty of the world cannot be saved by worldly means, but only by God's providence, what do others have to trust in, who have not similar means? king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17 A horse is a vaine helpe, and shall not deliuer any by his great strength.
18 Behold, God shows his mercy toward his, which man by no means is able to compass. the eye of the LORD [is] upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
19 To deliuer their soules from death, and to preserue them in famine.
20 Thus he speaks in the name of the whole Church which only depends on God's providence.Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he [is] our help and our shield.
21 Surely our heart shall reioyce in him, because we trusted in his holy Name.
22 Let thy mercie, O Lord, be vpon vs, as we trust in thee.
1 «[A Psalm] of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.» I will bless the LORD He promised never to become unmindful of God's great benefit for his deliverance. at all times: his praise [shall] continually [be] in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the They who are beaten down with the experience of their own evils. humble shall hear [thereof], and be glad.
3 Praise ye the Lord with me, and let vs magnifie his Name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my Which I conceived for the danger I was in. fears.
5 They They will be bold to flee to you for help, when they see your mercies toward me. looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poore man cryed, and the Lord heard him, and saued him out of all his troubles.
7 The Though God's power is sufficient to govern us, yet for man's infirmity he appoints his angels to watch over us. angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8 Taste ye and see, howe gratious the Lorde is: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9 Feare the Lord, ye his Saintes: for nothing wanteth to them that feare him.
10 The young The godly by their patient obedience profit more than they who ravage and spoil. lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not If they abide the last trial. want any good [thing].
11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the That is, the true religion and worship of God. fear of the LORD.
12 What man [is he that] desireth life, [and] loveth [many] days, that he may Seeing all men naturally desire happiness, he wonders why they cast themselves willingly into misery. see good?
13 Keepe thy tongue from euill, and thy lips, that they speake no guile.
14 Eschewe euill and doe good: seeke peace and followe after it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are vpon the righteous, and his eares are open vnto their crie.
16 The The anger of God not only destroys the wicked, but also abolishes their name forever. face of the LORD [is] against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous crie, and the Lorde heareth them, and deliuereth them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD [is] nigh unto them that are of a When they seem to be swallowed up with afflictions, then God is at hand to deliver them. broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19 Great are the troubles of the righteous: but the Lord deliuereth him out of them all.
20 And as Christ says, all the hairs of his head.He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the Their wicked enterprises will turn to their own destruction. wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22 The LORD For when they seem to be overcome with great dangers and death itself, then God shows himself as their redeemer. redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
1 «[A Psalm] of David.» Plead [my He desires God to undertake his cause against them who persecute him and slander him. cause], O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
2 Even though God can with his breath destroy all his enemies, yet the Holy Spirit attributes to him these outward weapons to assure us of his patient power.Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
3 Draw out also the spear, and stop [the way] against them that persecute me: say unto my Assure me against these temptations, that you are the author of my salvation. soul, I [am] thy salvation.
4 Let them be confounded & put to shame, that seeke after my soule: let them be turned backe, and brought to confusion, that imagine mine hurt.
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD Smite them with the spirit of giddiness that their enterprises may be foolish, and they received just reward. chase [them].
6 Let their way be darke and slipperie: and let the Angel of the Lord persecute them.
7 For Showing that we may not call God to be a revenger but only for his glory, and when our cause is just. without cause have they hid for me their net [in] a pit, [which] without cause they have digged for my soul.
8 Let destruction come upon When he promises peace to himself. him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into Which he prepared against the children of God. that very destruction let him fall.
9 Then my soule shalbe ioyfull in the Lord: it shall reioyce in his saluation.
10 All my He attributes his deliverance only to God, praising him therefore both in soul and body. bones shall say, LORD, who [is] like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?
11 That would not permit me to purge myself.False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge [things] that I knew not.
12 They rewarded me evil for good [to] the To have taken from me all comfort and brought me into despair. spoiling of my soul.
13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing [was] sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and I prayed for them with inward affection, as I would have done for myself: or, I declared my affection with bowing down my head. my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
14 I behaued my selfe as to my friend, or as to my brother: I humbled my selfe, mourning as one that bewaileth his mother.
15 But in mine When they thought me ready to slip and as one that limped for infirmity. adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: [yea], the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew [it] not; they did tear With their railing words. [me], and ceased not:
16 With hypocritical mockers in The word signifies cakes: meaning that the proud courtiers at their dainty feasts scoff, rail, and conspire his death. feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
17 Lord, how long wilt thou beholde this? deliuer my soule from their tumult, euen my desolate soule from the lions.
18 So will I giue thee thankes in a great Congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: [neither] let them In token of contempt and mocking. wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
20 For they speake not as friendes: but they imagine deceitfull woordes against the quiet of the lande.
21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, [and] said, Aha, aha, They rejoiced as though they had now seen David overthrown. our eye hath seen [it].
22 Thou hast seene it, O Lorde: keepe not silence: be not farre from me, O Lord.
23 Arise and wake to my iudgement, euen to my cause, my God, and my Lord.
24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy It is the justice of God to give to the oppressors affliction and torment, and to the oppressed aid and relief, (2Th_1:6). righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
25 Let them not say in their hearts, Because we have that which we sought for, seeing he is destroyed. Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion That is, at once, were they never so many or mighty. together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed This prayer will always be verified against them who persecute the faithful. with shame and dishonour that magnify [themselves] against me.
27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, That at least favour my right, though they are not able to help me. that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the He exhorts the Church to praise God for the deliverance of his servants, and for the destruction of his adversaries. prosperity of his servant.
28 And my tongue shall vtter thy righteousnesse, and thy praise euery day.
1 «To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David the servant of the LORD.» The transgression of the wicked saith I see evidently by his deeds, that sin pushes forward the reprobate from wickedness to wickedness, even though he goes about to cover his impiety. within my heart, [that there is] no fear of God before his eyes.
2 For he Though all others detest his vile sin, yet he himself sees it not. flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
3 The words of his mouth [are] iniquity and The reprobates mock wholesome doctrine, and put no difference between good and evil. deceit: he hath left off to be wise, [and] to do good.
4 He By describing at large the nature of the reprobate, he admonishes the godly to beware of these vices. deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way [that is] not good; he abhorreth not evil.
5 Thy Though wickedness seems to overflow all the world, yet by your heavenly providence you govern heaven and earth. mercy, O LORD, [is] in the heavens; [and] thy faithfulness [reacheth] unto the clouds.
6 Thy righteousness [is] like the great mountains; thy judgments [are] a great The depth of your providence governs all things, and disposes them, even though the wicked seem to overwhelm the world. deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
7 How excellent is thy mercy, O God! therefore the children of men trust vnder the shadowe of thy wings.
8 They shall be abundantly Only God's children have enough of all things both concerning this life and the life to come. satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
9 For with thee is the well of life, and in thy light shall we see light.
10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that He shows who God's children are, that is, they who know him, and live their lives uprightly. know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
11 Let not the Let not the proud advance himself against me, or the power of the wicked drive me away. foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
12 That is, in their pride in which they flatter themselves.There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.
1 «[A Psalm] of David.» Fret not He admonishes us neither to vex ourselves for the prosperous estate of the wicked, or to desire to be like them to make our estate better. thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be For God's judgment cuts down their state in a moment. cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
3 To trust in God and do according to his will are sure signs that his providence will never fail us.Trust in the LORD, and do good; [so] shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 And delite thy selfe in the Lorde, and hee shall giue thee thine hearts desire.
5 Do not be led by your own wisdom, but obey God and he will finish his work in you.Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring [it] to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy As the hope of daylight causes us not to be offended with the darkness of the night so ought we patiently to trust that God will clear our cause and restore us to our right. judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him When God allows the wicked to prosper, it seems to the flesh that he favours their doings, (Job_21:7). who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: Meaning, unless he moderates his affection, he will be led to do as they do. fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9 For euill doers shalbe cut off, and they that wait vpon the Lord, they shall inherite the land.
10 He corrects the impatience of our nature, which cannot abide till the fulness of God's time is come.For yet a little while, and the wicked [shall] not [be]: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it [shall] not [be].
11 But meeke men shal possesse the earth, and shall haue their delite in the multitude of peace.
12 The godly are assured that the power and craft of the wicked will not prevail against them, but fall on their own necks and therefore should patiently abide God's time, and in the meanwhile bewail their sins, and offer up their tears as a sacrifice of their obedience.The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13 But the Lord shall laugh him to scorne: for he seeth, that his day is comming.
14 The wicked haue drawen their sworde, and haue bent their bowe, to cast downe the poore and needie, and to slay such as be of vpright conuersation.
15 But their sword shall enter into their owne heart, and their bowes shalbe broken.
16 For they are daily fed as with manna from heaven and have sufficient, while the wicked never have enough, but always hunger.A little that a righteous man hath [is] better than the riches of many wicked.
17 For the armes of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord vpholdeth the iust men.
18 The LORD God knows what dangers hang over his, and by what means to deliver them. knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall For God will give them contented minds, and that which will be necessary. be satisfied.
20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD [shall be] as the They will vanish away suddenly for they are fed for the day of slaughter. fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and God so furnishes him with high blessings, that he is able to help others. giveth.
22 For such as be blessed of God, shall inherite the lande, and they that be cursed of him, shalbe cut off.
23 God prospers the faithful because they walk in his ways with an upright conscience.The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
24 Though he When God exercises his faith with various temptations. fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth [him with] his hand.
25 I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his Though the just man die, yet God's blessings are extended to his posterity and though God suffer some just man to lack temporal benefits, yet he recompenses him with spiritual treasures. seed begging bread.
26 But hee is euer mercifull and lendeth, and his seede enioyeth the blessing.
27 Flee from euill and doe good, and dwell for euer.
28 For the Lord loueth iudgement, and forsaketh not his Saintes: they shall be preserued for euermore: but the seede of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein They will continually be preserved under God's wings, and have at least inward rest. for ever.
30 The These three points are required from the faithful, that their talk is godly, that God's law is in their heart, and that their life is upright. mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
31 For the Lawe of his God is in his heart, and his steppes shall not slide.
32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is For though it is sometimes so expedient both for God's glory and their salvation, yet he will approve their cause and avenge their wrong. judged.
34 Waite thou on the Lorde, and keepe his way, and he shall exalt thee, that thou shalt inherite the lande: when the wicked men shall perish, thou shalt see.
35 I haue seene the wicked strong, and spreading himselfe like a greene bay tree.
36 Yet he So that the prosperity of the wicked is but as a cloud, which vanishes away in a moment. passed away, and, lo, he [was] not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
37 He exhorts the faithful to mark diligently the examples both of God's mercies, and also of his judgments.Mark the perfect [man], and behold the upright: for the end of [that] man [is] peace.
38 But the transgressours shall be destroyed together, and the ende of the wicked shall bee cut off.
39 But the He shows that the patient hope of the godly is never in vain, but in the end has good success, though for a time God proves them by various temptations. salvation of the righteous [is] of the LORD: [he is] their strength in the time of trouble.
40 For the Lord shall helpe them, and deliuer them: he shall deliuer them from the wicked, and shall saue them, because they trust in him.
1 «A Psalm of David, to bring to To put himself and others in mind of God's chastisement for sin. remembrance.» O LORD, rebuke me not in thy He desires not to be exempted from God's rod, but that he would so moderate his hand, that he might be able to bear it. wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
2 For thine Your sickness, with which you have visited me. arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.
3 [There is] no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither [is there any] rest in my bones because of my David acknowledges God to be just in his punishments, because his sins had deserved much more. sin.
4 For mine He confesses his sins, God's justice, and makes prayer his refuge. iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
5 My wounds stink [and] are corrupt because of That rather gave place to my own lusts, than to the will of God. my foolishness.
6 I am bowed, and crooked very sore: I goe mourning all the day.
7 For my reines are full of burning, and there is nothing sound in my flesh.
8 I am feeble and sore broken: I This example warns us never to despair, no matter how great the torment: but always to cry to God with sure trust for deliverance. have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
9 Lorde, I powre my whole desire before thee, and my sighing is not hid from thee.
10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, My sight fails me for sorrow. it also is gone from me.
11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my Partly for fear and partly for pride, they denied all duty and friendship. kinsmen stand afar off.
12 They also, that seeke after my life, laye snares, and they that go about to do me euil, talke wicked things and imagine deceite continually.
13 But I, as a For I can have no audience before men, and therefore patiently wait for the help of God. deaf [man], heard not; and [I was] as a dumb man [that] openeth not his mouth.
14 Thus am I as a man, that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofes.
15 For on thee, O Lord, do I waite: thou wilt heare me, my Lord, my God.
16 For I said, [Hear me], lest [otherwise] they should rejoice over me: That is, if they see that you do not help me in time, they will mock and triumph as though you had forsaken me. when my foot slippeth, they magnify [themselves] against me.
17 For I [am] ready to I am without hope to recover my strength. halt, and my sorrow [is] continually before me.
18 When I declare my paine, and am sory for my sinne,
19 But mine In my greatest misery they most rejoice. enemies [are] lively, [and] they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow [the thing that] He would rather have the hatred of all the world, than fail in any part of his duty to God. good [is].
21 Forsake me not, O Lord: be not thou farre from me, my God.
22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my Who is the author of my salvation: and this declares that he prayed with sure hope of deliverance. salvation.
1 «To the chief Musician, [even] to This was one of the chief singers, (1Ch_16:41). Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.» I said, Although he had appointed with himself patiently to have wait for God's timing, yet the vehemency of his pain caused him to break his purpose. I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, [even] from good; Though when the wicked ruled he thought to have kept silence, yet his zeal caused him to change his mind. and my sorrow was stirred.
3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: [then] He confesses that he grudged against God, considering the greatness of his sorrows, and the shortness of his life. spake I with my tongue,
4 Lord, let me know mine ende, and the measure of my dayes, what it is: let mee knowe howe long I haue to liue.
5 Behold, thou hast made my days [as] an handbreadth; and mine age [is] as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state [is] altogether Yet David offended in that he reasoned with God as though he were too severe toward his weak creature. vanity. Selah.
6 Doubtlesse man walketh in a shadowe, and disquieteth himselfe in vaine: he heapeth vp riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.
7 And now Lord, what wait I for? mine hope is euen in thee.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the Do not make me a laughing stock to the wicked, wrap me up with the wicked when they are put to shame. foolish.
9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because Seeing my troubles came from your providence, I ought to have endured them patiently. thou didst [it].
10 Take thy plague away from mee: for I am consumed by the stroke of thine hand.
11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou Though your open plagues do not light on them forever, yet your secret curse continually frets them. makest his The word signifies all that he desires, as health, force, strength, beauty, and in whatever he has delight, so that the rod of God takes away all that is desired in this world. beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man [is] vanity. Selah.
12 Heare my prayer, O Lord, & hearken vnto my cry: keepe not silence at my teares, for I am a strager with thee, and a soiourner as all my fathers.
13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, For his sorrow caused him to think that God would destroy him completely, by which we see how hard it is for the saints to keep a measure in their words, when death and despair assails them. before I go hence, and be no more.
1 «To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.» I waited Though God deferred his help, yet he patiently abode till he was heard. patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an He has delivered me from great dangers. horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and] established my goings.
3 And he hath put That is, a special opportunity to praise him, for God's benefits are so many opportunities for us to praise his Name. a new song in my mouth, [even] praise unto our God: many shall see [it], and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
4 Blessed [is] that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth To follow their example, which he must do who trusts not only in the Lord. not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5 Many, David goes from one king of God's favour to the contemplation of his providence over all, and confesses that his counsels toward us are far above our capacities, we cannot so much as tell them in order. O LORD my God, [are] thy wonderful works [which] thou hast done, and thy thoughts [which are] to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: [if] I would declare and speak [of them], they are more than can be numbered.
6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; You have opened my ears to understand the spiritual meaning of the sacrifices: and here David esteems the ceremonies of the law as nothing in respect to the spiritual service. mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
7 When you had opened my ears and heart, I was ready to obey you, being assured that I was written in the book of your elect for this end.Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book [it is] written of me,
8 I desired to doe thy good will, O my God: yea, thy Lawe is within mine heart.
9 I have preached righteousness in the In the Church assembled in the sanctuary. great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy David here numbers three degrees of our salvation: God's mercy, by which he pities us, his righteousness which signifies his continual protection and his truth, by which appears his constant favour, so that from this our salvation proceeds. faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
11 Withdrawe not thou thy tender mercie from mee, O Lord: let thy mercie and thy trueth alway preserue me.
12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart Concerning the judgment of the flesh, I was utterly destitute of all counsel, yet faith inwardly moved my heart to pray. faileth me.
13 Let it please thee, O Lorde, to deliuer mee: make haste, O Lord, to helpe me.
14 Let them be He desires that God's mercy may contend for him against the rage of his enemies. ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
15 Let them be Let the same shame and confusion come on them, which they intended to have brought on me. desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, As the faithful always praise God for his benefits, so the wicked mocked God's children in their afflictions. The LORD be magnified.
17 Though I be poore and needie, the Lorde thinketh on mee: thou art mine helper and my deliuerer: my God, make no tarying.
1 «To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.» Blessed [is] he that Not condemning him as accused whom God visits, knowing that there are various reasons why God lays his hand on us, yea and afterwards he restores us. considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
2 The Lord will keepe him, and preserue him aliue: he shalbe blessed vpon the earth, and thou wilt not deliuer him vnto the will of his enemies.
3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the When for sorrow and grief of mind he calls himself on his bed. bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his You have restored him in his sick bed and sent him comfort. bed in his sickness.
4 Therefore I saide, Lorde haue mercie vpon me: heale my soule, for I haue sinned against thee.
5 Mine enemies That is, curse me and cannot have their cruel hate quenched but with my shameful death. speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?
6 And if he come to see [me], he speaketh For pretending to comfort me, he conspires my death in his heart, and brags of it. vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; [when] he goeth abroad, he telleth [it].
7 All they that hate me, whisper together against me: euen against me do they imagine mine hurt.
8 The enemies thought by his sharp punishments that God had become his mortal enemy.An evil disease, [say they], cleaveth fast unto him: and [now] that he lieth he shall rise up no more.
9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, As David felt this falsehood, and as it was chiefly accomplished in Christ, (Joh_13:18) so shall his members continually prove the same. hath lifted up [his] heel against me.
10 Therefore, O Lord, haue mercy vpon mee, and raise me vp: so I shall reward them.
11 By this I know that thou fauourest me, because mine enemie doth not triumph against me.
12 And as for me, thou upholdest me Meaning, either in prosperity of life or in the true fear of God against all temptation. in mine integrity, and settest me before thy Showing me evident signs of your fatherly providence. face for ever.
13 Blessed [be] the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. By this repetition he stirs up the faithful to praise God. Amen, and Amen.
1 «To the chief Musician, Maschil, As a treasure to be kept by them, who were of the number of the Levites. for the sons of Korah.» As the hart By these comparisons of the thirst and panting, he shows his fervent desire to serve God in his temple. panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2 My soule thirsteth for God, euen for the liuing God: when shall I come and appeare before the presence of God?
3 As others take pleasure in eating and drinking, so he was altogether given to weeping.My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where [is] thy God?
4 When I remember That is, how I led the people to serve you in your tabernacle, and now seeing my contrary estate, I die for sorrow. these [things], I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and [why] art thou disquieted in me? Though he sustained grievous assaults of the flesh to cast him into despair, yet his faith grounded on God's accustomed mercies gets the victory. hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him [for] the help of his countenance.
6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: That is, when I remember you in this land of my banishment among the mountains. therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
7 Afflictions came so thick upon me that I felt overwhelmed: by which he shows there is no end to our misery till God is pacified and sends help.Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
8 [Yet] the LORD He assures himself of God's help in time to come. will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song [shall be] with me, [and] my prayer unto the God of my life.
9 I wil say vnto God, which is my rocke, Why hast thou forgotten mee? why goe I mourning, when the enemie oppresseth me?
10 [As] with a sword in my That is, I am most grievously tormented. bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where [is] thy God?
11 This repetition declares that David did not overcome at once, to teach us to be constant, for as much as God will certainly deliver his.Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, [who is] the health of my countenance, and my God.
1 Judge He desires God to undertake his cause against the enemies but chiefly that he would restore him to the tabernacle. me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly That is, the cruel company of my enemies. nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.
2 For thou art the God of my strength: why hast thou put me away? why goe I so mourning, when the enemie oppresseth me?
3 O send out thy That is, your favour which appears by the performance of your promises. light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
4 Then He promises to offer a solemn sacrifice of thanksgiving in token of his great deliverance. will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? By which he admonishes the faithful not to relent but constantly to wait on the Lord, though their troubles are long and great. hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, [who is] the health of my countenance, and my God.
1 «To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil.» We have heard with our This psalm seems to have been made by some excellent prophet for the use of the people when the Church was in extreme misery, either at their return from Babylon or under Antiochus or in similar afflictions. ears, O God, our fathers have told us, [what] work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.
2 [How] thou didst drive out the That is, the Canaanites. heathen with thy hand, and plantedst That is, our fathers. them; [how] thou didst afflict the Of Canaan. people, and That is, our fathers. cast them out.
3 For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a God's free mercy and love is the only fountain and beginning of the Church, (Deu_4:37). favour unto them.
4 Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Because you are our king, therefore deliver your people from their misery. Jacob.
5 Because they and their forefathers made both one Church, they apply that to themselves which before they attributed to their fathers.Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
6 For I do not trust in my bowe, neither can my sworde saue me.
7 But thou hast saued vs from our aduersaries, and hast put them to confusion that hate vs.
8 Therefore will wee praise God continually, and will confesse thy Name for euer. Selah.
9 But thou hast cast off, and put us to As they confessed before that their strength came from God, so now they acknowledge that this affliction came by his just judgment. shame; and goest not forth with our armies.
10 Thou makest vs to turne backe fro the aduersary, & they, which hate vs, spoile for theselues.
11 Thou hast given us Knowing God to be author of this calamity, they murmur not, but seek remedy at his hands who wounded them. like sheep [appointed] for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.
12 Thou sellest thy people As slaves who are sold for a low price, you do not look for him who offers the most, but take the first offer. for nought, and dost not increase [thy wealth] by their price.
13 Thou makest vs a reproche to our neighbours, a iest and a laughing stocke to them that are round about vs.
14 Thou makest vs a prouerbe among the nations, & a nodding of the head among the people.
15 My I dare not lift up my head for shame. confusion [is] continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,
16 For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and Meaning, the proud and cruel tyrant. avenger.
17 All this is come upon us; yet have we not They boast not of their virtues, but declare that they rest on God in the midst of their affliction: who did not punished their sins now, but by hard afflictions called them to the consideration of the heavenly joys. forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.
18 Our heart is not turned backe: neither our steps gone out of thy paths,
19 Albeit thou hast smitten vs downe into the place of dragons, and couered vs with the shadow of death.
20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a They show that they honoured God correctly, because they trusted in him alone. strange god;
21 Shall not God They take God to witness that they were upright toward him. search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
22 Yea, for thy sake The faithful take comfort in this, that the wicked punish them not for their sins, but for because of God, (Mat_5:10; 1Pe_4:14). are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
23 Vp, why sleepest thou, O Lord? awake, be not farre off for euer.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face? and forgettest our miserie and our affliction?
25 For our soul is There is no hope of recovery, unless you raise us up with your hand. bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
26 Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy Which is the only sufficient ransom to deliver both body and souls from all kinds of slavery and misery. mercies' sake.
1 «To the chief Musician upon This was a certain tune of an instrument. Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of Of that perfect love that ought to be between the husband and the wife. loves.» My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue [is] the pen of a ready writer.
2 Thou art Solomon's beauty and eloquence to win favour with his people, and his power to overcome his enemies, is here described. fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
3 Gird thy sword vpon thy thigh, O most mightie, to wit, thy worship and thy glory,
4 And in thy majesty He alludes to them, who ride in chariots in their triumphs, showing that the quiet state of a kingdom stands in truth, meekness and justice, and not in worldly pomp and vanity. ride prosperously because of truth and meekness [and] righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
5 Thine arrowes are sharpe to pearce the heart of the Kings enemies: therefore the people shall fall vnder thee.
6 Thy Under this figure of this kingdom of justice is set forth the everlasting kingdom of Christ. throne, O God, [is] for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom [is] a right sceptre.
7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath Has established your kingdom as the figure of Christ, which is the peace and joy of the Church. anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
8 All thy garments [smell] of myrrh, and aloes, [and] cassia, out of the ivory palaces, In which the people made you joyful to see them give thanks and rejoice for you. whereby they have made thee glad.
9 Kings' daughters [were] among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the Though he had many king's daughters among his wives, yet he found Pharaoh's daughter best. queen in gold of Ophir.
10 Under the figure of Pharaoh's daughter, he shows that the Church must cast off all carnal affections to obey Christ only.Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;
11 So shal the King haue pleasure in thy beautie: for he is thy Lord, and reuerence thou him.
12 And the He signifies that many of those who are rich will be benefactors to the Church, although they do not give perfect obedience to the Gospel. daughter of Tyre [shall be there] with a gift; [even] the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.
13 The king's daughter [is] all glorious There is nothing feigned or hypocritical but she is glorious both within and without: and even though the Church has not always had this outward glory, the fault is to be imputed only to their own ingratitude. within: her clothing [is] of wrought gold.
14 She shalbe brought vnto the King in raiment of needle worke: the virgins that follow after her, and her companions shall be brought vnto thee.
15 With ioy & gladnes shall they be brought, and shall enter into the Kings palace.
16 Instead of thy fathers shall be thy They will have greater graces than their fathers. children, whom thou mayest make princes He signifies the great compass of Christ's kingdom, which will be sufficient to enrich all his members. in all the earth.
17 I will make thy This must only be referred to Christ and not to Solomon. name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.
1 «To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Which was either a musical instrument or a solemn tune, to which this psalm was sung. Alamoth.» God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in In all manner of troubles God shows his speedy mercy and power in defending his. trouble.
2 Therefore will not we That is, we will not be overcome with fear. fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 [Though] the waters thereof Though the afflictions rage, yet the rivers of God's mercies bring sufficient comfort to his. roar [and] be troubled, [though] the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 [There is] a The river of Shiloh, which passed through Jerusalem: meaning, though the defence seems small, yet if God has appointed it, it is sufficient. river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy [place] of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God [is] in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, [and that] Always when need requires. right early.
6 When the nations raged, and the kingdomes were moued, God thundred, and the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts [is] They are assured that God can and will defend his Church from all dangers and enemies. with us; the God of Jacob [is] our refuge. Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, That is, how often he has destroyed his enemies, and delivered his people. what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9 He maketh warres to cease vnto the endes of the world: he breaketh the bowe and cutteth the speare, and burneth the chariots with fire.
10 Be He warns them who persecute the Church to cease their cruelty: for also they will feel that God is too strong for them against whom they fight. still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The Lord of hostes is with vs: the God of Iaakob is our refuge. Selah.
1 «To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.» O Here is figured Christ to whom all his should give willing obedience, and who would show himself terrible to the wicked. clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
2 For the Lord is high, and terrible: a great King ouer all the earth.
3 He shall He has made the Jews who were the keepers of the law and prophets, schoolmasters to the Gentiles, that they would with gladness obey them. subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.
