Notes on Psalms

Notes on Psalms
From the Original 1599 Geneva Bible Notes

Ps 1:1

1:1 Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the {a} 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.

(a) 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.

Ps 1:2

1:2 But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his {b} law doth he meditate day and night.

(b) In the holy scriptures.

Ps 1:3

1:3 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 {c} whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Ps 1:4

1:4 {d} The ungodly [are] not so: but [are] like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

(d) 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.

Ps 1:5

1:5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the {e} judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

(e) But tremble when they see God's wrath.

Ps 1:6

1:6 For the LORD {f} knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

(f) Approves and prospers, in the same way that to not know is to reprove and reject.

Ps 2:1

2:1 Why do the {a} heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

(a) The conspiracy of the Gentiles, the murmuring of the Jews and power of kings cannot prevail against Christ.

Ps 2:3

2:3 {b} Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

(b) Thus the wicked say that they will cast off the yoke of God and of his Christ.

Ps 2:5

2:5 {c} Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Ps 2:7

2:7 I will declare the {d} decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this {e} day have I begotten thee.

(d) To show that my calling to the kingdom is from God.
(e) 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.

Ps 2:8

2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the {f} uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession.

(f) Not only the Jews but the Gentiles also.

Ps 2:10

2:10 {g} Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

(g) He exhorts all rulers to repent in time.

Ps 2:12

2:12 {h} Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye {i} perish [from] the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in him.

(h) In a sign of homage.
(i) When the wicked will say, Peace and rest, then will destruction suddenly come, 1Th 5:3.

Ps 3:1

3:1 [A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.] LORD, how are they {a} increased that trouble me! many [are] they that rise up against me.

(a) This was a token of his stable faith, that for all his troubles he turned to God.

Ps 3:2

3:2 Many [there be] which say of my soul, [There is] no help for him in God. {b} Selah.

(b) Selah here signifies a lifting up of the voice, to cause us to consider the sentence as a thing of great importance.

Ps 3:6

3:6 I will not be afraid of
(c) ten thousands of people, that have set [themselves] against me round about.

Ps 3:8

3:8 {d} Salvation [belongeth] unto the LORD: thy blessing [is] upon thy people. Selah.

(d) No matter how great or many the dangers may be, yet God always has ways to deliver his.

Ps 4:1

4:1 [{a} To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.] Hear me when I call, {b} O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me [when I was] in {c} distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

(a) 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.
(b) You who are the defender of my just cause.
(c) Both of mind and body.

Ps 4:2

4:2 O ye {d} sons of men, how long [will ye turn] my glory into shame? [how long] will ye {e} love vanity, [and] seek after leasing? Selah.

(d) You who think yourselves noble in this world.
(e) Though your enterprises please you, yet God will bring them to nothing.

Ps 4:3

4:3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is {f} godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

(f) A king who walks in his vocation.

Ps 4:4

4:4 {g} Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be {h} still. Selah.

(g) For fear of God's judgment.
(h) Cease your rage.

Ps 4:5

4:5 {i} Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

(i) Serve God purely, and not with outward ceremonies.

Ps 4:6

4:6 [There be] many that say, Who will shew us [any] {k} good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

(k) The multitude seeks worldly wealth, but David sets his happiness in God's favour.

Ps 4:8

4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, {l} only makest me dwell in safety.

(l) 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.

Ps 5:1

5:1 [To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David.] Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my {a} meditation.

(a) That is, my vehement prayer and secret complaint and sighings.

Ps 5:3

5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct [my prayer] unto thee, and will {b} look up.

(b) Or wait, with patience and trust till I am heard.

Ps 5:4

5:4 For thou [art] not a God that hath pleasure in {c} wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.

Ps 5:5

5:5 {d} The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

(d) Who run blindly after their carnal desires.

Ps 5:7

5:7 But as for me, I {e} will come [into] thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: [and] in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

(e) In the deepest of his temptations he puts his full confidence in God.

Ps 5:8

5:8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness {f} because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.

(f) Because you are just, therefore lead me out of the dangers of my enemies.

Ps 5:10

5:10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them {g} fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.

(g) Let their devices come to nothing.

Ps 5:11

5:11 But {h} 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.

(h) Your favour toward me will confirm the faith of all others.

Ps 5:12

5:12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour {i} wilt thou compass him as [with] a shield.

(i) So that he will be safe from all dangers.

Ps 6:1

6:1 [To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.] O LORD, {a} rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

(a) Though I deserve destruction, yet let your mercy pity my frailty.

Ps 6:2

6:2 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I [am] weak: O LORD, heal me; for my {b} bones are vexed.

(b) For my whole strength is abated.

Ps 6:3

6:3 {c} My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?

Ps 6:5

6:5 For in {d} death [there is] no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

(d) He laments that opportunity should be taken from him to praise God in the congregation.

Ps 6:8

6:8 {e} Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.

(e) God sends comfort and boldness in affliction, that we may triumph over our enemies.

Ps 6:10

6:10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return [and] be ashamed {f} suddenly.

(f) When the wicked think the godly will perish, God delivers them suddenly, and destroys their enemies.

Ps 7:2

7:2 Lest {a} he tear my soul like a lion, rending [it] in pieces, while [there is] none to deliver.

(a) He desires God to deliver him from the rage of cruel Saul.

Ps 7:3

7:3 O LORD my God, if I have done {b} this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

(b) With which Cush charges me.

Ps 7:4

7:4 {c} If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me;
(yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

Ps 7:5

7:5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take [it]; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine {d} honour in the dust. Selah.

(d) Let me not only die, but be dishonoured forever.

Ps 7:6

7:6 Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me [to] the {e} judgment [that] thou hast commanded.

(e) In promising me the kingdom.

Ps 7:7

7:7 So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore {f} return thou on high.

(f) Not only for mine, but for your Church's sake declare your power.

Ps 7:8

7:8 The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my {g} righteousness, and according to mine integrity [that is] in me.

(g) As concerning my behaviour towards Saul and my enemies.

Ps 7:9

7:9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the {h} hearts and reins.

(h) Though they pretend a just cause against me, yet God will judge their hypocrisy.

Ps 7:11

7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry [with the wicked] {i} every day.

(i) He continually calls the wicked to repentance by some sign of his judgments.

Ps 7:12

7:12 If {k} he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

(k) 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.

Ps 7:17

7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his {l} righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

(l) In faithfully keeping his promise to me.

Ps 8:2

8:2 Out of the mouth {a} of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

(a) Though the wicked would hide God's praises, yet the very babes are sufficient witnesses of the same.

Ps 8:4

8:4 What is {b} man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

(b) 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.

Ps 8:5

8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the {c} angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

Ps 8:7

8:7 All {d} sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

(d) By the temporal gifts of man's creation, he is led to consider the benefits which he has by his regeneration through Christ.

Ps 9:1

9:1 [To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David.] I will praise [thee], O LORD, with my {a} whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

(a) God is not praised unless the whole glory is given to him alone.

Ps 9:4

9:4 For {b} thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.

(b) However the enemy seems for a time to prevail yet God preserves the just.

Ps 9:6

9:6 {c} O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.

(c) A derision of the enemy that minds nothing but destruction: but the Lord will deliver his, and bring him into judgment.

Ps 9:9

9:9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the {d} oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

(d) Our miseries are meant to cause us to feel God's present care over us.

Ps 9:12

9:12 {e} When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

(e) Though God does not suddenly avenge the wrong done to his, yet he does not permit the wicked to go unpunished.

Ps 9:14

9:14 That I may shew forth all thy praise in the {f} gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.

(f) In the open assembly of the Church.

Ps 9:15

9:15 The heathen are {g} sunk down in the pit [that] they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.

(g) For God overthrows the wicked in their enterprises.

Ps 9:16

9:16 {h} The LORD is known [by] the judgment [which] he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

(h) The mercy of God toward his saints must be declared and the fall of the wicked must always be considered.

Ps 9:18

9:18 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation {i} of the poor shall [not] perish for ever.

(i) God does not promise to help us before we have felt the cross.

Ps 9:20

9:20 Put them in fear, O LORD: [that] the nations may know themselves [to be but] {k} men. Selah.

(k) Which they cannot learn without the fear of your judgment.

Ps 10:1

10:1 Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? [why] hidest thou [thyself] in {a} times of trouble?

(a) As soon as we enter into affliction, we think God should help us, but that is not always his due time.

Ps 10:3

10:3 For the wicked {b} boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, [whom] the LORD abhorreth.

(b) 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.

Ps 10:6

10:6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for [I shall] {c} never [be] in adversity.

Ps 10:8

10:8 {d} 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.

(d) He shows that the wicked have many ways to hide their cruelty and therefore should be even more feared.

Ps 10:10

10:10 He croucheth, [and] humbleth himself, that the {e} poor may fall by his strong ones.

(e) By the hypocrisy of them who have authority the poor are devoured.

Ps 10:12

10:12 {f} Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.

(f) He calls to God for help, because wickedness is so far overgrown that God must help now or never.

Ps 10:13

10:13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not {g} require [it].

(g) Therefore you must punish their blasphemy.

Ps 10:14

10:14 Thou hast seen [it]; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to {h} requite [it] with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.

(h) To judge between the right and the wrong.

Ps 10:15

10:15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil [man]: seek out his wickedness [till] thou find {i} none.

(i) For you have utterly destroyed him.

Ps 10:16

10:16 The LORD [is] King for ever and ever: the {k} heathen are perished out of his land.

(k) The hypocrites or such as live not after God's law, will be destroyed.

Ps 10:18

10:18 {l} To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

(l) God helps when man's help ceases.

Ps 11:1

11:1 [To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David.] In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, {a} Flee [as] a bird to your mountain?

(a) This is the wicked counsel of his enemies to him and his companions to drive him from the hope of God's promise.

Ps 11:3

11:3 If the {b} foundations be destroyed, what can the {c} righteous do?

(b) All hope of help is taken away.
(c) Yet am I innocent and my cause good.

Ps 11:4

11:4 The LORD [is] in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne [is] in heaven: his eyes {d} behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

(d) Though all things in earth are out of order, yet God will execute judgment from heaven.

Ps 11:6

11:6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, {e} fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: [this shall be] the {f} portion of their cup.

(e) As in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
(f) Which they will drink even to the dregs, Eze 23:34.

Ps 12:1

12:1 [To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.] Help, LORD; for the {a} godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

(a) Who dare defend the truth and show mercy to the oppressed.

Ps 12:2

12:2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: [with] {b} flattering lips [and] with a double heart do they speak.

(b) He means the flatters of the court which hurt him more with their tongues than with their weapons.

Ps 12:4

12:4 Who have said, {c} With our tongue will we prevail; our lips [are] our own: who [is] lord over us?

Ps 12:5

12:5 {d} For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will {e} set [him] in safety [from him that] puffeth at him.

(d) The Lord is moved with the complaints of his, and delivers in the end from all danger.
(e) Because the Lord's word and promise is true and unchangeable he will perform it and preserve the poor from this wicked generation.

Ps 12:7

12:7 Thou shalt keep {f} them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

(f) That is, yours though was only one man.

Ps 12:8

12:8 The wicked walk on every side, {g} when the vilest men are exalted.

(g) For they suppress the godly and maintain the wicked.

Ps 13:1

13:1 [To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.] How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? {a} for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

(a) He declares that his afflictions lasted a long time, and that his faith did not waver.

Ps 13:2

13:2 How long shall I take {b} counsel in my soul, [having] sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

(b) Changing my purposes as the sick man does his place.

Ps 13:4

13:4 Lest mine enemy say, I have {c} prevailed against him; [and] those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

Ps 13:5

13:5 But I have trusted in thy {d} mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

(d) The mercy of God is the cause of our salvation.

Ps 13:6

13:6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath {e} dealt bountifully with me.

(e) Both by the benefits past and by others to come.

Ps 14:1

14:1 [To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David.] The fool hath said in his heart, {a} [There is] no God. They are {b} corrupt, they have done abominable works, [there is] none that doeth good.

(a) He shows that the cause of all wickedness if forgetting God.
(b) There is nothing but disorder and wickedness among them.

Ps 14:3

14:3 They are {c} all gone aside, they are [all] together become filthy: [there is] none that doeth good, no, not one.

(c) David here makes comparisons between the faithful and the reprobate, but Paul speaks the same of all men naturally, Ro 3:10.

Ps 14:5

14:5 {d} There were they in great fear: for God [is] in the generation of the righteous.

(d) Where they think themselves most sure.

Ps 14:6

14:6 Ye have {e} shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD [is] his refuge.

(e) You mock them who put their trust in God.

Ps 14:7

14:7 Oh that the salvation of {f} Israel [were come] out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, [and] Israel shall be glad.

(f) He prays for the whole Church whom he is assured God will deliver: for no one else but he can do it.

Ps 15:2

15:2 He that {a} walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

(a) He shows that we cannot call on God unless we trust in him.

Ps 15:4

15:4 {b} 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.

(b) He who flatters not the ungodly in their wickedness.

Ps 15:5

15:5 [He that] {c} putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these [things] {d} shall never be moved.

Ps 16:1

16:1 [Michtam of David.] Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my {a} trust.

(a) He shows that we cannot call on God unless we trust in him.

Ps 16:2

16:2 [O my soul], thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou [art] my Lord: my {b} goodness [extendeth] not to thee;

(b) Though we cannot enrich God, yet we must bestow God's gifts for the use of his children.

Ps 16:4

16:4 Their {c} sorrows shall be multiplied [that] hasten [after] another [god]: {d} their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.

(c) As grief of conscience and miserable destruction.
(d) He would neither by outward profession nor in heart, nor in mouth consent to their idolatries.

Ps 16:6

16:6 The {e} lines are fallen unto me in pleasant [places]; yea, I have a goodly heritage.

(e) With which my portion is measured.

Ps 16:8

16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because [he is] at my right hand, I {g} shall not be moved.

(g) The faithful are sure to persevere to the end.

Ps 16:9

16:9 Therefore {h} my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

(h) That is, I rejoice both in body and in soul.

Ps 16:10

16:10 For thou {i} wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

(i) This is chiefly meant by Christ, by whose resurrection all his members have immortality.

Ps 16:11

16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy {k} presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore.

(k) Where God favours there is perfect happiness.

Ps 17:1

17:1 [A Prayer of David.] Hear {a} the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, [that goeth] not out of feigned lips.

(a) My righteous cause.

Ps 17:2

17:2 Let my {b} sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.

(b) The vengeance that you will show against my enemies.

Ps 17:3

17:3 Thou hast {c} proved mine heart; thou hast visited [me] in the night; thou hast tried me, [and] shalt find nothing; I am purposed [that] my {d} mouth shall not transgress.

Ps 17:4

17:4 Concerning the works of men, by the {e} word of thy lips I have kept [me from] the paths of the destroyer.

(e) Though the wicked provoked me to do evil for evil, yet your word kept me back.

Ps 17:6

17:6 I have called upon thee, {f} for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, [and hear] my speech.

(f) He was assured that God would not refuse his request.

Ps 17:7

17:7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust [in thee] from those that {g} rise up [against them].

(g) For all rebel against you, who trouble your Church.

Ps 17:9

17:9 From the wicked that oppress me, [from] my deadly enemies, [who] compass {h} me about.

(h) For their cruelty cannot be satisfied but with my death.

Ps 17:10

17:10 They are inclosed in their own {i} fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.

(i) They are puffed up with pride, as the stomach that is choked with fat.

Ps 17:13

17:13 Arise, O LORD, {k} disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, [which is] thy sword:

(k) Stop his rage.

Ps 17:14

17:14 From men [which are] thy {l} hand, O LORD, from men of the world, [which have] their {m} 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.

(l) By your heavenly power.
(m) And not feel the pain that God's children often do.

Ps 17:15

17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face {n} in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I {o} awake, with thy likeness.

(n) This is the full happiness, comforting against all assaults to have the face of God and favourable countenance opened to us.
(o) And am delivered out of my great troubles.

Ps 18:2

18:2 {a} 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.

(a) He uses this diversity of names to show that as the wicked have many means to hurt, so God has many ways to help.

Ps 18:3

18:3 I will call upon the LORD, [who is worthy] to be {b} praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

(b) For no one can obtain their request from God if they do not join his glory with their petition.

Ps 18:4

18:4 {c} The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

Ps 18:7

18:7 {d} Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.

(d) A description of the wrath of God against his enemies, after he had heard his prayer.

Ps 18:8

18:8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and {e} fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

(e) He shows how horrible God's judgments will be to the wicked.

Ps 18:9

18:9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and {f} darkness [was] under his feet.

(f) Darkness signifies the wrath of God as the clear light signifies God's favour.

Ps 18:10

18:10 And he rode upon a {g} cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

(g) This is described at large in Ps 104:1-35.

Ps 18:11

18:11 He made darkness his {h} secret place; his pavilion round about him [were] dark waters [and] thick clouds of the skies.

(h) As a king angry with the people, will not show himself to them.

Ps 18:13

18:13 The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave {i} his voice; hail [stones] and coals of fire.

(i) Thunders, lightnings and hail.

Ps 18:14

18:14 Yea, he sent out {k} his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.

(k) His lightening.

Ps 18:15

18:15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the {l} foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

(l) That is, the deep bottoms were seen when the Red sea was divided.

Ps 18:16

18:16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many {m} waters.

(m) Out of many great dangers.

Ps 18:17

18:17 He delivered me from my {n} strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were {o} too strong for me.

(n) That is, Saul.
(o) Therefore God sent me help.

Ps 18:19

18:19 He brought me forth also into a large place; {p} he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

(p) The cause of God's deliverance is his favour and love for us.

Ps 18:20

18:20 The LORD rewarded me according to my {q} righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

(q) 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.

Ps 18:22

18:22 For all his judgments [were] before me, and I did not put away his {r} statutes from me.

(r) For all his dangers he exercised himself in the law of God.

Ps 18:23

18:23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine {f} iniquity.

(f) I neither gave place to their wicked temptations nor to my own desires.

Ps 18:25

18:25 With the {t} merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;

(t) Here he speaks of God according to our capacity, who shows mercy to his and punishes the wicked, as is also said in Le 26:21,24.

Ps 18:27

18:27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt {u} bring down high looks.

(u) When their sin is come to the full measure.

Ps 18:29

18:29 For by thee I have {x} run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

(x) He attributes it to God that he both got the victory in the field and also destroyed the cities of his enemies.

Ps 18:30

18:30 [As for] God, his way [is] perfect: the {y} word of the LORD is tried: he [is] a buckler to all those that trust in him.

(y) No matter how great or many the dangers may be, yet God's promise must take effect.

Ps 18:32

18:32 [It is] God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my {z} way perfect.

(z) He gives good success to all my enterprises.

Ps 18:33

18:33 He maketh my feet like hinds' [feet], and setteth me upon my {a} high places.

(a) As towers and forts, which he took out of the hands of God's enemies.

Ps 18:35

18:35 Thou hast also given me the {b} shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy {c} gentleness hath made me great.

