Imatges de pàgina
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6 Therefore the ungodly fhall not be able to ftand in the judgment; neither the finners in the congregation of the righteous. 7 But the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: and the of the ungodly fhall perish.

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WHY

Pfalm 2. Quare fremuerunt gentes?

HY do the heathen fo furiously rage together: and why do the people imagine a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together: against the Lord, and against his Anointed.

3 Let us break their bonds afunder: and caft away their cords from us.

4 He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn: the Lord fhall have them in derifion.

5 Then fhall he speak unto them in his wrath: and vex them in his fore difpleafure.

6 Yet have I fet my King: upon my holy hill of Sion.

7 I will preach the law, whereof the Lord hath faid unto me: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

8 Defire of me, and I fhall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance: and the utmost parts of the earth for thy poffeffion.

9 Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron: and break them in pieces like a potters vessel.

10 Be wife now therefore, O ye kings: be learned, ye that are judges of the earth.

II Serve the Lord in fear: and rejoice unto him with reverence. 12 + Kifs the Son, left he be angry, and fo ye perish from the right way: if his wrath be kindled (yea, but a little) blessed are all they that put their truft in him.

§ Pfalm 3. Domine, quid multiplicati? · ORD, how are they increafed that trouble me: many are they that rise against me.

But the Lord knoweth the way, &c. i. e. he approves, favours, or is pleafed with it.

Though this Pfalm may primarily be a triumphant

celebration of David's victory over his Enemies, and fafe eftablishment upon the Throne of Judah: yet it is plainly prophetical likewife and relates to the King

2 Many one there be that fay of my foul: There is no help for him in his God.

3 But thou, O Lord, art my defender: thou art my worship, and the lifter up of my head.

4 I did call upon the Lord with my voice: and he heard me out of his holy hill.

5 I laid me down and flept, and rose up again: for the Lord fuftained me.

6 I will not be afraid for ten thousands of the people: that have fet themselves against me round about.

7 Up, Lord, and help me, O my God: for thou fmitest all mine enemies upon the cheek-bone; thou haft broken the teeth of the ungodly.

8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: and thy bleffing is upon thy people.

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| Pfalm 4. Cum invocarem.

[EAR me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou haft fet me at liberty when I was in trouble ; have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer.

2 O ye fons of men, how long will ye blafpheme mine honour : and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after leafing?

3 Know this alfo, that the Lord hath chofen to himself the man that is godly: when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.

dom of the Meffiab, which it was hereby foretold, fhould, in fpite of all its Enemies, prevail through the World.

t Kifs the Son left he be angry, &c. As a Kijs among the Eastern People from a Subject to a Superior was confidered as a token of homage and reverence; fo this paffage, as it relates to Chriftians, is an Exhortation to pay a due obedience to the Doctrine. of Christ.

This Pfalm was occafioned by the Rebellion of Abfalom, when David was obliged to flee from Jerufalem. 2 Sam. xv. 14. From the fentiments which David expreffes on this occafion we may learn amidst our greatest Troubles to fix a firm reliance upon Providence: being fully affured that God both can and will

deliver us from them, when he fees it beft for us.

For thou fmiteft all mine Enemies upon the Cheerbone. This is a metaphorical expreflion fignifying that God had utterly destroyed the power of his Enemies, viz. of Saul, his defcendents and followers.. Upon this the Royal Prophet builds his hopes of future deliverance.

This Pfalm feems to be a further invocation of God's help again ft Abfalom and his feditious party; whom David here reproves and exhorts to return to their obedience-instructing them in their duty; and affuring them that true Happinefs did not confift in worldly affluence, but in God's favour, on which] he fixeth his fole dependence.

4 *Stand in awe, and fin not: commune with your own heart, in your chamber, and be still.

5 Offer the facrifice of righteoufnefs: and put your truft in

the Lord.

6 There be many that fay: Who will fhew us any good?

7 Lord, lift thou up : the light of thy countenance upon us. 8 Thou hast put gladness in my heart: fince the time that their corn, and wine, and oil increased.

9 I will lay me down in peace, and take my reft: for it is thou, Lord, only that makest me dwell in safety.

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§ Pfalm 5. Verba mea auribus.

ONDER my words, O Lord: confider my meditation. 2 O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I make my prayer.

3 My voice fhalt thou hear betimes, O Lord: early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

4 For thou art the God that haft no pleasure in wickedness: neither fhall any evil dwell with thee.

5 Such as be foolish shall not stand in thy fight: for thou hatest all them that work vanity.

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6 Thou shalt deftroy them that speak leafing the Lord will abhor both the blood-thirfty and deceitful man.