4 He shall choose God has chosen us above all other nations, to enjoy a most glorious inheritance. our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.
5 God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the He alludes to the trumpets that were blown at solemn feasts: but he further signifies the triumph of Christ and his glorious ascension into the heavens. sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing prayses to God, sing prayses: sing prayses vnto our King, sing prayses.
7 For God [is] the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with He requires that understanding be joined with singing, lest the Name of God be profaned with vain crying. understanding.
8 God reigneth ouer the heathen: God sitteth vpon his holy throne.
9 The princes of the people are gathered together, [even] the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth [belong] unto God: he He praises God's highness, for that he joins the great princes of the world (whom he calls shields) to the fellowship of his Church. is greatly exalted.
1 «Some put this difference between a song and psalm, saying that it is called a song when there is no instrument but the voice, and the song of the psalm is when the instruments begin and the voice follows. A Song [and] Psalm for the sons of Korah.» Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the Even though God shows his wonders through all the world, yet he will be chiefly praised in his Church. city of our God, [in] the mountain of his holiness.
2 Beautiful for situation, the Because the word of salvation came there to all who would believe. joy of the whole earth, [is] mount Zion, [on] the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
3 God is known in her palaces for a Unless God is the defence of it, neither situation nor munition can prevail. refuge.
4 For, lo, the kings were They conspired and went against God's people. assembled, they passed by together.
5 They saw [The enemies were afraid at the sight of the city. it, and] so they marvelled; they were troubled, [and] hasted away.
6 Feare came there vpon them, and sorowe, as vpon a woman in trauaile.
7 Thou breakest the ships That is, of Cilicia or of the Mediterranean sea. of Tarshish with an east wind.
8 As we have That is, of our fathers: so have we proved: or God has performed his promise. heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.
9 We waite for thy louing kindnes, O God, in the middes of thy Temple.
10 According to thy name, O God, so [is] thy praise unto the ends of the In all places where your Name will be heard of, men will praise you when they hear of your marvellous works. earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.
11 Let Let Jerusalem and the cities of Judea rejoice, for your just judgments against your enemies. mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
12 For in this outward defence and strength God's blessings also appeared, but the chief is to be referred to God's favour and secret defence, who never leaves his.Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.
13 Marke well the wall thereof: beholde her towres, that ye may tell your posteritie.
14 For this God is our God for euer and euer: he shall be our guide vnto the death.
1 «To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.» Hear He will intreat how God governs the world by his providence which cannot be perceived by the judgment of the flesh. this, all [ye] people; give ear, all [ye] inhabitants of the world:
2 As well lowe as hie, both rich and poore.
3 My mouth shal speake of wisdome, and the meditation of mine heart is of knowledge.
4 I will incline mine eare to a parable, and vtter my graue matter vpon the harpe.
5 Wherefore should I Though wickedness reigns and enemies rage, seeing God will execute his judgments against the wicked at a suitable time. fear in the days of evil, [when] the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
6 They that trust in their To trust in riches is madness, seeing they can neither restore life, nor prolong it. wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
7 Yet a man can by no meanes redeeme his brother: he can not giue his raunsome to God,
8 (For the redemption of their soul [is] That is, so rare or not to be found, as prophecy was precious in the days of Eli, (1Sa_3:1). precious, Meaning it is impossible to live for ever: also that life and death are only in God's hands. and it ceaseth for ever:)
9 That he may liue still for euer, and not see the graue.
10 For he seeth [that] wise men In that that death makes no difference between the persons. die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to That is, not to their children, but to strangers. Yet the wicked profit not by these examples, but still dream of immortality on earth. others.
11 Yet they thinke, their houses, and their habitations shall continue for euer, euen from generation to generation, and call their lands by their names.
12 Nevertheless man [being] in honour abideth not: he is like the Concerning the death of the body. beasts [that] perish.
13 This their way [is] their folly: yet their posterity They speak and do the same thing that their fathers did. approve their sayings. Selah.
14 As sheep are gathered into the fold, so shall they be brought to the grave.Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Because they have no part of life everlasting. death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the Christ's coming is as the morning, when the elect will reign with Christ their head over the wicked. morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
15 But God shall deliuer my soule from the power of the graue: for he will receiue me. Selah.
16 Be not thou afrayd when one is made rich, and when the glory of his house is increased.
17 For he shall take nothing away when he dieth, neither shal his pompe descende after him.
18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and The flatterers praise them who live in delight and pleasures. [men] will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
19 And not pass the term appointed for life.He shall go to the generation of his fathers; Both they and their fathers will live here but a while and at length die forever. they shall never see light.
20 Man [that is] in honour, and He condemns man's ingratitude, who having received excellent gifts from God, abuses them like a beast to his own condemnation. understandeth not, is like the beasts [that] perish.
1 «A Psalm of Who was either the author, or a chief singer, to whom it was committed. Asaph.» The mighty God, [even] the LORD, hath spoken, and called the To plead against his deceitful people before heaven and earth. earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
2 Out of Zion, the Because God had chosen it to have his Name there called on and also his image shines there in the doctrine of the law. perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a As when God gave his law in mount Sinai he appeared terrible with thunder and tempest, so will he appear terrible to take account for the keeping of it. fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to As witnessing against the hypocrites. the earth, that he may judge his people.
5 Gather my God in respect to his elect calls the whole body holy, saints and his people. saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by Who should know that sacrifices are sealed by the covenant between God and his people, and not set religion in it. sacrifice.
6 And the heauens shall declare his righteousnes: for God is iudge himselfe. Selah.
7 Heare, O my people, and I wil speake: heare, O Israel, and I wil testifie vnto thee: for I am God, euen thy God.
8 I will not For I pass not for sacrifices unless the true use is there, which is to confirm your faith. reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, [to have been] continually before me.
9 I will take no bullocke out of thine house, nor goates out of thy foldes.
10 Though he delighted in sacrifice, yet he had no need for man's help in it.For every beast of the forest [is] mine, [and] the cattle upon a thousand hills.
11 I knowe all the foules on the mountaines: and the wilde beastes of the fielde are mine.
12 If I bee hungry, I will not tell thee: for the world is mine, and all that therein is.
13 Though man's life for the infirmity of it has need of food, yet God whose life quickens all the world, has no need of such means.Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and Show yourself mindful of God's benefits by thanksgiving. pay thy vows unto the most High:
15 And call vpon me in the day of trouble: so will I deliuer thee, and thou shalt glorifie me.
16 But unto the wicked God saith, Why do you pretend to be of my people and talk of my covenant, seeing that you are a hypocrite? What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or [that] thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
17 Seeing thou hatest To live according to my word. instruction, and castest my words behind thee.
18 When thou sawest a thief, then He shows what the fruits of them who contemn God's word are. thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
19 Thou giuest thy mouth to euill, and with thy tongue thou forgest deceit.
20 Thou He notes the cruelty of hypocrites who in their talk or judgment do not spare their own mother's sons. sittest [and] speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.
21 These [things] hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether [such an one] as thyself: [but] I will reprove thee, and I will write all your wicked deeds in a roll, and make you read and acknowledge them, whether you will or not. set [them] in order before thine eyes.
22 Oh cosider this, ye that forget God, least I teare you in pieces, & there be none that can deliuer you.
23 Whoso offereth Under which is contained faith and invocation. praise glorifieth me: and to him that As God has appointed. ordereth [his] conversation [aright] will I That is, declare myself to be his Saviour. shew the salvation of God.
1 «To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet To reprove him, because he had committed horrible sins, and lain in the same without repentance more then a whole year. came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.» Have mercy upon me, O God, As his sins were many and great, so he requires that God would give him the feeling of his excellent and abundant mercies. according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me My sins strike so fast in me, that I have need of some singular kind of washing. throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I My conscience accuses me so, that I can have no rest till I am reconciled. acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin [is] ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done [this] evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou When you give sentence against sinners, they must confess you to be just, and themselves sinners. speakest, [and] be clear when thou judgest.
5 Beholde, I was borne in iniquitie, and in sinne hath my mother conceiued me.
6 Behold, thou He confesses that God who loves pureness of heart, may justly destroy man, who by nature is a sinner much more him whom he had instructed in his heavenly wisdom. desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden [part] thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssope, & I shalbe cleane: wash me, and I shalbe whiter then snowe.
8 Make me to hear He means God's comfortable mercies toward repentant sinners. joy and gladness; [that] the By the bones he understands all strength of soul and body, which by cares and mourning are consumed. bones [which] thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sinnes, and put away all mine iniquities.
10 He confesses that when God's Spirit is cold in us, to have it again revived, is as a new creation.Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast mee not away from thy presence, and take not thine holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] Which may assure me that I am drawn out of the slavery of sin. free spirit.
13 [Then] will I teach transgressors thy He promises to endeavour that others by his example may turn to God. ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from From the murder of Uriah and the others who were slain with him, (2Sa_11:17). bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: [and] my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, By giving me opportunity to praise you, when you will forgive my sins. open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest no sacrifice, though I would giue it: thou delitest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God [are] a Which is a wounding of the heart, proceeding from faith, which seeks God for mercy. broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto He prays for the whole Church, because through his sin it was in danger of God's judgment. Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of That is, just and lawful, applied to the right end, which is the exercise of faith and repentance. righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
1 «To the chief Musician, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.» Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O O Doeg, who half consider to be the tyrant Saul, and had the power to murder the saints of God. mighty man? the goodness of God [endureth] continually.
2 Thy tongue deviseth Your malice moves you by crafty flattery and lies to accuse and destroy the innocents. mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
3 Thou doest loue euill more then good, and lies more then to speake the trueth. Selah.
4 Thou louest all wordes that may destroye, O deceitfull tongue!
5 God shall likewise Though God forbear for a time, yet at length he will recompense your falsehood. destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of [thy] dwelling place, and Even though you seem to be never so sure settled. root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.
6 The For the eyes of the reprobate are shut at God's judgments. righteous also shall see, With joyful reverence, seeing that he takes their part against the wicked. and fear, and shall laugh at him:
7 Beholde the man that tooke not God for his strength, but trusted vnto the multitude of his riches, and put his strength in his malice.
8 But I [am] like a He rejoices to have a place among the servant's of God, that he may grow in the knowledge of godliness. green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
9 I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done Executed his vengeance. [it]: and I will wait on thy name; for [it is] good before thy saints.
1 «To the chief Musician upon Which was an instrument or king of note. Mahalath, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David.» The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] Whereas no regard is had for honesty or dishonesty, for virtue nor for vice, there the prophet pronounces that the people have no God. no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: [there is] none that doeth good.
2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were [any] that did understand, that did By which he condemns all knowledge and understanding that tends not to seek God. seek God.
3 Euery one is gone backe: they are altogether corrupt: there is none that doth good, no not one.
4 Have the David pronounces God's vengeance against cruel governors who having charge to defend and preserve God's people, cruelly devour them. workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people [as] they eat bread: they have not called upon God.
5 There were they in great fear, [where] no When they thought there was no opportunity to fear, the sudden vengeance of God lighted on them. fear was: for God hath scattered the No matter how great the enemies power is, or fearful the danger, yet God delivers his in due time. bones of him that encampeth [against] thee: thou hast put [them] to shame, because God hath despised them.
6 Oh giue saluation vnto Israel out of Zion: when God turneth the captiuitie of his people, then Iaakob shall reioyce, and Israel shalbe glad.
1 «To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?» Save me, O God, He declares that when all means fail, God will deliver even by miracle, they who call to him with an upright conscience. by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.
2 O God, heare my prayer: hearken vnto the wordes of my mouth.
3 For That is, the Ziphims. strangers are risen up against me, and Saul and his army who were like cruel beasts, could not be satisfied except by his death. oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
4 Behold, God [is] mine helper: the Lord [is] with No matter how few, as he was with Jonathan. them that uphold my soul.
5 He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy According to your faithful promise for my defence. truth.
6 I will For hypocrites serve God out of fear or on conditions. freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for [it is] good.
7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath We may lawfully rejoice for God's judgments against the wicked, if our affections are pure. seen [his desire] upon mine enemies.
1 «To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David.» Give ear to The earnestness of his prayer declares the vehemency of his grief in so much as he is compelled to burst out into cries. my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
2 Hearken vnto me, & answere me: I mourne in my prayer, and make a noyse,
3 Because of the For the threatenings of Saul and his adherents. voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for They have defamed me as a wicked person, or they have imagined my destruction. they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
4 Mine heart trembleth within mee, and the terrours of death are fallen vpon me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath There was no part of him that was not astonished with extreme fear. overwhelmed me.
6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! [for then] would I Fear had driven him to so great distress, that he wished to be hid in some wilderness, and to be banished from that kingdom which God had promised that he should enjoy. fly away, and be at rest.
7 Beholde, I woulde take my flight farre off, and lodge in the wildernes. Selah.
8 I would hasten my escape From the cruel rage and tyranny of Saul. from the windy storm [and] tempest.
9 Destroy, O Lord, [and] As in the confusion of Babylon when the wicked conspired against God. divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: All laws and good orders are broken and only vice and dissolution reigns under Saul. mischief also and sorrow [are] in the midst of it.
11 Wickednes is in the middes thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streetes.
12 For [it was] not an If my open enemy had sought by hurt, I could better have avoided him. enemy [that] reproached me; then I could have borne [it]: neither [was it] he that hated me [that] did magnify [himself] against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
13 But [it was] thou, a man mine Who was not only joined to me in friendship and counsel in worldly matters, but also in religion. equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
14 Which delited in consulting together, and went into the House of God as companions.
15 Let death seize upon them, [and] let them As Korah, Dathan and Abiram. go down quick into hell: for wickedness [is] in their dwellings, [and] among them.
16 But I will call vnto God, and the Lord will saue me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, Which signifies a servants mind and sure trust to obtain his portion, which made him earnest at all times in prayer. and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle [that was] against me: for there were Even the angels of God fought on my side against my enemies, (2Ki_6:16). many with me.
19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they But their prosperous estate still continues. have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
20 He I did not provoke him but was as at peace with him, yet he made war against me. hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
21 The wordes of his mouth were softer then butter, yet warre was in his heart: his words were more gentle then oyle, yet they were swordes.
22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall Though for their bettering and trial, he permits them to slip for a time. never suffer the righteous to be moved.
23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out Though they sometimes live longer, yet their life is cursed by God, unquiet, and worse than any death. half their days; but I will trust in thee.
1 «To the chief Musician upon Jonathelemrechokim, Michtam of David, Being chased by the fury of his enemies into a strange country, he was a dumb dove not seeking vengeance. when the Philistines took him in Gath.» Be merciful unto me, O God: for He shows that if God will help him, it must be now or never for all the world is against him and ready to devour him. man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
2 Mine enemies would dayly swallowe mee vp: for many fight against me, O thou most High.
3 When I was afrayd, I trusted in thee.
4 In God I will praise his He stays his conscience on God's promise though he sees no present help. word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
5 Every day they wrest my All my counsels have evil success, and turn to my own sorrow. words: all their thoughts [are] against me for evil.
6 As all the world against one man, and cannot be satisfied unless they have my life.They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
7 Shall They not only think to escape punishment, but the more wicked they are, the more impudent they grow. they escape by iniquity? in [thine] anger cast down the people, O God.
8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my If God stores the tears of his saints, much more will he remember their blood, to avenge it: and though tyrants burn the bones, yet they cannot blot the tears and blood out of God's register. tears into thy bottle: [are they] not in thy book?
9 When I cry, then mine enemies shal turne backe: this I know, for God is with me.
10 I will reioyce in God because of his worde: in the Lord wil I reioyce because of his worde.
11 In God doe I trust: I will not be afrayd what man can doe vnto me.
12 Having received that which I required, I am bound to pay my vows of thanksgiving as I promised.Thy vows [are] upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.
13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death: [wilt] not [thou deliver] my feet from falling, that I may As mindful of his great mercies, and giving thanks for the same. walk before God in the That is, in the life and light of the sun. light of the living?
1 «This was either the beginning of a certain song, or the words which David uttered when he stayed his affection. To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.» Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until [these] He compares the afflictions which God lays on his children, to a storm that comes and goes. calamities be overpast.
2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that Who does not leave his works begun imperfectly. performeth [all things] for me.
3 He shall send from He would rather deliver me by a miracle, than that I should be overcome. heaven, and save me [from] the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
4 My soul [is] among lions: [and] I lie [even among] them that are set on fire, [even] the sons of men, whose teeth [are] He means their slanderous and false reports. spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
5 Do not permit me to be destroyed to the contempt of your Name.Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; [let] thy glory [be] above all the earth.
6 They have prepared a net for my steps; For fear, seeing the great dangers on all sides. my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen [themselves]. Selah.
7 My heart is That is, wholly bent to give you praise for my deliverance. fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: He shows that both his heart will praise God, and his tongue will confess him, and also he will use other means to provoke himself forward to the same. I will sing and give praise.
8 Awake my tongue, awake viole & harpe: I wil awake early.
9 I will prayse thee, O Lord, among the people, and I wil sing vnto thee among the nations.
10 For thy mercy [is] great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the Your mercies not only belong to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles. clouds.
11 Exalt thy selfe, O God, aboue the heauens, and let thy glory be vpon all the earth.
1 «To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David.» Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O You counsellors of Saul, who under pretence of consulting for the common wealth, conspire my death being an innocent. congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
2 Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of You are not ashamed to execute that cruelty publicly, which you have imagined in your hearts. your hands in the earth.
3 The wicked That is, enemies to the people of God even from their birth. are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
4 Their poison [is] like the poison of a serpent: [they are] like the deaf They pass in malice and subtilty the crafty serpent who could preserve himself by stopping his ears from the enchanter. adder [that] stoppeth her ear;
5 Which heareth not the voyce of the inchanter, though he be most expert in charming.
6 Break their Take away all opportunity and means by which they hurt. teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.
7 Let them Considering God's divine power, he shows that God in a moment can destroy their force of which they brag. melt away as waters [which] run continually: [when] he bendeth [his bow to shoot] his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.
8 Let them consume like a snayle that melteth, and like the vntimely fruite of a woman, that hath not seene the sunne.
9 As flesh is taken raw out of the pot before the water boils: so he desires God to destroy their enterprises before they bring them to pass.Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in [his] wrath.
10 The righteous shall With a pure affection. rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the Their punishment and slaughter will be so great. blood of the wicked.
11 So that a man shall say, Seeing God governs all by his providence, he must put a difference between the godly and the wicked. Verily [there is] a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.
1 «To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Or, a certain tune. Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.» Though his enemies were even at hand to destroy him, yet he assures himself that God had ways to deliver him. Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
2 Deliuer me from the wicked doers, and saue me from the bloody men.
3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not [for] my For I am innocent toward them, and have not offended them. transgression, nor [for] my sin, O LORD.
4 They runne and prepare themselues without a fault on my part: arise therefore to assist me, and beholde.
5 Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not Seeing it belongs to God's judgments to punish the wicked, he desires God to execute his vengeance on the reprobate, who maliciously persecutes his Church. merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a He compares their cruelty to hungry dogs showing that they are never weary in doing evil. dog, and go round about the city.
7 Behold, they They boast openly in their wicked devises, and every word is as a sword: for they neither fear God nor are ashamed of men. belch out with their mouth: swords [are] in their lips: for who, [say they], doth hear?
8 But thou, O Lord, shalt haue them in derision, and thou shalt laugh at all the heathen.
9 Though Saul has great power, yet I know that you bridle him: therefore I will patiently hope in you.[Because of] his strength will I wait upon thee: for God [is] my defence.
10 The God of my mercy shall He will not fail to help me when need requires. prevent me: God shall let me see [my desire] upon mine enemies.
11 Slay them Altogether, but little by little, that the people seeing your judgments often, may be mindful of you. not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.
12 [For] the sin of their mouth [and] the words of their lips let them even be That in their misery and shame they may be as glasses and examples of God's vengeance. taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying [which] they speak.
13 When your time will come, and when they have sufficiently served for an example of your vengeance to others.Consume [them] in wrath, consume [them], that they [may] not [be]: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.
14 And at evening let them He mocks their vain enterprises, being assured that they will not bring their purpose to pass. return; [and] let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
15 They shall runne here and there for meate: and surely they shall not be satisfied, though they tary all night.
16 But I will sing of thy Who used the policy of a weak woman to confound the enemies strength, (1Sa_19:12). power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 Unto thee, O my Confessing himself to be void of all virtue and strength, he attributes the whole to God. strength, will I sing: for God [is] my defence, [and] the God of my mercy.
1 «To the chief Musician upon These were certain songs after the note of which this psalm was sung. Shushaneduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aramnaharaim and with Also called Sophene, which stands by Euphrates. Aramzobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand.» O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast For when Saul was not able to resist the enemy, the people fled here and there: for they were not safe in their own homes. scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.
2 Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast As split with an earthquake. broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.
3 Thou hast You have handled your people sharply, in asking from them sense and judgment in that they aided Saul the wicked King, and punished him to whom God had given the just title of the realm. shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.
4 Thou hast given In making me king, you have performed your promise, which seemed to have lost the force. a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.
5 That thy beloued may be deliuered, helpe with thy right hand and heare me.
6 God hath spoken in his It is as certain as if it were spoken by an oracle, that I will possess those places which Saul has left to his children. holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
7 Gilead [is] mine, and Manasseh [is] mine; Ephraim also [is] the For it was strong and well peopled. strength of mine head; David means that in this tribe his kingdom will be established, (Gen_49:10). Judah [is] my lawgiver;
8 Moab [is] my In most vile subjection. washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: For you will lie and pretend you were glad. Philistia, triumph thou because of me.
9 Who will bring me [into] the He was assured that God would give him the strong cities of his enemies, in which they thought themselves sure. strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
10 Wilt not thou, O God, which hadest cast vs off, & didest not go forth, O God, with our armies?
11 Giue vs helpe against trouble: for vaine is the helpe of man.
12 Through God we shall doe valiantly: for he shall tread downe our enemies.
1 To him that excelleth on Neginoth. A Psalme of Dauid. Heare my cry, O God: giue eare vnto my prayer.
2 From From the place where I was banished, being driven out of the city and temple by my son Absalom. the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock [that] is To which without your help I cannot attain. higher than I.
3 For thou hast bene mine hope, and a strong tower against the enemie.
4 I will dwell in thy Tabernacle for euer, and my trust shall be vnder the couering of thy wings. Selah.
5 For thou, O God, There is nothing that strengthens our faith more than the memory of God's help in times past. hast heard my vows: thou hast given [me] the heritage of those that fear thy name.
6 Thou wilt prolong the king's This chiefly refers to Christ, who lives eternally not only in himself but also in his members. life: [and] his years as many generations.
7 He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare For the stability of my kingdom stands in your mercy and truth. mercy and truth, [which] may preserve him.
8 So will I alway sing prayse vnto thy Name in performing dayly my vowes.
1 «To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.» Truly Though Satan tempted him to murmur against God, yet he bridled his affections, and resting on God's promise. my soul waiteth upon God: from him [cometh] my salvation.
2 It appears by the often repetition of this word, that the prophet endured many temptations by resting on God and by patience he overcame them all.He only [is] my rock and my salvation; [he is] my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
3 How long will ye imagine mischief against a He means himself, being the man whom God had appointed to the kingdom. man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a Though you seem to be in honour, yet God will suddenly destroy you. bowing wall [shall ye be, and as] a tottering fence.
4 Yet they consult to cast him downe from his dignitie: their delight is in lies, they blesse with their mouthes, but curse with their hearts. Selah.
5 David was greatly moved by these troubles, therefore he stirs up himself to trust in God.My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation [is] from him.
6 Yet is hee my strength, and my saluation, and my defence: therefore I shall not be mooued.
7 In God [is] my salvation and my These vehement and often repetitions were necessary to strengthen his faith against the horrible assault of Satan. glory: the rock of my strength, [and] my refuge, [is] in God.
8 Trust in him at all times; [ye] people, He admonishes us of our wicked nature, which would rather hide our sorrow and bite the bridle, than utter our grief to God to obtain remedy. pour out your heart before him: God [is] a refuge for us. Selah.
9 Yet the children of men are vanitie, the chiefe men are lies: to lay them vpon a balance they are altogether lighter then vanitie.
10 Trust not in oppression, and Give yourselves wholly to God by putting away all things that are contrary to his law. become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart [upon them].
11 God hath spoken He has plainly born witness to his power, so that no one needs to doubt it. once; twice have I heard this; that power [belongeth] unto God.
12 Also unto thee, O Lord, [belongeth] mercy: for thou So that the wicked will feel your power, and the godly your mercy. renderest to every man according to his work.
1 «A Psalm of David, when he was in the That is, of Ziph (1Sa_23:14). wilderness of Judah.» O God, thou [art] my God; early will I seek thee: my soul Though he was both hungry and in great distress, yet he made God above all meat and drink. thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2 To see thy power and thy glory, so [as] In this misery I exercise myself in the contemplation of your power and glory, as if I were in the sanctuary. I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
3 For thy louing kindnesse is better then life: therefore my lippes shall prayse thee.
4 Thus will I magnifie thee all my life, and lift vp mine hands in thy name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as [with] The remembrance of your favour is more sweet to me than all the pleasures and dainties of the world. marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise [thee] with joyful lips:
6 When I remember thee on my bedde, and when I thinke vpon thee in the night watches.
7 Because thou hast bene mine helper, therefore vnder the shadow of thy wings wil I reioyce.
8 My soul He assures himself by the Spirit of God to have the gift of constancy. followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
9 Therefore they that seeke my soule to destroy it, they shall goe into the lowest partes of the earth.
10 He prophecies of the destruction of Saul and they who take his part, whose bodies will not be buried but be devoured with wild beasts.They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that All who swear by God correctly or profess him will rejoice in this worthy king. sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
1 «To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.» Hear my In that he calls to God with his voice, it is a sign that his prayer was vehement, and that his life was in danger. voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the That is, from their secret malice. secret counsel of the wicked; from the That is, their outward violence. insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, [and] bend [their bows to shoot] their arrows, [even] False reports and slanders. bitter words:
4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and To be without fear of God and reverence of man, is a sign of reprobation. fear not.
5 They The more the wicked set God's children in misery, the more bold and impudent are they in oppressing them. encourage themselves [in] an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
6 They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward [thought] of every one There is no way so secret and subtle to do hurt, which they did not invent for his destruction. [of them], and the heart, [is] deep.
7 But God will shoote an arrowe at them suddenly: their strokes shalbe at once.
8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall To see God's heavy judgments against them, and how he has caught them in their own snares. flee away.
9 And all men shall see it, and declare the worke of God, and they shall vnderstand, what he hath wrought.
10 The righteous When they will consider that he will be favourable to them as he was to his servant David. shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.
1 «To the chief Musician, A Psalm [and] Song of David.» You daily give new opportunities to your Church to praise you. Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all Not only the Jews but also the Gentiles in the kingdom of Christ. flesh come.
3 Iniquities He imputes it to his sins and to the sins of the people that God who was accustomed to afflict them withdraws his help from them. prevail against me: [as for] our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
4 Blessed is he, whom thou chusest and causest to come to thee: he shall dwell in thy courtes, and we shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thine House, euen of thine holy Temple.