(b) To defend me from dangers.
(c) He attributed the beginning, continuance and increase in well doing only to God's favour.

Ps 18:37

18:37 {d} I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

(d) David declares that he did nothing besides his calling, but was stirred up by God's Spirit to execute his judgments.

Ps 18:40

18:40 Thou hast also {e} given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.

(e) You have given them to my hands to be slain.

Ps 18:41

18:41 They {f} cried, but [there was] none to save [them: even] unto the LORD, but he answered them not.

(f) 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.

Ps 18:43

18:43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; [and] thou hast made me the head of the {g} heathen: a people [whom] I have not {h} known shall serve me.

(g) Who dwell round about me.
(h) The kingdom of Christ is prefigured in David's kingdom, who by the preaching of his word brings all to his subjection.

Ps 18:44

18:44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall {i} submit themselves unto me.

(i) Or lie: signifying a subjection constrained and not voluntary.

Ps 18:45

18:45 The strangers shall {k} fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.

(k) Fear will cause them to be afraid and come forth from their secret holes and holds to seek pardon.

Ps 18:48

18:48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the {l} violent man.

(l) That is, Saul who out of malice persecuted him.

Ps 18:49

18:49 Therefore will {m} I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.

(m) This prophecy belongs to the kingdom of Christ and calling of the Gentiles, as in Ro 15:9.

Ps 18:50

18:50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his {n} seed for evermore.

(n) This did not properly belong to Solomon, but to Jesus Christ.

Ps 19:1

19:1 [To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.] The {a} heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

(a) He reproaches man for his ingratitude, seeing the heavens, which are dumb creatures, set forth God's glory.

Ps 19:2

19:2 {b} Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

(b) The continual success of the day and night is sufficient to declare God's power and goodness.

Ps 19:3

19:3 [There is] no speech nor {c} language, [where] their voice is not heard.

Ps 19:4

19:4 Their {d} 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,

(d) The heavens are as a line of great capital letters to show God's glory to us.

Ps 19:5

19:5 Which [is] as a bridegroom coming out of his {e} chamber, [and] rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

(e) 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.

Ps 19:7

19:7 The {f} law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple.

(f) Though the creatures cannot serve, yet this should be sufficient to lead us to him.

Ps 19:9

19:9 The fear of the LORD [is] clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD [are] {g} true [and] righteous {h} altogether.

(g) So that all man's inventions and intentions are lies.
(h) Everyone without exception.

Ps 19:10

19:10 More to be {i} desired [are they] than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

(i) Unless God's word is esteemed above all worldly things, it is contemned.

Ps 19:11

19:11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: [and] in keeping of them [there is] great {k} reward.

(k) For God accepts our endeavour though it is far from perfect.

Ps 19:12

19:12 Who can understand [his] {l} errors? cleanse thou me from secret [faults].

(l) Then there is no reward of duty, but of grace: for where sin is, there death is the reward.

Ps 19:13

19:13 Keep back thy servant also from {m} presumptuous [sins]; let them not have dominion over me: {n} then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

(m) Which are done purposely and from malice.
(n) If you suppress my wicked affections by your Holy Spirit.

Ps 19:14

19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the {o} meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

(o) That I may obey you in thought, word and deed.

Ps 20:1

20:1 [To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.] The {a} LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the {b} name of the God of Jacob defend thee;

(a) By this kings are also admonished to call to God in their affairs.
(b) The virtue, power and grace of God.

Ps 20:3

20:3 Remember all thy offerings, and {c} accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.

Ps 20:5

20:5 We will rejoice in thy {d} salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up [our] banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.

(d) Granted to the king in whose wealth our happiness stands.

Ps 20:6

20:6 Now {e} know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his {f} holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

(e) The Church feels that God had heard their petition.
(f) As by the visible sanctuary God's familiarity appeared toward his people, so by the heavenly is meant his power and majesty.

Ps 20:8

20:8 {g} They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

(g) The worldlings who do not put their trust in God alone.

Ps 20:9

20:9 Save, LORD: {h} let the king hear us when we call.

(h) Let the king be able to deliver us by your strength, when we seek him for help.

Ps 21:1

21:1 [To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.] The king shall {a} joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

(a) When he will overcome his enemies, and so be assured of his calling.

Ps 21:3

21:3 For thou {b} preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.

(b) You declared your liberal favour toward him before he prayed.

Ps 21:4

21:4 {c} He asked life of thee, [and] thou gavest [it] him, [even] length of days for ever and ever.

Ps 21:6

21:6 For thou hast made him most {d} blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.

(d) You have made him your blessings to others, and a perpetual example of your favour forever.

Ps 21:8

21:8 {e} Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.

(e) Here he describes the power of Christ's kingdom against the enemies of it.

Ps 21:9

21:9 Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his {f} wrath, and the fire shall devour them.

(f) This teaches us patiently to endure the cross till God destroys the adversary.

Ps 21:11

21:11 For they {g} intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, [which] they are not able [to perform].

(g) They laid as it were their nets to make God's power bend to their wicked enterprises.

Ps 21:12

21:12 Therefore shalt thou make them {h} turn their back, [when] thou shalt make ready [thine arrows] upon thy strings against the face of them.

(h) As a mark to shoot at.

Ps 21:13

21:13 {i} Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: [so] will we sing and praise thy power.

(i) Maintain your Church against your adversaries that we may have ample opportunity to praise your Name.

Ps 22:1

22:1 [To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.] My {a} God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [why art thou so] far from helping me, [and from] the words of my {b} roaring?

(a) Here appears that horrible conflict, which he sustained between faith and desperation.
(b) Being tormented with extreme anguish.

Ps 22:3

22:3 But thou [art] holy, [O thou] that inhabitest the {c} praises of Israel.

(c) 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.

Ps 22:6

22:6 But I [am] a {d} worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

(d) 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.

Ps 22:9

22:9 But thou [art] he that took me out of the {e} womb: thou didst make me hope [when I was] upon my mother's breasts.

(e) Even from my birth you have given me opportunity to trust in you.

Ps 22:10

22:10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou [art] my God from my mother's {f} belly.

(f) For unless God's providence preserves the infants, they would perish a thousand times in the mother's womb.

Ps 22:12

22:12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong {g} [bulls] of Bashan have beset me round.

(g) He means that his enemies were so fat, proud and cruel that they were more like beasts than men.

Ps 22:14

22:14 I am poured out like {h} water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

(h) 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.

Ps 22:15

22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou {i} hast brought me into the dust of death.

(i) You permitted me to be without all hope of life.

Ps 22:16

22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they {k} pierced my hands and my feet.

(k) Thus David complained as though he were nailed by his enemies in both hands and feet, but this was accomplished in Christ.

Ps 22:20

22:20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my {l} darling from the power of the dog.

(l) My life that is solitary, left alone and forsaken by all, Ps 35:17,25:16

Ps 22:21

22:21 {m} Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

(m) Christ is delivered with a more mighty deliverance by overcoming death, than if he had not tasted death at all.

Ps 22:23

22:23 Ye that fear the LORD, {n} praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.

(n) He promises to exhort the Church that they by his example might praise the Lord.

Ps 22:24

22:24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the {o} afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

(o) The poor afflicted are comforted by this example of David, or Christ.

Ps 22:25

22:25 My praise [shall be] of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my {p} vows before them that fear him.

(p) Which were sacrifices of thanksgiving which they offered by God's commandment, when they were delivered out of any great danger.

Ps 22:26

22:26 {q} The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

(q) He alludes still to the sacrifice.

Ps 22:29

22:29 All [they that be] fat {r} upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: {s} and none can keep alive his own soul.

(r) Though the poor are first named as in Ps 22:26 yet the wealthy are not separated from the grace of Christ's kingdom.
(s) 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.

Ps 22:30

22:30 {t} A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

(t) Meaning, the prosperity which the Lord keeps as a seed to the Church to continue his praise among men.

Ps 22:31

22:31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath {u} done [this].

(u) That is, God has fulfilled his promise.

Ps 23:1

23:1 [A Psalm of David.] The LORD [is] my shepherd; {a} I shall not want.

(a) He has care over me and ministers all things to me.

Ps 23:3

23:3 He {b} restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the {c} paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

(b) He comforts or refreshes me.
(c) Plain or straight ways.

Ps 23:4

23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the {d} shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

(d) Though he was in danger of death, as the sheep that wanders in the dark valley without his shepherd.

Ps 23:5

23:5 Thou preparest a {e} table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou {f} anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

(e) Even though his enemies sought to destroy him, yet God delivers him, and deals most liberally with him in spite of them.
(f) As was the manner of great feasts.

Ps 23:6

23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the {g} house of the LORD for ever.

(g) He does not set his happiness in the pleasures of this world, but in the fear and service of God.

Ps 24:2

24:2 For he hath founded it upon the {a} seas, and established it upon the floods.

(a) 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.

Ps 24:6

24:6 This [is] the {b} generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

(b) Though circumcision separates the carnal seed of Jacob, from the Gentiles, yet he who seeks God, is the true Jacob and an Israelite.

Ps 24:7

24:7 {c} Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

(c) 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, Ps 132:14.

Ps 25:1

25:1 [[A Psalm] of David.] Unto thee, {a} O LORD, do I lift up my soul.

(a) I did not put my trust in any worldly thing.

Ps 25:2

25:2 O my God, I {b} trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

(b) That you will take away my enemies, which are your rods.

Ps 25:4

25:4 {c} Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.

Ps 25:5

25:5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou [art] the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait {d} all the day.

(d) Constantly and against all temptations.

Ps 25:7

25:7 Remember not the {e} sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.

(e) 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.

Ps 25:8

25:8 Good and upright [is] the LORD: therefore will he {f} teach sinners in the way.

(f) That is, call them to repentance.

Ps 25:9

25:9 The meek will he {g} guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

(g) He will govern and comfort them that are truly humbled for their sins.

Ps 25:11

25:11 For thy {h} name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it [is] great.

(h) For no other respect.

Ps 25:12

25:12 What {i} man [is] he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way [that] he shall {k} choose.

(i) Meaning, the number is very small.
(k) He will direct such with his spirit to follow the right way.

Ps 25:13

25:13 His soul shall dwell at {l} ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.

(l) He will prosper both in spiritual and corporal things.

Ps 25:14

25:14 The {m} secret of the LORD [is] with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

(m) His counsel contained in his word, by which he declares that he is the protector of the faithful.

Ps 25:17

25:17 The troubles of my heart {n} are enlarged: [O] bring thou me out of my distresses.

(n) My grief is increased because of my enemies cruelty.

Ps 25:19

25:19 Consider mine {o} enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.

(o) The greater that his afflictions were and the more that his enemies increased, the more near he felt God's help.

Ps 25:21

25:21 Let {p} integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.

(p) As I have behaved myself uprightly toward my enemies, let them know that you are the defender of my just cause.

Ps 26:1

26:1 [[A Psalm] of David.] Judge me, {a} O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; [therefore] I shall not slide.

(a) He flees to God to be the judge of his just cause, seeing there is no equity among men.

Ps 26:2

26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my {b} reins and my heart.

(b) My very affections and inward motions of the heart.

Ps 26:3

26:3 For thy {c} lovingkindness [is] before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.

Ps 26:4

26:4 I have not {d} sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.

(d) He declares that they cannot walk in simplicity before God, that delight in the company of the ungodly.

Ps 26:6

26:6 I will {e} wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:

(e) I will serve you with a pure affection, and with the godly that sacrifice to you.

Ps 26:9

26:9 {f} Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:

(f) Destroy me not in the overthrow of the wicked.

Ps 26:10

26:10 In whose hands [is] {g} mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.

(g) Whose cruel hands execute the malicious devises of their hearts.

Ps 26:12

26:12 My foot standeth in {h} an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.

(h) I am preserved from my enemies by the power of God, and therefore will praise him openly.

Ps 27:1

27:1 [[A Psalm] of David.] The LORD [is] my {a} light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

(a) 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.

Ps 27:3

27:3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in {b} this [will] I [be] confident.

(b) That God will deliver me and give my faith the victory.

Ps 27:4

27:4 {c} 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.

(c) 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.

Ps 27:6

27:6 {d} 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.

(d) David assured himself by the Spirit of prophecy that he should overcome his enemies and serve God in his tabernacle.

Ps 27:8

27:8 [When thou saidst], {e} Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

(e) He grounds on God's promise and shows that he is most willing to obey his commandment.

Ps 27:10

27:10 {f} When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

(f) He magnifies God's love toward his, which far passes the most tender love of parents towards their children.

Ps 27:12

27:12 Deliver me not over unto the {g} will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

(g) But either pacify their wrath, or bridle their rage.

Ps 27:13

27:13 [I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD {h} in the land of the living.

(h) In this present life before I die, as in Isa 38:11.

Ps 27:14

27:14 {i} Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

(i) He exhorts himself to depend on the Lord seeing he never failed in his promises.

Ps 28:2

28:2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy {b} holy oracle.

(b) He counts himself as a dead man, till God shows his favour toward him, and grants him his petition.

Ps 28:3

28:3 {c} 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.

Ps 28:4

28:4 {d} 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.

(d) 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.

Ps 28:5

28:5 Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall {e} destroy them, and not build them up.

(e) Let them be utterly destroyed as in Mal 1:4.

Ps 28:6

28:6 {f} Blessed [be] the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.

(f) Because he felt the assurance of God's help in his heart, his mouth was opened to sing his praises.

Ps 28:8

28:8 The LORD [is] {g} their strength, and he [is] the saving strength of his anointed.

(g) Meaning his soldiers who were means by which God declared his power.

Ps 29:1

29:1 [A Psalm of David.] Give unto the LORD, O ye {a} mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.

(a) He exhorts the proud tyrants to humble themselves under God's hand, and not to be inferior to brute beasts and dumb creatures.

Ps 29:3

29:3 The {b} voice of the LORD [is] upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD [is] upon many waters.

(b) The thunder claps that are heard out of the clouds should make the wicked tremble for fear of God's anger.

Ps 29:5

29:5 The {c} voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.

Ps 29:6

29:6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and {d} Sirion like a young unicorn.

(d) Called also Hermon.

Ps 29:7

29:7 The voice of the LORD divideth the {e} flames of fire.

(e) It causes the lightnings to shoot and glide.

Ps 29:8

29:8 The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of {f} Kadesh.

(f) In places most desolate, where it seems there is no presence of God.

Ps 29:9

29:9 The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to {g} calve, and {h} discovereth the forests: and in his {i} temple doth every one speak of [his] glory.

(g) For fear makes them deliver their calves.
(h) Makes the trees bare, or pierces the most secret places.
(i) Though the wicked are not moved by these lights, yet the faithful praise God.

Ps 29:10

29:10 The LORD sitteth upon the {k} flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.

(k) To moderate the rage of the tempests and waters that they not destroy all.

Ps 30:1

30:1 [A Psalm [and] Song [at] the dedication of the {a} house of David.] I will extol thee, O LORD; {b} for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.

(a) After Absalom had polluted it with most filthy fornication.
(b) He condemns them for great ingratitude who do not praise God for his benefits.

Ps 30:2

30:2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast {c} healed me.

Ps 30:3

30:3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my {d} soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

(d) Meaning, that he escaped death most narrowly.

Ps 30:4

30:4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye {e} saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

(e) The word signifies them who have received mercy, and show mercy liberally to others.

Ps 30:6

30:6 And in my {g} prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.

(g) I put too much confidence in my quiet state as in Jer 31:18, 2Ch 32:24,25.

Ps 30:7

30:7 LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my {h} mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, [and] I {i} was troubled.

(h) I thought you had established me in Zion most surely.
(i) After you had withdrawn your help, I felt my misery.

Ps 30:9

30:9 What profit [is there] in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the {k} dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

(k) 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.

Ps 30:12

30:12 To the end that [my] {l} glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

(l) Because you have preserved me that my tongue should praise you, I will not be unmindful of my duty.

Ps 31:1

31:1 [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 {a} righteousness.

(a) For then God declares himself just, when he preserves his as he has promised.

Ps 31:4

31:4 Pull me out of the {b} net that they have laid privily for me: for thou [art] my strength.

(b) Preserve me from the crafty counsels and subtle practise of my enemies.

Ps 31:5

31:5 Into thine {c} hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

Ps 31:6

31:6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I {d} trust in the LORD.

(d) 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.

Ps 31:8

31:8 And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a {e} large room.

(e) Largeness signifies comfort, as straitness, sorrow and peril.

Ps 31:9

31:9 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine {f} eye is consumed with grief, [yea], my soul and my belly.

(f) Meaning, that his sorrow and torment had continued a great while.

Ps 31:11

31:11 I was a {g} 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.

(g) My enemies had drawn all men to their part against me, even my chief friends.

Ps 31:13

31:13 For I have heard the slander of {i} many: fear [was] on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

(i) They who were in authority condemned me as a wicked doer.

Ps 31:14

31:14 But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, {k} Thou [art] my God.

(k) I had this testimony of conscience, that you would defend my innocence.

Ps 31:15

31:15 My {l} times [are] in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

(l) Whatever changes come, you govern them by your providence.

Ps 31:17

31:17 Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, [and] let them be {m} silent in the grave.

(m) Let death destroy them to the intent that they may hurt no more.

Ps 31:19

31:19 [Oh] how great [is] thy goodness, which thou {n} hast laid up for them that fear thee; [which] thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

(n) The treasures of God's mercy are always laid up in store for his children, even at all times they do not enjoy them.

Ps 31:20

31:20 Thou shalt hide them in the {o} secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

(o) That is, in a place where they will have your comfort, and be hid safely from the enemies pride.

Ps 31:21

31:21 Blessed [be] the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a {p} strong city.

(p) Meaning, there was no city strong enough to preserve him, as the defence of God's favour.

Ps 31:22

31:22 For I said in my {q} haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

(q) And so by my rashness and infidelity deserved to have been forsaken.

Ps 31:24

31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall {r} strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

(r) Be constant in your calling, and God will confirm you with heavenly strength.

Ps 32:1

32:1 [[A Psalm] of David, {a} Maschil.] Blessed [is he whose] transgression [is] {b} forgiven, [whose] sin [is] covered.

(a) Concerning the free remission of sins, which is the chief point of our faith.
(b) To be justified by faith, is to have our sins freely remitted, and to be declared just, Ro 4:6.

Ps 32:3

32:3 When I kept {c} silence, my bones waxed old through my {d} roaring all the day long.

(c) Between hope and despair.
(d) Was not eased by silence nor crying, signifying that before the sinner is reconciled to God, he feels a perpetual torment.

Ps 32:5

32:5 I {e} 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.

(e) 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.

Ps 32:6

32:6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a {f} time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters {g} they shall not come nigh unto him.

(f) When necessity causes him to seek you for help, Isa 55:6.
(g) That is, the waters and great dangers.

Ps 32:8

32:8 I will {h} instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

(h) 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.