7 But as for me, I will come into thine house, even upon 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 of mine enemies: make thy way plain before my face.

Stana in are and Sin not. This in the Septuagint tranflation is be ye Angry and Sin not: which St. Paul quotes, Ephef. iv. 26. but the fenfe is much the fame in both tranflations, as it contains an Exhortation to the Rebels, not fo to give way to their Pallion, as to carry on a Confpiracy against their lawful Sovereign, and it contains in it also an useful instruction to all Men to beware of indulging their Anger to exceft left it hurry them into words and actions of which

they may afterwards have just cause to Repent.

The royal Prophet feems to have been in a state of Exile and Affliction at the time of the compofition of this Pfalm, whether from Saul or his own Son is uncertain, but, from the wickedness of his Enemies he is encouraged to hope for deliverance from his Calamities: because he is fully affured that the Righteous alone are God's favourites; and that to him all Iniquity is an abomination.

For there is no faithfulness in his mouth: their inward parts are very wickednefs.

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ongue.

* Their throat is an open fepulchre: they flatter with their

II Destroy thou them, O God, let them perish through their own imaginations: caft them out in the multitude of their ungodlinefs; for they have rebelled against thee.

12 And let all them that put their truft in thee rejoice: they fhall ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendeft them; they that love thy Name, fhall be joyful in thee;

13 For thou, Lord, wilt give thy bleffing unto the righteous: and with thy favourable kindnefs wilt thou defend him as with a fhield.

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LORD, rebuke me not in thine indignation: neither chaften me in thy difpleasure.

2 Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak: O Lord, heal me, for my bones are vexed.

3 My Soul alfo is fore troubled: but, Lord, how long wilt thou punish me?

4 Turn thee, O Lord, and deliver my foul: O fave me for thy

mercies fake.

5 + For in death no man remembereth thee: and who will give thee thanks in the pit ?

6 I am weary of my groaning, every night wash I my bed: and water my couch with my tears.

Their Throat is an open Sepulchre. ie. as the Sepulchre is a wide open for the reception of the dead, fo were David's Enemies earnestly fet upon his deftruction.

This is the first among the feven penitential Pfalms, in which David expreffes a forrow and remorfe for his past Sins, truly worthy of imitation in his circumstances.

↑ For in death no Man remembereth thee, . Which

is, as if he had faid, "Save me from eftruction, "that I may praife thee amongst the living: for if I "die, who, among the prefent degenerate Race of "Mortals, will pay thee the worship and praise which is

due to thee"? To with for Life from a defire of promoting God's glory is certainly laudable: yet it should always be with fubmiflion to his will. Because he needeth not our affiftance, but hath always fufficient power to effect his own purposes.

7 My beauty is gone for very trouble and worn away because οι of all mine enemies.

8. Away from me, all ye that work vanity for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.

9 The Lord hath heard my petition: the Lord will receive

my prayer.

To All mine enemies fhall be confounded, and fore vexed: they fhall be turned back, and put to fhame fuddenly.

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|| Pfalm 7. Domine, Deus meus.

LORD my God, in thee have I put my truft: fave me from all them that perfecute me, and deliver me;

2 Left he devour my foul like a lion, and tear it in pieces: while there is none to help.

3 O Lord my God, If I have done any fuch thing: or if there be any wickedness in my hands;

4 If I have rewarded evil unto him that dealt friendly with me: yea, I have delivered him that without any caufe is mine enemy;

5 Then let mine enemy perfecute my foul, and take me yea, let him tread my life down upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the duft.

6 Stand up, O Lord, in thy wrath, and lift up thyself, because of the indignation of mine enemies: arife up for me in the judg ment that thou haft commanded.

7 * And fo fhall the congregation of the people come about thee for their fakes therefore lift up thyfelf again.

8 The Lord shall judge the people; give fentence with me, O Lord: according to my righteousness, and according to the innocency that is in me.

The reproaches of Shimei the Benjamite feem to have given occafion to this Pfalm, 2 Sam. xvi. In which David appeals to the great fearcher of Hearts for the integrity of his conduct, calling for the divine vengeance upon himself if the charge were true that was laid against him. At the fame time warning his Enemies to repent of their Crimes, left they should provoke God to inflict his judgments upon them,

* And fo fhall the Congregation of the People, St. David here intreats God to affert his caufe, by fubduing his Enemies: becaufe by giving fuch a teftimony to his innocence, the People would be induced to pay a readier obedience to David, and he would be thereby the better enabled to promote the worship of the truc God.

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