5 [By] terrible things in righteousness wilt thou You will declare yourself to be the preserver of your Church in destroying your enemies, as you did in the Red Sea. answer us, O God of our salvation; [who art] the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off [upon] the As of all barbarous nations, and far off. sea:
6 He stablisheth the mountaines by his power: and is girded about with strength.
7 Which stilleth the He shows that there is no part or creature in the world which is not governed by God's power and providence. noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
8 They also, that dwell in the vttermost parts of the earth, shalbe afraide of thy signes: thou shalt make the East and the West to reioyce.
9 Thou That is, with rain. visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the That is, Shiloh or the rain. river of God, [which] is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for You have appointed the earth to bring forth food to man's use. it.
10 Thou By this description he shows that all the order of nature is a testimony of God's love toward us, who causes all creatures to serve our need. waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.
11 Thou crownest ye yeere with thy goodnesse, and thy steppes droppe fatnesse.
12 They drop vpon the pastures of the wildernesse: and the hils shalbe compassed with gladnes.
13 The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, That is, the dumb creatures will not only rejoice for a time for God's benefits, but will continually sing. they also sing.
1 «To the chief Musician, A Song [or] Psalm.» Make a joyful noise unto God, He prophecies that all nations will come to the knowledge of God, who then was only known in Judea. all ye lands:
2 Sing forth the glory of his name: make his praise glorious.
3 Say unto God, How terrible [art thou in] thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies As the faithful obey God willingly, so the infidels disguise themselves as obedient out of fear. submit themselves unto thee.
4 All the worlde shall worship thee, and sing vnto thee, euen sing of thy Name. Selah.
5 He refers to the slothful dullness of man, who is cold in the consideration of God's works.Come and see the works of God: [he is] terrible [in his] doing toward the His providence is wonderful in maintaining their estate. children of men.
6 He hath turned the Sea into drie land: they passe through the riuer on foote: there did we reioyce in him.
7 He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious He proves that God will extend his grace also to the Gentiles, because he punishes among them such as will not obey his calling. exalt themselves. Selah.
8 Prayse our God, ye people, and make the voyce of his prayse to be heard.
9 Which He signifies some special benefit that God had showed to his Church of the Jews, in delivering them from some great danger: of which he promises that the Gentiles will also be partakers. holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
10 For thou, O God, hast proued vs, thou hast tryed vs as siluer is tryed.
11 Thou broughtest us into the The condition of the Church is here described, which is to be led by God's providence into troubles, to be subject under tyrants, and to enter into many dangers. net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
12 Thou hast caused men to ryde ouer our heads: we went into fire and into water, but thou broughtest vs out into a welthie place.
13 I will go into thy The duty of the faithful is here described, who are never mindful to render God praise for his benefits. house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,
14 Which my lippes haue promised, and my mouth hath spoken in mine affliction.
15 I will offer vnto thee the burnt offerings of fat rammes with incense: I will prepare bullocks and goates. Selah.
16 It is not enough to have received God's benefits and to be mindful of it, but also we are bound to make others profit by it and praise God.Come [and] hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
17 I called vnto him with my mouth, and he was exalted with my tongue.
18 If I delight in wickedness, God will not hear me, but if I confess it, he will receive me.If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me]:
19 But God hath heard me, & considered the voyce of my prayer.
20 Praysed be God, which hath not put backe my prayer, nor his mercie from me.
1 «To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm [or] Song.» God be merciful unto us, and bless us; [and] That is, move our hearts with his Holy Spirit, that we may feel his favour toward us. cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
2 That That both Jews and Gentiles may know God's covenant made with them. thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
3 Let the people prayse thee, O God: let all the people prayse thee.
4 By these repetitions he shows that the people can never rejoice and give thanks enough for the great benefits that they will receive under the kingdom of Christ.O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
5 Let the people prayse thee, O God: let all the people prayse thee.
6 [Then] shall He shows that where God favours there will be abundance of all other things. the earth yield her increase; [and] God, [even] our own God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth When they feel his great benefits both spiritual and corporal toward them. shall fear him.
1 «To the chief Musician, A Psalm [or] Song of David.» Let God The prophet shows that even though God permits the wicked tyrants to oppress his Church for a time, yet eventually he will take revenge on them. arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
2 As the smoke vanisheth, so shalt thou driue them away: and as waxe melteth before the fire, so shall the wicked perish at the presence of God.
3 He shows that when God declares his power against the wicked, it is for the convenience and salvation of his Church, who praise him for it.But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah and Jehovah are the names of God, signifying his incomprehensible essence and majesty, so that by this it is declared that all idols are vanity and that the God of Israel is the only true God. JAH, and rejoice before him.
5 He is a Father of the fatherlesse, & a Iudge of the widowes, euen God in his holy habitation.
6 God He gives children to those who are childless, and increases their families. setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a Which is devoid of God's blessings, which before they had abused. dry [land].
7 He teaches that God's favour belongs specifically to his Church as appears by their wonderful deliverance out of Egypt.O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
8 The earth shooke, and the heauens dropped at the presence of this God: euen Sinai was moued at the presence of God, euen the God of Israel.
9 Thou, O God, sendest a gracious raine vpon thine inheritance, and thou didest refresh it when it was wearie.
10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy God blessed the land of Canaan, because he had chosen that place for his Church. goodness for the poor.
11 The Lord gave the word: great [was] the company of The fashion then was that women sang songs after the victory, as did Miriam, Deborah, Judith and others. those that published [it].
12 Kings of armies did flee apace: and The prayer was so great, that not only the soldiers, but the women also had part of it. she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
13 Though ye have lien among the Though God permits his Church for a time to lie in black darkness, yet he will restore it, and make it most shining and white. pots, [yet shall ye be as] the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings In the land of Canaan, where his Church was. in it, it was [white] as snow in Salmon.
15 Zion the Church of God exceeds all worldly things, not in pomp and outward show, but by the inward grace of God, which remains because of his dwelling there.The hill of God [is as] the hill of Bashan; an high hill [as] the hill of Bashan.
16 Why do you boast of your strength and beauty against this Mountain of God.Why leap ye, ye high hills? [this is] the hill [which] God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell [in it] for ever.
17 The charets of God are twentie thousande thousand Angels, and the Lord is among them, as in the Sanctuarie of Sinai.
18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast As God overcame the enemy of his Church, took them prisoners, and made them tributaries: so Christ, which is God manifested in the flesh, subdued Satan and sin under us, and gave to his Church most liberal gifts of his Spirit, (Eph_4:8). led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, [for] the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell [among them].
19 Praysed be the Lorde, euen the God of our saluation, which ladeth vs dayly with benefites. Selah.
20 [He that is] our God [is] the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord [belong] the Even in most extreme dangers, God has infinite ways to deliver his. issues from death.
21 Surely God will wound the head of his enemies, and the hearie pate of him that walketh in his sinnes.
22 The Lord said, I will bring again from As he delivered his Church once from Og of Bashan and other tyrants and from the danger of the Red Sea, so will he still do as often as it is necessary. Bashan, I will bring [my people] again from the depths of the sea:
23 That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of [thine] enemies, [and] the tongue of thy dogs That is, in the blood of that great slaughter, where dogs will lap blood. in the same.
24 They have seen That is, how you who are chief King goes out with your people to war, and gives them the victory. thy goings, O God; [even] the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.
25 The He describes the order of the people, when they went to the temple to give thanks for the victory. singers went before, the players on instruments [followed] after; among [them were] the damsels playing with timbrels.
26 Bless ye God in the congregations, [even] the Lord, from the fountain Who come of the patriarch Jacob. of Israel.
27 There [is] Benjamin is called little, because he was the youngest son of Jacob. little Benjamin [with] their Who was some chief ruler of the tribe. ruler, the princes of Judah [and] their council, the princes of Zebulun, [and] the princes of Naphtali.
28 Thy God hath appointed thy strength: stablish, O God, that, which thou hast wrought in vs,
29 Declare out of your holy palace your power for the defence of your Church Jerusalem.Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
30 Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, [till every one] He desires that the pride of the mighty may be destroyed, who were accustomed to garnishing their shoes with silver, and therefore for their glittering pomp thought themselves above all men. submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people [that] delight in war.
31 Princes shall come out He prophecies that the Gentiles will come to the true knowledge and worship of God. of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
32 Sing vnto God, O yee kingdomes of the earth: sing praise vnto the Lord, (Selah)
33 To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, [which were] of old; lo, he doth send out his By his terrible thunders he will make himself be known as the God of all the world. voice, [and that] a mighty voice.
34 Ascribe the power to God: for his maiestie is vpon Israel, and his strength is in the cloudes.
35 O God, [thou art] In showing fearful judgments against your enemies for the salvation of your people. terrible out of thy holy He alludes to the tabernacle which was divided in three parts. places: the God of Israel [is] he that giveth strength and power unto [his] people. Blessed [be] God.
1 «To the chief Musician upon Of Shoshannim, read (Psa_45:1). Shoshannim, [A Psalm] of David.» Save me, O God; for the David shows by the waters the great dangers he was in, out of which God delivered him. waters are come in unto [my] soul.
2 I sink in deep mire, where [there is] no No stable firmness to settle my feet. standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine Though his senses failed him, yet his faith was constant and encouraged him still to pray. eyes fail while I wait for my God.
4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, [being] mine enemies Condemning me as guilty. wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored [that] which I They judged me a thief, though innocent, and gave my goods to others, as though I had stolen them. took not away.
5 O God, thou knowest my Though I am guilty toward you, yet I am innocent toward them. foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.
6 Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for Do not let my evil entreaty of the enemy be an opportunity for the faithful to fall from you. my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.
7 For thy sake haue I suffred reproofe: shame hath couered my face.
8 I am become a stranger vnto my brethren, euen an aliant vnto my mothers sonnes.
9 When I saw your enemies claim your Name in mouth only, and in their life deny the same, your Holy Spirit thrust me forward to reprove them and defend your glory.For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
10 When I My zeal moved me to lament and pray for my salvation. wept, [and chastened] my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.
11 I put on a sacke also: and I became a prouerbe vnto them.
12 They that The more he sought to win them to God, the more they were against him both the poor and the rich. sit in the gate speak against me; and I [was] the song of the drunkards.
13 But as for me, my prayer [is] unto thee, O LORD, [in] an Knowing that even though I endure trouble now, yet you have a time in which you have appointed my deliverance. acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the He shows a living faith, in that he believes that God is favourable towards him when he seems to be angry and at hand when he seems to be far off. deep waters.
15 Let not the water flood drowne mee, neither let the deepe swallowe me vp: and let not the pit shut her mouth vpon me.
16 Heare me, O Lord, for thy louing kindnes is good: turne vnto me according to ye multitude of thy tender mercies.
17 And Not that he feared that God would not hear him, but that care made him think that God delayed too long. hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.
18 Draw neere vnto my soule and redeeme it: deliuer me because of mine enemies.
19 Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine You see that I am beset as a sheep among many wolves. adversaries [are] all before thee.
20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and He shows men that it is vain to put our trust in men in our great necessity, but that our comfort only depends on God: for man increases our sorrows, then diminishes them, (Joh_19:29). I looked [for some] to take pity, but [there was] none; and for comforters, but I found none.
21 For they gaue me gall in my meate, and in my thirst they gaue me vineger to drinke.
22 Let their He desires God to execute his judgments against the reprobate, which cannot by any means be turned, (Rom_11:9). table become a snare before them: and [that which should have been] for [their] welfare, [let it become] a trap.
23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their Take both judgment and power from them, (Act_1:20). loins continually to shake.
24 Powre out thine anger vpon them, and let thy wrathfull displeasure take them.
25 Let their Punish not only them, but their posterity, who will be like them. habitation be desolate; [and] let none dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute him, whome thou hast smitten: and they adde vnto the sorrowe of them, whome thou hast wounded.
27 Add By their continuance and increasing in their sins, let it be known that they are of the reprobate. iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.
28 Let them be blotted out of the They who seemed by their profession to have been written in your book, yet by their fruits prove the contrary, let them be known as reprobates. book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
29 When I am poore and in heauinesse, thine helpe, O God, shall exalt me.
30 I will praise the Name of God with a song, and magnifie him with thankesgiuing.
31 [This] also shall please the LORD better than an ox [or] There is no sacrifice which God values more than thanksgiving for his benefits. bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
32 The humble shall see this, and they that seeke God, shalbe glad, and your heart shall liue.
33 For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his For as he delivered his servant David, so will he do for all that are in distress and call on him. prisoners.
34 Let heauen and earth praise him: the seas and all that moueth in them.
35 For God will saue Zion, and builde the cities of Iudah, that men may dwell there and haue it in possession.
36 The Under the temporal promise of the land of Canaan, he comprehends the promise of everlasting life to the faithful and their posterity. seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.
1 «To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David, to bring Which might put him in remembrance of his deliverance. to remembrance.» [Make He teaches us to be earnest in prayer even though God seems to delay: for at his time he will hear us. haste], O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD.
2 Let them be ashamed and He was assured that the more they raged, the nearer they were to destruction, and he the nearer to his deliverance. confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.
3 Let them be turned back for a reward of their By this we are taught not to mock at others in their misery, lest the same fall on our own necks. shame that say, Aha, aha.
4 But let all those that seeke thee, be ioyfull and glad in thee, and let all that loue thy saluation, say alwaies, God be praised.
5 But I [am] Because he had felt God's help before, he grounds on experience, and boldly seeks him for help. poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou [art] my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.
1 In He prays to God with full assurance of faith, that he will deliver him from his adversaries. thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
2 Deliver me in thy By declaring yourself true to your promises. righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou You have infinite means and all creatures are at your commandment; therefore show some sign by which I will be delivered. hast given commandment to save me; for thou [art] my rock and my fortress.
4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand That is, from Absalom, Ahithophel and that conspiracy. of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
5 For thou [art] my hope, O Lord GOD: [thou art] my He strengthens his faith by the experience of God's benefits, who not only preserved him in his mother's womb, but took him from there, and ever since has preserved him. trust from my youth.
6 Vpon thee haue I beene stayed from the wombe: thou art he that tooke me out of my mothers bowels: my praise shalbe alwaies of thee.
7 I am as a All the world wonders at me because of my miseries: both those in authority and the common people, yet being assured of your favour, I remain steadfast. wonder unto many; but thou [art] my strong refuge.
8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise, and with thy glory euery day.
9 Cast me not off in the time of You who helped me in my youth when I had more strength, help me now even more in my old age and weakness. old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
10 For mine enemies speake of mee, and they that lay waite for my soule, take their counsell together,
11 Saying, Thus the wicked both blaspheme God and triumph against his saints, as though he had forsaken them if he permits them to fall into their hands. God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for [there is] none to deliver [him].
12 O God, be not far from me: O In calling him his God, he puts back the false reports of the adversaries who said God had forsaken him. my God, make haste for my help.
13 Let them be confounded & consumed that are against my soule: let them be couered with reproofe and confusion, that seeke mine hurt.
14 But I will waite continually, and will praise thee more and more.
15 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness [and] thy salvation all the day; Because your benefits toward me are innumerable, I cannot but continually meditate and rehearse them. for I know not the numbers [thereof].
16 I will I will remain steadfast, being upheld by the power of God. go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, [even] of thine only.
17 O God, thou hast taught me fro my youth euen vntill nowe: therefore will I tell of thy wonderous workes,
18 He desires that as he has begun, he would so continue his benefits, that his liberality may have perfect praise.Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto [this] generation, [and] thy power to every one [that] is to come.
19 Thy Your just performance of your promise. righteousness also, O God, [is] very high, who hast done great things: O God, who [is] like unto thee!
20 [Thou], which hast shewed me great and As he confesses that God is the only author of his deliverance, so he acknowledges that these evils were sent to him by God's providence. sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
21 Thou wilt increase mine honour, & returne and comfort me.
22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, [even] thy He confesses that his long delay was well recompensed, when God performed his promise. truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my For there is no true praising of God, unless it comes from the heart: and therefore he promises to delight in nothing, except that in which God is glorified. soul, which thou hast redeemed.
24 My tongue also shal talke of thy righteousnesse daily: for they are confounded and brought vnto shame, that seeke mine hurt.
1 «[A Psalm] Composed by David concerning the reign of his son Solomon. for Solomon.» Give the king thy Imbue the king with the Spirit of wisdom and justice, that he reign not as the worldly tyrants do. judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's That is, to his posterity. son.
2 Then shal he iudge thy people in righteousnesse, and thy poore with equitie.
3 The When justice reigns, even the places most barren will be enriched with your blessings. mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
4 He shall He shows why the sword is committed to Kings that is, to defend the innocent, and suppress the wicked. judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
5 They shall The people will embrace your true religion, when you give a king who rules according to your word. fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
6 He shall come As this is true in all godly kings, so it is chiefly verified in Christ, who with his heavenly dew, makes his Church ever to flourish. down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers [that] water the earth.
7 In his dayes shall the righteous florish, and abundance of peace shalbe so long as the moone endureth.
8 He shall have dominion also from That is, from the Red sea to the sea called the Syriacum, and from Euphrates forward, meaning, that Christ's kingdom would be large and universal. sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.
9 They that dwell in ye wildernes, shall kneele before him, and his enemies shall licke the dust.
10 The kings of Of Cilicia, and of all other countries beyond the sea, which he means by the isles. Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings That is, of Arabia that rich country, of which Sheba was a part bordering on Ethiopia. of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
11 Yea, all Kings shal worship him: all nations shall serue him.
12 For he shall deliuer the poore when he cryeth: the needie also, and him that hath no helper.
13 He shalbe mercifull to the poore and needie, and shall preserue the soules of the poore.
14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and Though tyrants pause not to shed blood, yet this godly king will preserve his subjects from all kinds of wrong. precious shall their blood be in his sight.
15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the God will both prosper his life and make the people willing to obey him. gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; [and] daily shall he be praised.
16 There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the Under such a king will be great plenty, both of fruit and also of the increase of mankind. fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and [they] of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
17 His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and [men] shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call They will pray to God for his continuance and know that God prospers them for his sake. him blessed.
18 Blessed [be] the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth He confesses that unless God miraculously preserves his people neither the king nor the kingdom can continue. wondrous things.
19 And blessed be his glorious Name for euer: and let all the earth be filled with his glorie. So be it, euen so be it.
20 The Concerning his son Solomon. prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.
1 «A Psalm of Asaph.» Truly As it were between hope and despair he bursts forth into this affection, being assured that God would continue his favour toward such as were godly indeed, and not hypocrites. God [is] good to Israel, [even] to such as are of a clean heart.
2 As for me, my feete were almost gone: my steps had welneere slipt.
3 For I feared at the foolish, when I sawe the prosperitie of the wicked.
4 For [there are] The wicked in this life live at pleasure and are not drawn to death like prisoners: that is, by sickness which is death's messenger. no bands in their death: but their strength [is] firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued with other men.
6 They glory in their pride as some do in their chains, and in cruelty, as some do in apparel.Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them [as] a garment.
7 Their eyes stande out for fatnesse: they haue more then heart can wish.
8 They are licentious, and speake wickedly of their oppression: they talke presumptuously.
9 They They blaspheme God, and do not fear his power and rail upon men, because they esteem themselves above all others. set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his Not only the reprobate, but also the people of God often fall back seeing the prosperous estate of the wicked, and are overwhelmed with sorrows, thinking that God does not correctly consider the estate of the godly. people return hither: and waters of a full [cup] are wrung out to them.
11 And they Thus the flesh moves even the godly to dispute with God concerning their poor estate, and the prosperity of the wicked. say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Lo, these are the wicked, yet prosper they alway, and increase in riches.
13 Certainely I haue clensed mine heart in vaine, and washed mine hands in innocencie.
14 For dayly haue I bene punished, and chastened euery morning.
15 If I say, If I give place to this wicked thought, I offend against your providence, seeing you do all things most wisely and preserve your children in their greatest dangers. I will speak thus; behold, I should offend [against] the generation of thy children.
16 Then thought I to know this, but it was too painefull for me,
17 Until I went into the Until I entered into your school and learned by your word and Holy Spirit that you order all things most wisely and justly. sanctuary of God; [then] understood I their end.
18 Surely thou hast set them in slipperie places, and castest them downe into desolation.
19 How are they [brought] into desolation, as in a moment! they are By your fearful judgment. utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when [one] awaketh; [so], O Lord, when When you open our eyes to consider your heavenly happiness, we contemn all their vain pomp. thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 Certainely mine heart was vexed, and I was pricked in my reines:
22 So foolish [was] I, and ignorant: I was [as] a For the more that man goes about by his own reason to seek out God's judgments, the more he declares himself a beast. beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I [am] continually By faith I was assured that your providence always watched over me to preserve me. with thee: thou hast holden [me] by my right hand.
24 Thou wilt guide me by thy counsell, and afterward receiue me to glory.
25 Whom have I in He sought neither help nor comfort of any save God only. heaven [but thee]? and [there is] none upon earth [that] I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: [but] God [is] the strength of my heart, and my He teaches us to deny ourselves, to have God our whole sufficiency, and only contentment. portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that That is, forsake you to seek others. go a whoring from thee.
28 But [it is] good for me Though all the world shrinks from God, yet he promises to trust in him and to magnify his works. to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
1 «Maschil of Asaph.» O God, The Church of God is oppressed by the tyranny, either of the Babylonians or of Antiochus, and prays to God by whose hand the yoke was laid on them for their sins. why hast thou cast [us] off for ever? [why] doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?
2 Remember thy congregation, [which] thou hast purchased of old; the Which inheritance you have measured out for yourself as with a line or rod. rod of thine inheritance, [which] thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
3 Lift vp thy strokes, that thou mayest for euer destroy euery enemie that doeth euill to the Sanctuarie.
4 Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they They have destroyed your true religion, and spread their banners in sign of defiance. set up their ensigns [for] signs.
5 [A man] was famous according as he had He commends the temple for the costly matter, the excellent workmanship and beauty of it, which nonetheless the enemies destroyed. lifted up axes upon the thick trees.
6 But nowe they breake downe the carued worke thereof with axes and hammers.
7 They haue cast thy Sanctuarie into the fire, and rased it to the grounde, and haue defiled the dwelling place of thy Name.
8 They said in their They encouraged one another to cruelty, that not only God's people might be destroyed, but also his religion utterly in all places suppressed. hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.
9 We see not our signs: [there is] no more any prophet: neither [is there] among us any that knoweth They lamented that they had no prophet among them to show them how long their misery would last. how long.
10 O God, howe long shall the aduersarie reproche thee? shall the enemie blaspheme thy Name for euer?
11 Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? They join their deliverance with God's glory and power, knowing that the punishment of the enemy would be their deliverance. pluck [it] out of thy bosom.
12 For God [is] my King of old, working salvation Meaning in the sight of all the world. in the midst of the earth.
13 Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the That is, Pharaoh's army. dragons in the waters.
14 Thou brakest the heads of Which was a great monster of the sea, or whale, meaning Pharaoh. leviathan in pieces, [and] gavest him [to be] His destruction rejoiced them as meat refreshes the body. meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
15 Thou brakest vp the fountaine and riuer: thou dryedst vp mightie riuers.
16 The Seeing that God by his providence governs and disposes all things, he gathers that he will take care chiefly for his children. day [is] thine, the night also [is] thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
17 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.
18 Remember this, that the enemie hath reproched the Lorde, and the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name.
19 O deliver not the soul of thy He means the Church of God, which is exposed as a prey to the wicked. turtledove unto the multitude [of the wicked]: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
20 Have respect unto the covenant: for That is, all places where your word does not shine, there reigns tyranny and ambition. the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
21 Oh let not the oppressed returne ashamed, but let the poore and needie prayse thy Name.
22 Arise, O God, plead thine He shows that God cannot permit his Church to be oppressed unless he looses his own right. own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
23 Forget not the voyce of thine enemies: for the tumult of them, that rise against thee, ascendeth continually.
1 «To the chief Musician, Read (Psa_57:1). Altaschith, A Psalm [or] Song of Asaph.» Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, [unto thee] do we give thanks: for [that] thy name is near He declares how the faithful will always have opportunity to praise God, as in their need they will feel his power at hand to help them. thy wondrous works declare.
2 When I see my time (says God) to help your miseries, I will come and set all things in good order.When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.
3 The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars Though all things are brought to ruin, yet I can restore and preserve them. of it. Selah.
4 I saide vnto the foolish, Be not so foolish, and to the wicked, Lift not vp the horne.
5 Lift not up your The prophet warns the wicked that they would not set themselves against God's people, seeing that God at his time destroys them who rule wickedly. horn on high: speak [not with] a stiff neck.
6 For to come to preferment is neither from the East, nor from the West, nor from the South,
7 But God is the iudge: he maketh lowe and he maketh hie.
8 For in the hand of the LORD [there is] a God's wrath is compared to a cup of strong and delicate wine, with which the wicked are made so drunk that by drinking till they come to the very dregs they are utterly destroyed. cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring [them] out, [and] drink [them].
9 But I will declare for euer, and sing prayses vnto the God of Iaakob.
10 All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; [but] the horns of the The godly will better prosper by their innocent simplicity, than the wicked will by all their craft and subtilty. righteous shall be exalted.
1 «To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm [or] Song of Asaph.» In Judah [is] God He declares that God's power is evidently seen in preserving his people and destroying his enemies. known: his name [is] great in Israel.
2 In Which later was called Jerusalem. Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.
3 There brake he the arrowes of the bowe, the shielde and the sword and the battell. Selah.
4 Thou [art] more glorious [and] excellent than He compares the kingdom full of extortion and rapine to the mountains that are full of ravening beasts. the mountains of prey.
5 The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have God has taken their spirits and strength from them as though their hands were cut off. found their hands.
6 At thy rebuke, O God of Iaakob, both the chariot and horse are cast a sleepe.
7 Thou, [even] thou, [art] to be feared: and who may stand in thy God with a look is able to destroy all the power and activity of the enemies, no matter how many or mighty. sight when once thou art angry?
8 Thou didest cause thy iudgement to bee heard from heauen: therefore the earth feared and was still,
9 When God arose to judgment, to To avenge the wrongs done to your Church. save all the meek of the earth. Selah.
10 Surely the For the end will show that the enemy was able to bring nothing to pass: also you will bridle their rage that they will not accomplish their purpose. wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
11 Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be That is, the Levites who dwell about the Tabernacle, or the people among whom he dwells. round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.
12 He shall The Hebrew word signifies «to vintage or gather grapes» meaning that he will make the counsels and enterprises of the wicked tyrants foolish and vain. cut off the spirit of princes: [he is] terrible to the kings of the earth.
1 «To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph.» I cried unto God with my The prophet teaches us by his example to flee to God for help in our necessities. voice, [even] unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
2 In the day of my trouble I sought ye Lord: my sore ranne and ceased not in the night: my soule refused comfort.
3 I remembered God, and was He shows that we must patiently abide though God does not deliver us from our troubles at the first cry. troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
4 Thou holdest mine eyes Meaning that his sorrows were as watchmen that kept his eyes from sleeping. waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 Then I considered the daies of olde, and the yeeres of ancient time.