Ps 32:9

32:9 Be ye not as the horse, [or] as the mule, [which] have no understanding: whose {i} mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

(i) If men can rule brute beasts, do they think that God will not bridle and tame their rage?

Ps 32:11

32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and {k} rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all [ye that are] upright in heart.

(k) He shows that peace and joy of conscience in the Holy Spirit is the fruit of faith.

Ps 33:1

33:1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: [for] praise is {a} comely for the upright.

(a) It is the duty of the godly to set forth the praises of God for his mercy and power showed to them.

Ps 33:2

33:2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery [and] an {b} instrument of ten strings.

(b) 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.

Ps 33:4

33:4 For the {c} word of the LORD [is] right; and all his {d} works [are done] in truth.

Ps 33:5

33:5 He {e} loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

(e) However the world judges God's works, yet he does all things according to justice and mercy.

Ps 33:7

33:7 He {f} gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

(f) 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.

Ps 33:10

33:10 The LORD bringeth the {g} counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.

(g) No counsel can prevail against God, but he deserves it, and it will have evil success.

Ps 33:12

33:12 Blessed [is] the nation whose {h} God [is] the LORD; [and] the people [whom] he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

(h) He shows that all our happiness stands in this, that the Lord is our God.

Ps 33:13

33:13 The LORD {i} looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.

(i) He proves that all things are governed by God's providence and not by fortune.

Ps 33:15

33:15 He {k} fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.

(k) Therefore he knows their wicked enterprises.

Ps 33:16

33:16 There is no {l} king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

(l) 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?

Ps 33:18

33:18 Behold, {m} the eye of the LORD [is] upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

(m) God shows his mercy toward his, which man by no means is able to compass.

Ps 33:20

33:20 {n} Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he [is] our help and our shield.

(n) Thus he speaks in the name of the whole Church which only depends on God's providence.

Ps 34:1

34:1 [[A Psalm] of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.] I will bless the LORD {a} at all times: his praise [shall] continually [be] in my mouth.

(a) He promised never to become unmindful of God's great benefit for his deliverance.

Ps 34:2

34:2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the {b} humble shall hear [thereof], and be glad.

(b) They who are beaten down with the experience of their own evils.

Ps 34:4

34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my {c} fears.

Ps 34:5

34:5 They {d} looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

(d) They will be bold to flee to you for help, when they see your mercies toward me.

Ps 34:7

34:7 The {e} angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

(e) Though God's power is sufficient to govern us, yet for man's infirmity he appoints his angels to watch over us.

Ps 34:10

34:10 The young {f} lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not {g} want any good [thing].

(f) The godly by their patient obedience profit more than they who ravage and spoil.
(g) If they abide the last trial.

Ps 34:11

34:11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the {h} fear of the LORD.

(h) That is, the true religion and worship of God.

Ps 34:12

34:12 What man [is he that] desireth life, [and] loveth [many] days, that he may {i} see good?

(i) Seeing all men naturally desire happiness, he wonders why they cast themselves willingly into misery.

Ps 34:16

34:16 The {k} face of the LORD [is] against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

(k) The anger of God not only destroys the wicked, but also abolishes their name forever.

Ps 34:18

34:18 The LORD [is] nigh unto them that are of a {l} broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

(l) When they seem to be swallowed up with afflictions, then God is at hand to deliver them.

Ps 34:20

34:20 {m} He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

(m) And as Christ says, all the hairs of his head.

Ps 34:21

34:21 Evil shall slay the {n} wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

(n) Their wicked enterprises will turn to their own destruction.

Ps 34:22

34:22 The LORD {o} redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

(o) For when they seem to be overcome with great dangers and death itself, then God shows himself as their redeemer.

Ps 35:1

35:1 [[A Psalm] of David.] Plead [my {a} cause], O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

(a) He desires God to undertake his cause against them who persecute him and slander him.

Ps 35:2

35:2 {b} Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

(b) 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.

Ps 35:3

35:3 Draw out also the spear, and stop [the way] against them that persecute me: say unto my {c} soul, I [am] thy salvation.

Ps 35:5

35:5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD {d} chase [them].

(d) Smite them with the spirit of giddiness that their enterprises may be foolish, and they received just reward.

Ps 35:7

35:7 For {e} without cause have they hid for me their net [in] a pit, [which] without cause they have digged for my soul.

(e) Showing that we may not call God to be a revenger but only for his glory, and when our cause is just.

Ps 35:8

35:8 Let destruction come upon {f} him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into {g} that very destruction let him fall.

(f) When he promises peace to himself.
(g) Which he prepared against the children of God.

Ps 35:10

35:10 All my {h} 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?

(h) He attributes his deliverance only to God, praising him therefore both in soul and body.

Ps 35:11

35:11 {i} False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge [things] that I knew not.

(i) That would not permit me to purge myself.

Ps 35:12

35:12 They rewarded me evil for good [to] the {k} spoiling of my soul.

(k) To have taken from me all comfort and brought me into despair.

Ps 35:13

35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing [was] sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and {l} my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

(l) I prayed for them with inward affection, as I would have done for myself: or, I declared my affection with bowing down my head.

Ps 35:15

35:15 But in mine {m} adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: [yea], the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew [it] not; they did tear {n} [me], and ceased not:

(m) When they thought me ready to slip and as one that limped for infirmity.
(n) With their railing words.

Ps 35:16

35:16 With hypocritical mockers in {o} feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

(o) The word signifies cakes: meaning that the proud courtiers at their dainty feasts scoff, rail, and conspire his death.

Ps 35:19

35:19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: [neither] let them {p} wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

(p) In token of contempt and mocking.

Ps 35:21

35:21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, [and] said, Aha, aha, {q} our eye hath seen [it].

(q) They rejoiced as though they had now seen David overthrown.

Ps 35:24

35:24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy {r} righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

(r) It is the justice of God to give to the oppressors affliction and torment, and to the oppressed aid and relief, 2Th 1:6.

Ps 35:25

35:25 Let them not say in their hearts, {s} Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

(s) Because we have that which we sought for, seeing he is destroyed.

Ps 35:26

35:26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion {t} together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed {u} with shame and dishonour that magnify [themselves] against me.

(t) That is, at once, were they never so many or mighty.
(u) This prayer will always be verified against them who persecute the faithful.

Ps 35:27

35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, {x} that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the {y} prosperity of his servant.

(x) That at least favour my right, though they are not able to help me.
(y) He exhorts the Church to praise God for the deliverance of his servants, and for the destruction of his adversaries.

Ps 36:1

36:1 [To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David the servant of the LORD.] The transgression of the wicked saith {a} within my heart, [that there is] no fear of God before his eyes.

(a) 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.

Ps 36:2

36:2 For he {b} flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.

(b) Though all others detest his vile sin, yet he himself sees it not.

Ps 36:3

36:3 The words of his mouth [are] iniquity and {c} deceit: he hath left off to be wise, [and] to do good.

Ps 36:4

36:4 He {d} deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way [that is] not good; he abhorreth not evil.

(d) By describing at large the nature of the reprobate, he admonishes the godly to beware of these vices.

Ps 36:5

36:5 Thy {e} mercy, O LORD, [is] in the heavens; [and] thy faithfulness [reacheth] unto the clouds.

(e) Though wickedness seems to overflow all the world, yet by your heavenly providence you govern heaven and earth.

Ps 36:6

36:6 Thy righteousness [is] like the great mountains; thy judgments [are] a great {f} deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.

(f) The depth of your providence governs all things, and disposes them, even though the wicked seem to overwhelm the world.

Ps 36:8

36:8 They shall be abundantly {g} satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

(g) Only God's children have enough of all things both concerning this life and the life to come.

Ps 36:10

36:10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that {h} know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.

(h) He shows who God's children are, that is, they who know him, and live their lives uprightly.

Ps 36:11

36:11 Let not the {i} foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.

(i) Let not the proud advance himself against me, or the power of the wicked drive me away.

Ps 36:12

36:12 {k} There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

(k) That is, in their pride in which they flatter themselves.

Ps 37:1

37:1 [[A Psalm] of David.] Fret not {a} thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

(a) 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.

Ps 37:2

37:2 For they shall soon be {b} cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

(b) For God's judgment cuts down their state in a moment.

Ps 37:3

37:3 {c} Trust in the LORD, and do good; [so] shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

Ps 37:5

37:5 {d} Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring [it] to pass.

(d) Do not be led by your own wisdom, but obey God and he will finish his work in you.

Ps 37:6

37:6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy {e} judgment as the noonday.

(e) 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.

Ps 37:7

37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him {f} who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

(f) When God allows the wicked to prosper, it seems to the flesh that he favours their doings, Job 21:7.

Ps 37:8

37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: {g} fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

(g) Meaning, unless he moderates his affection, he will be led to do as they do.

Ps 37:10

37:10 {h} For yet a little while, and the wicked [shall] not [be]: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it [shall] not [be].

(y) He corrects the impatience of our nature, which cannot abide till the fulness of God's time is come.

Ps 37:12

37:12 {i} The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

(i) 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.

Ps 37:16

37:16 {k} A little that a righteous man hath [is] better than the riches of many wicked.

(k) For they are daily fed as with manna from heaven and have sufficient, while the wicked never have enough, but always hunger.

Ps 37:18

37:18 The LORD {l} knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

(l) God knows what dangers hang over his, and by what means to deliver them.

Ps 37:19

37:19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall {m} be satisfied.

(m) For God will give them contented minds, and that which will be necessary.

Ps 37:20

37:20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD [shall be] as the {n} fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

(n) They will vanish away suddenly for they are fed for the day of slaughter.

Ps 37:21

37:21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and {o} giveth.

(o) God so furnishes him with high blessings, that he is able to help others.

Ps 37:23

37:23 {p} The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

(p) God prospers the faithful because they walk in his ways with an upright conscience.

Ps 37:24

37:24 Though he {q} fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth [him with] his hand.

(q) When God exercises his faith with various temptations.

Ps 37:25

37:25 I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his {r} seed begging bread.

(r) 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.

Ps 37:29

37:29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein {s} for ever.

(s) They will continually be preserved under God's wings, and have at least inward rest.

Ps 37:30

37:30 The {t} mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

(t) 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.

Ps 37:33

37:33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is {u} judged.

(u) 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.

Ps 37:36

37:36 Yet he {x} passed away, and, lo, he [was] not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

(x) So that the prosperity of the wicked is but as a cloud, which vanishes away in a moment.

Ps 37:37

37:37 {y} Mark the perfect [man], and behold the upright: for the end of [that] man [is] peace.

(y) He exhorts the faithful to mark diligently the examples both of God's mercies, and also of his judgments.

Ps 37:39

37:39 But the {z} salvation of the righteous [is] of the LORD: [he is] their strength in the time of trouble.

(z) 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.

Ps 38:1

38:1 [A Psalm of David, to bring to {a} remembrance.] O LORD, rebuke me not in thy {b} wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

(a) To put himself and others in mind of God's chastisement for sin.
(b) 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.

Ps 38:2

38:2 For thine {c} arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.

Ps 38:3

38:3 [There is] no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither [is there any] rest in my bones because of my {d} sin.

(d) David acknowledges God to be just in his punishments, because his sins had deserved much more.

Ps 38:4

38:4 For mine {e} iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

(e) He confesses his sins, God's justice, and makes prayer his refuge.

Ps 38:5

38:5 My wounds stink [and] are corrupt because of {f} my foolishness.

(f) That rather gave place to my own lusts, than to the will of God.

Ps 38:8

38:8 I am feeble and sore broken: I {g} have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

(g) This example warns us never to despair, no matter how great the torment: but always to cry to God with sure trust for deliverance.

Ps 38:10

38:10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, {h} it also is gone from me.

(h) My sight fails me for sorrow.

Ps 38:11

38:11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my {i} kinsmen stand afar off.

(i) Partly for fear and partly for pride, they denied all duty and friendship.

Ps 38:13

38:13 But I, as a {k} deaf [man], heard not; and [I was] as a dumb man [that] openeth not his mouth.

(k) For I can have no audience before men, and therefore patiently wait for the help of God.

Ps 38:16

38:16 For I said, [Hear me], lest [otherwise] they should rejoice over me: {l} when my foot slippeth, they magnify [themselves] against me.

(l) That is, if they see that you do not help me in time, they will mock and triumph as though you had forsaken me.

Ps 38:17

38:17 For I [am] ready to {m} halt, and my sorrow [is] continually before me.

(m) I am without hope to recover my strength.

Ps 38:19

38:19 But mine {n} enemies [are] lively, [and] they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

(n) In my greatest misery they most rejoice.

Ps 38:20

38:20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow [the thing that] {o} good [is].

(o) He would rather have the hatred of all the world, than fail in any part of his duty to God.

Ps 38:22

38:22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my {p} salvation.

(p) Who is the author of my salvation: and this declares that he prayed with sure hope of deliverance.

Ps 39:1

39:1 [To the chief Musician, [even] to {a} Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.] I said, {b} 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.

(a) This was one of the chief singers, 1Ch 16:41.
(b) 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.

Ps 39:2

39:2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, [even] from good; {c} and my sorrow was stirred.

Ps 39:3

39:3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: [then] {d} spake I with my tongue,

(d) He confesses that he grudged against God, considering the greatness of his sorrows, and the shortness of his life.

Ps 39:5

39:5 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 {e} vanity. Selah.

(e) Yet David offended in that he reasoned with God as though he were too severe toward his weak creature.

Ps 39:8

39:8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the {f} foolish.

(f) Do not make me a laughing stock to the wicked, wrap me up with the wicked when they are put to shame.

Ps 39:9

39:9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because {g} thou didst [it].

(g) Seeing my troubles came from your providence, I ought to have endured them patiently.

Ps 39:11

39:11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou {h} makest his {i} beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man [is] vanity. Selah.

(h) Though your open plagues do not light on them forever, yet your secret curse continually frets them.
(i) 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.

Ps 39:13

39:13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, {k} before I go hence, and be no more.

(k) 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.

Ps 40:1

40:1 [To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.] I waited {a} patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

(a) Though God deferred his help, yet he patiently abode till he was heard.

Ps 40:2

40:2 He brought me up also out of an {b} horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and] established my goings.

(b) He has delivered me from great dangers.

Ps 40:3

40:3 And he hath put {c} a new song in my mouth, [even] praise unto our God: many shall see [it], and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

(c) That is, a special opportunity to praise him, for God's benefits are so many opportunities for us to praise his Name.

Ps 40:4

40:4 Blessed [is] that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth {d} not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

(d) To follow their example, which he must do who trusts not only in the Lord.

Ps 40:5

40:5 Many, {e} 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.

(e) 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.

Ps 40:6

40:6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; {f} mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

(f) 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.

Ps 40:7

40:7 {g} Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book [it is] written of me,

(g) 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.

Ps 40:9

40:9 I have preached righteousness in the {h} great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.

(h) In the Church assembled in the sanctuary.

Ps 40:10

40:10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy {i} faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

(i) 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.

Ps 40:12

40:12 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 {k} faileth me.

(k) Concerning the judgment of the flesh, I was utterly destitute of all counsel, yet faith inwardly moved my heart to pray.

Ps 40:14

40:14 Let them be {l} 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.

(l) He desires that God's mercy may contend for him against the rage of his enemies.

Ps 40:15

40:15 Let them be {m} desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.

(m) Let the same shame and confusion come on them, which they intended to have brought on me.

Ps 40:16

40:16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, {n} The LORD be magnified.

(n) As the faithful always praise God for his benefits, so the wicked mocked God's children in their afflictions.

Ps 41:1

41:1 [To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.] Blessed [is] he that {a} considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

(a) 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.

Ps 41:3

41:3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the {b} bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his {c} bed in his sickness.

(b) When for sorrow and grief of mind he calls himself on his bed.
(c) You have restored him in his sick bed and sent him comfort.

Ps 41:5

41:5 Mine enemies {d} speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?

(d) That is, curse me and cannot have their cruel hate quenched but with my shameful death.

Ps 41:6

41:6 And if he come to see [me], he speaketh {e} vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; [when] he goeth abroad, he telleth [it].

(e) For pretending to comfort me, he conspires my death in his heart, and brags of it.

Ps 41:8

41:8 {f} An evil disease, [say they], cleaveth fast unto him: and [now] that he lieth he shall rise up no more.

(f) The enemies thought by his sharp punishments that God had become his mortal enemy.

Ps 41:9

41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, {g} hath lifted up [his] heel against me.

(g) As David felt this falsehood, and as it was chiefly accomplished in Christ, Joh 13:18 so shall his members continually prove the same.

Ps 41:12

41:12 And as for me, thou upholdest me {h} in mine integrity, and settest me before thy {i} face for ever.

(h) Meaning, either in prosperity of life or in the true fear of God against all temptation.
(i) Showing me evident signs of your fatherly providence.

Ps 41:13

41:13 Blessed [be] the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. {k} Amen, and Amen.

(k) By this repetition he stirs up the faithful to praise God.

Ps 42:1

42:1 [To the chief Musician, Maschil, {a} for the sons of Korah.] As the hart {b} panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

(a) As a treasure to be kept by them, who were of the number of the Levites.
(b) By these comparisons of the thirst and panting, he shows his fervent desire to serve God in his temple.

Ps 42:3

42:3 {c} My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where [is] thy God?

Ps 42:4

42:4 When I remember {d} 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.

(d) That is, how I led the people to serve you in your tabernacle, and now seeing my contrary estate, I die for sorrow.

Ps 42:5

42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and [why] art thou disquieted in me? {e} hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him [for] the help of his countenance.

(e) 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.

Ps 42:6

42:6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: {f} therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

(f) That is, when I remember you in this land of my banishment among the mountains.

Ps 42:7

42:7 {g} Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

(g) 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.

Ps 42:8

42:8 [Yet] the LORD {h} 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.

(h) He assures himself of God's help in time to come.

Ps 42:10

42:10 [As] with a sword in my {i} bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where [is] thy God?

(i) That is, I am most grievously tormented.

Ps 42:11

42:11 {k} 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.

(k) 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.

Ps 43:1

43:1 Judge {a} me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly {b} nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.

(a) He desires God to undertake his cause against the enemies but chiefly that he would restore him to the tabernacle.
(b) That is, the cruel company of my enemies.

Ps 43:3

43:3 O send out thy {c} light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

Ps 43:4

43:4 Then {d} 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.

(d) He promises to offer a solemn sacrifice of thanksgiving in token of his great deliverance.

Ps 43:5

43:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? {e} hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, [who is] the health of my countenance, and my God.

(e) By which he admonishes the faithful not to relent but constantly to wait on the Lord, though their troubles are long and great.

Ps 44:1

44:1 [To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil.] We have heard with our {a} ears, O God, our fathers have told us, [what] work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.

(a) 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.

Ps 44:2

44:2 [How] thou didst drive out the {b} heathen with thy hand, and plantedst {c} them; [how] thou didst afflict the {d} people, and
(e) cast them out.

(b) That is, the Canaanites.
(c) That is, our fathers.
(d) Of Canaan.
(e) That is, our fathers.

Ps 44:3

44:3 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 {f} favour unto them.

(f) God's free mercy and love is the only fountain and beginning of the Church, De 4:37.

Ps 44:4

44:4 Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for {g} Jacob.

(g) Because you are our king, therefore deliver your people from their misery.

Ps 44:5

44:5 {h} Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.

(h) Because they and their forefathers made both one Church, they apply that to themselves which before they attributed to their fathers.

Ps 44:9

44:9 But thou hast cast off, and put us to {i} shame; and goest not forth with our armies.

(i) As they confessed before that their strength came from God, so now they acknowledge that this affliction came by his just judgment.

Ps 44:11

44:11 Thou hast given us {k} like sheep [appointed] for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.

(k) Knowing God to be author of this calamity, they murmur not, but seek remedy at his hands who wounded them.

Ps 44:12

44:12 Thou sellest thy people {l} for nought, and dost not increase [thy wealth] by their price.

(l) As slaves who are sold for a low price, you do not look for him who offers the most, but take the first offer.

Ps 44:15

44:15 My {m} confusion [is] continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,

(m) I dare not lift up my head for shame.

Ps 44:16

44:16 For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and {n} avenger.

(n) Meaning, the proud and cruel tyrant.

Ps 44:17

44:17 All this is come upon us; yet have we not {o} forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.

(o) 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.

Ps 44:20

44:20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a {p} strange god;

(p) They show that they honoured God correctly, because they trusted in him alone.

Ps 44:21

44:21 Shall not God {q} search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

(q) They take God to witness that they were upright toward him.

Ps 44:22

44:22 Yea, for thy sake {r} are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

(r) The faithful take comfort in this, that the wicked punish them not for their sins, but for because of God, Mt 5:10, 1Pe 4:14.

Ps 44:25

44:25 For our soul is {s} bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.

(s) There is no hope of recovery, unless you raise us up with your hand.

Ps 44:26

44:26 Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy {t} mercies' sake.

(t) Which is the only sufficient ransom to deliver both body and souls from all kinds of slavery and misery.

Ps 45:1

45:1 [To the chief Musician upon {a} Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of {b} 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.

(a) This was a certain tune of an instrument.
(b) Of that perfect love that ought to be between the husband and the wife.

Ps 45:2

45:2 Thou art {c} fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

(c) Solomon's beauty and eloquence to win favour with his people, and his power to overcome his enemies, is here described.

Ps 45:4

45:4 And in thy majesty {d} ride prosperously because of truth and meekness [and] righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.

(d) 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.

Ps 45:6

45:6 Thy {e} throne, O God, [is] for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom [is] a right sceptre.

(e) Under this figure of this kingdom of justice is set forth the everlasting kingdom of Christ.

Ps 45:7

45:7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath {f} anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

(f) Has established your kingdom as the figure of Christ, which is the peace and joy of the Church.

Ps 45:8

45:8 All thy garments [smell] of myrrh, and aloes, [and] cassia, out of the ivory palaces, {g} whereby they have made thee glad.

(g) In which the people made you joyful to see them give thanks and rejoice for you.

Ps 45:9

45:9 Kings' daughters [were] among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the {h} queen in gold of Ophir.

(h) Though he had many king's daughters among his wives, yet he found Pharaoh's daughter best.

Ps 45:10

45:10 {i} Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;

(i) Under the figure of Pharaoh's daughter, he shows that the Church must cast off all carnal affections to obey Christ only.

Ps 45:12

45:12 And the {k} daughter of Tyre [shall be there] with a gift; [even] the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.

(k) 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.

Ps 45:13

45:13 The king's daughter [is] all glorious {l} within: her clothing [is] of wrought gold.

(l) 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.

Ps 45:16

45:16 Instead of thy fathers shall be thy {m} children, whom thou mayest make princes {n} in all the earth.

(m) They will have greater graces than their fathers.
(n) He signifies the great compass of Christ's kingdom, which will be sufficient to enrich all his members.

Ps 45:17

45:17 I will make thy {o} name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

(o) This must only be referred to Christ and not to Solomon.

Ps 46:1

46:1 [To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon {a} Alamoth.] God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in {b} trouble.

(a) Which was either a musical instrument or a solemn tune, to which this psalm was sung.
(b) In all manner of troubles God shows his speedy mercy and power in defending his.

Ps 46:2

46:2 Therefore will not we {c} fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Ps 46:3

46:3 [Though] the waters thereof {d} roar [and] be troubled, [though] the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

(d) Though the afflictions rage, yet the rivers of God's mercies bring sufficient comfort to his.

Ps 46:4

46:4 [There is] a {e} river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy [place] of the tabernacles of the most High.

(e) The river of Shiloh, which passed through Jerusalem: meaning, though the defence seems small, yet if God has appointed it, it is sufficient.

Ps 46:5

46:5 God [is] in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, [and that] {f} right early.

(f) Always when need requires.

Ps 46:7

46:7 The LORD of hosts [is] {g} with us; the God of Jacob [is] our refuge. Selah.

(g) They are assured that God can and will defend his Church from all dangers and enemies.

Ps 46:8

46:8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, {h} what desolations he hath made in the earth.

(h) That is, how often he has destroyed his enemies, and delivered his people.

Ps 46:10

46:10 Be {i} still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

(i) 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.

Ps 47:1

47:1 [To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.] O {a} clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

(a) Here is figured Christ to whom all his should give willing obedience, and who would show himself terrible to the wicked.

Ps 47:3

47:3 He shall {b} subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.

(b) 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.

Ps 47:4

47:4 He shall choose {c} our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.

Ps 47:5

47:5 God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the {d} sound of a trumpet.

(d) 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.

Ps 47:7

47:7 For God [is] the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with {e} understanding.

(e) He requires that understanding be joined with singing, lest the Name of God be profaned with vain crying.

Ps 47:9

47:9 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 {f} is greatly exalted.

(f) 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.

Ps 48:1

48:1 [{a} A Song [and] Psalm for the sons of Korah.] Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the {b} city of our God, [in] the mountain of his holiness.

(a) 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.
(b) Even though God shows his wonders through all the world, yet he will be chiefly praised in his Church.

Ps 48:2

48:2 Beautiful for situation, the {c} joy of the whole earth, [is] mount Zion, [on] the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

Ps 48:3

48:3 God is known in her palaces for a {d} refuge.

(d) Unless God is the defence of it, neither situation nor munition can prevail.

Ps 48:4

48:4 For, lo, the kings were {e} assembled, they passed by together.

(e) They conspired and went against God's people.

Ps 48:5

48:5 They saw [{f} it, and] so they marvelled; they were troubled, [and] hasted away.

(f) The enemies were afraid at the sight of the city.

Ps 48:7

48:7 Thou breakest the ships {g} of Tarshish with an east wind.

(g) That is, of Cilicia or of the Mediterranean sea.

Ps 48:8

48:8 As we have {h} 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.

(h) That is, of our fathers: so have we proved: or God has performed his promise.

Ps 48:10

48:10 According to thy name, O God, so [is] thy praise unto the ends of the {i} earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.

(i) In all places where your Name will be heard of, men will praise you when they hear of your marvellous works.

Ps 48:11

48:11 Let {k} mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.

(k) Let Jerusalem and the cities of Judea rejoice, for your just judgments against your enemies.

Ps 48:12

48:12 {l} Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.

(l) 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.

Ps 49:1

49:1 [To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.] Hear {a} this, all [ye] people; give ear, all [ye] inhabitants of the world:

(a) He will intreat how God governs the world by his providence which cannot be perceived by the judgment of the flesh.

Ps 49:5

49:5 Wherefore should I {b} fear in the days of evil, [when] the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

(b) Though wickedness reigns and enemies rage, seeing God will execute his judgments against the wicked at a suitable time.

Ps 49:6

49:6 They that trust in their {c} wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

Ps 49:8

49:8
(For the redemption of their soul [is] {d} precious, {e} and it ceaseth for ever:)

(d) That is, so rare or not to be found, as prophecy was precious in the days of Eli, 1Sa 3:1.
(e) Meaning it is impossible to live for ever: also that life and death are only in God's hands.

Ps 49:10

49:10 For he seeth [that] wise men {f} die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to {g} others.

(f) In that that death makes no difference between the persons.
(g) That is, not to their children, but to strangers. Yet the wicked profit not by these examples, but still dream of immortality on earth.

Ps 49:12

49:12 Nevertheless man [being] in honour abideth not: he is like the {h} beasts [that] perish.

(h) Concerning the death of the body.

Ps 49:13

49:13 This their way [is] their folly: yet their posterity {i} approve their sayings. Selah.

(i) They speak and do the same thing that their fathers did.

Ps 49:14

49:14 {k} Like sheep they are laid in the grave; {l} death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the {m} morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

(k) As sheep are gathered into the fold, so shall they be brought to the grave.
(l) Because they have no part of life everlasting.
(m) Christ's coming is as the morning, when the elect will reign with Christ their head over the wicked.

Ps 49:18

49:18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and {n} [men] will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

(n) The flatterers praise them who live in delight and pleasures.

Ps 49:19

49:19 {o} He shall go to the generation of his fathers; {p} they shall never see light.

(o) And not pass the term appointed for life.
(p) Both they and their fathers will live here but a while and at length die forever.

Ps 49:20

49:20 Man [that is] in honour, and {q} understandeth not, is like the beasts [that] perish.

(q) He condemns man's ingratitude, who having received excellent gifts from God, abuses them like a beast to his own condemnation.

Ps 50:1

50:1 [A Psalm of {a} Asaph.] The mighty God, [even] the LORD, hath spoken, and called the {b} earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.

(a) Who was either the author, or a chief singer, to whom it was committed.
(b) To plead against his deceitful people before heaven and earth.

Ps 50:2

50:2 Out of Zion, the {c} perfection of beauty, God hath shined.

(c) Because God had chosen it to have his Name there called on and also his image shines there in the doctrine of the law.

Ps 50:3

50:3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a {d} fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

(d) 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.

Ps 50:4

50:4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to {e} the earth, that he may judge his people.

(e) As witnessing against the hypocrites.

Ps 50:5

50:5 Gather my {f} saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by {g} sacrifice.

(f) God in respect to his elect calls the whole body holy, saints and his people.
(g) Who should know that sacrifices are sealed by the covenant between God and his people, and not set religion in it.

Ps 50:8

50:8 I will not {h} reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, [to have been] continually before me.

(h) For I pass not for sacrifices unless the true use is there, which is to confirm your faith.

Ps 50:10

50:10 {i} For every beast of the forest [is] mine, [and] the cattle upon a thousand hills.

(i) Though he delighted in sacrifice, yet he had no need for man's help in it.

Ps 50:13

50:13 {k} Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?

(k) 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.

Ps 50:14

50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and {l} pay thy vows unto the most High:

(l) Show yourself mindful of God's benefits by thanksgiving.

Ps 50:16

50:16 But unto the wicked God saith, {m} What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or [that] thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?

(m) Why do you pretend to be of my people and talk of my covenant, seeing that you are a hypocrite?

Ps 50:17

50:17 Seeing thou hatest {n} instruction, and castest my words behind thee.

(n) To live according to my word.

Ps 50:18

50:18 When thou sawest a thief, then {o} thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.

(o) He shows what the fruits of them who contemn God's word are.

Ps 50:20

50:20 Thou {p} sittest [and] speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.

(p) He notes the cruelty of hypocrites who in their talk or judgment do not spare their own mother's sons.

Ps 50:21

50:21 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 {q} set [them] in order before thine eyes.

(q) I will write all your wicked deeds in a roll, and make you read and acknowledge them, whether you will or not.

Ps 50:23

50:23 Whoso offereth {r} praise glorifieth me: and to him that {s} ordereth [his] conversation [aright] will I {t} shew the salvation of God.

(r) Under which is contained faith and invocation.
(s) As God has appointed.
(t) That is, declare myself to be his Saviour.

Ps 51:1

51:1 [To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet {a} came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.] Have mercy upon me, O God, {b} according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

(a) To reprove him, because he had committed horrible sins, and lain in the same without repentance more then a whole year.
(b) As his sins were many and great, so he requires that God would give him the feeling of his excellent and abundant mercies.

Ps 51:2

51:2 Wash me {c} throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Ps 51:3

51:3 For I {d} acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin [is] ever before me.

(d) My conscience accuses me so, that I can have no rest till I am reconciled.

Ps 51:4

51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done [this] evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou {e} speakest, [and] be clear when thou judgest.

(e) When you give sentence against sinners, they must confess you to be just, and themselves sinners.

Ps 51:6

51:6 Behold, thou {f} desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden [part] thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

(f) 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.

Ps 51:8

51:8 Make me to hear {g} joy and gladness; [that] the {h} bones [which] thou hast broken may rejoice.

(g) He means God's comfortable mercies toward repentant sinners.
(h) By the bones he understands all strength of soul and body, which by cares and mourning are consumed.

Ps 51:10

51:10 {i} Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

(i) He confesses that when God's Spirit is cold in us, to have it again revived, is as a new creation.

Ps 51:12

51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] {k} free spirit.

(k) Which may assure me that I am drawn out of the slavery of sin.

Ps 51:13

51:13 [Then] will I teach transgressors thy {l} ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

(l) He promises to endeavour that others by his example may turn to God.

Ps 51:14

51:14 Deliver me from {m} bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: [and] my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

(m) From the murder of Uriah and the others who were slain with him, 2Sa 11:17.

Ps 51:15

51:15 O Lord, {n} open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

(n) By giving me opportunity to praise you, when you will forgive my sins.

Ps 51:17

51:17 The sacrifices of God [are] a {o} broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

(o) Which is a wounding of the heart, proceeding from faith, which seeks God for mercy.

Ps 51:18

51:18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto {p} Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

(p) He prays for the whole Church, because through his sin it was in danger of God's judgment.

Ps 51:19

51:19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of {q} righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

(q) That is, just and lawful, applied to the right end, which is the exercise of faith and repentance.

Ps 52:1

52:1 [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 {a} mighty man? the goodness of God [endureth] continually.

(a) O Doeg, who half consider to be the tyrant Saul, and had the power to murder the saints of God.

Ps 52:2

52:2 Thy tongue deviseth {b} mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

(b) Your malice moves you by crafty flattery and lies to accuse and destroy the innocents.

Ps 52:5

52:5 God shall likewise {c} destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of [thy] dwelling place, and {d} root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.

(c) Though God forbear for a time, yet at length he will recompense your falsehood.
(d) Even though you seem to be never so sure settled.

Ps 52:6

52:6 The {e} righteous also shall see, {f} and fear, and shall laugh at him:

(e) For the eyes of the reprobate are shut at God's judgments.
(f) With joyful reverence, seeing that he takes their part against the wicked.

Ps 52:8

52:8 But I [am] like a {g} green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

(g) He rejoices to have a place among the servant's of God, that he may grow in the knowledge of godliness.

Ps 52:9

52:9 I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done {h} [it]: and I will wait on thy name; for [it is] good before thy saints.

(h) Executed his vengeance.

Ps 53:1

53:1 [To the chief Musician upon {a} Mahalath, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David.] The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] {b} no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: [there is] none that doeth good.

(a) Which was an instrument or king of note.
(b) Whereas no regard is had for honesty or dishonesty, for virtue nor for vice, there the prophet pronounces that the people have no God.

Ps 53:2

53:2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were [any] that did understand, that did {c} seek God.

Ps 53:4

53:4 Have the {d} workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people [as] they eat bread: they have not called upon God.

(d) David pronounces God's vengeance against cruel governors who having charge to defend and preserve God's people, cruelly devour them.

Ps 53:5

53:5 There were they in great fear, [where] no {e} fear was: for God hath scattered the {f} bones of him that encampeth [against] thee: thou hast put [them] to shame, because God hath despised them.

(e) When they thought there was no opportunity to fear, the sudden vengeance of God lighted on them.
(f) No matter how great the enemies power is, or fearful the danger, yet God delivers his in due time.

Ps 54:1

54:1 [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, {a} by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.

(a) He declares that when all means fail, God will deliver even by miracle, they who call to him with an upright conscience.

Ps 54:3

54:3 For {b} strangers are risen up against me, and {c} oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.

(b) That is, the Ziphims.
(c) Saul and his army who were like cruel beasts, could not be satisfied except by his death.

Ps 54:4

54:4 Behold, God [is] mine helper: the Lord [is] with {d} them that uphold my soul.

(d) No matter how few, as he was with Jonathan.

Ps 54:5

54:5 He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy {e} truth.

(e) According to your faithful promise for my defence.

Ps 54:6

54:6 I will {f} freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for [it is] good.

(f) For hypocrites serve God out of fear or on conditions.

Ps 54:7

54:7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath {g} seen [his desire] upon mine enemies.

(g) We may lawfully rejoice for God's judgments against the wicked, if our affections are pure.

Ps 55:1

55:1 [To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David.] Give ear to {a} my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

(a) The earnestness of his prayer declares the vehemency of his grief in so much as he is compelled to burst out into cries.

Ps 55:3

55:3 Because of the {b} voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for {c} they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.

(b) For the threatenings of Saul and his adherents.
(c) They have defamed me as a wicked person, or they have imagined my destruction.

Ps 55:5

55:5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath {d} overwhelmed me.

(d) There was no part of him that was not astonished with extreme fear.

Ps 55:6

55:6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! [for then] would I {e} fly away, and be at rest.

(e) 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.

Ps 55:8

55:8 I would hasten my escape {f} from the windy storm [and] tempest.

(f) From the cruel rage and tyranny of Saul.

Ps 55:9

55:9 Destroy, O Lord, [and] {g} divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

(g) As in the confusion of Babylon when the wicked conspired against God.

Ps 55:10

55:10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: {h} mischief also and sorrow [are] in the midst of it.

(h) All laws and good orders are broken and only vice and dissolution reigns under Saul.

Ps 55:12

55:12 For [it was] not an {i} 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:

(i) If my open enemy had sought by hurt, I could better have avoided him.

Ps 55:13

55:13 But [it was] thou, a man mine {k} equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.

(k) Who was not only joined to me in friendship and counsel in worldly matters, but also in religion.

Ps 55:15

55:15 Let death seize upon them, [and] let them {l} go down quick into hell: for wickedness [is] in their dwellings, [and] among them.

(l) As Korah, Dathan and Abiram.

Ps 55:17

55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, {m} and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

(m) Which signifies a servants mind and sure trust to obtain his portion, which made him earnest at all times in prayer.

Ps 55:18

55:18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle [that was] against me: for there were {n} many with me.

(n) Even the angels of God fought on my side against my enemies, 2Ki 6:16.

Ps 55:19

55:19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they {o} have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

(o) But their prosperous estate still continues.

Ps 55:20

55:20 He {p} hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

(p) I did not provoke him but was as at peace with him, yet he made war against me.

Ps 55:22

55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall {q} never suffer the righteous to be moved.

(q) Though for their bettering and trial, he permits them to slip for a time.

Ps 55:23

55:23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out {r} half their days; but I will trust in thee.