6 I call to remembrance my Of thanksgiving, which I was accustomed to sing in my prosperity. song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made Both the reasons why I was chastened, and when my sorrows would end. diligent search.
7 Will the Lorde absent him selfe for euer? and will he shewe no more fauour?
8 Is his As if he would say, It is impossible: by which he exhorts himself to patience. mercy clean gone for ever? doth [his] promise fail for evermore?
9 Hath God forgotten to be mercifull? hath he shut vp his teder mercies in displeasure? Selah.
10 And I said, This [is] my Though I first doubted of my life, yet considering that God had his years, that is, change of times, and was accustomed also to lift up them whom he had beaten, I took heart again. infirmity: [but I will remember] the years of the right hand of the most High.
11 I remembred the workes of the Lorde: certainely I remembred thy wonders of olde.
12 I did also meditate all thy woorkes, and did deuise of thine actes, saying,
13 Thy way, O God, [is] That is in heaven, to which we must ascend by faith, if we will know the ways of God. in the sanctuary: who [is so] great a He condemns all who worship anything save the only true God, whose glory appears through the world. God as [our] God?
14 Thou art ye God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy power among the people.
15 Thou hast redeemed thy people with thine arme, euen the sonnes of Iaakob & Ioseph. Selah.
16 The He declares how the power of God was declared when he delivered the Israelites through the Red Sea. waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
17 The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a That is, thundered and lightninged. sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
18 The voyce of thy thunder was rounde about: the lightnings lightened the worlde: the earth trembled and shooke.
19 Thy way [is] in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not For when you had brought over your people, the water returned to her course, and the enemies who thought to have followed them, could not pass through, (Exo_14:28-29). known.
20 Thou diddest leade thy people like sheepe by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
1 «Read (Psa_32:1). Maschil of Asaph.» Give ear, O my people, [to] my The prophet under the name of a teacher calls the people his, and the doctrine his, as Paul calls the gospel his, of which he was but the preacher, as in (Rom_2:16, Rom_16:25). law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will declare high sentences of olde.
3 Which we have heard and known, and our Who were the people of God. fathers have told us.
4 Wee will not hide them from their children but to the generation to come we wil shewe the praises of the Lord his power also, & his wonderful woorkes that he hath done:
5 For he established a By the testimony and law, he means your law written, which they were commanded to teach their children, (Deu_6:7). testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
6 That the He shows how the children would be like their father's: that is, in maintaining God's pure religion. generation to come might know [them, even] the children [which] should be born; [who] should arise and declare [them] to their children:
7 That they might He shows where the use of this doctrine exists: in faith, in the meditation of God's benefits, and in obedience. set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
8 And might not be as their Though these fathers were the seed of Abraham and the chosen people, yet he shows by their rebellion, provocation, falsehood, and hypocrisy, that the children should not follow their examples. fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation [that] set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
9 The children of By Ephraim he means also the rest of the tribes, because they were most in number: whose punishment declares that they were unfaithful to God, and by their multitude and authority had corrupted all others. Ephraim, [being] armed, [and] carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
10 They kept not the couenant of God, but refused to walke in his Lawe,
11 And forgate his Actes, and his wonderfull woorkes that he had shewed them.
12 Marvellous things did he in the sight of their He proves that not only the posterity but also their forefathers were wicked and rebellious to God. fathers, in the land of Egypt, [in] the field of Zoan.
13 He deuided the Sea, & led them through: he made also the waters to stand as an heape.
14 In the day time also hee led them with a cloude, and all the night with a light of fire.
15 He claue the rockes in the wildernes, and gaue them drinke as of the great depths.
16 He brought floods also out of the stonie rocke; so that hee made the waters to descend like the riuers.
17 And they Their wicked malice could be overcome by no benefits, which were great and many. sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
18 And they tempted God in their heart by Then to require more than is necessary, and to separate God's power from his will, is to tempt God. asking meat for their lust.
19 Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God Thus when we give place to sin, we are moved to doubt God's power, unless he is always ready to serve our lust. furnish a table in the wilderness?
20 Behold, he smote the rocke, that the water gushed out, and the streames ouerflowed: can hee giue bread also? or prepare flesh for his people?
21 Therefore the Lord heard and was angrie, and the fire was kindled in Iaakob, & also wrath came vpon Israel,
22 Because they believed not in God, and That is, in his fatherly providence, by which he cares for his, and provides sufficiently. trusted not in his salvation:
23 Though he had commanded the So that they had that which was necessary and sufficient: but their lust made them cover that which they knew God had denied them. clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
24 And had rained downe MAN vpon them for to eate, and had giuen them of the wheate of heauen.
25 Man did eate the bread of Angels: hee sent them meate ynough.
26 He caused an God used the wind to show them that all the elements were at his command, and that no distance could restrain his working. east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.
27 Hee rained flesh also vpon them as dust, and feathered foule as the sand of the sea.
28 And hee made it fall in the middes of their campe euen round about their habitations.
29 So they did eate and were well filled: for he gaue them their desire.
30 They were not estranged from their Such is the nature of concupiscence, that the more it has the more it lusts. lust. But while their meat [was] yet in their mouths,
31 The wrath of God came upon them, and slew Though others were not spared, yet chiefly they suffered, who trusted in their strength against God. the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen [men] of Israel.
32 For all this they Thus sin by continuance makes man insensible, so that by no plagues they can be amended. sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
33 Therefore their daies did hee consume in vanitie, and their yeeres hastily.
34 When he Such was their hypocrisy, that they sought God out of fear of punishment, though in their heart they did not love him. slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.
35 And they remembred that God was their strength, and the most high God their redeemer.
36 But they flattered him with their mouth, and dissembled with him with their tongue.
37 For their Whatever does not come from the pure fountain of the heart is hypocrisy. heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
38 But he, [being] full of compassion, Because he would always have some remnant of a Church to praise his Name in earth, he did not permit their sins to overcome his mercy. forgave [their] iniquity, and destroyed [them] not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
39 For he remebred that they were flesh: yea, a winde that passeth and commeth not againe.
40 How oft did they prouoke him in the wildernes? and grieue him in the desert?
41 Yea, they That is, they often tempted him. turned back and tempted God, and As they all do who measure the power of God by their capacity. limited the Holy One of Israel.
42 They The forgetfulness of God's benefits is the root of rebellion and all vice. remembered not his hand, [nor] the day when he delivered them from the enemy.
43 Nor him that set his signes in Egypt, and his wonders in the fielde of Zoan,
44 And turned their riuers into blood, & their floods, that they could not drinke.
45 He sent This word signifies a confused mixture of flies and venomous worms. Some take it for all sorts of serpents: some for all wild beasts. divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
46 He He does not repeat here all the miracles that God did in Egypt, but certain which might be sufficient to convince the people of malice and ingratitude. gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.
47 He destroied their vines with haile, & their wilde figge trees with the hailestone.
48 He gaue their cattell also to the haile, and their flockes to the thunderboltes.
49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending So called either for the effect, that is, of punishing the wicked: or else because they were wicked spirits, whom God permitted to vex men. evil angels [among them].
50 He made a way to his anger: he spared not their soule from death, but gaue their life to the pestilence,
51 And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the The firstborn are so called, as in (Gen_49:3). chief of [their] strength in the tabernacles of That is, Egypt: for it was called Mizraim, or Egypt of Mizraim that was the son of Ham. Ham:
52 But hee made his people to goe out like sheepe, & led them in the wildernes like a flocke.
53 And he led them on safely, so that they That is, they had no opportunity to fear, even as God destroyed their enemies and delivered them falsely. feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
54 And he brought them to the border of his Meaning, Canaan, which God had consecrated to himself and appointed to his people. sanctuary, [even to] this mountain, [which] his right hand had purchased.
55 He cast out the heathe also before them, and caused them to fall to the lot of his inheritance, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tabernacles.
56 Yet they tempted, and prouoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies,
57 But turned back, and dealt Nothing more displeases God in the children, than when they continue in that wickedness, which their fathers had begun. unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
58 For they By serving God other than he had appointed. provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
59 God heard this and was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel,
60 So that he For their ingratitude he permitted the Philistines to take the Ark which was the sign of his presence, from among them. forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent [which] he placed among men;
61 And delivered his The Ark is called his power and beauty because by this he defended his people, and beautifully appeared to them. strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.
62 And hee gaue vp his people to the sworde, and was angrie with his inheritance.
63 The fire They were suddenly destroyed, (1Sa_4:10). consumed their young men; and their maidens were not They had no marriage songs: that is, they were not married. given to marriage.
64 Their priests fell by the sword; and their Either they were slain before or taken prisoner by their enemies, and so were forbidden. widows made no lamentation.
65 Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, [and] like a mighty man that Because they were drunk in their sins, they judged God's patience to be slumbering, as though he were drunk, therefore he answering their beastly judgment, says, he will awake and take sudden vengeance. shouteth by reason of wine.
66 And smote his enemies in the hinder parts, and put them to a perpetuall shame.
67 Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Showing that he did not spare the Israelites altogether, though he punished their enemies. Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:
68 But chose the tribe of Iudah, and mount Zion which he loued.
69 And he By building the temple, and establishing the kingdom, he declares that the signs of his favour were among them. built his sanctuary like high [palaces], like the earth which he hath established for ever.
70 He chose Dauid also his seruant, and tooke him from the shepefolds.
71 Euen from behinde the ewes with yong brought he him to feede his people in Iaakob, and his inheritance in Israel.
72 So He shows where a kings charge stands: that is, to provide faithfully for his people, to guide them by counsel, and defend them by power. he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
1 «A Psalm of Asaph.» O God, The people cry to God against the barbarous tyranny of the Babylonians who spoiled God's inheritance, polluted his temple, destroyed his religion, and murdered his people. the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.
2 The The prophets show to what extremities God sometimes allows his Church to fall to exercise their faith, before he sets his hand to deliver them. dead bodies of thy servants have they given [to be] meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.
3 Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and [there was] none to Their friends and relatives did not dare to bury them for fear of the enemies. bury [them].
4 We are become a reproach to our Of which some came from Abraham but were degenerate: and others were open enemies to your religion, but they both laughed at our miseries. neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
5 How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy Will you completely consume us for our sins, before you take us to mercy? burn like fire?
6 Powre out thy wrath vpon the heathen that haue not knowen thee, and vpon the kingdomes that haue not called vpon thy Name.
7 For they haue deuoured Iaakob and made his dwelling place desolate.
8 O remember not against us Which we and our fathers have committed. former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.
9 Help us, O God of our Seeing we have no other Saviour, neither can we help ourselves, and also by our salvation your Name will be praised: therefore O Lord, help us. salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.
10 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be knowen among the heathen in our sight by the vengeance of the blood of thy seruants that is shed.
11 Let the sighing of the Who though in respect to God they were justly punished for their sins, yet in consideration of their cause were unjustly murdered. prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou Who were captives among their enemies and could look for nothing but death. those that are appointed to die;
12 And render to our neighbours seuen folde into their bosome their reproche, wherewith they haue reproched thee, O Lord.
13 So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: We ought to desire no benefit from God, but on this condition to praise his name, (Isa_43:21). we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.
1 «To the chief Musician upon Shoshannimeduth, A Psalm of Asaph.» Give ear, This Psalm was made as a prayer to desire God to be merciful to the ten tribes. O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest [between] the Move their hearts, that they may return to worship God properly, that is, in the place you have appointed. cherubims, shine forth.
2 Before Ephraim and Beniamin and Manasseh stirre vp thy strength, and come to helpe vs.
3 Join your whole people, and all your tribes together again.Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
4 O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be The faithful fear God's anger, when they perceive that their prayers are not heard immediately. angry against the prayer of thy people?
5 Thou hast fedde them with the bread of teares, and giuen them teares to drinke with great measure.
6 Thou makest us a Our neighbours have continual strife and war against us. strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves.
7 Because recompence only comes from God, they most instantly and repeatedly call on God for it is a means by which they shall be saved.Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
8 Thou hast brought a Seeing that from your mercy you have made us a most dear possession to you, and we through our sins are made open for wild beasts to devour us, declare again my love and finish the work that you have begun. vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
9 Thou madest roume for it, and didest cause it to take roote, and it filled the land.
10 The mountaines were couered with the shadowe of it, and the boughes thereof were like the goodly cedars.
11 She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the That is, Euphrates. river.
12 Why hast thou then broken downe her hedges, so that all they, which passe by the way, haue plucked her?
13 The That is, they who hate our religion, as well as they who hate our persons. boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it.
14 Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down They gave no place to temptation, knowing that even though there was no help in earth, yet God was able to help them from heaven. from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;
15 And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch [that] thou madest So that no power can prevail against it, and which as a young bud you raised up again as out of the burnt ashes. strong for thyself.
16 [It is] burned with fire, [it is] cut down: they perish at the Only when you are angry and not of the sword of the enemy. rebuke of thy countenance.
17 Let thy hand be upon the That is, on this vine or people, whom you have planted with your right hand, that they should be as one man or one body man of thy right hand, upon the son of man [whom] thou madest strong for thyself.
18 So will not we go back from thee: For no one can call on God but such as are raised up as it were from death to life, and regenerate by the Holy Spirit. quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.
19 Turne vs againe, O Lorde God of hostes: cause thy face to shine and we shalbe saued.
1 «To the chief Musician upon An instrument of music brought from Geth. Gittith, [A Psalm] of Asaph.» Sing It seems that this psalm was appointed for solemn feasts and assemblies of the people to whom for a time these ceremonies were ordained, but now under the gospel are abolished. aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
2 Take the song and bring forth the timbrel, the pleasant harpe with the viole.
3 Blow up the trumpet in the Under this feast he comprehends all other solemn days. new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
4 For this is a statute for Israel, and a Law of the God of Iaakob.
5 This he ordained in That is, in Israel for Joseph's family was counted the chief while before, Judah was preferred. Joseph [for] a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: [where] I heard a language [that] God speaks in the person of the people because he was their leader. I understood not.
6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the If they were never able to give sufficient thanks to God, for this deliverance from corporal bondage, how much more are we indebted to him for our spiritual deliverance from the tyranny of Satan and sin? pots.
7 Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I By a strange and wonderful fashion. answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.
8 He condemns all assemblies where the people are not attentive to hear God's voice, and to give obedience to the same.Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;
9 Let there bee no strange god in thee, neither worship thou any strange god.
10 I [am] the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: God accuses their incredulity, because they did not open their mouths to receive God's benefits in such abundance as he pours them out. open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11 But my people would not heare my voyce, and Israel would none of me.
12 So I gaue them vp vnto the hardnes of their heart, & they haue walked in their owne cousels.
13 God by his word calls all, but his secret election appoints who will bear fruit.Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, [and] Israel had walked in my ways!
14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand If their sins had not. against their adversaries.
15 The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time If the Israelites had not broken covenant with God, he would have given them victory against their enemies. should have endured for ever.
16 He should have fed them also with the That is, with most fine wheat and abundance of honey. finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.
1 «A Psalm of Asaph.» God standeth in the congregation of the The prophet shows that if princes and judges do not do their duty, God whose authority is above them will take vengeance on them. mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the For thieves and murderers find favour in judgment when the cause of the godly cannot be heard. wicked? Selah.
3 Doe right to the poore and fatherlesse: doe iustice to the poore and needie.
4 Deliver the poor and Not only when they cry for help, but when their cause requires aid and support. needy: rid [them] out of the hand of the wicked.
5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the That is, all things are out of order either by their tyranny or careless negligence. foundations of the earth are out of course.
6 I haue said, Ye are gods, and ye all are children of the most High.
7 No title of honour will excuse you, but you will be subject to God's judgments, and tender account as well as other men.But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit Therefore no tyrant will pluck your right and authority from you. all nations.
1 «A Song [or] Psalm of Asaph.» Keep This psalm seems to have been composed as a form of prayer against the dangers that the Church was in, in the days of Jehoshaphat. not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.
2 For, lo, thine He calls them God's enemies, who are enemies of his Church. enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy The elect of God are his secret ones: for he hides them in the secret of his tabernacle, and preserves them from all dangers. hidden ones.
4 They have said, Come, and let us They were not content to take the Church as prisoner: but sought to utterly destroy it. cut them off from [being] a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5 For they have consulted together By all secret means. with one consent: they are confederate They thought to have subverted your counsel in which the constancy of the Church was established. against thee:
6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Agarims:
7 Gebal and Ammon, and Amalech, the Philistims with the inhabitants of Tyrus:
8 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children The wickedness of the Ammonites and Moabites is described in that they provoked these other nations to fight against the Israelites. of Lot. Selah.
9 Do unto them as [unto] the By these examples they were confirmed that God would not permit his people to be completely destroyed, (Jdg_7:21, Jdg_4:15). Midianites; as [to] Sisera, as [to] Jabin, at the brook of Kison:
10 [Which] perished at Endor: they became [as] Trodden under foot as mire. dung for the earth.
11 Make them, euen their princes like Oreb and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes like Zebah and like Zalmuna.
12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves the That is, Judea: for where his Church is, there he dwells among them. houses of God in possession.
13 O my God, make them like a Because the reprobate could by no means be amended, he prays that they may utterly be destroyed, be unstable and led by all winds. wheel; as the stubble before the wind.
14 As the fire burneth the forest, and as the flame setteth the mountaines on fire:
15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraide with thy storme.
16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may That is, be compelled by your plagues to confess your power. seek thy name, O LORD.
17 Let them be confounded and troubled for euer: yea, let them be put to shame and perish,
18 That [men] may Though they do not believe, yet they may prove by experience, that it is in vain to resist against your counsel in establishing your Church. know that thou, whose name alone [is] JEHOVAH, [art] the most high over all the earth.
1 «To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.» How amiable [are] thy tabernacles, O David complains that he cannot have access to the Church of God to make profession of his faith, and to profit in religion. LORD of hosts!
2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the For only the priests could enter the sanctuary and the rest of the people into the courts. courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, [even] thine So that the poor birds have more freedom than I. altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.
4 Blessed are they that dwell in thine house: they will euer praise thee. Selah.
5 Blessed [is] the man whose Who trusts nothing in himself but in you only, and learns from you to rule his life. strength [is] in thee; in whose heart [are] the ways [of them].
6 [Who] passing through the valley of So that the poor birds have more freedom than I. Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.
7 They go from They are never weary but increase in strength and courage till they come to God's house. strength to strength, [every one of them] in Zion appeareth before God.
8 O Lorde God of hostes, heare my prayer: hearken, O God of Iaakob. Selah.
9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine That is, for Christ's sake, whose figure I represent. anointed.
10 For He would rather live one day in God's Church than a thousand in the world. a day in thy courts [is] better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the LORD God [is] a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no But will from time to time increase his blessings toward his more and more. good [thing] will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
12 O Lorde of hostes, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
1 «To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.» LORD, thou hast been They confess that God's free mercy was the cause of their deliverance because he loved the land which he had chosen. favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast You have buried them that they will not come into judgment. covered all their sin. Selah.
3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned [thyself] from the Not only in withdrawing your rod, but in forgiving sins, and in touching our hearts to confess them. fierceness of thine anger.
4 Turne vs, O God of our saluation, and release thine anger toward vs.
5 Wilt thou be angry with us As in times past they had felt God's mercies, so now being oppressed by the long continuance of evil, they pray to God that according to his nature he would be merciful to them. for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
6 Wilt thou not turne againe & quicken vs, that thy people may reioyce in thee?
7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy He confesses that our salvation comes only from God's mercy. salvation.
8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak He will send all prosperity to his Church, when he has sufficiently corrected them, also by his punishments the faithful will learn to beware that they not return the same offences. peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
9 Surely his saluation is neere to them that feare him, that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercie and trueth shall meete: righteousnes and peace shall kisse one another.
11 Though for a time God thus exercises them with his rods, yet under the kingdom of Christ they should have peace and joy.Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 Yea, the Lord shall giue good things, and our land shall giue her increase.
13 Justice will then flourish and have free course and passage in every place.Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set [us] in the way of his steps.
1 «A Prayer of David.» Bow down David, when persecuted by Saul, prayed this way, leaving the same to the Church as a monument, how to seek relief against their miseries. thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I [am] poor and needy.
2 Preserve my soul; for I [am] I am not an enemy to them, but I pity them even though they are cruel to me. holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.
3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I Which was a fair token that he believed that God would deliver him. cry unto thee daily.
4 Reioyce the soule of thy seruant: for vnto thee, O Lord, doe I lift vp my soule.
5 For thou, Lord, [art] good, and He confesses that God is good to all but only merciful to poor sinners. ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
6 Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and By crying and calling continually he shows how we must not be weary, even though God does not immediately grant our request but that we must earnestly and often call on him. attend to the voice of my supplications.
7 In the day of my trouble I will call vpon thee: for thou hearest me.
8 Among the gods [there is] none like unto thee, O Lord; neither He condemns all idols as they can do nothing to declare that they are gods. [are there any works] like unto thy works.
9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and This proves that David prayed in the Name of Christ the Messiah of whose kingdom he here prophecies. worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.
10 For thou art great and doest wonderous things: thou art God alone.
11 He confesses himself ignorant till God has taught him, and his heart variable and separate from God, till God join it to him, and confirm it in his obedience.Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
12 I wil prayse thee, O Lord my God, with all mine heart: yea, I wil glorifie thy Name for euer.
13 For great [is] thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from That is, from most great danger of death: out of which none but the almighty hand of God could deliver him. the lowest hell.
14 O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent [men] have He shows that there can be no moderation or equity where proud tyrants reign, and that the lack of God's fear is as a privilege to all vice and cruelty. sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.
15 But thou, O Lorde, art a pitifull God and mercifull, slowe to anger and great in kindenes and trueth.
16 O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the He boasts not of his own virtues, but confesses that God of his free goodness has always been merciful to him, and given him power against his enemies, as to one of his own household. son of thine handmaid.
17 Shew a token of thy goodnes towarde me, that they which hate me, may see it, and be ashamed, because thou, O Lord, hast holpen me and comforted me.
1 «A Psalm [or] Song for the sons of Korah.» His God chose that place among the hills to establish Jerusalem and his temple. foundation [is] in the holy mountains.
2 The Lord loueth the gates of Zion aboue all the habitations of Iaakob.
3 Though your glorious estate does not yet appear, wait with patience and God will accomplish his promise.Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.
4 I will make mention of That is, Egypt and these other countries will come to the knowledge of God. Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; It will be said of him who is regenerate and come to the Church, that he is as one who was born in the Church. this [man] was born there.
5 And of Zion it shall be said, Out of all quarters they will come to the Church, and be counted as citizens. This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.
6 The LORD shall count, when he When he calls them by his word into the Church, whom he had elected and written in the book. writeth up the people, [that] this [man] was born there. Selah.
7 As well the singers as the players on instruments [shall be there]: all my The prophet sets his whole affections and comfort in the church. springs [are] in thee.
1 «A Song [or] Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath That is, to humble. It was the beginning of a song by which tune this psalm was sung. Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.» O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day [and] night Though many cry in their sorrows, yet they cry not earnestly to God for remedy as he did whom he confessed to be the author of his salvation. before thee:
2 Let my prayer enter into thy presence: incline thine eare vnto my cry.
3 For my soule is filled with euils, and my life draweth neere to the graue.
4 I am counted among them that go downe vnto the pit, and am as a man without strength:
5 For he who is dead is free from all cares and business of this life and thus he says because he was unprofitable for all matters concerning man's life, and as it were cut off from this world.Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy That is, from your providence and care, which is meant according to the judgment of the flesh. hand.
6 Thou hast layde me in the lowest pit, in darkenes, and in the deepe.
7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted [me] with all thy The storms of your wrath have overwhelmed me. waves. Selah.
8 Thou hast put away mine He attributes the loss and displeasure of his friends to God's providence by which he partly punishes and partly tries his. acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I see no end to my sorrows. [I am] shut up, and I cannot come forth.
9 My eyes and face declare my sorrows.Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.
10 Wilt thou shew He shows that the time is more convenient for God to help when men call to him in their dangers, than to tarry till they are dead, and then raise them up again. wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise [and] praise thee? Selah.
11 Shall thy louing kindenes be declared in the graue? or thy faithfulnes in destruction?
12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land That is, in the grave, where only the body lies without all sense and remembrance. of forgetfulness?
13 But vnto thee haue I cryed, O Lorde, and early shall my prayer come before thee.
14 Lorde, why doest thou reiect my soule, and hidest thy face from me?
15 I [am] afflicted and ready to die I am always in great dangers and sorrows as though my life would utterly be cut off every moment. from [my] youth up: [while] I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.
16 Thine indignations goe ouer me, and thy feare hath cut me off.
17 They came round about me dayly like water, and compassed me together.
18 My louers and friends hast thou put away from me, and mine acquaintance hid themselues.
1 «Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.» I will Though the horrible confusion of things might cause them to despair of God's favour, yet the manifold examples of his mercies cause them to trust in God though to man's judgment they saw no reason to. sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I have As he who surely believed in heart. said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou As your invisible heaven is not subject to any alteration and change: so shall the truth of your promise be unchangeable. establish in the very heavens.
3 The prophet shows what the promise of God was, on which he grounded his faith.I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,
4 Thy seede will I stablish for euer, & set vp thy throne from generation to generation. Selah.
5 And the The angels will praise your power and faithfulness in delivering your Church. heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.
6 For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? [who] among the Meaning, the angels. sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?
7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the If the angels tremble before God's majesty and infinite justice, what earthly creature by oppressing the Church dares to set himself against God? saints, and to be had in reverence of all [them that are] about him.
8 O Lorde God of hostes, who is like vnto thee, which art a mightie Lord, and thy trueth is about thee?
9 For as he delivered the Church by the Red sea, and by destroying Rahab, that is, the Egyptians, so will he deliver it, when the dangers are great.Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
10 Thou hast beaten downe Rahab as a man slaine: thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy mightie arme.
11 The heauens are thine, the earth also is thine: thou hast layde the foundation of the world, and all that therein is.
12 The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor is a mountain west from Jerusalem, and Hermon to the East, so the prophet signifies that all parts and places of the world will obey God's power for the deliverance of his Church. Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.
13 Thou hast a mightie arme: strong is thine hand, and high is thy right hand.
14 For by this he judges the world and shows himself to be a merciful father and faithful protector to his.Justice and judgment [are] the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
15 Blessed [is] the people that Feeling in their conscience that God is their father. know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy They will be preserved by your fatherly providence. countenance.
16 They shall reioyce continually in thy Name, and in thy righteousnes shall they exalt them selues.
17 For thou [art] the In that they are preserved and continue, they should give the praise and glory to you alone. glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.
18 For the LORD [is] our In that our King has power to defend us, it is the gift of God. defence; and the Holy One of Israel [is] our king.
19 Then thou spakest in vision to To Samuel and to others, to assure that David was the chosen one. thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon [one that is] Whom I have both chosen and given strength to execute his office, as in (Psa_89:21). mighty; I have exalted [one] chosen out of the people.
20 I haue found Dauid my seruant: with mine holy oyle haue I anoynted him.
21 Therefore mine hande shall be established with him, and mine arme shall strengthen him.
22 The enemie shall not oppresse him, neither shall the wicked hurt him.
23 And I will Though there will always be enemies against God's kingdom yet he promises to overcome them. beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.