(r) Though they sometimes live longer, yet their life is cursed by God, unquiet, and worse than any death.

Ps 56:1

56:1 [To the chief Musician upon Jonathelemrechokim, Michtam of David, {a} when the Philistines took him in Gath.] Be merciful unto me, O God: for {b} man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.

(a) Being chased by the fury of his enemies into a strange country, he was a dumb dove not seeking vengeance.
(b) 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.

Ps 56:4

56:4 In God I will praise his {c} word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

Ps 56:5

56:5 Every day they wrest my {d} words: all their thoughts [are] against me for evil.

(d) All my counsels have evil success, and turn to my own sorrow.

Ps 56:6

56:6 {e} They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.

(e) As all the world against one man, and cannot be satisfied unless they have my life.

Ps 56:7

56:7 Shall {f} they escape by iniquity? in [thine] anger cast down the people, O God.

(f) They not only think to escape punishment, but the more wicked they are, the more impudent they grow.

Ps 56:8

56:8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my {g} tears into thy bottle: [are they] not in thy book?

(g) 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.

Ps 56:12

56:12 {h} Thy vows [are] upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.

(h) Having received that which I required, I am bound to pay my vows of thanksgiving as I promised.

Ps 56:13

56:13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death: [wilt] not [thou deliver] my feet from falling, that I may {i} walk before God in the {k} light of the living?

(i) As mindful of his great mercies, and giving thanks for the same.
(k) That is, in the life and light of the sun.

Ps 57:1

57:1 [{a} 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] {a} calamities be overpast.

(a) This was either the beginning of a certain song, or the words which David uttered when he stayed his affection.
(b) He compares the afflictions which God lays on his children, to a storm that comes and goes.

Ps 57:2

57:2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that {c} performeth [all things] for me.

Ps 57:3

57:3 He shall send from {d} heaven, and save me [from] the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

(d) He would rather deliver me by a miracle, than that I should be overcome.

Ps 57:4

57:4 My soul [is] among lions: [and] I lie [even among] them that are set on fire, [even] the sons of men, whose teeth [are] {e} spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

(e) He means their slanderous and false reports.

Ps 57:5

57:5 {f} Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; [let] thy glory [be] above all the earth.

(f) Do not permit me to be destroyed to the contempt of your Name.

Ps 57:6

57:6 They have prepared a net for my steps; {g} my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen [themselves]. Selah.

(g) For fear, seeing the great dangers on all sides.

Ps 57:7

57:7 My heart is {h} fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: {i} I will sing and give praise.

(h) That is, wholly bent to give you praise for my deliverance.
(i) 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.

Ps 57:10

57:10 For thy mercy [is] great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the {k} clouds.

(k) Your mercies not only belong to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles.

Ps 58:1

58:1 [To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David.] Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O {a} congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

(a) You counsellors of Saul, who under pretence of consulting for the common wealth, conspire my death being an innocent.

Ps 58:2

58:2 Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of {b} your hands in the earth.

(b) You are not ashamed to execute that cruelty publicly, which you have imagined in your hearts.

Ps 58:3

58:3 The wicked {c} are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Ps 58:4

58:4 Their poison [is] like the poison of a serpent: [they are] like the deaf {d} adder [that] stoppeth her ear;

(d) They pass in malice and subtilty the crafty serpent who could preserve himself by stopping his ears from the enchanter.

Ps 58:6

58:6 Break their {e} teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.

(e) Take away all opportunity and means by which they hurt.

Ps 58:7

58:7 Let them {f} melt away as waters [which] run continually: [when] he bendeth [his bow to shoot] his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.

(f) Considering God's divine power, he shows that God in a moment can destroy their force of which they brag.

Ps 58:9

58:9 {g} Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in [his] wrath.

(g) 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.

Ps 58:10

58:10 The righteous shall {h} rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the {i} blood of the wicked.

(h) With a pure affection.
(i) Their punishment and slaughter will be so great.

Ps 58:11

58:11 So that a man shall say, {k} Verily [there is] a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.

(k) Seeing God governs all by his providence, he must put a difference between the godly and the wicked.

Ps 59:1

59:1 [To the chief Musician, Altaschith, {a} Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.] {b} Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.

(a) Or, a certain tune.
(b) Though his enemies were even at hand to destroy him, yet he assures himself that God had ways to deliver him.

Ps 59:3

59:3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not [for] my {c} transgression, nor [for] my sin, O LORD.

Ps 59:5

59:5 Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not {d} merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.

(d) 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.

Ps 59:6

59:6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a {e} dog, and go round about the city.

(e) He compares their cruelty to hungry dogs showing that they are never weary in doing evil.

Ps 59:7

59:7 Behold, they {f} belch out with their mouth: swords [are] in their lips: for who, [say they], doth hear?

(f) They boast openly in their wicked devises, and every word is as a sword: for they neither fear God nor are ashamed of men.

Ps 59:9

59:9 {g} [Because of] his strength will I wait upon thee: for God [is] my defence.

(g) Though Saul has great power, yet I know that you bridle him: therefore I will patiently hope in you.

Ps 59:10

59:10 The God of my mercy shall {h} prevent me: God shall let me see [my desire] upon mine enemies.

(h) He will not fail to help me when need requires.

Ps 59:11

59:11 Slay them {i} not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.

(i) Altogether, but little by little, that the people seeing your judgments often, may be mindful of you.

Ps 59:12

59:12 [For] the sin of their mouth [and] the words of their lips let them even be {k} taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying [which] they speak.

(k) That in their misery and shame they may be as glasses and examples of God's vengeance.

Ps 59:13

59:13 {l} 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.

(l) When your time will come, and when they have sufficiently served for an example of your vengeance to others.

Ps 59:14

59:14 And at evening let them {m} return; [and] let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.

(m) He mocks their vain enterprises, being assured that they will not bring their purpose to pass.

Ps 59:16

59:16 But I will sing of thy {n} 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.

(n) Who used the policy of a weak woman to confound the enemies strength, 1Sa 19:12.

Ps 59:17

59:17 Unto thee, O my {o} strength, will I sing: for God [is] my defence, [and] the God of my mercy.

(o) Confessing himself to be void of all virtue and strength, he attributes the whole to God.

Ps 60:1

60:1 [To the chief Musician upon {a} Shushaneduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aramnaharaim and with {b} Aramzobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand.] O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast {c} scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.

(a) These were certain songs after the note of which this psalm was sung.
(b) Also called Sophene, which stands by Euphrates.
(c) 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.

Ps 60:2

60:2 Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast {d} broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.

(d) As split with an earthquake.

Ps 60:3

60:3 Thou hast {e} shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.

(e) 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.

Ps 60:4

60:4 Thou hast given {f} a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.

(f) In making me king, you have performed your promise, which seemed to have lost the force.

Ps 60:6

60:6 God hath spoken in his {g} holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.

(g) 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.

Ps 60:7

60:7 Gilead [is] mine, and Manasseh [is] mine; Ephraim also [is] the {h} strength of mine head; {i} Judah [is] my lawgiver;

(h) For it was strong and well peopled.
(i) David means that in this tribe his kingdom will be established, Ge 49:10.

Ps 60:8

60:8 Moab [is] my {k} washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: {l} Philistia, triumph thou because of me.

(k) In most vile subjection.
(l) For you will lie and pretend you were glad.

Ps 60:9

60:9 Who will bring me [into] the {m} strong city? who will lead me into Edom?

(m) He was assured that God would give him the strong cities of his enemies, in which they thought themselves sure.

Ps 61:2

61:2 From {a} the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock [that] is {b} higher than I.

(a) From the place where I was banished, being driven out of the city and temple by my son Absalom.
(b) To which without your help I cannot attain.

Ps 61:5

61:5 For thou, O God, {c} hast heard my vows: thou hast given [me] the heritage of those that fear thy name.

Ps 61:6

61:6 Thou wilt prolong the king's {d} life: [and] his years as many generations.

(d) This chiefly refers to Christ, who lives eternally not only in himself but also in his members.

Ps 61:7

61:7 He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare {e} mercy and truth, [which] may preserve him.

(e) For the stability of my kingdom stands in your mercy and truth.

Ps 62:1

62:1 [To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.] Truly {a} my soul waiteth upon God: from him [cometh] my salvation.

(a) Though Satan tempted him to murmur against God, yet he bridled his affections, and resting on God's promise.

Ps 62:2

62:2 {b} He only [is] my rock and my salvation; [he is] my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

(b) 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.

Ps 62:3

62:3 How long will ye imagine mischief against a {c} man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a {d} bowing wall [shall ye be, and as] a tottering fence.

(c) He means himself, being the man whom God had appointed to the kingdom.
(d) Though you seem to be in honour, yet God will suddenly destroy you.

Ps 62:5

62:5 {e} My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation [is] from him.

(e) David was greatly moved by these troubles, therefore he stirs up himself to trust in God.

Ps 62:7

62:7 In God [is] my salvation and my {f} glory: the rock of my strength, [and] my refuge, [is] in God.

(f) These vehement and often repetitions were necessary to strengthen his faith against the horrible assault of Satan.

Ps 62:8

62:8 Trust in him at all times; [ye] people, {g} pour out your heart before him: God [is] a refuge for us. Selah.

(g) 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.

Ps 62:10

62:10 Trust not in oppression, and {h} become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart [upon them].

(h) Give yourselves wholly to God by putting away all things that are contrary to his law.

Ps 62:11

62:11 God hath spoken {i} once; twice have I heard this; that power [belongeth] unto God.

(i) He has plainly born witness to his power, so that no one needs to doubt it.

Ps 62:12

62:12 Also unto thee, O Lord, [belongeth] mercy: for thou {k} renderest to every man according to his work.

(k) So that the wicked will feel your power, and the godly your mercy.

Ps 63:1

63:1 [A Psalm of David, when he was in the {a} wilderness of Judah.] O God, thou [art] my God; early will I seek thee: my soul {b} thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

(a) That is, of Ziph 1Sa 23:14.
(b) Though he was both hungry and in great distress, yet he made God above all meat and drink.

Ps 63:2

63:2 To see thy power and thy glory, so [as] {c} I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

Ps 63:5

63:5 My soul shall be satisfied as [with] {d} marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise [thee] with joyful lips:

(d) The remembrance of your favour is more sweet to me than all the pleasures and dainties of the world.

Ps 63:8

63:8 My soul {e} followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

(e) He assures himself by the Spirit of God to have the gift of constancy.

Ps 63:10

63:10 {f} They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.

(f) 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.

Ps 63:11

63:11 But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that {g} sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

(g) All who swear by God correctly or profess him will rejoice in this worthy king.

Ps 64:1

64:1 [To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.] Hear my {a} voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

(a) 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.

Ps 64:2

64:2 Hide me from the {b} secret counsel of the wicked; from the {c} insurrection of the workers of iniquity:

(b) That is, from their secret malice.
(c) That is, their outward violence.

Ps 64:3

64:3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, [and] bend [their bows to shoot] their arrows, [even] {d} bitter words:

(d) False reports and slanders.

Ps 64:4

64:4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and {e} fear not.

(e) To be without fear of God and reverence of man, is a sign of reprobation.

Ps 64:5

64:5 They {f} encourage themselves [in] an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

(f) The more the wicked set God's children in misery, the more bold and impudent are they in oppressing them.

Ps 64:6

64:6 They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward [thought] of every one {g} [of them], and the heart, [is] deep.

(g) There is no way so secret and subtle to do hurt, which they did not invent for his destruction.

Ps 64:8

64:8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall {h} flee away.

(h) To see God's heavy judgments against them, and how he has caught them in their own snares.

Ps 64:10

64:10 The righteous {i} shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

(i) When they will consider that he will be favourable to them as he was to his servant David.

Ps 65:1

65:1 [To the chief Musician, A Psalm [and] Song of David.] {a} Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.

(a) You daily give new opportunities to your Church to praise you.

Ps 65:2

65:2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all {b} flesh come.

(b) Not only the Jews but also the Gentiles in the kingdom of Christ.

Ps 65:3

65:3 Iniquities {c} prevail against me: [as for] our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.

(c) 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.

Ps 65:5

65:5 [By] terrible things in righteousness wilt thou {d} 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 {e} sea:

(d) You will declare yourself to be the preserver of your Church in destroying your enemies, as you did in the Red Sea.
(e) As of all barbarous nations, and far off.

Ps 65:7

65:7 Which stilleth the {f} noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.

(f) He shows that there is no part or creature in the world which is not governed by God's power and providence.

Ps 65:9

65:9 Thou {g} visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the {h} river of God, [which] is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for {i} it.

(g) That is, with rain.
(h) That is, Shiloh or the rain.
(i) You have appointed the earth to bring forth food to man's use.

Ps 65:10

65:10 Thou {k} waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.

(k) 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.

Ps 65:13

65:13 The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, {l} they also sing.

(l) That is, the dumb creatures will not only rejoice for a time for God's benefits, but will continually sing.

Ps 66:1

66:1 [To the chief Musician, A Song [or] Psalm.] Make a joyful noise unto God, {a} all ye lands:

(a) He prophecies that all nations will come to the knowledge of God, who then was only known in Judea.

Ps 66:3

66:3 Say unto God, How terrible [art thou in] thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies {b} submit themselves unto thee.

(b) As the faithful obey God willingly, so the infidels disguise themselves as obedient out of fear.

Ps 66:5

66:5 {c} Come and see the works of God: [he is] terrible [in his] doing toward the {d} children of men.

(c) He refers to the slothful dullness of man, who is cold in the consideration of God's works.
(d) His providence is wonderful in maintaining their estate.

Ps 66:7

66:7 He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious {e} exalt themselves. Selah.

(e) He proves that God will extend his grace also to the Gentiles, because he punishes among them such as will not obey his calling.

Ps 66:9

66:9 Which {f} holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.

(f) 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.

Ps 66:11

66:11 Thou broughtest us into the {g} net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.

(g) 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.

Ps 66:13

66:13 I will go into thy {h} house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,

(h) The duty of the faithful is here described, who are never mindful to render God praise for his benefits.

Ps 66:16

66:16 {i} Come [and] hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

(i) 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.

Ps 66:18

66:18 {k} If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me]:

(k) If I delight in wickedness, God will not hear me, but if I confess it, he will receive me.

Ps 67:1

67:1 [To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm [or] Song.] God be merciful unto us, and bless us; [and] {a} cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.

(a) That is, move our hearts with his Holy Spirit, that we may feel his favour toward us.

Ps 67:2

67:2 That {b} thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.

(b) That both Jews and Gentiles may know God's covenant made with them.

Ps 67:4

67:4 {c} O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.

(c) 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.

Ps 67:6

67:6 [Then] shall {d} the earth yield her increase; [and] God, [even] our own God, shall bless us.

(d) He shows that where God favours there will be abundance of all other things.

Ps 67:7

67:7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth {e} shall fear him.

(e) When they feel his great benefits both spiritual and corporal toward them.

Ps 68:1

68:1 [To the chief Musician, A Psalm [or] Song of David.] Let God {a} arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.

(a) 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.

Ps 68:3

68:3 {b} But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

(b) 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.

Ps 68:4

68:4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name {c} JAH, and rejoice before him.

(c) 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.

Ps 68:6

68:6 God {d} setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a {e} dry [land].

(d) He gives children to those who are childless, and increases their families.
(e) Which is devoid of God's blessings, which before they had abused.

Ps 68:7

68:7 {f} O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:

(f) He teaches that God's favour belongs specifically to his Church as appears by their wonderful deliverance out of Egypt.

Ps 68:10

68:10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy {g} goodness for the poor.

(g) God blessed the land of Canaan, because he had chosen that place for his Church.

Ps 68:11

68:11 The Lord gave the word: great [was] the company of {h} those that published [it].

(h) The fashion then was that women sang songs after the victory, as did Miriam, Deborah, Judith and others.

Ps 68:12

68:12 Kings of armies did flee apace: and {i} she that tarried at home divided the spoil.

(i) The prayer was so great, that not only the soldiers, but the women also had part of it.

Ps 68:13

68:13 Though ye have lien among the {k} pots, [yet shall ye be as] the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

(k) 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.

Ps 68:14

68:14 When the Almighty scattered kings {l} in it, it was [white] as snow in Salmon.

(l) In the land of Canaan, where his Church was.

Ps 68:15

68:15 {m} The hill of God [is as] the hill of Bashan; an high hill [as] the hill of Bashan.

(m) 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.

Ps 68:16

68:16 {n} 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.

(n) Why do you boast of your strength and beauty against this Mountain of God.

Ps 68:18

68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast {o} led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, [for] the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell [among them].

(o) 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.

Ps 68:20

68:20 [He that is] our God [is] the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord [belong] the {p} issues from death.

(p) Even in most extreme dangers, God has infinite ways to deliver his.

Ps 68:22

68:22 The Lord said, I will bring again from {q} Bashan, I will bring [my people] again from the depths of the sea:

(q) 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.

Ps 68:23

68:23 That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of [thine] enemies, [and] the tongue of thy dogs {r} in the same.

(r) That is, in the blood of that great slaughter, where dogs will lap blood.

Ps 68:24

68:24 They have seen {s} thy goings, O God; [even] the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.

(s) That is, how you who are chief King goes out with your people to war, and gives them the victory.

Ps 68:25

68:25 The {t} singers went before, the players on instruments [followed] after; among [them were] the damsels playing with timbrels.

(t) He describes the order of the people, when they went to the temple to give thanks for the victory.

Ps 68:26

68:26 Bless ye God in the congregations, [even] the Lord, from the fountain {u} of Israel.

(u) Who come of the patriarch Jacob.

Ps 68:27

68:27 There [is] {x} little Benjamin [with] their {y} ruler, the princes of Judah [and] their council, the princes of Zebulun, [and] the princes of Naphtali.

(x) Benjamin is called little, because he was the youngest son of Jacob.
(y) Who was some chief ruler of the tribe.

Ps 68:29

68:29 {z} Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.

(z) Declare out of your holy palace your power for the defence of your Church Jerusalem.

Ps 68:30

68:30 Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, [till every one] {a} submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people [that] delight in war.

(a) 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.

Ps 68:31

68:31 Princes shall come out {b} of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.

(b) He prophecies that the Gentiles will come to the true knowledge and worship of God.

Ps 68:33

68:33 To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, [which were] of old; lo, he doth send out his {c} voice, [and that] a mighty voice.

Ps 68:35

68:35 O God, [thou art] {d} terrible out of thy holy {e} places: the God of Israel [is] he that giveth strength and power unto [his] people. Blessed [be] God.

(d) In showing fearful judgments against your enemies for the salvation of your people.
(e) He alludes to the tabernacle which was divided in three parts.

Ps 69:1

69:1 [To the chief Musician upon {a} Shoshannim, [A Psalm] of David.] Save me, O God; for the {b} waters are come in unto [my] soul.

(a) Of Shoshannim, read Ps 45:1.
(b) David shows by the waters the great dangers he was in, out of which God delivered him.