24 But my faithfulness and my I will mercifully perform my promise to him despite his infirmities and offences. mercy [shall be] with him: and in my name shall his His power, glory and estate. horn be exalted.
25 I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the He will enjoy the land around him. rivers.
26 He shall cry unto me, Thou [art] my His excellent dignity will appear in this, that he will be named the son of God and the firstborn in which he is a figure of Christ. father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
27 Also I wil make him my first borne, higher then the Kings of the earth.
28 My mercie will I keepe for him for euermore, and my couenant shall stande fast with him.
29 His seed also will I make [to endure] Though for the sins of the people the state of the kingdom decayed, yet God reserved still a root till he had accomplished this promise in Christ. for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
30 But if his children forsake my Lawe, and walke not in my iudgements:
31 If they breake my statutes, and keepe not my commandements:
32 Then will I visite their transgression with the rod, and their iniquitie with strokes.
33 Though the faithful answer not in all points to their profession, yet God will not break his covenant with them.Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.
34 My covenant will I not break, nor For God in promising has respect to his mercy, and not to man's power in performing. alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
35 I haue sworne once by mine holines, that I will not fayle Dauid, saying,
36 His seede shall endure for euer, and his throne shalbe as the sunne before me.
37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and [as] a faithful As long as the Sun and Moon endure, they will be witnesses to me of this promise. witness in heaven. Selah.
38 But thou hast reiected and abhorred, thou hast bene angry with thine Anoynted.
39 Thou hast Because of the horrible confusion of things, the prophet complains to God, as though he did not see the performance of his promise and thus discharging his cares on God, he resists doubt and impatience. made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his By this he means the horrible dissipation and tearing of the kingdom which was under Jeroboam, or else by the Spirit of prophecy Ethan speaks of those great miseries which came to pass soon after at the captivity of Babylon. crown [by casting it] to the ground.
40 Thou hast broken downe all his walles: thou hast layd his fortresses in ruine.
41 All that goe by the way, spoyle him: he is a rebuke vnto his neighbours.
42 Thou hast set vp the right hand of his enemies, and made all his aduersaries to reioyce.
43 Thou hast also turned the edge of his sworde, and hast not made him to stand in the battell.
44 Thou hast caused his dignitie to decay, and cast his throne to the ground.
45 The days of his He shows that the kingdom fell before it came to perfection or was ripe. youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.
46 How long, The prophet in joining prayer with his complaint, shows that his faith never failed. LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?
47 Remember Seeing man's life is short, and you have created man to bestow your benefits on him, unless you hasten to help, death will prevent you. how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?
48 What man liueth, and shall not see death? shall hee deliuer his soule from the hande of the graue? Selah.
49 Lord, where are thy former mercies, which thou swarest vnto Dauid in thy trueth?
50 Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; [how] I do bear in my He means that God's enemies not only slandered him behind his back, but also mocked him to his face and as it were cast their injuries in his bosom. bosom [the reproach of] all the mighty people;
51 Wherewith So he calls them who persecute the Church. thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith they have reproached the They laugh at us who patiently wait for the coming of your Christ. footsteps of thine anointed.
52 Praised be the Lord for euermore. So be it, euen so be it.
1 «A Prayer of Moses Thus the Scripture refers to the prophets. the man of God.» Lord, thou hast been our You have been as a house and defence to us in all our troubles and travels now this four hundred years. dwelling place in all generations.
2 Before the You have chosen us to be your people before the foundations of the world were laid. mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou [art] God.
3 Thou Moses by lamenting the frailty and shortness of man's life moves God to pity. turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
4 Though man thinks his life is long, which is indeed most short, yet though it were a thousand years, yet in God's sight it is as nothing, and as the watch that lasts only three hours.For a thousand years in thy sight [are but] as yesterday when it is past, and [as] a watch in the night.
5 Thou You take them away suddenly as with a flood. carriest them away as with a flood; they are [as] a sleep: in the morning [they are] like grass [which] groweth up.
6 In the morning it florisheth and groweth, but in the euening it is cut downe and withereth.
7 For we are You called us by the rods to consider the storms of our life and for our sins you shorten our days. consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.
8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, and our secret sinnes in the light of thy countenance.
9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we Our days are not only short but miserable as our sins daily provoke your wrath. spend our years as a tale [that is told].
10 The days of our years [are] threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength [they be] Meaning according to the common state of life. fourscore years, yet [is] their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
11 If man's life for the shortness of it is miserable, it is even more so if your wrath is on it, as they who fear you only know.Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, [so is] thy wrath.
12 So teach [us] to number our days, that we may apply [our] hearts unto Which is by considering the shortness of our life, and by meditating the heavenly joys. wisdom.
13 Return, O LORD, Meaning, will you be angry? how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
14 Fill vs with thy mercie in the morning: so shall we reioyce and be glad all our dayes.
15 Comfort vs according to the dayes that thou hast afflicted vs, and according to the yeeres that we haue seene euill.
16 Even your mercy, which is the chiefest work.Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their As God's promises belong well to their poverty, as to them, so Moses prays for the posterity. children.
17 And let the Meaning, that is was obscured when he ceases to do good to his Church. beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and For unless you guide us with your Holy Spirit, our enterprises cannot succeed. establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
1 He that dwelleth in the He who makes God his defence and trust will perceive his protection to be a most sure safeguard. secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 Being assured of this protection, he prays to the Lord.I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the That is, God's help is most ready for us, whether Satan assails us secretly which he calls a snare, or openly which is here meant by the pestilence. snare of the fowler, [and] from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his That is, his faithful keeping of promises to help you in your need. truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler.
5 The care that God has over his is sufficient to defend them from all dangers.Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; [nor] for the arrow [that] flieth by day;
6 Nor of the pestilence that walketh in the darkenesse: nor of the plague that destroyeth at noone day.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and tenne thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come neere thee.
8 Only with thine The godly will have some experience of God's judgements against the wicked even in this life, but they will see it fully at that day when all things will be revealed. eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 For thou hast said, The Lord is mine hope: thou hast set the most High for thy refuge.
10 There shall none euill come vnto thee, neither shall any plague come neere thy tabernacle.
11 God has not appointed one angel to every man, but many to be ministers of his providence to keep and defend his in their calling, which is the way to walk in without tempting God.For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall beare thee in their handes, that thou hurt not thy foote against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the You will not only be preserved from all evil, but overcome it whether it is secret or open. young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 To assure the faithful of God's protection, he brings in God to confirm the same.Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call vpon me, and I wil heare him: I will be with him in trouble: I will deliuer him, and glorifie him.
16 With For he is content with that life that God gives for by death the shortness of this life is recompensed with immortality. long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
1 «A Psalm [or] Song for the Which teaches that the use of the Sabbath stands in praising God, and not only in ceasing from work. sabbath day.» [It is a] good [thing] to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:
2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the For God's mercy and fidelity in his promises toward his, bind them to praise him continually both day and night. morning, and thy faithfulness every night,
3 Upon an These instruments were then permitted in the Church as also they are now. (Ed.) instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.
4 For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy He shows the use of the Sabbath day: that is, to meditate God's works. work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.
5 O Lord, how glorious are thy workes! and thy thoughtes are very deepe.
6 A That is, the wicked do not consider God's works nor his judgments against them, and therefore most justly perish. brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.
7 (When the wicked growe as the grasse, and all the workers of wickednesse doe flourish) that they shall be destroyed for euer.
8 But thou, LORD, [art Your judgments are most constant against the wicked and pass our reach. most] high for evermore.
9 For loe, thine enemies, O Lorde: for loe, thine enemies shall perish: all the workers of iniquitie shall be destroyed.
10 You will strengthen them with all power, and bless them with all happiness.But my horn shalt thou exalt like [the horn of] an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.
11 Mine eye also shall see my desire against mine enemies: and mine eares shall heare my wish against the wicked, that rise vp against me.
12 The righteous shall Though the faithful seem to whither and be cut down by the wicked, yet they will grow again and flourish in the Church of God as the cedars do in mount Lebanon. flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Such as bee planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courtes of our God.
14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old The children of God will have a power above nature and their age will bring forth fresh fruit. age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
15 To declare that the Lord my rocke is righteous, and that none iniquitie is in him.
1 The LORD As God by his power and wisdom has made and governed the world, so must the same be our defence against all enemies and dangers. reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, [wherewith] he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
2 Thy In which you sit and govern the world. throne [is] established of old: thou [art] from everlasting.
3 God's power appears in ruling the furious waters.The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
4 The waues of ye sea are marueilous through the noyse of many waters, yet the Lorde on High is more mightie.
5 Thy Besides God's power and wisdom in creating and governing his great mercy also appears in that he has given his people his word and covenant. testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.
1 O LORD God, to whom Whose office it is to take vengeance on the wicked. vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, Show by effect that you are judge of the world to punish the wicked. shew thyself.
2 Exalt thy selfe, O Iudge of the worlde, and render a reward to the proude.
3 LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked That is, brag of their cruelty and oppression, or esteem themselves above all others. triumph?
4 They prate and speake fiercely: all the workers of iniquitie vaunt themselues.
5 They Seeing the Church was then so sore oppressed, it ought not to seem strange to us, if we see it so now, and therefore we must call to God, to take our cause in hand. break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.
6 They slay the widowe and the stranger, and murther the fatherlesse.
7 He shows that they are desperate in malice, as they did not fear God, but gave themselves wholly to do wickedly.Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard [it].
8 Vnderstande ye vnwise among the people: and ye fooles, when will ye be wise?
9 He that He shows that it is impossible, but God should hear, see, and understand their wickedness. planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
10 He that chastiseth the If God punishes whole nations for their sins, it is mere folly for any one man or else a few to think that God will spare them. heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, [shall not he know]?
11 The Lord knoweth the thoughtes of man, that they are vanitie.
12 Blessed [is] the man whom thou God has care over his, and chastised them for their own good, that they should not perish for ever with the wicked. chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;
13 That thou mayest giue him rest from the dayes of euill, whiles the pitte is digged for the wicked.
14 Surely the Lorde will not faile his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
15 But God will restore the state and government of things to their right use, and then the godly will follow him cheerfully. judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.
16 Who will rise vp with me against the wicked? or who will take my part against the workers of iniquitie?
17 Unless the LORD [had been] my He complains of them who would not help him to resist the enemies, yet was assured that God's help would not fail. help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
18 When I said, When I thought there was no way but death. My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
19 In the multitude of my In my trouble and distress I always found your present help. thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
20 Shall the throne of iniquity have Though the wicked judges pretend justice in oppressing the Church, yet they do not have the authority of God. fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
21 They gather them together against the soule of the righteous, and condemne the innocent blood.
22 But the Lorde is my refuge, and my God is the rocke of mine hope.
23 And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall It is a great token of God's judgment when the purpose of the wicked is broken, but most, when they are destroyed in their own malice. cut them off in their own wickedness; [yea], the LORD our God shall cut them off.
1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a He shows that God's service stands not in dead ceremonies, but chiefly in the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
2 Let vs come before his face with praise: let vs sing loude vnto him with Psalmes.
3 For the LORD [is] a great God, and a great King above all Even the angels (who in respect to men are thought as gods) are nothing in his sight, much less the idols, which man's brain invents. gods.
4 In his hand [are] the deep places of the earth: the All things are governed by his providence. strength of the hills [is] his also.
5 To whome the Sea belongeth: for hee made it, and his handes formed the dry land.
6 O come, let us By these three words he signifies one thing: meaning that they must wholly give themselves to serve God. worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
7 For he [is] our God; and we [are] the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his That is, the flock whom he governs with his own hand. He shows how they are God's flock, that is, if they hear his voice. hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,
8 By the contemning of God's word.Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, [and] as [in] the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 Where your fathers tempted me, proued me, though they had seene my worke.
10 Forty years long was I grieved with [this] generation, and said, It [is] a people that do They were without judgment and reason. err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:
11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into That is, into the land of Canaan, where he promised them rest. my rest.
1 O sing The prophet shows that the time will come, that all nations will have opportunity to praise the Lord for the revealing of his gospel. unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing vnto the Lorde, and prayse his Name: declare his saluation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among all nations, and his wonders among all people.
4 For the LORD [is] Seeing he will reveal himself to all nations contrary to their own expectation, they should all worship him contrary to their own imaginations, and only as he has appointed. great, and greatly to be praised: he [is] to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations [are] idols: but the LORD Then the idols or whatever did not make the heavens, are not God. made the heavens.
6 God cannot be known but by his strength and glory, the signs of which appear in his sanctuary.Honour and majesty [are] before him: strength and beauty [are] in his sanctuary.
7 Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and As by experience you see that it is only due to him. strength.
8 Give unto the LORD the glory [due unto] his name: bring By offering up yourselves wholly to God, declare that you worship him only. an offering, and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in the glorious Sanctuarie: tremble before him all the earth.
10 Say among the He prophecies that the Gentiles will be partakers with the Jews of God's promise. heathen [that] the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people He will regenerate them anew with his Spirit, and restore them to the image of God. righteously.
11 Let the heauens reioyce, and let the earth be glad: let the sea roare, and all that therein is.
12 Let the field be joyful, and all that [is] therein: then shall all the If the insensible creatures will have reason to rejoice when God appears, much more we, from whom he has taken malediction and sin. trees of the wood rejoice
13 Before the Lord: for he commeth, for he cometh to iudge the earth: he wil iudge the world with righteousnes, and the people in his trueth.
1 The He shows that where God reigns, there is all happiness and spiritual joy. LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the For the gospel will not only be preached in Judea, but through all isles and countries. multitude of isles be glad [thereof].
2 He is thus described to keep his enemies in fear, who commonly contemn God's power.Clouds and darkness [are] round about him: righteousness and judgment [are] the habitation of his throne.
3 There shall goe a fire before him, & burne vp his enemies round about.
4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and This fear does not bring the wicked to true obedience, but makes them run away from God. trembled.
5 The mountaines melted like waxe at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heauens declare his righteousnes, and all the people see his glory.
7 He signifies that God's judgments are ready to destroy the idolatry.Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, Let all who are esteemed in the world fall down before him. all [ye] gods.
8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the The Jews will have opportunity to rejoice that the Gentiles are made partakers with them of God's favour. daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.
9 For thou, Lorde, art most High aboue all the earth: thou art much exalted aboue all gods.
10 Ye that He requires two things from his children: the one that they detest vice, the other, that they put their trust in God for their deliverance. love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
11 Though God's deliverance does not appear suddenly, yet it is sown and laid up in store for them.Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the Be mindful of his benefits and only trust in his defence. remembrance of his holiness.
1 «A Psalm.» O sing That is, some song newly made in token of their wonderful deliverance by Christ. unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy He preserves his Church miraculously. arm, hath gotten him the victory.
2 The LORD hath made known his For the deliverance of his Church. salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
3 He hath God was moved by no other means to gather his Church from the Jews and Gentiles, but because he would perform his promise. remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 All the earth, sing ye loude vnto the Lord: crie out and reioyce, and sing prayses.
5 Sing prayse to the Lorde vpon the harpe, euen vpon the harpe with a singing voyce.
6 With By this repetition and earnest exhortation to give praise with instruments, and also of the dumb creatures, he signifies that the world is never able to praise God sufficiently for their deliverance. trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.
7 Let the sea roare, and all that therein is, the world, and they that dwell therein.
8 Let the floods clap their hands, and let the mountaines reioyce together
9 Before the Lord: for he is come to iudge the earth: with righteousnesse shall hee iudge the world, and the people with equitie.
1 The LORD reigneth; let the When God delivers his Church all the enemies will have reason to tremble. people tremble: he sitteth [between] the cherubims; let the earth be moved.
2 The Lord is great in Zion, and he is high aboue all the people.
3 Let them Though the wicked rage against God, the godly will praise his Name and mighty power. praise thy great and terrible name; [for] it [is] holy.
4 And the Kings power, that loueth iudgement: for thou hast prepared equitie: thou hast executed iudgement and iustice in Iaakob.
5 Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his That is, before his temple or ark, where he promised to hear when they worshipped him, as now he promises his spiritual presence, wherever his Church is assembled. footstool; [for] he [is] holy.
6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, Under these three he comprehends the whole people of Israel, with whom God made his promise. and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
7 Hee spake vnto them in the cloudie pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the Lawe that he gaue them.
8 Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of The more liberally God deals with his people, the more he punishes them who abuse his benefits. their inventions.
9 Exalt the Lorde our God, and fall downe before his holy Mountaine: for the Lorde our God is holy.
1 «A Psalm of praise.» Make a He prophecies that God's benefits in calling the Gentiles will be so great that they will have wonderful opportunity to praise his mercy and rejoice. joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serue the Lord with gladnes: come before him with ioyfulnes.
3 Know ye that the LORD he [is] God: [it is] he [that] hath He chiefly means concerning spiritual regeneration, by which we are his sheep and people. made us, and not we ourselves; [we are] his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 He shows that God will not be worshipped, but by those means which he has appointed.Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, [and] into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, [and] bless his name.
5 For the LORD [is] good; his mercy [is] He declares that we should never be weary in praising him, seeing his mercies toward us last forever. everlasting; and his truth [endureth] to all generations.
1 «A Psalm of David.» I will David considers what manner of King he would be, when God would place him in the throne, promising openly, that he would be merciful and just. sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.
2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. Though as yet you deferred to place me in the kingly dignity, yet I will give myself to wisdom and uprightness being a private man. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate He shows that magistrates do not do their duties, unless they are enemies to all vice. the work of them that turn aside; [it] shall not cleave to me.
4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will knowe none euill.
5 Whoso privily In promising to punish these vices, which are most pernicious in them that are about Kings, he declares that he will punish all. slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
6 Mine eyes [shall be] upon the He shows what the true use of the sword is, to punish the wicked and to maintain the good. faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.
7 There shal no deceitful person dwell within mine house: he that telleth lyes, shall not remaine in my sight.
8 Magistrates must immediately punish vice, lest it grow to further inconvenience; and if heathen magistrates are bound to do this, how much more they who have the charge of the Church of God?I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.
1 «A Prayer By which is signified, that even though we are in great misery, yet there is always room for prayer. of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD.» Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my He declares that in our prayer we must lively feel that which we desire, and steadfastly believe to obtain. cry come unto thee.
2 Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble: incline thine eares vnto me: when I call, make haste to heare me.
3 For my days are These excessive kinds of speech show how much the affliction of the Church should wound the hearts of the godly. consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget My sorrows were so great that I did not eat. to eat my bread.
5 For the voyce of my groning my bones doe cleaue to my skinne.
6 I am like a Always mourning in solitude and casting out fearful cries. pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
7 I watch and am as a sparrowe alone vpon the house top.
8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; [and] they that are mad against me are Have conspired my death. sworn against me.
9 For I have I have not risen out of my mourning to take my refreshment. eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
10 Because of thine He shows that not only the afflictions moved him, but chiefly the feeling of God's displeasure. indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.
11 My dayes are like a shadowe that fadeth, and I am withered like grasse.
12 But thou, O LORD, shalt Though we are frail, yet your promise is sure, and the remembrance of it will confirm us forever. endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
13 Thou shalt arise, [and] have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the That is, the seventy years which by the prophet Jeremiah you appointed, (Jer_29:12). set time, is come.
14 For thy servants take pleasure in her The more the Church is in misery and desolation, the more the faithful should love and pity it. stones, and favour the dust thereof.
15 Then the heathen shall feare the Name of the Lord, and all the Kings of the earth thy glory,
16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear That is, when he will have drawn his church out of the darkness of death. in his glory.
17 And shall turne vnto the prayer of the desolate, and not despise their prayer.
18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be The deliverance of the Church is an excellent benefit, and therefore he compares it to a new creation for in their banishment the body of the Church seemed to have been dead, which by deliverance was as it were created anew. created shall praise the LORD.
19 For he hath looked downe from the height of his Sanctuarie: out of the heauen did the Lord beholde the earth,
20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are Who now in their banishment could look for nothing but death. appointed to death;
21 That they may declare the Name of the Lord in Zion, and his prayse in Ierusalem,
22 When the people are gathered He shows that Gad's name is never more praised, than when religion flourishes and the church increases: which is chiefly accomplished under the kingdom of Christ. together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
23 He The church lament that they see not the time of Christ, which was promised, but have but few years and short days. weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.
24 And I sayd, O my God, take me not away in the middes of my dayes: thy yeeres endure from generation to generation.
25 Thou hast aforetime layde the foundation of the earth, and the heauens are the worke of thine hands.
26 If heaven and earth perish, much more man will perish: but the Church by reason of God's promise endures forever.They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
27 But thou art the same, and thy yeeres shall not fayle.
28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall Seeing you have chosen your Church out of the world, and joined it to you, it cannot but continue forever: for you are everlasting. be established before thee.
1 «[A Psalm] of David.» He wakens his dulness to praise God, showing that both understanding and affections, mind and heart, are too little to set forth his praise. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, [bless] his holy name.
2 My soule, prayse thou the Lord, and forget not all his benefites.
3 Who That is, the beginning and chiefest of all benefits, remission of sin. forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from For before we have remission of our sins, we are as dead men in the grave. destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good [things; so that] thy As the eagle, when her beak overgrows, sucks blood and so is renewed in strength, even so God miraculously gives strength to his Church above all man's expectations. youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The Lord executeth righteousnes & iudgement to all that are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto As to his chief minister, and next to his people. Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8 The Lord is full of compassion and mercie, slowe to anger and of great kindnesse.
9 He will not always He shows first his severe judgment, but as soon as the sinner is humbled, he receives him to mercy. chide: neither will he keep [his anger] for ever.
10 He hath not Who have proved by continual experience that his mercy has always prevailed against our offences. dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heauen is aboue ye earth, so great is his mercie toward them that feare him.
12 As far as As great as the world is, so full is it of signs of God's mercies toward his faithful when he has removed their sins. the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father hath compassion on his children, so hath the Lord compassion on them that feare him.
14 For he knoweth whereof we be made: he remembreth that we are but dust.
15 [As for] He declares that man has nothing in himself to move God to mercy, but only the confession of his infirmity and misery. man, his days [are] as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the winde goeth ouer it, and it is gone, and the place thereof shall knowe it no more.
17 But the mercy of the LORD [is] from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his His just and faithful keeping of his promise. righteousness unto children's children;
18 To such as keep his To whom he gives grace to fear him, and to obey his word. covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in heauen, and his Kingdome ruleth ouer all.
20 Bless the LORD, ye In that we, who naturally are slow to praise God, exhort the angels, who willingly do it, we stir up ourselves to consider our duty and wake from our sluggishness. his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21 Prayse the Lord, all ye his hostes, ye his seruants that doe his pleasure.
22 Prayse the Lord, all ye his workes, in all places of his dominion: my soule, prayse thou the Lorde.
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art The prophet shows that we do not need to enter into the heavens to seek God, for as much as all the order of nature, with the propriety and placing of the elements, are living mirrors to see his majesty in. clothed with honour and majesty.
2 Which couereth himselfe with light as with a garment, and spreadeth the heauens like a curtaine.
3 Which layeth the beames of his chambers in the waters, and maketh the cloudes his chariot, and walketh vpon the wings of the winde.
4 Who As the prophet here shows that all visible powers are ready to serve God: so in (Heb_1:7) the angels also, are obedient to his commandment. maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
5 He set the earth vpon her foundations, so that it shall neuer moue.
6 Thou coveredst it with the You make the sea to be an ornament to the earth. deep as [with] a garment: the If by your power you did not bridle the rage of the waters, the whole world would be destroyed. waters stood above the mountains.
7 But at thy rebuke they flee: at the voyce of thy thunder they haste away.
8 And the mountaines ascend, and the valleis descend to the place which thou hast established for them.
9 But thou hast set them a bounde, which they shall not passe: they shall not returne to couer the earth.
10 He sendeth the springs into the valleis, which runne betweene the mountaines.
11 They give drink to every If God provides for the beasts, much more will he extend his provident care to man. beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
12 By There is no part of the world so barren where most evident signs of God's blessing do not appear. them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, [which] sing among the branches.
13 He watereth the hills from his From the clouds. chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of He describes God's providential care over man, who not only provides necessary things for him such as herbs and other meat: but also things to rejoice and comfort him such as wine and oil or ointments. man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oyle to make the face to shine, and bread that strengtheneth mans heart.
16 The high trees are satisfied, euen the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted,
17 That ye birdes may make their nestes there: the storke dwelleth in the firre trees.
18 The high mountaines are for the goates: the rockes are a refuge for the conies.
19 He appointed As to separate the night from the day, and to note days, months and years. the moon for seasons: That is, by his course, either far or near, it notes summer, winter and other seasons. the sun knoweth his going down.
20 Thou makest darkenesse, and it is night, wherein all the beastes of the forest creepe forth.
21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat That is, they only find meat according to God's providence, who cares even for the brute beasts. from God.
22 When the sunne riseth, they retire, and couche in their dennes.
23 That is, when the day springs for the light is as it were a shield to defend man against the tyranny and fierceness of beasts.Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
24 O LORD, how He confesses that no tongue is able to express God's works nor mind to comprehend them. manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
25 So is this sea great and wide: for therein are things creeping innumerable, both small beastes and great.
26 There goe the shippes, yea, that Liuiathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
27 God is a nourishing father, who provides for all creatures their daily foods.These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give [them] their meat in due season.
28 Thou giuest it to them, and they gather it: thou openest thine hand, and they are filled with good things.
29 Thou As by your presence all things have life; so if you withdraw your blessings they all perish. hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
30 Thou As the death of creatures shows that we are nothing of ourselves: so their generation declares that we receive all things from our Creator. sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
31 Glory be to the Lord for euer: let the Lord reioyce in his workes.
32 He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they God's merciful face gives strength to the earth, but his severe countenance burns the mountains. smoke.
33 I will sing vnto the Lord all my life: I will prayse my God, while I liue.
34 Let my wordes be acceptable vnto him: I will reioyce in the Lord.
35 Let the sinners be Who infect the world, and so cause it to be that God cannot rejoice in his work. consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.
1 O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: For as much as the Israelites were exempted from the common condemnation of the world, and were elected to be God's people, the prophet wills them to show themselves mindful by thanksgiving. make known his deeds among the people.
2 Sing vnto him, sing prayse vnto him, and talke of all his wonderous workes.
3 Reioyce in his holy Name: let the heart of them that seeke the Lord, reioyce.
4 Seek the LORD, and his By the strength and face he means the ark where God declared his power and his presence. strength: seek his face evermore.
5 Remember his Which he has wrought in the deliverance of his people. marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the Because his power was declared living by this, as if he would have declared it by mouth. judgments of his mouth;
6 Ye seede of Abraham his seruant, ye children of Iaakob, which are his elect.
7 He is the Lorde our God: his iudgements are through all the earth.
8 He hath alway remembred his couenant & promes, that he made to a thousand generations,
9 Which [covenant] he The promise God made to Abraham to be his God, and the God of his seed after him, he renewed and repeated again to his seed after him. made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;
10 And since hath confirmed it to Iaakob for a lawe, and to Israel for an euerlasting couenant,
11 Saying, He shows that they would not enjoy the land of Canaan by any other means, but by reason of his covenant made with their fathers. Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:
12 Albeit they were fewe in nomber, yea, very fewe, and strangers in the land,
13 And walked about from nation to nation, from one kingdome to another people,
14 He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved That is, the king of Egypt and the king of Gerar, (Gen_12:17, Gen_20:3) kings for their sakes;
15 [Saying], Touch not mine Those whom I have sanctified to be my people. anointed, and do my Meaning, the old fathers, to whom God showed himself plainly, and who set forth his word. prophets no harm.