Ps 69:2

69:2 I sink in deep mire, where [there is] no {c} standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

Ps 69:3

69:3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine {d} eyes fail while I wait for my God.

(d) Though his senses failed him, yet his faith was constant and encouraged him still to pray.

Ps 69:4

69:4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, [being] mine enemies {e} wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored [that] which I {f} took not away.

(e) Condemning me as guilty.
(f) They judged me a thief, though innocent, and gave my goods to others, as though I had stolen them.

Ps 69:5

69:5 O God, thou knowest my {g} foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.

(g) Though I am guilty toward you, yet I am innocent toward them.

Ps 69:6

69:6 Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for {h} my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.

(h) Do not let my evil entreaty of the enemy be an opportunity for the faithful to fall from you.

Ps 69:9

69:9 {i} For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

(i) 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.

Ps 69:10

69:10 When I {k} wept, [and chastened] my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.

(k) My zeal moved me to lament and pray for my salvation.

Ps 69:12

69:12 They that {l} sit in the gate speak against me; and I [was] the song of the drunkards.

(l) The more he sought to win them to God, the more they were against him both the poor and the rich.

Ps 69:13

69:13 But as for me, my prayer [is] unto thee, O LORD, [in] an {m} acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.

(m) Knowing that even though I endure trouble now, yet you have a time in which you have appointed my deliverance.

Ps 69:14

69:14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the {n} deep waters.

(n) 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.

Ps 69:17

69:17 And {o} hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.

(o) Not that he feared that God would not hear him, but that care made him think that God delayed too long.

Ps 69:19

69:19 Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine {p} adversaries [are] all before thee.

(p) You see that I am beset as a sheep among many wolves.

Ps 69:20

69:20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and {q} I looked [for some] to take pity, but [there was] none; and for comforters, but I found none.

(q) 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.

Ps 69:22

69:22 Let their {r} table become a snare before them: and [that which should have been] for [their] welfare, [let it become] a trap.

(r) He desires God to execute his judgments against the reprobate, which cannot by any means be turned, Rom 11:9.

Ps 69:23

69:23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their {s} loins continually to shake.

(s) Take both judgment and power from them, Ac 1:20.

Ps 69:25

69:25 Let their {t} habitation be desolate; [and] let none dwell in their tents.

(t) Punish not only them, but their posterity, who will be like them.

Ps 69:27

69:27 Add {u} iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.

(u) By their continuance and increasing in their sins, let it be known that they are of the reprobate.

Ps 69:28

69:28 Let them be blotted out of the {x} book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

(x) 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.

Ps 69:31

69:31 [This] also shall please the LORD better than an ox [or] {y} bullock that hath horns and hoofs.

(y) There is no sacrifice which God values more than thanksgiving for his benefits.

Ps 69:33

69:33 For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his {z} prisoners.

(z) For as he delivered his servant David, so will he do for all that are in distress and call on him.

Ps 69:36

69:36 The {a} seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

(a) Under the temporal promise of the land of Canaan, he comprehends the promise of everlasting life to the faithful and their posterity.

Ps 70:1

70:1 [To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David, to bring {a} to remembrance.] [Make {b} haste], O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD.

(a) Which might put him in remembrance of his deliverance.
(b) He teaches us to be earnest in prayer even though God seems to delay: for at his time he will hear us.

Ps 70:2

70:2 Let them be ashamed and {c} confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.

Ps 70:3

70:3 Let them be turned back for a reward of their {d} shame that say, Aha, aha.

(d) By this we are taught not to mock at others in their misery, lest the same fall on our own necks.

Ps 70:5

70:5 But I [am] {e} poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou [art] my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.

(e) Because he had felt God's help before, he grounds on experience, and boldly seeks him for help.

Ps 71:1

71:1 In {a} thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

(a) He prays to God with full assurance of faith, that he will deliver him from his adversaries.

Ps 71:2

71:2 Deliver me in thy {b} righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

(b) By declaring yourself true to your promises.

Ps 71:3

71:3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou {c} hast given commandment to save me; for thou [art] my rock and my fortress.

(c) You have infinite means and all creatures are at your commandment; therefore show some sign by which I will be delivered.

Ps 71:4

71:4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand {d} of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

(d) That is, from Absalom, Ahithophel and that conspiracy.

Ps 71:5

71:5 For thou [art] my hope, O Lord GOD: [thou art] my {e} trust from my youth.

(e) 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.

Ps 71:7

71:7 I am as a {f} wonder unto many; but thou [art] my strong refuge.

(f) 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.

Ps 71:9

71:9 Cast me not off in the time of {g} old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

(g) You who helped me in my youth when I had more strength, help me now even more in my old age and weakness.

Ps 71:11

71:11 Saying, {h} God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for [there is] none to deliver [him].

(h) 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.

Ps 71:12

71:12 O God, be not far from me: O {i} my God, make haste for my help.

(i) In calling him his God, he puts back the false reports of the adversaries who said God had forsaken him.

Ps 71:15

71:15 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness [and] thy salvation all the day; {k} for I know not the numbers [thereof].

(k) Because your benefits toward me are innumerable, I cannot but continually meditate and rehearse them.

Ps 71:16

71:16 I will {l} go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, [even] of thine only.

(l) I will remain steadfast, being upheld by the power of God.

Ps 71:18

71:18 {m} 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.

(m) He desires that as he has begun, he would so continue his benefits, that his liberality may have perfect praise.

Ps 71:19

71:19 Thy {n} righteousness also, O God, [is] very high, who hast done great things: O God, who [is] like unto thee!

(n) Your just performance of your promise.

Ps 71:20

71:20 [Thou], which hast shewed me great and {p} sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

(p) 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.

Ps 71:22

71:22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, [even] thy {q} truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.

(q) He confesses that his long delay was well recompensed, when God performed his promise.

Ps 71:23

71:23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my {r} soul, which thou hast redeemed.

(r) 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.

Ps 72:1

72:1 [[A Psalm] {a} for Solomon.] Give the king thy {b} judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's {c} son.

(a) Composed by David concerning the reign of his son Solomon.
(b) Imbue the king with the Spirit of wisdom and justice, that he reign not as the worldly tyrants do.
(c) That is, to his posterity.

Ps 72:3

72:3 The {d} mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.

(d) When justice reigns, even the places most barren will be enriched with your blessings.

Ps 72:4

72:4 He shall {e} judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

(e) He shows why the sword is committed to Kings that is, to defend the innocent, and suppress the wicked.

Ps 72:5

72:5 They shall {f} fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.

(f) The people will embrace your true religion, when you give a king who rules according to your word.

Ps 72:6

72:6 He shall come {g} down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers [that] water the earth.

(g) 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.

Ps 72:8

72:8 He shall have dominion also from {h} sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

(h) 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.

Ps 72:10

72:10 The kings of {i} Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings {k} of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

(i) Of Cilicia, and of all other countries beyond the sea, which he means by the isles.
(k) That is, of Arabia that rich country, of which Sheba was a part bordering on Ethiopia.

Ps 72:14

72:14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and {l} precious shall their blood be in his sight.

(l) Though tyrants pause not to shed blood, yet this godly king will preserve his subjects from all kinds of wrong.

Ps 72:15

72:15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the {m} gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; [and] daily shall he be praised.

(m) God will both prosper his life and make the people willing to obey him.

Ps 72:16

72:16 There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the {n} fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and [they] of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

(n) Under such a king will be great plenty, both of fruit and also of the increase of mankind.

Ps 72:17

72:17 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 {o} him blessed.

(o) They will pray to God for his continuance and know that God prospers them for his sake.

Ps 72:18

72:18 Blessed [be] the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth {p} wondrous things.

(p) He confesses that unless God miraculously preserves his people neither the king nor the kingdom can continue.

Ps 72:20

72:20 The {q} prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

(q) Concerning his son Solomon.

Ps 73:1

73:1 [A Psalm of Asaph.] Truly {a} God [is] good to Israel, [even] to such as are of a clean heart.

(a) 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.

Ps 73:4

73:4 For [there are] {b} no bands in their death: but their strength [is] firm.

(b) 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.

Ps 73:6

73:6 {c} Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them [as] a garment.

Ps 73:9

73:9 They {d} set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

(d) They blaspheme God, and do not fear his power and rail upon men, because they esteem themselves above all others.

Ps 73:10

73:10 Therefore his {e} people return hither: and waters of a full [cup] are wrung out to them.

(e) 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.

Ps 73:11

73:11 And they {f} say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

(f) Thus the flesh moves even the godly to dispute with God concerning their poor estate, and the prosperity of the wicked.

Ps 73:15

73:15 If I say, {g} I will speak thus; behold, I should offend [against] the generation of thy children.

(g) 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.

Ps 73:17

73:17 Until I went into the {h} sanctuary of God; [then] understood I their end.

(h) Until I entered into your school and learned by your word and Holy Spirit that you order all things most wisely and justly.

Ps 73:19

73:19 How are they [brought] into desolation, as in a moment! they are {i} utterly consumed with terrors.

(i) By your fearful judgment.

Ps 73:20

73:20 As a dream when [one] awaketh; [so], O Lord, when {k} thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

(k) When you open our eyes to consider your heavenly happiness, we contemn all their vain pomp.

Ps 73:22

73:22 So foolish [was] I, and ignorant: I was [as] a {l} beast before thee.

(l) For the more that man goes about by his own reason to seek out God's judgments, the more he declares himself a beast.

Ps 73:23

73:23 Nevertheless I [am] continually {m} with thee: thou hast holden [me] by my right hand.

(m) By faith I was assured that your providence always watched over me to preserve me.

Ps 73:25

73:25 Whom have I in {n} heaven [but thee]? and [there is] none upon earth [that] I desire beside thee.

(n) He sought neither help nor comfort of any save God only.

Ps 73:26

73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: [but] God [is] the strength of my heart, and my {o} portion for ever.

(o) He teaches us to deny ourselves, to have God our whole sufficiency, and only contentment.

Ps 73:27

73:27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that {p} go a whoring from thee.

(p) That is, forsake you to seek others.

Ps 73:28

73:28 But [it is] good for me {q} to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

(q) Though all the world shrinks from God, yet he promises to trust in him and to magnify his works.

Ps 74:1

74:1 [Maschil of Asaph.] O God, {a} why hast thou cast [us] off for ever? [why] doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?

(a) 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.

Ps 74:2

74:2 Remember thy congregation, [which] thou hast purchased of old; the {b} rod of thine inheritance, [which] thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.

(b) Which inheritance you have measured out for yourself as with a line or rod.

Ps 74:4

74:4 Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they {c} set up their ensigns [for] signs.

Ps 74:5

74:5 [A man] was famous according as he had {d} lifted up axes upon the thick trees.

(d) He commends the temple for the costly matter, the excellent workmanship and beauty of it, which nonetheless the enemies destroyed.

Ps 74:8

74:8 They said in their {e} hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.

(e) They encouraged one another to cruelty, that not only God's people might be destroyed, but also his religion utterly in all places suppressed.

Ps 74:9

74:9 We see not our signs: [there is] no more any prophet: neither [is there] among us any that knoweth {f} how long.

(f) They lamented that they had no prophet among them to show them how long their misery would last.

Ps 74:11

74:11 Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? {g} pluck [it] out of thy bosom.

(g) They join their deliverance with God's glory and power, knowing that the punishment of the enemy would be their deliverance.

Ps 74:12

74:12 For God [is] my King of old, working salvation {h} in the midst of the earth.

(h) Meaning in the sight of all the world.

Ps 74:13

74:13 Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the {i} dragons in the waters.

(i) That is, Pharaoh's army.

Ps 74:14

74:14 Thou brakest the heads of {k} leviathan in pieces, [and] gavest him [to be] {l} meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

(k) Which was a great monster of the sea, or whale, meaning Pharaoh.
(l) His destruction rejoiced them as meat refreshes the body.

Ps 74:16

74:16 The {m} day [is] thine, the night also [is] thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.

(m) Seeing that God by his providence governs and disposes all things, he gathers that he will take care chiefly for his children.

Ps 74:19

74:19 O deliver not the soul of thy {n} turtledove unto the multitude [of the wicked]: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.

(n) He means the Church of God, which is exposed as a prey to the wicked.

Ps 74:20

74:20 Have respect unto the covenant: for {o} the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.

(o) That is, all places where your word does not shine, there reigns tyranny and ambition.

Ps 74:22

74:22 Arise, O God, plead thine {p} own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.

(p) He shows that God cannot permit his Church to be oppressed unless he looses his own right.

Ps 75:1

75:1 [To the chief Musician, {a} 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 {b} thy wondrous works declare.

(a) Read Ps 57:1.
(b) 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.

Ps 75:2

75:2 {c} When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.

Ps 75:3

75:3 The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars {d} of it. Selah.

(d) Though all things are brought to ruin, yet I can restore and preserve them.

Ps 75:5

75:5 Lift not up your {e} horn on high: speak [not with] a stiff neck.

(e) 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.

Ps 75:8

75:8 For in the hand of the LORD [there is] a {f} 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].

(f) 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.

Ps 75:10

75:10 All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; [but] the horns of the {g} righteous shall be exalted.

(g) The godly will better prosper by their innocent simplicity, than the wicked will by all their craft and subtilty.

Ps 76:1

76:1 [To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm [or] Song of Asaph.] In Judah [is] God {a} known: his name [is] great in Israel.

(a) He declares that God's power is evidently seen in preserving his people and destroying his enemies.

Ps 76:2

76:2 In {b} Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.

(b) Which later was called Jerusalem.

Ps 76:4

76:4 Thou [art] more glorious [and] excellent than {c} the mountains of prey.

Ps 76:5

76:5 The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have {d} found their hands.

(d) God has taken their spirits and strength from them as though their hands were cut off.

Ps 76:7

76:7 Thou, [even] thou, [art] to be feared: and who may stand in thy {e} sight when once thou art angry?

(e) God with a look is able to destroy all the power and activity of the enemies, no matter how many or mighty.

Ps 76:9

76:9 When God arose to judgment, to {f} save all the meek of the earth. Selah.

(f) To avenge the wrongs done to your Church.

Ps 76:10

76:10 Surely the {g} wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

(g) 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.

Ps 76:11

76:11 Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be {h} round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.

(h) That is, the Levites who dwell about the Tabernacle, or the people among whom he dwells.

Ps 76:12

76:12 He shall {i} cut off the spirit of princes: [he is] terrible to the kings of the earth.

(i) 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.

Ps 77:1

77:1 [To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph.] I cried unto God with my {a} voice, [even] unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.

(a) The prophet teaches us by his example to flee to God for help in our necessities.

Ps 77:3

77:3 I remembered God, and was {b} troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.

(b) He shows that we must patiently abide though God does not deliver us from our troubles at the first cry.

Ps 77:4

77:4 Thou holdest mine eyes {c} waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

Ps 77:6

77:6 I call to remembrance my {d} song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made {e} diligent search.

(d) Of thanksgiving, which I was accustomed to sing in my prosperity.
(e) Both the reasons why I was chastened, and when my sorrows would end.

Ps 77:8

77:8 Is his {f} mercy clean gone for ever? doth [his] promise fail for evermore?

(f) As if he would say, It is impossible: by which he exhorts himself to patience.

Ps 77:10

77:10 And I said, This [is] my {g} infirmity: [but I will remember] the years of the right hand of the most High.

(g) 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.

Ps 77:13

77:13 Thy way, O God, [is] {h} in the sanctuary: who [is so] great a {i} God as [our] God?

(h) That is in heaven, to which we must ascend by faith, if we will know the ways of God.
(i) He condemns all who worship anything save the only true God, whose glory appears through the world.

Ps 77:16

77:16 The {k} waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.

(k) He declares how the power of God was declared when he delivered the Israelites through the Red Sea.

Ps 77:17

77:17 The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a {l} sound: thine arrows also went abroad.

(l) That is, thundered and lightninged.

Ps 77:19

77:19 Thy way [is] in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not {m} known.

(m) 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, Ex 14:28,29.

Ps 78:1

78:1 [{a} Maschil of Asaph.] Give ear, O my people, [to] my {b} law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

(a) Read Ps 32:1.
(b) 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 2:16,16:25.

Ps 78:3

78:3 Which we have heard and known, and our {c} fathers have told us.

Ps 78:5

78:5 For he established a {d} testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:

(d) By the testimony and law, he means your law written, which they were commanded to teach their children, De 6:7.

Ps 78:6

78:6 That the {e} generation to come might know [them, even] the children [which] should be born; [who] should arise and declare [them] to their children:

(e) He shows how the children would be like their father's: that is, in maintaining God's pure religion.

Ps 78:7

78:7 That they might {f} set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

(f) He shows where the use of this doctrine exists: in faith, in the meditation of God's benefits, and in obedience.

Ps 78:8

78:8 And might not be as their {g} fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation [that] set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

(g) 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.

Ps 78:9

78:9 The children of {h} Ephraim, [being] armed, [and] carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.

(h) 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.

Ps 78:12

78:12 Marvellous things did he in the sight of their {i} fathers, in the land of Egypt, [in] the field of Zoan.

(i) He proves that not only the posterity but also their forefathers were wicked and rebellious to God.

Ps 78:17

78:17 And they {k} sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.

(k) Their wicked malice could be overcome by no benefits, which were great and many.

Ps 78:18

78:18 And they tempted God in their heart by {l} asking meat for their lust.

(l) Then to require more than is necessary, and to separate God's power from his will, is to tempt God.

Ps 78:19

78:19 Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God {m} furnish a table in the wilderness?

(m) Thus when we give place to sin, we are moved to doubt God's power, unless he is always ready to serve our lust.

Ps 78:22

78:22 Because they believed not in God, and {n} trusted not in his salvation:

(n) That is, in his fatherly providence, by which he cares for his, and provides sufficiently.

Ps 78:23

78:23 Though he had commanded the {o} clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,

(o) So that they had that which was necessary and sufficient: but their lust made them cover that which they knew God had denied them.

Ps 78:26

78:26 He caused an {p} east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.

(p) God used the wind to show them that all the elements were at his command, and that no distance could restrain his working.

Ps 78:30

78:30 They were not estranged from their {q} lust. But while their meat [was] yet in their mouths,

(q) Such is the nature of concupiscence, that the more it has the more it lusts.

Ps 78:31

78:31 The wrath of God came upon them, and slew {r} the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen [men] of Israel.

(r) Though others were not spared, yet chiefly they suffered, who trusted in their strength against God.

Ps 78:32

78:32 For all this they {s} sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.

(s) Thus sin by continuance makes man insensible, so that by no plagues they can be amended.

Ps 78:34

78:34 When he {t} slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.

(t) Such was their hypocrisy, that they sought God out of fear of punishment, though in their heart they did not love him.

Ps 78:37

78:37 For their {u} heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.

(u) Whatever does not come from the pure fountain of the heart is hypocrisy.

Ps 78:38

78:38 But he, [being] full of compassion, {x} forgave [their] iniquity, and destroyed [them] not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

(x) 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.

Ps 78:41

78:41 Yea, they {y} turned back and tempted God, and {z} limited the Holy One of Israel.

(y) That is, they often tempted him.
(z) As they all do who measure the power of God by their capacity.

Ps 78:42

78:42 They {a} remembered not his hand, [nor] the day when he delivered them from the enemy.

(a) The forgetfulness of God's benefits is the root of rebellion and all vice.

Ps 78:45

78:45 He sent {b} divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.

(b) This word signifies a confused mixture of flies and venomous worms. Some take it for all sorts of serpents: some for all wild beasts.

Ps 78:46

78:46 He {c} gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.

(c) 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.

Ps 78:49

78:49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending {d} evil angels [among them].

(d) 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.

Ps 78:51

78:51 And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the {e} chief of [their] strength in the tabernacles of {f} Ham:

(e) The firstborn are so called, as in Ge 49:3.
(f) That is, Egypt: for it was called Mizraim, or Egypt of Mizraim that was the son of Ham.

Ps 78:53

78:53 And he led them on safely, so that they {g} feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

(g) That is, they had no opportunity to fear, even as God destroyed their enemies and delivered them falsely.

Ps 78:54

78:54 And he brought them to the border of his {h} sanctuary, [even to] this mountain, [which] his right hand had purchased.

(h) Meaning, Canaan, which God had consecrated to himself and appointed to his people.

Ps 78:57

78:57 But turned back, and dealt {i} unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

(i) Nothing more displeases God in the children, than when they continue in that wickedness, which their fathers had begun.

Ps 78:58

78:58 For they {k} provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.

(k) By serving God other than he had appointed.

Ps 78:60

78:60 So that he {l} forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent [which] he placed among men;

(l) For their ingratitude he permitted the Philistines to take the Ark which was the sign of his presence, from among them.

Ps 78:61

78:61 And delivered his {m} strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.

(m) The Ark is called his power and beauty because by this he defended his people, and beautifully appeared to them.

Ps 78:63

78:63 The fire {n} consumed their young men; and their maidens were not {o} given to marriage.

(n) They were suddenly destroyed, 1Sa 4:10.
(o) They had no marriage songs: that is, they were not married.

Ps 78:64

78:64 Their priests fell by the sword; and their {p} widows made no lamentation.

(p) Either they were slain before or taken prisoner by their enemies, and so were forbidden.

Ps 78:65

78:65 Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, [and] like a mighty man that {q} shouteth by reason of wine.

(q) 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.

Ps 78:67

78:67 Moreover he refused the tabernacle of {r} Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:

(r) Showing that he did not spare the Israelites altogether, though he punished their enemies.

Ps 78:69

78:69 And he {s} built his sanctuary like high [palaces], like the earth which he hath established for ever.

(s) By building the temple, and establishing the kingdom, he declares that the signs of his favour were among them.

Ps 78:72

78:72 So {t} he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

(t) 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.

Ps 79:1

79:1 [A Psalm of Asaph.] O God, {a} the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.

(a) 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.

Ps 79:2

79:2 The {b} 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.

(b) 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.

Ps 79:3

79:3 Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and [there was] none to {c} bury [them].

Ps 79:4

79:4 We are become a reproach to our {d} neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.

(d) Of which some came from Abraham but were degenerate: and others were open enemies to your religion, but they both laughed at our miseries.

Ps 79:5

79:5 How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy {e} burn like fire?

(e) Will you completely consume us for our sins, before you take us to mercy?

Ps 79:8

79:8 O remember not against us {f} former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.

(f) Which we and our fathers have committed.

Ps 79:9

79:9 Help us, O God of our {h} salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.

(h) 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.

Ps 79:11

79:11 Let the sighing of the {i} prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou {k} those that are appointed to die;

(i) Who though in respect to God they were justly punished for their sins, yet in consideration of their cause were unjustly murdered.
(k) Who were captives among their enemies and could look for nothing but death.

Ps 79:13

79:13 So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: {l} we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.

(l) We ought to desire no benefit from God, but on this condition to praise his name, Isa 43:21.

Ps 80:1

80:1 [To the chief Musician upon Shoshannimeduth, A Psalm of Asaph.] Give ear, {a} O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest [between] the {b} cherubims, shine forth.

(a) This Psalm was made as a prayer to desire God to be merciful to the ten tribes.
(b) Move their hearts, that they may return to worship God properly, that is, in the place you have appointed.

Ps 80:3

80:3 {c} Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

Ps 80:4

80:4 O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be {d} angry against the prayer of thy people?

(d) The faithful fear God's anger, when they perceive that their prayers are not heard immediately.

Ps 80:6

80:6 Thou makest us a {e} strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves.

(e) Our neighbours have continual strife and war against us.

Ps 80:7

80:7 {f} Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

(f) 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.

Ps 80:8

80:8 Thou hast brought a {g} vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.

(g) 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.

Ps 80:11

80:11 She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the {h} river.

(h) That is, Euphrates.

Ps 80:13

80:13 The {i} boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it.

(i) That is, they who hate our religion, as well as they who hate our persons.

Ps 80:14

80:14 Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down {k} from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;

(k) 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.

Ps 80:15

80:15 And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch [that] thou madest {l} strong for thyself.

(l) So that no power can prevail against it, and which as a young bud you raised up again as out of the burnt ashes.

Ps 80:16

80:16 [It is] burned with fire, [it is] cut down: they perish at the {m} rebuke of thy countenance.

(m) Only when you are angry and not of the sword of the enemy.

Ps 80:17

80:17 Let thy hand be upon the {n} man of thy right hand, upon the son of man [whom] thou madest strong for thyself.

(n) 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

Ps 80:18

80:18 So will not we go back from thee: {o} quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.

(o) 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.

Ps 81:1

81:1 [To the chief Musician upon {a} Gittith, [A Psalm] of Asaph.] Sing {b} aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

(a) An instrument of music brought from Geth.
(b) 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.

Ps 81:3

81:3 Blow up the trumpet in the {c} new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.

Ps 81:5

81:5 This he ordained in {d} Joseph [for] a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: [where] I heard a language [that] {e} I understood not.

(d) That is, in Israel for Joseph's family was counted the chief while before, Judah was preferred.
(e) God speaks in the person of the people because he was their leader.

Ps 81:6

81:6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the {f} pots.

(f) 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?

Ps 81:7

81:7 Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I {g} answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.

(g) By a strange and wonderful fashion.

Ps 81:8

81:8 {h} Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;

(h) He condemns all assemblies where the people are not attentive to hear God's voice, and to give obedience to the same.

Ps 81:10

81:10 I [am] the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: {i} open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

(i) God accuses their incredulity, because they did not open their mouths to receive God's benefits in such abundance as he pours them out.

Ps 81:13

81:13 {k} Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, [and] Israel had walked in my ways!

(k) God by his word calls all, but his secret election appoints who will bear fruit.

Ps 81:14

81:14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand {l} against their adversaries.

(l) If their sins had not.

Ps 81:15

81:15 The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time {m} should have endured for ever.

(m) If the Israelites had not broken covenant with God, he would have given them victory against their enemies.

Ps 81:16

81:16 He should have fed them also with the {n} finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.

(n) That is, with most fine wheat and abundance of honey.

Ps 82:1

82:1 [A Psalm of Asaph.] God standeth in the congregation of the {a} mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

(a) The prophet shows that if princes and judges do not do their duty, God whose authority is above them will take vengeance on them.

Ps 82:2

82:2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the {b} wicked? Selah.

(b) For thieves and murderers find favour in judgment when the cause of the godly cannot be heard.

Ps 82:4

82:4 Deliver the poor and {c} needy: rid [them] out of the hand of the wicked.

Ps 82:5

82:5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the {d} foundations of the earth are out of course.

(d) That is, all things are out of order either by their tyranny or careless negligence.

Ps 82:7

82:7 {e} But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

(e) No title of honour will excuse you, but you will be subject to God's judgments, and tender account as well as other men.

Ps 82:8

82:8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit {f} all nations.

(f) Therefore no tyrant will pluck your right and authority from you.

Ps 83:1

83:1 [A Song [or] Psalm of Asaph.] Keep {a} not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

(a) 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.

Ps 83:2

83:2 For, lo, thine {b} enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.

(b) He calls them God's enemies, who are enemies of his Church.

Ps 83:3

83:3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy {c} hidden ones.

(c) The elect of God are his secret ones: for he hides them in the secret of his tabernacle, and preserves them from all dangers.

Ps 83:4

83:4 They have said, Come, and let us {d} cut them off from [being] a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

(d) They were not content to take the Church as prisoner: but sought to utterly destroy it.

Ps 83:5

83:5 For they have consulted together {e} with one consent: they are confederate {f} against thee:

(e) By all secret means.
(f) They thought to have subverted your counsel in which the constancy of the Church was established.

Ps 83:8

83:8 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children {g} of Lot. Selah.

(g) The wickedness of the Ammonites and Moabites is described in that they provoked these other nations to fight against the Israelites.

Ps 83:9

83:9 Do unto them as [unto] the {h} Midianites; as [to] Sisera, as [to] Jabin, at the brook of Kison:

(h) By these examples they were confirmed that God would not permit his people to be completely destroyed, Jud 7:21,4:15.

Ps 83:10

83:10 [Which] perished at Endor: they became [as] {i} dung for the earth.

(i) Trodden under foot as mire.

Ps 83:12

83:12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves the {k} houses of God in possession.

(k) That is, Judea: for where his Church is, there he dwells among them.

Ps 83:13

83:13 O my God, make them like a {l} wheel; as the stubble before the wind.

(l) Because the reprobate could by no means be amended, he prays that they may utterly be destroyed, be unstable and led by all winds.

Ps 83:16

83:16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may {m} seek thy name, O LORD.

(m) That is, be compelled by your plagues to confess your power.

Ps 83:18

83:18 That [men] may {n} know that thou, whose name alone [is] JEHOVAH, [art] the most high over all the earth.

(n) 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.

Ps 84:1

84:1 [To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.] How amiable [are] thy tabernacles, O {a} LORD of hosts!

(a) David complains that he cannot have access to the Church of God to make profession of his faith, and to profit in religion.

Ps 84:2

84:2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the {b} courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

(b) For only the priests could enter the sanctuary and the rest of the people into the courts.

Ps 84:3

84:3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, [even] thine {c} altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.

Ps 84:5

84:5 Blessed [is] the man whose {d} strength [is] in thee; in whose heart [are] the ways [of them].

(d) Who trusts nothing in himself but in you only, and learns from you to rule his life.

Ps 84:6

84:6 [Who] passing through the valley of {c} Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

Ps 84:7

84:7 They go from {f} strength to strength, [every one of them] in Zion appeareth before God.

(f) They are never weary but increase in strength and courage till they come to God's house.

Ps 84:9

84:9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine {g} anointed.

(g) That is, for Christ's sake, whose figure I represent.

Ps 84:10

84:10 For {h} 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.

(h) He would rather live one day in God's Church than a thousand in the world.

Ps 84:11

84:11 For the LORD God [is] a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no {i} good [thing] will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

(i) But will from time to time increase his blessings toward his more and more.

Ps 85:1

85:1 [To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.] LORD, thou hast been {a} favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.

(a) They confess that God's free mercy was the cause of their deliverance because he loved the land which he had chosen.

Ps 85:2

85:2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast {b} covered all their sin. Selah.

(b) You have buried them that they will not come into judgment.

Ps 85:3

85:3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned [thyself] from the {c} fierceness of thine anger.

Ps 85:5

85:5 Wilt thou be angry with us {d} for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?

(d) 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.

Ps 85:7

85:7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy {e} salvation.

(e) He confesses that our salvation comes only from God's mercy.

Ps 85:8

85:8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak {f} peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.

(f) 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.

Ps 85:11

85:11 {g} Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

(g) Though for a time God thus exercises them with his rods, yet under the kingdom of Christ they should have peace and joy.

Ps 85:13

85:13 {h} Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set [us] in the way of his steps.

(h) Justice will then flourish and have free course and passage in every place.

Ps 86:1

86:1 [A Prayer of David.] Bow down {a} thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I [am] poor and needy.

(a) David, when persecuted by Saul, prayed this way, leaving the same to the Church as a monument, how to seek relief against their miseries.

Ps 86:2

86:2 Preserve my soul; for I [am] {b} holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.

(b) I am not an enemy to them, but I pity them even though they are cruel to me.

Ps 86:3

86:3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I {c} cry unto thee daily.

Ps 86:5

86:5 For thou, Lord, [art] good, and {d} ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

(d) He confesses that God is good to all but only merciful to poor sinners.

Ps 86:6

86:6 Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and {e} attend to the voice of my supplications.

(e) 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.

Ps 86:8

86:8 Among the gods [there is] none like unto thee, O Lord; neither {f} [are there any works] like unto thy works.

(f) He condemns all idols as they can do nothing to declare that they are gods.

Ps 86:9

86:9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and {g} worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.

(g) This proves that David prayed in the Name of Christ the Messiah of whose kingdom he here prophecies.

Ps 86:11

86:11 {h} Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

(h) 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.

Ps 86:13

86:13 For great [is] thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from {i} the lowest hell.

(i) That is, from most great danger of death: out of which none but the almighty hand of God could deliver him.

Ps 86:14

86:14 O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent [men] have {k} sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.

(k) 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.

Ps 86:16

86:16 O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the {l} son of thine handmaid.

(l) 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.

Ps 87:1

87:1 [A Psalm [or] Song for the sons of Korah.] His {a} foundation [is] in the holy mountains.

(a) God chose that place among the hills to establish Jerusalem and his temple.

Ps 87:3

87:3 {b} Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.

(b) Though your glorious estate does not yet appear, wait with patience and God will accomplish his promise.

Ps 87:4

87:4 I will make mention of {c} Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; {d} this [man] was born there.

(c) That is, Egypt and these other countries will come to the knowledge of God.
(d) 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.

Ps 87:5

87:5 And of Zion it shall be said, {e} This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.

(e) Out of all quarters they will come to the Church, and be counted as citizens.

Ps 87:6

87:6 The LORD shall count, when he {f} writeth up the people, [that] this [man] was born there. Selah.

(f) When he calls them by his word into the Church, whom he had elected and written in the book.

Ps 87:7

87:7 As well the singers as the players on instruments [shall be there]: all my {g} springs [are] in thee.

(g) The prophet sets his whole affections and comfort in the church.

Ps 88:1

88:1 [A Song [or] Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath {a} Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.] O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day [and] night {b} before thee:

(a) That is, to humble. It was the beginning of a song by which tune this psalm was sung.
(b) 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.

Ps 88:5

88:5 {c} Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy {d} hand.

(c) 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.
(d) That is, from your providence and care, which is meant according to the judgment of the flesh.

Ps 88:7

88:7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted [me] with all thy {e} waves. Selah.

(e) The storms of your wrath have overwhelmed me.

Ps 88:8

88:8 Thou hast put away mine {f} acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: {g} [I am] shut up, and I cannot come forth.

(f) He attributes the loss and displeasure of his friends to God's providence by which he partly punishes and partly tries his.
(g) I see no end to my sorrows.

Ps 88:9

88:9 {h} Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.

(h) My eyes and face declare my sorrows.

Ps 88:10

88:10 Wilt thou shew {i} wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise [and] praise thee? Selah.

(i) 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.

Ps 88:12

88:12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land {k} of forgetfulness?

(k) That is, in the grave, where only the body lies without all sense and remembrance.

Ps 88:15

88:15 I [am] afflicted and ready to die {l} from [my] youth up: [while] I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.

(l) I am always in great dangers and sorrows as though my life would utterly be cut off every moment.

Ps 89:1

89:1 [Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.] I will {a} sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

(a) 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.

Ps 89:2

89:2 For I have {b} said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou {c} establish in the very heavens.

(b) As he who surely believed in heart.
(c) As your invisible heaven is not subject to any alteration and change: so shall the truth of your promise be unchangeable.

Ps 89:3

89:3 {d} I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,

(d) The prophet shows what the promise of God was, on which he grounded his faith.

Ps 89:5

89:5 And the {e} heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.

(e) The angels will praise your power and faithfulness in delivering your Church.

Ps 89:6

89:6 For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? [who] among the {g} sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?

(g) Meaning, the angels.

Ps 89:7

89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the {h} saints, and to be had in reverence of all [them that are] about him.

(h) If the angels tremble before God's majesty and infinite justice, what earthly creature by oppressing the Church dares to set himself against God?

Ps 89:9

89:9 {i} Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

(i) 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.

Ps 89:12

89:12 The north and the south thou hast created them: {k} Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.

(k) 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.

Ps 89:14

89:14 {l} Justice and judgment [are] the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

(l) For by this he judges the world and shows himself to be a merciful father and faithful protector to his.

Ps 89:15

89:15 Blessed [is] the people that {m} know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy {n} countenance.

(m) Feeling in their conscience that God is their father.
(n) They will be preserved by your fatherly providence.

Ps 89:17

89:17 For thou [art] the {o} glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.

(o) In that they are preserved and continue, they should give the praise and glory to you alone.

Ps 89:18

89:18 For the LORD [is] our {p} defence; and the Holy One of Israel [is] our king.

(p) In that our King has power to defend us, it is the gift of God.

Ps 89:19

89:19 Then thou spakest in vision to {q} thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon [one that is] {r} mighty; I have exalted [one] chosen out of the people.

(q) To Samuel and to others, to assure that David was the chosen one.
(r) Whom I have both chosen and given strength to execute his office, as in Ps 89:21.

Ps 89:23

89:23 And I will {s} beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.

(s) Though there will always be enemies against God's kingdom yet he promises to overcome them.

Ps 89:24

89:24 But my faithfulness and my {t} mercy [shall be] with him: and in my name shall his {u} horn be exalted.

(t) I will mercifully perform my promise to him despite his infirmities and offences.
(u) His power, glory and estate.

Ps 89:25

89:25 I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the {x} rivers.

(x) He will enjoy the land around him.

Ps 89:26

89:26 He shall cry unto me, Thou [art] my {y} father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

(y) 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.

Ps 89:29

89:29 His seed also will I make [to endure] {z} for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

(z) 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.

Ps 89:33

89:33 {a} Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.

(a) Though the faithful answer not in all points to their profession, yet God will not break his covenant with them.

Ps 89:34

89:34 My covenant will I not break, nor {b} alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

(b) For God in promising has respect to his mercy, and not to man's power in performing.

Ps 89:37

89:37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and [as] a faithful {c} witness in heaven. Selah.

Ps 89:39

89:39 Thou hast {d} made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his {e} crown [by casting it] to the ground.

(d) 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.
(e) 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.

Ps 89:45

89:45 The days of his {f} youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.

(f) He shows that the kingdom fell before it came to perfection or was ripe.

Ps 89:46

89:46 How long, {g} LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?

(g) The prophet in joining prayer with his complaint, shows that his faith never failed.

Ps 89:47

89:47 Remember {h} how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?

(h) 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.

Ps 89:50

89:50 Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; [how] I do bear in my {i} bosom [the reproach of] all the mighty people;

(i) 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.