16 Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole Either by sending scarcity or the strength and nourishment of it. staff of bread.
17 But he sent a man before them: Ioseph was solde for a slaue.
18 They helde his feete in the stockes, and he was laide in yrons,
19 Until So long he suffered adversity as God had appointed, and till he had sufficiently tried his patience. the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.
20 The King sent and loosed him: euen the Ruler of the people deliuered him.
21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance,
22 To bind his That the very princes of the countries would be at Joseph's commandment, and learn wisdom from him. princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.
23 Then Israel came to Egypt, and Iaakob was a stranger in the land of Ham.
24 And he increased his people exceedingly, and made them stronger then their oppressours.
25 So it is in God, either to move the hearts of the wicked to love or to hate God's children.He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.
26 Then sent he Moses his seruant, and Aaron whom he had chosen.
27 They shewed among them the message of his signes, and wonders in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they Meaning, Moses and Aaron. rebelled not against his word.
29 He turned their waters into blood, and slewe their fish.
30 Their land brought foorth frogs, euen in their Kings chambers.
31 He So that this vermin did not come by chance, but as God had appointed, and his prophet Moses spoke. spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, [and] lice in all their coasts.
32 He gave them It was strange to see rain in Egypt, much more it was fearful to see hail. hail for rain, [and] flaming fire in their land.
33 He smote their vines also and their figge trees, and brake downe the trees in their coastes.
34 He shows that all creatures are armed against man when God is his enemy as at his commandment the grasshoppers destroyed the land.He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,
35 And did eate vp all the grasse in their land, and deuoured the fruite of their ground.
36 He smote also all the first borne in their land, euen the beginning of all their strength.
37 He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and [there was] When their enemies felt God's plagues his children by his providence were exempted. not one feeble [person] among their tribes.
38 Egypt was For God's plagues caused them to prefer to depart with the Israelites rather than with their lives. glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.
39 He spred a cloude to be a couering, and fire to giue light in the night.
40 [The people] Not for necessity but for satisfying of their lust. asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
41 He opened the rocke, and the waters flowed out, and ranne in the drye places like a riuer.
42 For he remembered his holy Which he confirms to the posterity in whom after a sort the dead live and enjoy the promises. promise, [and] Abraham his servant.
43 And he brought forth his people with When the Egyptians lamented and were destroyed. joy, [and] his chosen with gladness:
44 And gaue them the lands of the heathen, and they tooke the labours of the people in possession,
45 That they might This is the reason why God preserves his Church, because they should worship and call on him in this world. observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.
1 Praise The prophet exhorts the people to praise God for his past benefits, that by this their minds may be strengthened against all present troubles and despair. ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
2 Who can expresse the noble actes of the Lord, or shewe forth all his prayse?
3 Blessed [are] they that He shows that it is not enough to praise God with the mouth, unless the whole heart agrees to it, and all our life framed after it. keep judgment, [and] he that doeth righteousness at all times.
4 Remember me, O LORD, with the Let the good will that you bear to your people extend to me, that by it I may be received into your number. favour [that thou bearest unto] thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;
5 That I may see the felicitie of thy chosen, and reioyce in the ioy of thy people, and glorie with thine inheritance.
6 We have By earnest confession of their sins and of their father's, they show that they hoped that God according to his promise would pity them. sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
7 Our fathers vnderstoode not thy wonders in Egypt, neither remembred they the multitude of thy mercies, but rebelled at the Sea, euen at the red sea.
8 Nevertheless he The inestimable goodness of God appears in this, that he would rather change the order of nature than have his people not be delivered, even though they were wicked. saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
9 And he rebuked the red Sea, and it was dryed vp, and he led them in the deepe, as in the wildernesse.
10 And he saued them from ye aduersaries hand, and deliuered them from ye hand of the enemie.
11 And the waters couered their oppressours: not one of them was left.
12 Then The wonderful words of God caused them to believe for a time, and to praise him. believed they his words; they sang his praise.
13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his The would prevent his wisdom and providence. counsel:
14 But lusted with concupiscence in the wildernes, and tempted God in the desert.
15 And he gave them their request; but sent The abundance that God gave them did not profit, but made them pine away, because God cursed it. leanness into their soul.
16 They enuied Moses also in the tentes, and Aaron the holy one of the Lord.
17 The earth opened and By the greatness of the punishment the heinousness of the offence may be considered: for they who rise against God's ministers rebel against him. swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
18 And the fire was kindled in their assembly: the flame burnt vp the wicked.
19 They made a calfe in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.
20 Thus they changed their He shows that all idolaters renounce God to be their glory when instead of him, they worship any creature much more wood, stone, metal or calves. glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
21 They forgate God their Sauiour, which had done great things in Egypt,
22 Wonderous woorkes in the lande of Ham, and fearefull things by the red Sea.
23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had If Moses, by his intercession, had not obtained God's favour against their rebellion. not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy [them].
24 Yea, they despised That is Canaan, which acted as a promise of the heavenly inheritance to come, though it was only worth a penny in comparison to the value of the inheritance itself. the pleasant land, they believed not his word:
25 But murmured in their tentes, and hearkened not vnto the voice of the Lorde.
26 Therefore That is, he swore. Sometimes also it means to punish. he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:
27 And to destroy their seede among the nations, & to scatter them throughout the countries.
28 They joined themselves also unto Which was the idol of the Moabites. Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the Sacrifices offered to the dead idols. dead.
29 Thus they Signifying that whatever man invents of himself to serve God by, is detestable and provokes his anger. provoked [him] to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.
30 Then stood up When all others neglected God's glory, he in his zeal killed the adulterers and prevented God's wrath. Phinehas, and executed judgment: and [so] the plague was stayed.
31 And that was This act declared his living faith, and for his faith's sake was accepted. counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.
32 They angered [him] also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with If so notable a prophet of God does not escape punishment, though others provoked him to sin, how much more will they be subject to God's judgment, who cause God's children to sin? Moses for their sakes:
33 Because they vexed his spirite, so that hee spake vnaduisedly with his lippes.
34 Neither destroied they the people, as the Lord had commaunded them,
35 But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their workes,
36 And serued their idoles, which were their ruine.
37 Yea, they sacrificed their He shows how monstrous a thing idolatry is, which can win us to things abhorring to nature, while God's word cannot obtain small things. sons and their daughters unto devils,
38 And shed innocent blood, euen the blood of their sonnes, & of their daughters, whome they offred vnto the idoles of Canaan, and the lande was defiled with blood.
39 Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went Then true chastity is to cleave wholly and only to God. a whoring with their own inventions.
40 Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people, and he abhorred his owne inheritance.
41 And hee gaue them into the hande of the heathen: and they that hated them, were lordes ouer them.
42 Their enemies also oppressed them, & they were humbled vnder their hand.
43 Many The prophet shows that neither by menace nor promise we can come to God, unless we are altogether newly reformed, and his mercy covers and hides our malice. times did he deliver them; but they provoked [him] with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.
44 Yet hee sawe when they were in affliction, and he heard their crie.
45 And he remembered for them his covenant, and Not that God is changeable in himself, but that then he seems to us to repent when he alters his punishment, and forgives us. repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
46 And gaue them fauour in the sight of all them that lead them captiues.
47 Save us, O LORD our God, and Gather your Church which is dispersed, and give us constancy under the cross, that with one consent we may all praise you. gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, [and] to triumph in thy praise.
48 Blessed be the Lorde God of Israel for euer and euer, and let all the people say, So be it. Praise yee the Lord.
1 O give thanks unto This notable sentence was in the beginning used as the foot or tenor of the song, which was often repeated. the LORD, for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
2 Let the As was true in the Jews, so there is not one of God's elect who does not feel his help in their necessity. redeemed of the LORD say [so], whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the East and from the West, from the North and from the South.
4 When they wandered in the desert and wildernesse out of the waie, and founde no citie to dwell in,
5 He shows that there is no affliction so grievous out of which God will not deliver us, and also exhorts them who are delivered to be mindful of so great a benefit.Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried vnto the Lorde in their trouble, & he deliuered them from their distresse,
7 And led them forth by the right way, that they might goe to a citie of habitation.
8 Let them therefore confesse before ye Lorde his louing kindnesse, and his wonderfull woorkes before the sonnes of men.
9 For he satisfied the thirstie soule, and filled the hungrie soule with goodnesse.
10 They that dwell in darkenesse and in the shadowe of death, being bounde in miserie and yron,
11 Because they Then the true way to obey God is to follow his express commandment: also by this all are exhorted to descend into themselves as none are punished but for their sins. rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
12 When he humbled their heart with heauines, then they fell downe and there was no helper.
13 Then they He shows that the reason God punishes us extremely is because we can be brought to him by no other means. cried unto the LORD in their trouble, [and] he saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkenes, and out of the shadowe of death, and brake their bandes asunder.
15 Let them therefore cofesse before the Lord his louing kindnesse, and his wonderfull woorkes before the sonnes of men.
16 For he hath broken the When there seems to man's judgment no recovery, but all things are brought to despair, then God chiefly shows his mighty power. gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
17 They who have no fear of God, by his sharp rods are brought to call on him, and so find mercy.Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
18 Their soule abhorreth al meat, and they are brought to deaths doore.
19 Then they crie vnto the Lord in their trouble, and he deliuereth them from their distresse.
20 By healing them he declares his good will toward them.He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered [them] from their Meaning their diseases, which had almost brought them to the grave and corruption. destructions.
21 Let them therefore cofesse before the Lord his louing kindnesse, & his wonderful workes before the sonnes of men,
22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of Praise and confession of God's benefits are the true sacrifices of the godly. thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
23 They that go down to the He shows by the sea what care God has over man, for when he delivers them from the great danger of the sea, he delivers them as it were from a thousand deaths. sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
24 They see the woorkes of the Lorde, and his wonders in the deepe.
25 For he commaundeth and raiseth the stormie winde, and it lifteth vp the waues thereof.
26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is Their fear and danger is so great. melted because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and When their art and means fail them, they are compelled to confess that only God's providence preserves them. are at their wits' end.
28 Then they crie vnto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresse.
29 He turneth the storme to calme, so that the waues thereof are still.
30 Then are they glad because they be Though before every drop seemed to fight one against the other, yet at his command they are as still as if they were frozen. quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
31 Let them therfore confesse before the Lord his louing kindnesse, and his wonderfull woorkes before the sonnes of men.
32 Let them exalt him also in the This great benefit should not only be considered particularly, but magnified in all places and assemblies. congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
33 He turneth the floodes into a wildernesse, and the springs of waters into drinesse,
34 And a fruitfull land into barrennes for the wickednes of them that dwell therein.
35 He For the love that he bears to his Church, he changes the order of nature for their convenience. turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
36 And there he placeth the hungrie, and they builde a citie to dwell in,
37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of Continual increase and yearly. increase.
38 For he blesseth them, & they multiplie exceedingly, and he diminisheth not their cattell.
39 As God by his providence exalts man, so he also humbles them by afflictions to know themselves.Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
40 He poureth For their wickedness and tyranny he causes the people and subjects to contemn them. contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, [where there is] no way.
41 Yet he raiseth vp the poore out of miserie, and maketh him families like a flocke of sheepe.
42 The They whose faith is lightened by God's spirit, will rejoice to see God's judgments against the wicked and ungodly. righteous shall see [it], and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
43 Who is wise that hee may obserue these things? for they shall vnderstand the louing kindnesse of the Lord.
1 «A Song [or] Psalm of David.» O God, my heart is This earnest affection declares that he is free from hypocrisy and that sluggishness does not stop him. fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
2 Awake viole and harpe: I will awake early.
3 I will praise thee, O LORD, among the He prophecies of the calling of the Gentiles: for unless they were called, they could not hear the goodness of God. people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
4 For thy mercy is great aboue the heauens, and thy trueth vnto the clouds.
5 Let all the world see your judgments in that you are God over all, and so confess that you are glorious.Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth;
6 That thy beloved may be delivered: When God by his benefits makes us partakers of his mercies, he admonishes us to be earnest in prayer, to desire him to continue and finish his graces. save [with] thy right hand, and answer me.
7 God hath spoken in his As he has spoken to Samuel concerning me, so will he show himself constant and holy in his promise, so that these nations following will be subject to me. holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
8 Gilead shalbe mine, and Manasseh shalbe mine: Ephraim also shalbe the strength of mine head: Iuda is my lawgiuer.
9 Moab shalbe my washpot: ouer Edom wil I cast out my shoe: vpon Palestina wil I triumph.
10 Who will leade mee into the strong citie? Who will bring me vnto Edom?
11 From the sixth verse of this psalm to the last, read also (Psa_60:5).[Wilt] not [thou], O God, [who] hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?
12 Giue vs helpe against trouble: for vaine is the helpe of man.
13 Through God we shall doe valiantly: for he shall treade downe our enemies.
1 «To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.» Hold not thy peace, O God of my Though all the world condemn me, yet you will approve my innocence and that is sufficient praise to me. praise;
2 For the mouth of the wicked, and the mouth full of deceite are opened vpon me: they haue spoken to me with a lying tongue.
3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.
4 For my love they are my adversaries: To declare that I had no other refuge, but you, in whom my conscience was at rest. but I [give myself unto] prayer.
5 And they haue rewarded me euil for good, and hatred for my friendship.
6 Whether it was Doeg or Saul, or some familiar friend that had betrayed him, he prays not for private affection, but moved by God's Spirit, that God would take vengeance on him.Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.
7 When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his As to the elect all things turn to their profit, so to the reprobate, even those things that are good, turn to their damnation. prayer become sin.
8 Let his days be few; [and] let another take his This was chiefly accomplished in Judas, (Act_1:20). office.
9 Let his children be fatherlesse, and his wife a widowe.
10 Let his children be vagabounds & beg and seeke bread, comming out of their places destroyed.
11 Let He declares that the curse of God lies on the extortioners, who thinking to enrich their children by their unlawfully gotten goods, are by God's just judgment deprived of all. the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour.
12 Let there be none to extende mercie vnto him: neither let there be any to shewe mercie vpon his fatherlesse children.
13 Let his posteritie be destroied, and in the generation following let their name be put out.
14 Thus the Lord punishes to the third and fourth generation the wickedness of the parents in their wicked children.Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15 But let them alway be before the Lorde, that he may cut off their memorial from ye earth.
16 Because that He shows that God plagues them in a strange way who show themselves cruel toward others. he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.
17 As he loved cursing, Thus the Lord gives to every man the thing in which he delights so that the reprobate cannot accuse God of wrong, when they are given up to their lusts and reprobate minds. so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.
18 As he clothed himselfe with cursing like a rayment, so shall it come into his bowels like water, and like oyle into his bones.
19 Let it be vnto him as a garment to couer him, and for a girdle, wherewith he shalbe alway girded.
20 [Let] this [be] the reward of mine adversaries For being destitute of man's help, he fully trusted in the Lord, that he would deliver him. from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
21 But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy As you are named merciful, gracious and long suffering, so show yourself in effect. name's sake: because thy mercy [is] good, deliver thou me.
22 Because I am poore and needie, and mine heart is wounded within me.
23 I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the Meaning that he has no stay or assurance in this world. locust.
24 My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh For hunger that came from sorrow, he was lean and his natural moisture failed him. faileth of fatness.
25 I became also a rebuke vnto them: they that looked vpon me, shaked their heads.
26 Help me, O LORD my God: O The more grievously Satan assailed him, the more earnest and instant was he in prayer. save me according to thy mercy:
27 And they shal know, that this is thine hand, and that thou, Lord, hast done it.
28 Let them They will gain nothing by cursing me. curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.
29 Let mine aduersaries be clothed with shame, and let them couer themselues with their confusion, as with a cloke.
30 I will greatly praise the LORD with my Not only in confessing it secretly in myself but also in declaring it before all the congregation. mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.
31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save [him] from those that By this he shows that he had nothing to do with them who were of little power, but with the judges and princes of the world. condemn his soul.
1 «A Psalm of David.» The Jesus Christ in (Mat_22:44) gives the interpretation of this, and shows that this cannot properly be applied to David but to himself. LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of And then it will stretch through all the world: and this power chiefly stands in the preaching of his word. Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
3 Thy people [shall be] willing in the day of By the word your people will be assembled into your Church...increase will be...anointed wonderful... drops of the... thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of As Melchizedek the figure of Christ was both a King and Priest, so this effect cannot be accomplished on any king save only Christ. Melchizedek.
5 The Lorde, that is at thy right hand, shall wound Kings in the day of his wrath.
6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill [the places] with the dead bodies; he shall wound the No power will be able to resist him. heads over many countries.
7 He shall Under this comparison of a captain that is so eager to destroy his enemies that he will not scarce drink by the way, he shows how God will destroy his enemies. drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
1 The prophet declares that he will praise God both privately and openly, and that from the heart, as he who consecrates himself wholly and only to God.Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with [my] whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and [in] the congregation.
2 The works of the LORD [are] He shows that God's works are a sufficient reason for us to praise him, but chiefly his benefits toward his Church. great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
3 His worke is beautifull and glorious, and his righteousnesse endureth for euer.
4 He hath made his wonderfull workes to be had in remembrance: the Lord is mercifull and full of compassion.
5 He hath given God has given to his people all that was necessary for them and will do so even for his covenant's sake, and in this sense the Hebrew word is taken in (Pro_30:8, Pro_31:15). meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
6 He hath shewed to his people the power of his workes in giuing vnto them the heritage of the heathen.
7 The As God proposed to take care of his Church so in effect does he declare himself just and true in the government of the same. works of his hands [are] verity and judgment; all his commandments [are] sure.
8 They are stablished for euer and euer, and are done in trueth and equitie.
9 He sent redemption vnto his people: he hath commanded his couenant for euer: holy and fearefull is his Name.
10 They only are wise who fear God and none have understanding but they who obey the word.The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that That is, his commandment as in (Psa_111:7). do [his commandments]: his praise endureth for ever.
1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed [is] the man [that] He means that reverent fear which is in the children of God, which causes them to delight only in the word of God. feareth the LORD, [that] delighteth greatly in his commandments.
2 His seede shall be mightie vpon earth: the generation of the righteous shall be blessed.
3 The godly will have abundance and contentment, because their heart is satisfied in God alone.Wealth and riches [shall be] in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4 Unto the The faithful in all their adversities know that all will go well with them for God will be merciful and just. upright there ariseth light in the darkness: [he is] gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
5 A good man sheweth favour, and He shows what the fruit of mercy is, to lend freely and not for gain, and so to measure his doings that he may be able to help where need requires and not to bestow all on himself. lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
6 Surely he shall neuer be moued: but the righteous shalbe had in euerlasting remembrance.
7 He will not be afraide of euill tidings: for his heart is fixed, and beleeueth in the Lord.
8 His heart is stablished: therefore he will not feare, vntill he see his desire vpon his enemies.
9 He hath The godly are not stingy, but distribute liberally, as the need of the poor requires and as his power is able. dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his His power and prosperous estate. horn shall be exalted with honour.
10 The wicked shall see [it], and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and The blessings of God on his children will cause the wicked to die for envy. melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
1 Praise ye the LORD. By this often repetition he stirs up our cold dullness to praise God, seeing his works are so wonderful, and that we are created for the same cause. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.
2 Blessed be the Name of the Lorde from hencefoorth and for euer.
3 The Lordes Name is praysed from the rising of ye sunne, vnto ye going downe of the same.
4 The LORD [is] high above all If God's glory shines through all the world, and therefore of all ought to be praised, what great condemnation were it to his people, among whom chiefly it shines, if they should not earnestly extol his Name? nations, [and] his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like vnto the Lord our God, that hath his dwelling on high!
6 Who abaseth himselfe to beholde things in the heauen and in the earth!
7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth the By preferring the poor to high honour and giving the barren children, he shows that God works not only in his Church by ordinary means, but also by miracles. needy out of the dunghill;
8 That he may set him with the princes, euen with the princes of his people.
9 He maketh the barren woman to dwell with a familie, and a ioyfull mother of children. Prayse ye the Lord.
1 When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of Or, barbarous. strange language;
2 Judah was his The whole people were witnesses to his holy majesty in adopting them, and of his mighty power in delivering them. sanctuary, [and] Israel his dominion.
3 The Sea sawe it and fled: Iorden was turned backe.
4 The Seeing that these dead creatures felt God's power and after a sort saw it, much more his people ought to consider it, and glorify him for the same. mountains skipped like rams, [and] the little hills like lambs.
5 What ailed thee, O Sea, that thou fleddest? O Iorden, why wast thou turned backe?
6 Ye mountaines, why leaped ye like rams, and ye hils as lambes?
7 Tremble, thou Ought then his people to be insensible when they see his power and majesty? earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;
8 Which That is, miraculously caused water to come out of the rock in great abundance, (Exo_17:6). turned the rock [into] a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.
1 Not Because God promised to deliver them, not for their sakes, but for his Name, (Isa_48:11), therefore they ground their prayer on this promise. unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, [and] for thy truth's sake.
2 Wherefore should the heathen say, When the wicked see that God does not always accomplish his promise as they imagined, they think there is no God. Where [is] now their God?
3 But our God [is] in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath No impediments can slow his work, but he uses even the impediments to serve his will. pleased.
4 Their idols [are] Seeing that neither the matter nor the form can commend their idols it follows that there is no reason that they should be esteemed. silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
5 They haue a mouth and speake not: they haue eyes and see not.
6 They haue eares and heare not: they haue noses and smell not.
7 They have He shows what great vanity it is to ask help from them who not only have no help in them, but lack sense and reason. hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
8 They that make them are As much without sense as blocks and stones. like unto them; [so is] every one that trusteth in them.
9 O Israel, trust thou in the Lorde: for he is their helpe and their shielde.
10 For they were appointed by God as instructors and teachers of faith and religion for others to follow.O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he [is] their help and their shield.
11 Ye that feare the Lorde, trust in the Lord: for he is their helper and their shield.
12 The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless [us]; he That is, he will continue his graces toward his people. will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.
13 He will blesse them that feare the Lorde, both small and great.
14 The Lord will increase his graces towarde you, euen toward you and toward your children.
15 Ye [are] blessed of the LORD which And therefore still governs and continues all things in it. made heaven and earth.
16 The And they declare enough his sufficiency so that the world serves him nothing, but to show his fatherly care toward men. heaven, [even] the heavens, [are] the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
17 The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that Though the dead set forth God's glory, yet he means here, that they praise him not in his Church and congregation. go down into silence.
18 But we will prayse the Lorde from henceforth and for euer. Prayse ye the Lord.
1 I He grants that no pleasure is so great as to feel God's help in our need, neither that anything more stirs up our love toward him. love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice [and] my supplications.
2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon [him] That is in convenient time to seek help, which was when he was in distress. as long as I live.
3 When the snares of death copassed me, and the griefes of the graue caught me: when I founde trouble and sorowe.
4 Then I called vpon the Name of the Lord, saying, I beseech thee, O Lord, deliuer my soule.
5 Gracious [is] the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God [is] He shows forth the fruit of his love in calling on him, confessing him to be just and merciful and to help them who are destitute of aid and counsel. merciful.
6 The Lorde preserueth the simple: I was in miserie and he saued me.
7 Return unto thy rest, O Which was disturbed before, now rest on the Lord, for he has been beneficial towards you. my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.
8 Because thou hast deliuered my soule from death, mine eyes from teares, and my feete from falling.
9 I will The Lord will preserve me and save my life. walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
10 I felt all these things, and therefore was moved by faith to confess them, (2Co_4:13).I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:
11 I said in my In my great distress I thought God would not regard man, who is but lies and vanity, yet I overcame this temptation and felt the contrary. haste, All men [are] liars.
12 What shall I render vnto the Lord for all his benefites toward me?
13 I will In the Law they used to make a banquet when they gave solemn thanks to God, and to take the cup and drink in sign of thanksgiving. take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.
14 I will pay my vowes vnto the Lorde, euen nowe in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD [is] the I perceive that God has a care over his, so that he both disposes their death, and takes an account. death of his saints.
16 Beholde, Lord: for I am thy seruant, I am thy seruant, and the sonne of thine handmaide: thou hast broken my bondes.
17 I will offer to thee a sacrifice of prayse, and will call vpon the Name of the Lord.
18 I will pay my I will thank him for his benefits, for that is a just payment, to confess that we owe all to God. vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,
19 In the courtes of ye Lords house, euen in the middes of thee, O Ierusalem. Praise ye the Lord.
1 All nations, praise ye the Lorde: all ye people, praise him.
2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the That is, the most certain and continual testimony of his fatherly graces. truth of the LORD [endureth] for ever. Praise ye the LORD.
1 O Because God by creating David king, showed his mercy toward his afflicted Church, the prophet not only thanks God himself, but exhorts all the people to do the same. give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: because his mercy [endureth] for ever.
2 Let Israel now say, That his mercy endureth for euer.
3 Let the house of Aaron nowe say, That his mercy endureth for euer.
4 Let them, that feare the Lorde, nowe say, That his mercie endureth for euer.
5 I called upon the LORD in We are here taught that the more that troubles oppress us, the more ought we to be instant in prayer. distress: the LORD answered me, [and set me] in a large place.
6 The LORD [is] on my side; I will not fear: what can Being exalted to this estate, he assured himself to have man ever to be his enemy. Yet he did not doubt that God would maintain him, because he had placed him. man do unto me?
7 The Lorde is with mee among them that helpe me: therefore shall I see my desire vpon mine enemies.
8 [It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence He shows that he had trusted in vain if he had put his confidence in man, to have been preferred to the kingdom and therefore he put his trust in God and obtained. in man.
9 It is better to trust in the Lorde, then to haue confidence in princes.
10 All nations haue compassed me: but in the Name of the Lord shall I destroy them.
11 They haue compassed mee, yea, they haue compassed mee: but in the Name of the Lorde I shall destroy them.
12 They came about mee like bees, but they were quenched as a fire of thornes: for in the Name of the Lord I shall destroy them.
13 He notes Saul his chief enemy.Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD [is] my strength and In that he was delivered, it came not from himself, not from the power of man, but only from God's favour, therefore he will praise him. song, and is become my salvation.
15 The He promises both to render graces himself, and to cause others to do the same, because in his person the Church was restored. voice of rejoicing and salvation [is] in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord hath done valiantly.
17 I shall not die, but live, and So that all, that are both far and near, may see his mighty power. declare the works of the LORD.
18 The Lorde hath chastened me sore, but he hath not deliuered me to death.
19 Open to me the He wills the doors of the tabernacle to be opened, that he may declare his thankful mind. gates of righteousness: I will go into them, [and] I will praise the LORD:
20 This is the gate of the Lord: the righteous shall enter into it.
21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard mee, and hast beene my deliuerance.
22 The stone [which] the builders Though Saul and the chief powers refused me to be king, yet God has preferred me above them all. refused is become the head [stone] of the corner.
23 This was the Lordes doing, and it is marueilous in our eyes.
24 This [is] the In which God has shown chiefly his mercy, by appointing me king and delivering his Church. day [which] the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I beseech thee, The people pray for the prosperity of David's kingdom, who was the figure of Christ. O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed [be] he that cometh in the name of the LORD: Who are the priests, and have the charge of it, as in (Num_6:23). we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
27 God [is] the LORD, which hath shewed us Because he has restored us from darkness to light, we will offer sacrifices and praises to him. light: bind the sacrifice with cords, [even] unto the horns of the altar.
28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee, euen my God: therefore I will exalt thee.
29 Praise ye the Lord, because he is good: for his mercie endureth for euer.
1 ALEPH. Blessed [are] Here they are not called blessed who think themselves wise in their own judgment, nor who imagine to themselves a certain holiness, but they whose conversation is without hypocrisy. the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they that keepe his testimonies, and seeke him with their whole heart.
3 They also do For they are ruled by God's Spirit and embrace no doctrine but his. no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
4 Thou hast commaunded to keepe thy precepts diligently.
5 David acknowledges his imperfection, desiring God to reform it, that his life may be conformable to God's word.O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
6 Then should I not be confounded, when I haue respect vnto all thy commandements.
7 I will praise thee with uprightness of For true religion stands in serving God without hypocrisy. heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous That is, your precepts, which contain perfect righteousness. judgments.
8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not He does not refuse to be tried by temptations, but he fears to faint, if God does not help his infirmity in time. utterly.
9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a Because youth is most given to licentiousness, he chiefly warns them to frame their lives after God's word. young man cleanse his way? by taking heed [thereto] according to thy word.
10 With my whole heart haue I sought thee: let me not wander from thy commandements.
11 Thy word have I If God's word is carved in our hearts, we will be more able to resist the assaults of Satan: and therefore the prophet desires God to instruct him daily more and more in it. hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
12 Blessed art thou, O Lorde: teache mee thy statutes.
13 With my lippes haue I declared all the iudgements of thy mouth.
14 I have The prophet does not boast of his virtues, but sets forth an example for others to follow God's word, and leave worldly vanities. rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as [much as] in all riches.
15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and consider thy waies.
16 I will delite in thy statutes, and I will not forget thy worde.
17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, [that] I may He shows that we should not desire to live but to serve God, and that we can not serve him correctly unless he opens our eyes and minds. live, and keep thy word.
18 Open mine eies, that I may see the wonders of thy Lawe.
19 I [am] a Seeing man's life in this world is only a passage, what should become of him, if your word were not his guide? stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
20 Mine heart breaketh for the desire to thy iudgements always.
21 Thou In all ages you have plagued all such who maliciously and contemptuously depart from your truth. hast rebuked the proud [that are] cursed, which do err from thy commandments.
22 Remoue from mee shame and contempt: for I haue kept thy testimonies.
23 When the powers of the world gave false sentence against me, your word was a guide and counsellor to teach me what to do, and to comfort me.Princes also did sit [and] speak against me: [but] thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
24 Also thy testimonies are my delite, and my counsellers.
25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the That is, it is almost brought to the grave and without your word I cannot live. dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.
26 I have I have confessed my offences and now depend wholly on you. declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.
27 Make me to vnderstand ye way of thy precepts, & I will meditate in thy wondrous workes.
28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy If God did not maintain us by his word, our life would drop away like water. word.
29 Remove from me the Instruct me in your word, by which my mind may be purged from vanity and taught to obey your will. way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.
30 I haue chosen the way of trueth, and thy iudgements haue I laied before me.
31 I haue cleaued to thy testimonies, O Lord: confound me not.
32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt By this he shows that we can neither choose good, cleave to God's word, nor turn forward in his way, unless he make our hearts large to receive grace, and willing to obey. enlarge my heart.
33 HE. Teach He shows that he cannot follow on to the end, unless God teaches him often and leads him forward. me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it [unto] the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with [my] whole Not only in outward conversation, but also with inward affection. heart.
35 Direct mee in the path of thy commandements: for therein is my delite.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to By this, meaning all other vices, because covetousness is the root of all evil. covetousness.
37 Turn away mine Meaning, all his senses. eyes from beholding vanity; [and] quicken thou me in thy way.
38 Stablish thy promesse to thy seruaunt, because he feareth thee.
39 Turn away Let me not fall to your dishonour but let my heart still delight in your gracious word. my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments [are] good.
40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: Give me strength to continue in your word even to the end. quicken me in thy righteousness.
41 VAU. Let thy He shows that God's mercy and love is the first reason for our salvation. mercies come also unto me, O LORD, [even] thy salvation, according to thy word.
42 So shall I By trusting in God's word he assures himself to be able to confute the slanders of his adversaries. have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.
43 And take not the woorde of trueth vtterly out of my mouth: for I waite for thy iudgements.
44 So shall I always keepe thy Lawe for euer and euer.
45 And I will They who simply walk after God's word have no nets to entangle them, while they who do contrary are ever in nets and snares. walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before He shows that the children of God should not permit their fathers glory to be obscured by the vain pomp of princes. kings, and will not be ashamed.
47 And my delite shalbe in thy commaundements, which I haue loued.
48 Mine handes also will I lift vp vnto thy commaundements, which I haue loued, and I will meditate in thy statutes.
49 ZAIN. Remember Though he feels God's hand still lies on him, yet he rests on his promise, and comforts himself in it. the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
50 It is my comfort in my trouble: for thy promes hath quickened me.
51 The Meaning the wicked who contemn God's word, and tread his religion under foot. proud have had me greatly in derision: [yet] have I not declined from thy law.
52 I remembered thy That is, the examples, by which you declare yourself to be judge of the world. judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.
53 That is, a vehement zeal to your glory and indignation against the wicked.Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.
54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my In the course of this life and sorrowful exit. pilgrimage.
55 I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the Even when others sleep. night, and have kept thy law.
56 That is, all these benefits.This I had, because I kept thy precepts.
57 CHETH. [Thou art] my I am persuaded that to keep your law is a heritage and great gain for me. portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.
58 I made my supplication in thy presence with my whole heart: be mercifull vnto me according to thy promes.
59 I thought on my He shows that no one can embrace the word of God, unless he considers his own imperfections and ways. ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
60 I made haste and delaied not to keepe thy commandements.
61 The bands of the wicked have They have gone about to draw me into their company. robbed me: [but] I have not forgotten thy law.
62 At midnight will I rise to giue thanks vnto thee, because of thy righteous iudgements.
63 I [am] a Not only in mutual consent, but also with aid and help. companion of all [them] that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: For the knowledge of God's word is a singular token of his favour. teach me thy statutes.
65 TETH. Thou hast dealt Having proved by experience that God was true in his promise, he desires that he would increase in him knowledge and judgment. well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.
66 Teach me good iudgement & knowledge: for I haue beleeued thy commandements.
67 Before I was So Jeremiah says, that before the Lord touched him, he was like a calf untamed so that the use of God's rod is to call us home to God. afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
68 Thou art good and gracious: teach me thy statutes.
69 The proud haue imagined a lie against me: but I wil keepe thy precepts with my whole heart.
70 Their heart is indurate and hardened, puffed up with prosperity and vain estimation of themselves.Their heart is as fat as grease; [but] I delight in thy law.
71 [It is] He confesses that before he was chastened he was rebellious as man by nature is. good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
72 The Lawe of thy mouth is better vnto me, then thousands of golde and siluer.
73 JOD. Thy hands have Because God does not leave his work that he has begun, he desires a new grace: that is, that he would continue his mercies. made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
74 They that When God shows his grace toward any, he testifies to others that he does not fail them who trust in him. fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.
75 I knowe, O Lorde, that thy iudgements are right, and that thou hast afflicted me iustly.
76 I pray thee that thy mercie may comfort me according to thy promes vnto thy seruant.
77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may He declares that when he did not feel God's mercies, he was as dead. live: for thy law [is] my delight.
78 Let the proude be ashamed: for they haue dealt wickedly and falsely with me: but I meditate in thy precepts.
79 Let those that fear thee That is, be comforted by my example. turn unto me, and those that have He shows that there can be no true fear of God without the knowledge of his word. known thy testimonies.
80 Let mine heart bee vpright in thy statutes, that I be not ashamed.
81 CAPH. My soul Though my strength fails me, yet my soul groans and sighs, resting still in your word. fainteth for thy salvation: [but] I hope in thy word.
82 Mine eyes faile for thy promes, saying, when wilt thou comfort me?
83 For I am become like a Like a skin bottle or bladder that is parched in the smoke. bottle in the smoke; [yet] do I not forget thy statutes.
84 How many [are] the How long will you afflict your servant. days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
85 The proud have They have not only oppressed me violently but also craftily conspired against me. digged pits for me, which [are] not after thy law.
86 All thy commandments [are] faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; He assures himself that God will deliver his and destroy such as unjustly persecute them. help thou me.
87 They had almost consumed Finding no help on earth, he lifts up his eyes to heaven. me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.
88 Quicken me according to thy louing kindnes: so shall I keepe the testimony of thy mouth.
89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in Because no one should esteem God's word according to the changes of things in this world, he shows that it abides in heaven, and therefore is immutable. heaven.
90 Thy trueth is from generation to generation: thou hast layed the foundation of the earth, and it abideth.
91 They Seeing the earth and all creatures remain in that estate in which you have created them, much more your truth remains constant and unchangeable. continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all [are] thy servants.
92 Except thy Lawe had bene my delite, I should now haue perished in mine affliction.
93 I wil neuer forget thy precepts: for by them thou hast quickened me.
94 I [am] He proves by effect that he is God's child, because he seeks to understand his word. thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.
95 The wicked haue waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
96 I There is nothing so perfect in earth, but it has an end, only God's word lasts forever. have seen an end of all perfection: [but] thy commandment [is] exceeding broad.
97 MEM. O how love I thy law! it [is] my meditation He shows that we cannot love God's word unless we exercise ourselves in it and practise it. all the day.
98 By thy commaundements thou hast made mee wiser then mine enemies: for they are euer with mee.
99 I have more Whoever submits himself only to God's word will not only be safe against the practises of his enemies, but also learn more wisdom than they who profess it, and are men of experience. understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies [are] my meditation.
100 I vnderstoode more then the ancient, because I kept thy precepts.
101 I haue refrained my feete from euery euil way, that I might keepe thy word.
102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for So then of ourselves we can do nothing, but when God inwardly instructs us with his spirit, we feel his graces sweeter than honey. thou hast taught me.
103 Howe sweete are thy promises vnto my mouth! yea, more then hony vnto my mouth.
104 By thy precepts I haue gotten vnderstanding: therefore I hate all the wayes of falshoode.
105 NUN. Thy word [is] a Of ourselves we are but darkness and cannot see unless we are lightened with God's Word. lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
106 I have So all the faithful ought to bind themselves to God by a solemn oath and promises to stir up their zeal to embrace God's word. sworn, and I will perform [it], that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
107 I am very sore afflicted: O Lord, quicken me according to thy word.
108 Accept, I beseech thee, the That is, my prayer and thanksgiving which Hosea calls the calves of the lips, (Hos_14:2). freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.
109 My That is, I am in continual danger of my life. soul [is] continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.
110 The wicked haue layed a snare for mee: but I swarued not from thy precepts.
111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an I esteemed no worldly things, but made your word my inheritance. heritage for ever: for they [are] the rejoicing of my heart.
112 I haue applied mine heart to fulfill thy statutes always, euen vnto the ende.
113 SAMECH. I hate Whoever will embrace God's word correctly must abhor all fantasies and imaginations both of himself and others. [vain] thoughts: but thy law do I love.
114 Thou art my refuge and shield, and I trust in thy worde.
115 And hinder me not to keep the law of the Lord.Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.
116 Stablish me according to thy promes, that I may liue, and disappoint me not of mine hope.
117 He desires God's continual assistance, lest he should faint in this race, which he had begun.Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.
118 Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their The crafty practises of them who contemn your law will be brought to nothing. deceit [is] falsehood.
119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth [like] Which infected your people, as dross does metal. dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.
120 My flesh Your judgments not only teach me obedience, but cause me to fear, considering my own weakness which fear causes repentance. trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.
121 Ain. I haue executed iudgement and iustice: leaue me not to mine oppressours.
122 Put yourself between me and my enemies, as if you were my pledge.Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me.
123 Mine eyes haue failed in waiting for thy saluation, and for thy iust promes.
124 Deal with thy He does not boast that he is God's servant, but by this reminds God that as he made him his by his grace, so he would continue his favour toward him. servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.
125 I am thy seruant: graunt mee therefore vnderstanding, that I may knowe thy testimonies.
126 [It is] The prophet shows that when the wicked have brought all things to confusion, and God's word to utter contempt, then it is God's time to help and send remedy. time for [thee], LORD, to work: [for] they have made void thy law.
127 Therefore loue I thy commaundements aboue golde, yea, aboue most fine golde.
128 Therefore I esteem all [thy] precepts [concerning] all [things to be] right; [and] I hate every false That is, whatever dissents from the purity of your word. way.
129 PE. Thy testimonies [are] Containing high and secret mysteries, so that I am moved with admiration and reverence. wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
130 The entrance of thy The simple idiots that submit themselves to God have their eyes opened and their minds illuminated, as soon as they begin to read God's word. words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
131 I opened my mouth, and My zeal toward your word was so great. panted: for I longed for thy commandments.
132 Looke vpon mee and bee mercifull vnto me, as thou vsest to doe vnto those that loue thy Name.
133 Direct my steppes in thy worde, and let none iniquitie haue dominion ouer me.
134 Deliuer mee from the oppression of men, and I will keepe thy precepts.
135 Shew the light of thy countenance vpon thy seruant, and teache me thy statutes.
136 Rivers of waters He shows what should be the zeal of God's children when they see his word contemned. run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.
137 Tsaddi. Righteous art thou, O Lorde, and iust are thy iudgements.
138 Thy testimonies [that] thou hast commanded [are] We cannot confess God to be righteous, unless we live uprightly and truly as he has commanded. righteous and very faithful.
139 My zeale hath euen consumed mee, because mine enemies haue forgotten thy wordes.
140 Thy word is prooued most pure, and thy seruant loueth it.
141 I [am] This is the true trial to praise God in adversity. small and despised: [yet] do not I forget thy precepts.
142 Thy righteousnesse is an euerlasting righteousnes, and thy Lawe is trueth.
143 Trouble and anguish are come vpon me: yet are thy commandements my delite.
144 The righteousness of thy testimonies [is] everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall So that the life of man without the knowledge of God is death. live.
145 KOPH. I He shows that all his affection and whole heart were bent toward God to have help in his dangers. cried with [my] whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.
146 I called vpon thee: saue mee, and I will keepe thy testimonies.
147 I preuented the morning light, and cried: for I waited on thy word.
148 Mine eyes He was more earnest in the study of God's word, than they who kept the watch were in their charge. prevent the [night] watches, that I might meditate in thy word.
149 Heare my voyce according to thy louing kindenesse: O Lord, quicken me according to thy iudgement.
150 They draw nigh that follow after He shows the nature of the wicked to be to persecute against their conscience. mischief: they are far from thy law.
151 Thou art neere, O Lorde: for all thy commaundements are true.
152 His faith is grounded on God's word, that he would always be at hand when his children are oppressed.Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.
153 Resh. Beholde mine affliction, and deliuer mee: for I haue not forgotten thy Lawe.
154 Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy For without God's promise there is no hope of deliverance. word.
155 Saluation is farre from the wicked, because they seeke not thy statutes.
156 Great [are] thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy According to your promise made in the law, which because the wicked lack they have no hope of salvation. judgments.
157 My persecutours and mine oppressours are many: yet doe I not swarue from thy testimonies.
158 I beheld the transgressors, and was My zeal consumed me when I saw their malice and contempt for your glory. grieved; because they kept not thy word.
159 Consider how I It is a sure sign of our adoption, when we love the Law of God. love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.
160 Thy word [is] true [from] the Since you first promised it, even to the end all your sayings are true. beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments [endureth] for ever.
161 SCHIN. Princes have The threatenings and persecutions of princes could not cause me to cease to confess you whom I fear more than men. persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
162 I reioyce at thy worde, as one that findeth a great spoyle.
163 I hate falshoode and abhorre it, but thy Lawe doe I loue.
164 That is, often and various times.Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.
165 Great peace have they which For their conscience assures them that they please you, whereas they who do not love you have the contrary. love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
166 LORD, I have He shows that we must first have faith before we can work and please God. hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.
167 My soule hath kept thy testimonies: for I loue them exceedingly.
168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: I had no respect for men, but set you always before my eyes as the judge of my doings. for all my ways [are] before thee.
169 TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding As you have promised to be the schoolmaster to all who depend on you. according to thy word.
170 Let my supplication come before thee, and deliuer me according to thy promes.
171 My lips shall The word means to pour forth continually. utter praise, when thou hast All his prayer and desire is to profit in the word of God. taught me thy statutes.
172 My tongue shall intreate of thy word: for all thy commaundements are righteous.
173 Let thine hand helpe me: for I haue chosen thy precepts.
174 I haue longed for thy saluation, O Lorde, and thy Lawe is my delite.
175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy That is, your provident care over me, and with which you will judge my enemies. judgments help me.
176 I have Being chased to and fro by my enemies, and having no place to rest in. gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.
1 «A Song of That is, of lifting up the tune and rising in singing. degrees.» In my Even though the children of God should rejoice when they suffer for righteousness sake, yet it is a great grief to the flesh to hear evil for well doing. distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.
2 Deliuer my soule, O Lord, from lying lippes, and from a deceitfull tongue.
3 What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou He assured himself that God would turn their craft to their own destruction. false tongue?
4 He shows that there is nothing so sharp to pierce, nor so hot to set on fire, as a slanderous tongue.Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
5 Woe is me, that I sojourn in These were people of Arabia, who came from Japheth, (Gen_10:2). Mesech, [that] I dwell in the tents of That is, of the Ishmaelites. Kedar!
6 My soule hath too long dwelt with him that hateth peace.
7 I [am for] He declares what he means by Meshech and Kedar, that is, the Israelites who had degenerated from their godly fathers, and hated and contended against the faithful. peace: but when I speak, they [are] for war.
1 A song of degrees. I will lift mine eyes vnto the mouuntaines, from whence mine helpe shall come.
2 My help [cometh] from the LORD, which made He accuses man's ingratitude, which cannot depend on God's power. heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not He shows that God's providence not only watches over his Church in general, but also over every member of it. slumber.
4 Beholde, he that keepeth Israel, wil neither slumber nor sleepe.
5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shadow at thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not Neither heat nor cold, nor any inconvenience will be able to destroy God's Church, even though for a time they may molest it. smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserue thee from all euil: he shall keepe thy soule.
8 The LORD shall preserve thy Whatever you attempt will have good success. going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
1 «A Song of degrees of David.» I He rejoices that God had appointed a place where the ark would still remain. was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
2 Our Which were wont to wander to and fro, as the ark moved. feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is By the artificial joining and beauty of the houses, he means the peace and love that was between the citizens. compact together:
4 Whither All the tribes according to God's covenant will come and pray there. the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.
5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of In whose house God placed the throne of justice, and made it a figure of Christ's kingdom. David.
6 Pray for the peace of Ierusalem: let them prosper that loue thee.
7 Peace be within thy The favour of God prosper you both within and without. walls, [and] prosperity within thy palaces.
8 For my Not only for my own sake but for all the faithful. brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace [be] within thee.
9 Because of the House of the Lord our God, I will procure thy wealth.
1 A song of degrees. I lift vp mine eyes to thee, that dwellest in the heauens.
2 Behold, as the eyes of He compares the condition of the godly, to servants who are destitute of all help, assuring that when all other help fails, God is always at hand and like himself. servants [look] unto the hand of their masters, [and] as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes [wait] upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
3 Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are He declares that when the faithful are so full that they cannot endure the oppression and scorning of the wicked any more, there is always help above, if with hungry desires they call for it. exceedingly filled with contempt.
4 Our soule is filled too full of ye mocking of the wealthy, & of the despitefulnes of the proude.
1 «A Song of degrees of David.» If [it had not been] the LORD who was He shows that God was ready to help at need and that there was no other way to be saved, but by this means alone. on our side, now may Israel say;
2 If the Lord had not bene on our side, when men rose vp against vs,
3 Then they had swallowed us up So unable were we to resist. quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
4 Then the He uses proper similitudes to express the great danger that the Church was in, and out of which God miraculously delivered them. waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
5 Then had the swelling waters gone ouer our soule.
6 Praysed be the Lord, which hath not giuen vs as a praye vnto their teeth.
7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the For the wicked not only furiously rage against the faithful, but craftily imagined to destroy them. snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
8 Our helpe is in the Name of the Lorde, which hath made heauen and earth.
1 «A Song of degrees.» They that trust in the LORD [shall be] as mount Zion, [which] cannot Though the world is subject to mutations, yet the people of God will stand sure and be defended by God's providence. be removed, [but] abideth for ever.
2 As the mountaines are about Ierusalem: so is the Lord about his people from henceforth and for euer.
3 For the Though God permits his to be under the cross lest they embrace wickedness, yet this cross will not so rest on them, that it should drive them from hope. rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
4 Doe well, O Lord, vnto those that be good and true in their hearts.
5 He desires God to purge his Church from hypocrites and such as have no zeal for the truth.As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: [but] peace [shall be] upon Israel.
1 «A Song of degrees.» When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that Their deliverance was incredible and therefore took away all excuse for ingratitude. dream.
2 Then was our mouth He shows how the godly should rejoice when God gathers his Church or delivers it. filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the If the infidels confess God's wonderful work, the faithful can never show themselves sufficiently thankful. heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.
3 The Lord hath done great things for vs, whereof we reioyce.
4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the It is no more impossible for God to deliver his people than to cause the rivers to run in the wilderness and barren places. streams in the south.
5 They that sowe in teares, shall reape in ioy.
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing That is, seed which was scarce and dear: meaning, that they who trusted in God's promise to return had their desire. precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves [with him].
1 «A Song of degrees for Solomon.» Except the LORD That is, govern and dispose all things pertaining to the family. build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the The public estate of the commonwealth. city, the watchman waketh [but] in vain.
2 [It is] vain for Who watch and ward and are also magistrates and rulers of the city. you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread Either that which is gained by hard labour, or eaten with grief of mind. of sorrows: [for] so he giveth his beloved Not exempting them from labour, but making their labours comfortable and as it were a rest. sleep.
3 Beholde, children are the inheritance of the Lord, and the fruite of the wombe his rewarde.
4 As arrows [are] in the hand of a mighty man; so [are] That is, endued with strength and virtues from God: for these are signs of God's blessings, and not the number. children of the youth.
5 Happy [is] the man that hath his quiver full of them: they Such children will be able to stop their adversaries mouths, when their godly life is maliciously accused before judges. shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
1 «A Song of degrees.» Blessed [is] every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his God approves not our life, unless it is reformed according to his word. ways.
2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine The world esteems them happy who live in wealth and idleness but the Holy Spirit approves them best who live of the mean profit of their labours. hands: happy [shalt] thou [be], and [it shall be] well with thee.
3 Thy wife [shall be] as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy Because God's favour appears in no outward thing more than in the increase of children, he promises to enrich the faithful with this gift. children like olive plants round about thy table.
4 Lo, surely thus shall the man be blessed, that feareth the Lord.
5 The LORD shall Because of the spiritual blessing which God has made to his Church, these temporal things will be granted. bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of For unless God blessed his Church publicly, this private blessing was nothing. Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
6 Yea, thou shalt see thy childrens children, and peace vpon Israel.
1 «A Song of degrees.» Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may The Church now afflicted should remember how her condition has always been such from the beginning to be molested most grievously by the wicked, yet in time it has always been delivered. Israel now say:
2 They haue often times afflicted me fro my youth: but they could not preuaile against me.
3 The plowers plowed vpon my backe, and made long furrowes.
4 The LORD [is] Because God is righteous, he cannot but plague his adversary, and deliver his as oxen out of the plough. righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
5 They that hate Zion, shalbe all ashamed and turned backward.
6 The enemies who lift themselves high, and as it were approach the Sun, are consumed with the heat of God's wrath, because they are not grounded in godly humility.Let them be as the grass [upon] the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:
7 Whereof the mower filleth not his hand, neither the glainer his lap:
8 That is, the wicked will perish, and none will pass for them.Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD [be] upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.
1 «A Song of degrees.» Out of the Being in great distress and sorrow. depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.
2 Lorde, heare my voyce: let thine eares attend to the voyce of my prayers.
3 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, He declares that we cannot be just before God but by forgiveness of sins. who shall stand?
4 But [there is] forgiveness with thee, that thou Because by nature you are merciful therefore the faithful revere you. mayest be feared.
5 I haue waited on the Lord: my soule hath waited, and I haue trusted in his worde.
6 My soule waiteth on the Lorde more then the morning watch watcheth for the morning.
7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD [there is] He shows to whom the mercy of God belongs, that is, Israel, to the Church and not the reprobate. mercy, and with him [is] plenteous redemption.
8 And he shall redeeme Israel from all his iniquities.
1 «A Song of degrees of David.» LORD, He sets forth his great humility as an example to all rulers and governors. my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great Which pass the measure and limits of his calling. matters, or in things too high for me.
2 Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul [is] even as a He was void of ambition and wicked desires. weaned child.
3 Let Israel waite on the Lord from hencefoorth and for euer.
1 A Song of degrees. LORD, remember David, [and] all his That is, with great difficulty he came to the kingdom, and with great zeal and care he went about to build your temple. afflictions:
2 Who sware vnto the Lorde, and vowed vnto the mightie God of Iaakob, saying,
3 Surely I Because the chief charge of the king was to set forth God's glory, he shows that he would take no rest, neither would he go about any worldly thing, were it never so necessary before he had executed his office. will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed;
4 Nor suffer mine eyes to sleepe, nor mine eye lids to slumber,
5 Until I find out a place for the That is, the ark, which was a sign of God's presence. LORD, an habitation for the mighty [God] of Jacob.
6 Lo, we heard of it at The common instinct was that the ark should remain in Ephratah, that is, in Bethlehem a plentiful place: but later we perceived that you would place it in Jerusalem, which was barren as a forest and compassed about only with hills. Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.
7 We will enter into his Tabernacles, and worship before his footestoole.
8 Arise, O LORD, into thy That is Jerusalem, because later his Ark would move to no other place. rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.
9 Let thy priests be clothed with Let the effect of your grace appear both in the priests and in the people. righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.
10 For thy As you first made promise to David, so continue it to his posterity that whatever they ask for their people, it may be granted. servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed.
11 The Lord hath sworne in trueth vnto Dauid, and he wil not shrinke from it, saying, Of the fruite of thy body will I set vpon thy throne.
12 If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for Because this cannot be accomplished but in Christ, it follows that the promise was spiritual. evermore.
13 For the Lord hath chosen Zion, and loued to dwell in it, saying,
14 This [is] my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have Meaning, for his own sake and not for the plentifulness of the place: for he promises to bless it, declaring before that it was barren. desired it.
15 I will surely blesse her vitailes, and will satisfie her poore with bread,
16 I will also clothe her priests with That is, with my protection, by which they will be safe. salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
17 There will I make the Though his force for a time seemed to be broken, yet he promises to restore it. horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.
18 His enemies will I clothe with shame, but on him his crowne shall florish.
1 «A Song of degrees of David.» Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] for brethren to dwell Because the greatest part was against David, though some favoured him, yet when he was established king at length, they joined all together like brothers: and therefore he shows by these similarities the convenience of brotherly love. together in unity!
2 [It is] like the precious The ointment was a figure of the graces which come from Christ the head of his Church. ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, [even] Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
3 As the dew of By Hermon and Zion he means the plentiful country about Jerusalem. Hermon, [and as the dew] that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for Where there is such concord. there the LORD commanded the blessing, [even] life for evermore.
1 «A Song of degrees.» Behold, bless ye the LORD, all [ye] You who are Levites and chiefly appointed to this office. servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.
2 Lift up your For their charge was not only to keep the temple, but to pray there and to give God thanks. hands [in] the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.
3 The LORD that And therefore has all power, bless you with his fatherly love declared in Zion. Thus the Levites used to praise the Lord, and bless the people. made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.
1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise the Name of the Lorde: ye seruants of the Lord, praise him.
2 Ye that You Levites who are in his sanctuary. stand in the house of the LORD, in the Meaning, the people: for the people and Levites had their courts, which were separate places of the temple. courts of the house of our God,
3 Praise ye the Lord: for the Lorde is good: sing praises vnto his Name: for it is a comely thing.
4 For the LORD hath That is, has freely loved the posterity of Abraham. chosen Jacob unto himself, [and] Israel for his peculiar treasure.
5 For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is aboue all gods.
6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, [that] He joined God's power with his will, to the intent that we should not separate them and by this he wills God's people to depend on his power which he confirms by examples. did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
7 He bringeth vp the cloudes fro the ends of the earth, & maketh the lightnings with ye raine: he draweth foorth the winde out of his treasures.
8 He smote the first borne of Egypt both of man and beast.
9 He hath sent tokens and wonders into the middes of thee, O Egypt, vpon Pharaoh, and vpon all his seruants.
10 He smote many nations, and slew mightie Kings:
11 As Sihon King of the Amorites, and Og King of Bashan, & all the kingdomes of Canaan:
12 And He shows what fruit the godly conceive of God's power, by which they see how he destroys his enemies, and delivers his people. gave their land [for] an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.
13 Thy Name, O Lorde, endureth for euer: O Lorde, thy remembrance is from generation to generation.
14 For the LORD will That is, govern and defend his people. judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.
15 The By showing the punishment God appoints for the heathen idolaters, he warns his people to beware of the same offences, seeing that idols have neither power nor life, and that their deliverance came not by idols, but by the mighty power of God, see (Psa_115:4-14). idols of the heathen [are] silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
16 They haue a mouth, and speake not: they haue eyes and see not.
17 They haue eares and heare not, neither is there any breath in their mouth.
18 They that make them, are like vnto them: so are all that trust in them.
19 Praise the Lord, ye house of Israel: praise the Lord, ye house of Aaron.
20 Praise the Lorde, ye house of Leui: ye that feare the Lord, praise the Lord.
21 Praised bee the Lorde out of Zion, which dwelleth in Ierusalem. Praise ye the Lord.
1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: for his By this repetition he shows that the least of God's benefits bind us to thanksgiving: but chiefly his mercy, which is principally declared towards his Church. mercy [endureth] for ever.
2 Praise ye the God of gods: for his mercie endureth for euer.
3 Praise ye the Lord of lordes: for his mercie endureth for euer:
4 Which onely doeth great wonders: for his mercie endureth for euer:
5 Which by his wisedome made the heauens: for his mercie endureth for euer:
6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his This was a common kind of thanksgiving, which the whole people used, when they had received any benefit from God, as in (2Ch_7:6, 2Ch_20:21), meaning that God was not only merciful to their fathers, but also continued the same to their posterity. mercy [endureth] for ever.
7 Which made great lightes: for his mercie endureth for euer:
8 As the sunne to rule the day: for his mercie endureth for euer:
9 The moone and the starres to gouerne the night: for his mercie endureth for euer:
10 Which smote Egypt with their first borne, (for his mercie endureth for euer)
11 And God's merciful providence toward man appears in all his creatures, but chiefly in that he delivered his Church from the clutches of their enemies. brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
12 With a strong hand, and with a In doing such a work as was never done before, nor that any other could do. stretched out arm: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
13 Which deuided the red Sea in two partes: for his mercie endureth for euer:
14 And made Israel to passe through the mids of it: for his mercie endureth for euer:
15 And ouerthrewe Pharaoh and his hoste in the red Sea: for his mercie endureth for euer:
16 To him which led his people through the Where for the space of forty years he showed infinite and most strange wonders. wilderness: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
17 Which smote great Kings: for his mercie endureth for euer:
18 And slew Declaring by it that no power or authority was so dear to him as the love of his Church. famous kings: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
19 As Sihon King of the Amorites: for his mercie endureth for euer:
20 And Og the King of Bashan: for his mercie endureth for euer:
21 And gaue their land for an heritage: for his mercie endureth for euer:
22 Euen an heritage vnto Israel his seruant: for his mercie endureth for euer:
23 Who remembered us in our In our greatest affliction and slavery when we looked for nothing less than to have had any help. low estate: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
24 And hath rescued vs from our oppressours: for his mercie endureth for euer:
25 Who giveth food to all Seeing that God provides even for the beasts much more has he care over his. flesh: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
26 Seeing that all ages have had most plain testimonies of God's benefits.O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we That is, we abode a long time, and even though the country was pleasant, yet it could not stay our tears, nor turn us from the true service of our God. sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst That is, of that country. thereof.
3 For there they that carried us away captive The Babylonians speak thus in mocking us, as though by our silence we should signify that we hoped no more in God. required of us a song; and they that wasted us [required of us] mirth, [saying], Sing us [one] of the songs of Zion.
4 Howe shall we sing, said we, a song of the Lord in a strange land?
5 Even the faithful are touched by their particular griefs, yet the common sorrow of the Church is most grievous to them, and is such as they cannot but remember and lament.If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget [her cunning].
6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my The decay of God's religion in their country was so grievous that no joy could make them glad, unless it was restored. chief joy.
7 Remember, O LORD, the children of As was prophesied in (Eze_25:13, Jer_49:7, Oba_1:10), showing that the Edomites who came from Esau, conspired with the Babylonians against their brethren and kinsfolk. Edom in the When you visited Jerusalem. day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase [it], rase [it, even] to the foundation thereof.
8 O daughter of Babel, worthy to be destroyed, blessed shall he be that rewardeth thee, as thou hast serued vs.
9 He alludes to Isaiah's prophecy in (Isa_13:16) promising good success to Cyrus and Darius, whom ambition moved to fight against Babylon, but God used them as his rods to punish his enemies.Happy [shall he be], that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
1 «[A Psalm] of David.» I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the Even in the presence of angels and of them who have authority among men. gods will I sing praise unto thee.
2 I will worship toward thy holy Both the temple and ceremonial service at Christ's coming were abolished: so that now God will be worshipped only in spirit and truth, (Joh_4:23). temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, [and] You have strengthened me against my outward and inward enemies. strengthenedst me [with] strength in my soul.
4 All the All the world will confess that you have wonderfully preserved me, and performed your promise. kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
5 And they shall sing of the wayes of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord is great.
6 Though the LORD [be] high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth Distance of place cannot hinder God to show mercy to his, and so judge the wicked though they think that he is far off. afar off.
7 Though I walke in the middes of trouble, yet wilt thou reuiue me: thou wilt stretch foorth thine hand vpon the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall saue me.
8 The LORD will Though my enemies rage, yet the Lord, who has begun his work in me, will continue his grace to the end. perfect [that which] concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, [endureth] for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
1 To him that excelleth. A Psalme of Dauid. O Lord, thou hast tried me and knowen me.
2 Thou knowest my He confesses that neither our actions, thoughts or any part of our life can be hid from God, though he seems to be far off. downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou So that they are evidently known to you. compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted [with] all my ways.
4 For [there is] not a word in my You know my meaning before I speak. tongue, [but], lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine You so guide me with your hand, that I can turn no way, but where you appoint me. hand upon me.
6 Thy knowledge is too wonderfull for mee: it is so high that I cannot attaine vnto it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy From your power and knowledge? spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascende into heauen, thou art there: if I lye downe in hell, thou art there.
9 Let mee take the winges of the morning, and dwell in the vttermost parts of the sea:
10 Even there shall thy hand Your power holds me so fast that there is no way I can escape from you. lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be Though darkness is a hinderance to man's sight, yet is serves your eyes as well as the light. light about me.
12 Yea, the darkenes hideth not from thee: but the night shineth as the day: the darkenes and light are both alike.
13 For thou hast You have made me in all parts and therefore must know me. possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am Considering your wonderful work in forming me, I cannot but praise you and fear your mighty power. fearfully [and] wonderfully made: marvellous [are] thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, [and] curiously wrought That is, in my mother's womb: which he compares to the inward parts of the earth. in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; Seeing that you knew me before I was composed of either flesh or bone, much more now must you know me when you have fashioned me. and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them.
17 How How should we esteem the excellent declaration of your wisdom in the creation of man? precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 [If] I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I continually see new opportunity to meditate in your wisdom, and to praise you. I am still with thee.
19 Oh that thou wouldest slay, O God, the wicked and bloody men, to whom I say, Depart ye from mee:
20 Which speake wickedly of thee, and being thine enemies are lifted vp in vaine.
21 Do not I He teaches us boldly to contemn all the hatred of the wicked and friendship of the world, when they would prevent us from serving God sincerely. hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them with an vnfained hatred, as they were mine vtter enemies.
23 Try mee, O God, and knowe mine heart: prooue me and know my thoughtes,
24 And see if [there be any] Or any heinous or rebellious way: meaning that though he was subject to sin, yet he was not given to wickedness, and to provoke God by rebellion. wicked way in me, and lead me in the That is, continue your favour toward me to the end. way everlasting.
1 «To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.» Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the Who persecutes me out of malice and without cause. violent man;
2 Which imagine mischiefs in [their] That is, by their false accusations and lies, they kindle the hatred of the wicked against me. heart; continually are they gathered together [for] war.
3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; He shows the weapons the wicked use, when power and force fail them. adders' poison [is] under their lips. Selah.
4 Keep He declares the remedy of the godly, when they are oppressed by the worldlings. me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
5 The proude haue layde a snare for me, and spred a nette with cordes in my pathway, and set grennes for me. Selah.
6 Therefore I saide vnto the Lorde, Thou art my God: heare, O Lord, the voyce of my prayers.
7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou He calls to God with lively faith, being assured of his mercies, because he had before time proved, that God helped him ever in his dangers. hast covered my head in the day of battle.
8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: For it is in God's hand to overthrow the counsels and enterprises of the wicked. further not his wicked device; [lest] they exalt themselves. Selah.
9 [As for] It seems that he alludes to Saul. the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10 Let burning coals fall upon them: That is by God, for David saw that they were reprobate and that there was no hope of repentance in them. let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
11 Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall God's plagues will light on him in such sort, that he will not escape. hunt the violent man to overthrow [him].
12 I know that the Lord will auenge the afflicted, and iudge the poore.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall That is, will be descended and preserved by your fatherly providence and care. dwell in thy presence.
1 «A Psalm of David.» LORD, I He shows that there is no other refuge in our necessity but only to flee to God for comfort of soul. cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee [as] incense; [and] the He means his earnest zeal and gesture, which he used in prayer: alluding to the sacrifices which were by God's commandment offered in the old law. lifting up of my hands [as] the evening sacrifice.
3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; He desires God to keep his thoughts and ways either from thinking or executing vengeance. keep the door of my lips.
4 Incline not my heart to [any] evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their Let not their prosperity lure me to be wicked as they are. dainties.
5 Let the righteous smite me; [it shall be] a kindness: and let He could abide all corrections that came from a loving heart. him reprove me; [it shall be] an excellent oil, [which] shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also [shall be] in their calamities.
6 When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall The people who follow their wicked rulers in persecuting the prophet will repent and turn to God, when they see their wicked rulers punished. hear my words; for they are sweet.
7 Our bones are scattered at the Here it appears that David was miraculously delivered out of many deaths as in (2Co_1:9-10). grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth [wood] upon the earth.
8 But mine eyes looke vnto thee, O Lord God: in thee is my trust: leaue not my soule destitute.
9 Keepe me from the snare, which they haue layde for me, and from the grennes of the workers of iniquitie.
10 Let the wicked fall into Into God's nets, by which he catches the wicked in their own malice. their own nets, So that none of them escape. whilst that I withal escape.
1 «Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave.» I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I David's patience and constant prayer to God condemns their wicked rage, who in their troubles either despair and murmur against God, or else seek other than God, to have relief in their miseries. make my supplication.
2 I powred out my meditation before him, and declared mine affliction in his presence.
3 Though my spirit was in perplexitie in me, yet thou knewest my path: in the way wherein I walked, haue they priuily layde a snare for me.
4 I looked vpon my right hand, and beheld, but there was none that would knowe me: all refuge failed me, and none cared for my soule.
5 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou [art] my Though all means failed him, yet he knew that God would never forsake him. refuge [and] my portion in the land of the living.
6 Hearken vnto my crye, for I am brought very lowe: deliuer me from my persecuters, for they are too strong for me.
7 Bring my soul out of For he was on all sides beset with his enemies as though he had been in a severe prison. prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall Either to rejoice at my wonderful deliverer, or to set a crown on my head. compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
1 «A Psalm of David.» Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: That is, as you have promised to be faithful in your promise to all who trust in you. in thy faithfulness answer me, [and] in thy That is, according to your free goodness, by which you defend your own. righteousness.
2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy He know that his afflictions were God's messengers to call him to repentance for his sins, though toward his enemies he was innocent, and in God's sight all men are sinners. sight shall no man living be justified.
3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been He acknowledges that God is the only and true physician and heal him: and that he is able to raise him to life, though he were dead long ago, and turned to ashes. long dead.
4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my So that only by faith and by the grace of God's Spirit was he upheld. heart within me is desolate.
5 I remember the That is, your great benefits of old, and the manifold examples of your favour towards your own. days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
6 I stretch forth mine hands vnto thee: my soule desireth after thee, as the thirstie land. Selah.
7 Heare me speedily, O Lorde, for my spirit fayleth: hide not thy face from me, els I shall be like vnto them that go downe into the pit.
8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the That is, speedily and in due season. morning; for in thee do I trust: Let your Holy Spirit counsel me how to come forth from these great cares and troubles. cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I hid myself under the shadow of your wings that I might be defended by your power. I flee unto thee to hide me.
10 He confesses that both the knowledge and obedience of God's will comes by the Spirit of God, who teaches us by his word, gives understanding by his Spirit, and frames our hearts by his grace to obey him.Teach me to That is, justly and aright, for as soon as we decline from God's will, we fall into error. do thy will; for thou [art] my God: thy spirit [is] good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
11 Quicken me, O Lord, for thy Names sake, and for thy righteousnesse bring my soule out of trouble.
12 And of thy mercy Which will be a sign of your fatherly kindness toward me. cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I [am] thy Resigning myself wholly to you, and trusting in your protection. servant.
1 «[A Psalm] of David.» Blessed [be] the LORD my strength, which Who out of a poor shepherd has made a valiant warrior and mighty conqueror. teacheth my hands to war, [and] my fingers to fight:
2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and [he] in whom I trust; who He confesses that neither by his own authority, power or policy was his kingdom quiet, but by the secret grace of God. subdueth my people under me.
3 LORD, what [is] man, that thou To give to God just praise, is to confess ourselves to be unworthy of so excellent benefits, and that he bestows them on us of his free mercy. takest knowledge of him! [or] the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
4 Man is like to vanitie: his dayes are like a shadow, that vanisheth.
5 He desires God to continue his graces, and to send help for the present need.Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6 By these manner of speeches he shows that all the hindrances in the world cannot prevent God's power, which he apprehends by faith.Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.
7 Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great That is, deliver me from the tumults of they who should be my people but are corrupt in their judgment and enterprises, as though they were strangers. waters, from the hand of strange children;
8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand [is] a right hand For though they shake hands, they do not keep their promises. of falsehood.
9 I will sing a That is, a rare and excellent song, as your great benefits deserve. new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery [and] an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
10 [It is he] that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his Though wicked kings are called God's servants, as was Cyrus in (Isa_45:1), for he uses them to execute his judgments: yet David because of God's promise and they who rule godly are properly so called, because they do not serve their own affections, but set forth God's glory. servant from the hurtful sword.
11 Rescue me, and deliuer me from the hand of strangers, whose mouth talketh vanitie, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehoode:
12 He desires God to continue his benefits toward his people, counting the procreation of children and their good education among the chiefest of God's benefits.That our sons [may be] as plants grown up in their youth; [that] our daughters [may be] as corner stones, polished [after] the similitude of a palace:
13 [That] our That the corners of our houses may be full of store for the great abundance of your blessings. garners [may be] full, affording all manner of store: [that] our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:
14 [That] our He attributes not only the great conveniences, but even the least also to God's favour. oxen [may be] strong to labour; [that there be] no breaking in, nor going out; that [there be] no complaining in our streets.
15 Happy [is that] people, that is And if God does not give to all his children all these blessings, yet he replaces them with better things. in such a case: [yea], happy [is that] people, whose God [is] the LORD.
1 «David's [Psalm] of praise.» He shows which sacrifices are pleasant and acceptable to God, even praise and thanksgiving and seeing that God still continues his benefits toward us, we ought never to be weary in praising him for the same. I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.
2 I will blesse thee dayly, and prayse thy Name for euer and euer.
3 By this he declares that all power is subject to God, and that no worldly promotion should obscure God's glory.Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness [is] unsearchable.
4 One generation shall praise thy works to Even as the reason for man's creation and his preservation in this life is to praise God, therefore he requires that not only we ourselves do this, but cause all others to do the same. another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.
5 I wil meditate of the beautie of thy glorious maiestie, and thy wonderfull workes,
6 And [men] shall speak of the might of thy Of your terrible judgments against the wicked. terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.
7 They shall breake out into the mention of thy great goodnes, and shall sing aloude of thy righteousnesse.
8 The LORD [is] gracious, and full of He describes after what sort God shows himself to all his creatures though our sins have provoked his vengeance against all: that is, merciful not only in pardoning the sins of his elect, but in doing good even to the reprobate, although they cannot feel the sweet comfort of the same. compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
9 The Lord is good to all, and his mercies are ouer all his workes.
10 All thy workes prayse thee, O Lord, and thy Saints blesse thee.
11 The praise of your glory belongs in all your creatures and though the wicked would obscure the same by their silence, yet the faithful are always mindful of the same.They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;
12 To make known to the sons of men his He shows that all things are out of order, only but where God reigns. mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.
13 Thy kingdome is an euerlasting kingdome, and thy dominion endureth throughout all ages.
14 The LORD upholdeth all that Who being in misery and affliction would faint and fall away if God did not uphold them, and therefore they should revere him who reigns in heaven and suffer themselves to be governed by him. fall, and raiseth up all [those that be] bowed down.
15 The eyes of That is, as well of man as of beast. all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.
16 Thou openest thine hand, and fillest all things liuing of thy good pleasure.
17 The LORD [is] He praises God, not only because he is beneficial to all his creatures, but also in that he justly punishes the wicked, and mercifully examines his by the cross, giving them strength and delivering them. righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
18 The LORD [is] nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in Which only belongs to the faithful: and this virtue is contrary to infidelity, doubting, impatience and murmuring. truth.
19 He will fulfil the For they will ask or wish for nothing, but according to his will, (1Jo_5:14). desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
20 The Lorde preserueth all them that loue him: but he will destroy all the wicked.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all That is, all men will be bound to praise him. flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my He stirs up himself and all his affections to praise God. soul.
2 I will prayse the Lorde during my life: as long as I haue any being, I wil sing vnto my God.
3 Put not your trust in That God may have the whole praise: in which he forbids all vain confidence showing that by nature we are more inclined to put our trust in creatures, than in God the Creator. princes, [nor] in the son of man, in whom [there is] no help.
4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his As their vain opinions, by which they flattered themselves and so imagined wicked enterprises. thoughts perish.
5 Blessed is he, that hath the God of Iaakob for his helpe, whose hope is in the Lord his God.
6 Which made He encourages the godly to trust only in the Lord, both in his power's ability to deliver them from all danger, and for his promise sake, as his will is most ready to do it. heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein [is]: which keepeth truth for ever:
7 Which executeth judgment Whose faith and patience for a while he tries but at length he punishes the adversaries, that he may be known to be the judge of the world. for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:
8 The LORD openeth [the eyes of] the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD Though he visits them with affliction, hunger, imprisonment and such like, yet his fatherly love and pity never fails them, yea rather to his these are signs of his love. loveth the righteous:
9 The LORD preserveth the Meaning, all who are destitute of worldly means and help. strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
10 The LORD shall He assures the Church that God reigns forever for the preservation of the same. reign for ever, [even] thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.
1 Praise ye the LORD: for [it is] good to sing praises unto our God; for [it is] He shows in which we ought to exercise ourselves continually, and to take our pastime: that is, in praising God. pleasant; [and] praise is comely.
2 The LORD doth build up Because the Lord is the founder of the Church, it cannot be destroyed, though the members of it are dispersed and seem as it were for a time to be cut off. Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
3 He healeth the With affliction, or sorrow for sin. broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
4 He Though it seems incredible to man, that God should assemble his Church, being so dispersed, yet nothing can be too hard to him that can number and name all the stars. telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by [their] names.
5 Great is our Lord, and great is his power: his wisdome is infinite.
6 The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the For the more high that the wicked climb the greater is their fall in the end. ground.
7 Sing vnto the Lord with prayse: sing vpon the harpe vnto our God,
8 Who He shows by the example of God's mighty power, goodness, and wisdom, that he can never lack just opportunity to praise God. covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
9 He giveth to the beast his food, [and] to the young ravens which For their crying is as it were a confession of their need, which cannot be relieved, but by God alone, then if God show himself mindful of the most contemptible souls, can he suffer them to die with famine, whom he has assured of life everlasting? cry.
10 He delighteth not in the Though to use lawful means is both profitable and pleases God, yet to put our trust in them is to defraud God of his honour. strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
11 But the Lorde deliteth in them that feare him, and attende vpon his mercie.
12 Prayse the Lorde, O Ierusalem: prayse thy God, O Zion.
13 For he hath He not only furnishes his Church with all that is necessary but preserves also the same, and makes it strong against all outward force. strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.
14 He setteth peace in thy borders, and satisfieth thee with the floure of wheate.
15 He sendeth forth his His secret working in all creatures is as a command to keep them in order and to give them moving and force. commandment [upon] earth: his word runneth very For immediately and without resisting all things obey him. swiftly.
16 He giueth snowe like wooll, and scattereth the hoare frost like ashes.
17 He casteth foorth his yce like morsels: who can abide the colde thereof?
18 He sendeth his worde and melteth them: he causeth his winde to blowe, and the waters flowe.
19 He sheweth his As before he called God's secret working in all his creatures his word: so he means by this his word the doctrine of life everlasting, which he has left to his Church as a precious treasure. word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and [as for his] judgments, they have not The cause of this difference is God's free mercy, which has elected his in his Son Christ Jesus to salvation: and his just judgment, by which he has appointed the reprobate to eternal damnation. known them. Praise ye the LORD.
1 Praise ye the Lord. Prayse ye the Lord from the heauen: prayse ye him in the high places.
2 Praise ye him, all Because they are members of the same body, he sets them before our eyes, who are most willing and by their prompt obedience teach us to do our duty. his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
3 Praise ye him, In that God's glory shines in these insensible creatures, this their beauty is as a continual praising of God. sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
4 Praise him, ye Not that there are various heavens, but because of the spheres and of the situation of the fixed stars and planets, he comprehends by this word the whole heavens. heavens of heavens, and ye That is, the rain which is in the middle region of the air, which he here comprehends under the name of the heavens. waters that [be] above the heavens.
5 Let them prayse the Name of the Lord: for he commauded, and they were created.
6 And he hath established them for euer and euer: he hath made an ordinance, which shall not passe.
7 Praise the LORD from the earth, ye Meaning the great and monstrous fishes, as whales and such like. dragons, and all deeps:
8 Which come not by chance or fortune, but by God's appointed ordinance.Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
9 Mountaines and all hils, fruitfull trees and all ceders:
10 Beasts and all cattell, creeping things and fethered foules:
11 For the greater gifts that any has received and the more high that one is preferred, the more bound is he to praise God for the same: but neither high nor low condition or degree can be exempted from this duty.Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
12 Yong men and maidens, also olde men and children:
13 Let them prayse the Name of the Lord: for his Name onely is to be exalted, and his prayse aboue the earth and the heauens.
14 He also exalteth the That is, the dignity, power and glory of his Church. horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; [even] of the By reason of his covenant made with Abraham. children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.
1 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD For his rare and manifold benefits bestowed on his Church. a new song, [and] his praise in the congregation of saints.
2 Let Israel rejoice in him that In that they were preferred before all other nations, it was a new creation, and therefore (Psa_95:7) they were called the sheep of God's hands. made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their For God as he is the creator of the soul and body, so will he that both two serve him, and that his people be continually subject to him, as to their most lawful king. King.
3 Let them prayse his Name with the flute: let them sing prayses vnto him with the timbrell and harpe.
4 For the Lorde hath pleasure in his people: he will make the meeke glorious by deliuerance.
5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their He alludes to that continual rest and quietness which they should have if they would suffer God to rule them. beds.
6 Let the high Actes of God bee in their mouth, and a two edged sword in their hands,
7 This is chiefly accomplished in the kingdom of Christ when God's people for just causes execute God's judgments against his enemies and it gives no liberty to any to avenge their private injuries.To execute vengeance upon the heathen, [and] punishments upon the people;
8 To bind Not only the people, but the kings who were their enemies should be destroyed. their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute upon them the judgment By this God binds the hands and minds of all his to enterprise no farther than he appoints. written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his That is, in the heaven. sanctuary: praise him in the For his wonderful power appears in the firmament, which in Hebrew is called a stretching out, or spreading abroad, in which the mighty work of God shines. firmament of his power.
2 Prayse ye him in his mightie Actes: prayse ye him according to his excellent greatnesse.
3 Praise him with the sound of the Exhorting the people only to rejoice in praising God, he makes mention of those instruments which by God's commandment were appointed in the old law. (Ed.) trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4 Prayse ye him with timbrell and flute: praise ye him with virginales and organs.
5 Prayse ye him with sounding cymbales: prayse ye him with high sounding cymbales.
6 Let every thing that hath He shows that all the order of nature is bound to this duty, and much more God's children, who ought never to cease to praise him, till they are gathered into that kingdom, which he has prepared for his, where they will sing everlasting praise. breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.