Ps 89:51

89:51 Wherewith {k} thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith they have reproached the {l} footsteps of thine anointed.

(k) So he calls them who persecute the Church.
(l) They laugh at us who patiently wait for the coming of your Christ.

Ps 90:1

90:1 [A Prayer of Moses {a} the man of God.] Lord, thou hast been our {b} dwelling place in all generations.

(a) Thus the Scripture refers to the prophets.
(b) You have been as a house and defence to us in all our troubles and travels now this four hundred years.

Ps 90:2

90:2 Before the {c} mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou [art] God.

Ps 90:3

90:3 Thou {d} turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

(d) Moses by lamenting the frailty and shortness of man's life moves God to pity.

Ps 90:4

90:4 {e} For a thousand years in thy sight [are but] as yesterday when it is past, and [as] a watch in the night.

(e) 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.

Ps 90:5

90:5 Thou {f} carriest them away as with a flood; they are [as] a sleep: in the morning [they are] like grass [which] groweth up.

(f) You take them away suddenly as with a flood.

Ps 90:7

90:7 For we are {g} consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

(g) You called us by the rods to consider the storms of our life and for our sins you shorten our days.

Ps 90:9

90:9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we {h} spend our years as a tale [that is told].

(h) Our days are not only short but miserable as our sins daily provoke your wrath.

Ps 90:10

90:10 The days of our years [are] threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength [they be] {i} fourscore years, yet [is] their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

(i) Meaning according to the common state of life.

Ps 90:11

90:11 {k} Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, [so is] thy wrath.

(k) 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.

Ps 90:12

90:12 So teach [us] to number our days, that we may apply [our] hearts unto {l} wisdom.

(l) Which is by considering the shortness of our life, and by meditating the heavenly joys.

Ps 90:13

90:13 Return, O LORD, {m} how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.

(m) Meaning, will you be angry?

Ps 90:16

90:16 {n} Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their {o} children.

(n) Even your mercy, which is the chiefest work.
(o) As God's promises belong well to their poverty, as to them, so Moses prays for the posterity.

Ps 90:17

90:17 And let the {p} beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and {q} establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

(p) Meaning, that is was obscured when he ceases to do good to his Church.
(q) For unless you guide us with your Holy Spirit, our enterprises cannot succeed.

Ps 91:1

91:1 He that dwelleth in the {a} secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

(a) He who makes God his defence and trust will perceive his protection to be a most sure safeguard.

Ps 91:2

91:2 {b} I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

(b) Being assured of this protection, he prays to the Lord.

Ps 91:3

91:3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the {c} snare of the fowler, [and] from the noisome pestilence.

(c) 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.

Ps 91:4

91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his {d} truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler.

(d) That is, his faithful keeping of promises to help you in your need.

Ps 91:5

91:5 {e} Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; [nor] for the arrow [that] flieth by day;

(e) The care that God has over his is sufficient to defend them from all dangers.

Ps 91:8

91:8 Only with thine {f} eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

(f) 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.

Ps 91:11

91:11 {g} For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

(g) 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.

Ps 91:13

91:13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the {h} young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

(h) You will not only be preserved from all evil, but overcome it whether it is secret or open.

Ps 91:14

91:14 {i} 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.

(i) To assure the faithful of God's protection, he brings in God to confirm the same.

Ps 91:16

91:16 With {k} long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

(k) For he is content with that life that God gives for by death the shortness of this life is recompensed with immortality.

Ps 92:1

92:1 [A Psalm [or] Song for the {a} sabbath day.] [It is a] good [thing] to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:

(a) Which teaches that the use of the Sabbath stands in praising God, and not only in ceasing from work.

Ps 92:2

92:2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the {b} morning, and thy faithfulness every night,

(b) For God's mercy and fidelity in his promises toward his, bind them to praise him continually both day and night.

Ps 92:3

92:3 Upon an {c} instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.

Ps 92:4

92:4 For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy {d} work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.

(d) He shows the use of the Sabbath day: that is, to meditate God's works.

Ps 92:6

92:6 A {e} brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.

(e) That is, the wicked do not consider God's works nor his judgments against them, and therefore most justly perish.

Ps 92:8

92:8 But thou, LORD, [art {f} most] high for evermore.

(f) Your judgments are most constant against the wicked and pass our reach.

Ps 92:10

92:10 {g} But my horn shalt thou exalt like [the horn of] an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.

(g) You will strengthen them with all power, and bless them with all happiness.

Ps 92:12

92:12 The righteous shall {h} flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

(h) 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.

Ps 92:14

92:14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old {i} age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

(i) The children of God will have a power above nature and their age will bring forth fresh fruit.

Ps 93:1

93:1 The LORD {a} 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.

(a) 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.

Ps 93:2

93:2 Thy {b} throne [is] established of old: thou [art] from everlasting.

(b) In which you sit and govern the world.

Ps 93:3

93:3 {c} The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.

Ps 93:5

93:5 Thy {d} testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.

(d) 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.

Ps 94:1

94:1 O LORD God, to whom {a} vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, {b} shew thyself.

(a) Whose office it is to take vengeance on the wicked.
(b) Show by effect that you are judge of the world to punish the wicked.

Ps 94:3

94:3 LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked {c} triumph?

Ps 94:5

94:5 They {d} break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.

(d) 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.

Ps 94:7

94:7 {e} Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard [it].

(e) He shows that they are desperate in malice, as they did not fear God, but gave themselves wholly to do wickedly.

Ps 94:9

94:9 He that {f} planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?

(f) He shows that it is impossible, but God should hear, see, and understand their wickedness.

Ps 94:10

94:10 He that chastiseth the {g} heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, [shall not he know]?

(g) 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.

Ps 94:12

94:12 Blessed [is] the man whom thou {h} chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;

(h) God has care over his, and chastised them for their own good, that they should not perish for ever with the wicked.

Ps 94:15

94:15 But {i} judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.

(i) God will restore the state and government of things to their right use, and then the godly will follow him cheerfully.

Ps 94:17

94:17 Unless the LORD [had been] my {k} help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.

(k) He complains of them who would not help him to resist the enemies, yet was assured that God's help would not fail.

Ps 94:18

94:18 When I said, {l} My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.

(l) When I thought there was no way but death.

Ps 94:19

94:19 In the multitude of my {m} thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.

(m) In my trouble and distress I always found your present help.

Ps 94:20

94:20 Shall the throne of iniquity have {n} fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?

(n) Though the wicked judges pretend justice in oppressing the Church, yet they do not have the authority of God.

Ps 94:23

94:23 And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall {o} cut them off in their own wickedness; [yea], the LORD our God shall cut them off.

(o) 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.

Ps 95:1

95:1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a {a} joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

(a) He shows that God's service stands not in dead ceremonies, but chiefly in the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.

Ps 95:3

95:3 For the LORD [is] a great God, and a great King above all {b} gods.

(b) 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.

Ps 95:4

95:4 In his hand [are] the deep places of the earth: the {c} strength of the hills [is] his also.

Ps 95:6

95:6 O come, let us {d} worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

(d) By these three words he signifies one thing: meaning that they must wholly give themselves to serve God.

Ps 95:7

95:7 For he [is] our God; and we [are] the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his {e} hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,

(e) 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.

Ps 95:8

95:8 {f} Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, [and] as [in] the day of temptation in the wilderness:

(f) By the contemning of God's word.

Ps 95:10

95:10 Forty years long was I grieved with [this] generation, and said, It [is] a people that do {g} err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:

(g) They were without judgment and reason.

Ps 95:11

95:11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into {h} my rest.

(h) That is, into the land of Canaan, where he promised them rest.

Ps 96:1

96:1 O sing {a} unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.

(a) The prophet shows that the time will come, that all nations will have opportunity to praise the Lord for the revealing of his gospel.

Ps 96:4

96:4 For the LORD [is] {b} great, and greatly to be praised: he [is] to be feared above all gods.

(b) 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.

Ps 96:5

96:5 For all the gods of the nations [are] idols: but the LORD {c} made the heavens.

Ps 96:6

96:6 {d} Honour and majesty [are] before him: strength and beauty [are] in his sanctuary.

(d) God cannot be known but by his strength and glory, the signs of which appear in his sanctuary.

Ps 96:7

96:7 Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and {e} strength.

(e) As by experience you see that it is only due to him.

Ps 96:8

96:8 Give unto the LORD the glory [due unto] his name: bring {f} an offering, and come into his courts.

(f) By offering up yourselves wholly to God, declare that you worship him only.

Ps 96:10

96:10 Say among the {g} heathen [that] the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people {h} righteously.

(g) He prophecies that the Gentiles will be partakers with the Jews of God's promise.
(h) He will regenerate them anew with his Spirit, and restore them to the image of God.

Ps 96:12

96:12 Let the field be joyful, and all that [is] therein: then shall all the {i} trees of the wood rejoice

(i) If the insensible creatures will have reason to rejoice when God appears, much more we, from whom he has taken malediction and sin.

Ps 97:1

97:1 The {a} LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the {b} multitude of isles be glad [thereof].

(a) He shows that where God reigns, there is all happiness and spiritual joy.
(b) For the gospel will not only be preached in Judea, but through all isles and countries.

Ps 97:2

97:2 {c} Clouds and darkness [are] round about him: righteousness and judgment [are] the habitation of his throne.

Ps 97:4

97:4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and {d} trembled.

(d) This fear does not bring the wicked to true obedience, but makes them run away from God.

Ps 97:7

97:7 {e} Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, {f} all [ye] gods.

(e) He signifies that God's judgments are ready to destroy the idolatry.
(f) Let all who are esteemed in the world fall down before him.

Ps 97:8

97:8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the {g} daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.

(g) The Jews will have opportunity to rejoice that the Gentiles are made partakers with them of God's favour.

Ps 97:10

97:10 Ye that {h} love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

(h) 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.

Ps 97:11

97:11 {i} Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

(i) Though God's deliverance does not appear suddenly, yet it is sown and laid up in store for them.

Ps 97:12

97:12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the {k} remembrance of his holiness.

(k) Be mindful of his benefits and only trust in his defence.

Ps 98:1

98:1 [A Psalm.] O sing {a} unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy {b} arm, hath gotten him the victory.

(a) That is, some song newly made in token of their wonderful deliverance by Christ.
(b) He preserves his Church miraculously.

Ps 98:2

98:2 The LORD hath made known his {c} salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.

Ps 98:3

98:3 He hath {d} remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

(d) God was moved by no other means to gather his Church from the Jews and Gentiles, but because he would perform his promise.

Ps 98:6

98:6 With {e} trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.

(e) 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.

Ps 99:1

99:1 The LORD reigneth; let the {a} people tremble: he sitteth [between] the cherubims; let the earth be moved.

(a) When God delivers his Church all the enemies will have reason to tremble.

Ps 99:3

99:3 Let them {b} praise thy great and terrible name; [for] it [is] holy.

(b) Though the wicked rage against God, the godly will praise his Name and mighty power.

Ps 99:5

99:5 Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his {c} footstool; [for] he [is] holy.

(c) 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.

Ps 99:6

99:6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, {d} and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.

(d) Under these three he comprehends the whole people of Israel, with whom God made his promise.

Ps 99:8

99:8 Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of {e} their inventions.

(e) The more liberally God deals with his people, the more he punishes them who abuse his benefits.

Ps 100:1

100:1 [A Psalm of praise.] Make a {a} joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

(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.

Ps 100:3

100:3 Know ye that the LORD he [is] God: [it is] he [that] hath {b} made us, and not we ourselves; [we are] his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

(b) He chiefly means concerning spiritual regeneration, by which we are his sheep and people.

Ps 100:4

100:4 {c} Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, [and] into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, [and] bless his name.

Ps 100:5

100:5 For the LORD [is] good; his mercy [is] {d} everlasting; and his truth [endureth] to all generations.

(d) He declares that we should never be weary in praising him, seeing his mercies toward us last forever.

Ps 101:1

101:1 [A Psalm of David.] I will {a} sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.

(a) 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.

Ps 101:2

101:2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. {b} O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

(b) 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.

Ps 101:3

101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate {c} the work of them that turn aside; [it] shall not cleave to me.

Ps 101:5

101:5 Whoso privily {d} slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.

(d) In promising to punish these vices, which are most pernicious in them that are about Kings, he declares that he will punish all.

Ps 101:6

101:6 Mine eyes [shall be] upon the {e} faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.

(e) He shows what the true use of the sword is, to punish the wicked and to maintain the good.

Ps 101:8

101:8 {f} I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.

(f) 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?

Ps 102:1

102:1 [A Prayer {a} of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD.] Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my {b} cry come unto thee.

(a) By which is signified, that even though we are in great misery, yet there is always room for prayer.
(b) He declares that in our prayer we must lively feel that which we desire, and steadfastly believe to obtain.

Ps 102:3

102:3 For my days are {c} consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

Ps 102:4

102:4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget {d} to eat my bread.

(d) My sorrows were so great that I did not eat.

Ps 102:6

102:6 I am like a {e} pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.

(e) Always mourning in solitude and casting out fearful cries.

Ps 102:8

102:8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; [and] they that are mad against me are {f} sworn against me.

(f) Have conspired my death.

Ps 102:9

102:9 For I have {g} eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,

(g) I have not risen out of my mourning to take my refreshment.

Ps 102:10

102:10 Because of thine {h} indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.

(h) He shows that not only the afflictions moved him, but chiefly the feeling of God's displeasure.

Ps 102:12

102:12 But thou, O LORD, shalt {i} endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.

(i) Though we are frail, yet your promise is sure, and the remembrance of it will confirm us forever.

Ps 102:13

102:13 Thou shalt arise, [and] have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the {k} set time, is come.

(k) That is, the seventy years which by the prophet Jeremiah you appointed, Jer 29:12.

Ps 102:14

102:14 For thy servants take pleasure in her {l} stones, and favour the dust thereof.

(l) The more the Church is in misery and desolation, the more the faithful should love and pity it.

Ps 102:16

102:16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear {m} in his glory.

(m) That is, when he will have drawn his church out of the darkness of death.

Ps 102:18

102:18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be {n} created shall praise the LORD.

(n) 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.

Ps 102:20

102:20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are {o} appointed to death;

(o) Who now in their banishment could look for nothing but death.

Ps 102:22

102:22 When the people are gathered {p} together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

(p) 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.

Ps 102:23

102:23 He {q} weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.

(q) The church lament that they see not the time of Christ, which was promised, but have but few years and short days.

Ps 102:26

102:26 {r} 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:

(r) If heaven and earth perish, much more man will perish: but the Church by reason of God's promise endures forever.

Ps 102:28

102:28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall {s} be established before thee.

(s) Seeing you have chosen your Church out of the world, and joined it to you, it cannot but continue forever: for you are everlasting.

Ps 103:1

103:1 [[A Psalm] of David.] {a} Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, [bless] his holy name.

(a) He wakens his dulness to praise God, showing that both understanding and affections, mind and heart, are too little to set forth his praise.

Ps 103:3

103:3 Who {b} forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

(b) That is, the beginning and chiefest of all benefits, remission of sin.

Ps 103:4

103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from {c} destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Ps 103:5

103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good [things; so that] thy {d} youth is renewed like the eagle's.

(d) 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.

Ps 103:7

103:7 He made known his ways unto {e} Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

(e) As to his chief minister, and next to his people.

Ps 103:9

103:9 He will not always {f} chide: neither will he keep [his anger] for ever.

(f) He shows first his severe judgment, but as soon as the sinner is humbled, he receives him to mercy.

Ps 103:10

103:10 He hath not {g} dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

(g) Who have proved by continual experience that his mercy has always prevailed against our offences.

Ps 103:12

103:12 As far as {h} the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

(h) 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.

Ps 103:15

103:15 [As for] {i} man, his days [are] as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

(i) He declares that man has nothing in himself to move God to mercy, but only the confession of his infirmity and misery.

Ps 103:17

103:17 But the mercy of the LORD [is] from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his {k} righteousness unto children's children;

(k) His just and faithful keeping of his promise.

Ps 103:18

103:18 To such as keep his {l} covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

(l) To whom he gives grace to fear him, and to obey his word.

Ps 103:20

103:20 Bless the LORD, ye {m} his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

(m) 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.

Ps 104:1

104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art {a} clothed with honour and majesty.

(a) 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.

Ps 104:4

104:4 Who {b} maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:

(b) As the prophet here shows that all visible powers are ready to serve God: so in He 1:7 the angels also, are obedient to his commandment.

Ps 104:6

104:6 Thou coveredst it with the {c} deep as [with] a garment: the {d} waters stood above the mountains.

(c) You make the sea to be an ornament to the earth.
(d) If by your power you did not bridle the rage of the waters, the whole world would be destroyed.

Ps 104:11

104:11 They give drink to every {e} beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.

(e) If God provides for the beasts, much more will he extend his provident care to man.

Ps 104:12

104:12 By {f} them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, [which] sing among the branches.

(f) There is no part of the world so barren where most evident signs of God's blessing do not appear.

Ps 104:13

104:13 He watereth the hills from his {g} chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.

(g) From the clouds.

Ps 104:14

104:14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of {h} man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;

(h) 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.

Ps 104:19

104:19 He appointed {i} the moon for seasons: {k} the sun knoweth his going down.

(i) As to separate the night from the day, and to note days, months and years.
(k) That is, by his course, either far or near, it notes summer, winter and other seasons.

Ps 104:21

104:21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat {l} from God.

{l} That is, they only find meat according to God's providence, who cares even for the brute beasts.

Ps 104:23

104:23 {m} Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.

(m) 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.

Ps 104:24

104:24 O LORD, how {n} manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

(n) He confesses that no tongue is able to express God's works nor mind to comprehend them.

Ps 104:27

104:27 {o} These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give [them] their meat in due season.

(o) God is a nourishing father, who provides for all creatures their daily foods.

Ps 104:29

104:29 Thou {p} hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.

(p) As by your presence all things have life; so if you withdraw your blessings they all perish.

Ps 104:30

104:30 Thou {q} sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

(q) As the death of creatures shows that we are nothing of ourselves: so their generation declares that we receive all things from our Creator.

Ps 104:32

104:32 He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they {r} smoke.

(r) God's merciful face gives strength to the earth, but his severe countenance burns the mountains.

Ps 104:35

104:35 Let the sinners be {s} consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

(s) Who infect the world, and so cause it to be that God cannot rejoice in his work.

Ps 105:1

105:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: {a} make known his deeds among the people.

(a) 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.

Ps 105:4

105:4 Seek the LORD, and his {b} strength: seek his face evermore.

(b) By the strength and face he means the ark where God declared his power and his presence.

Ps 105:5

105:5 Remember his {c} marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the {d} judgments of his mouth;

(c) Which he has wrought in the deliverance of his people.
(d) Because his power was declared living by this, as if he would have declared it by mouth.

Ps 105:9

105:9 Which [covenant] he {e} made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;

(e) 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.

Ps 105:11

105:11 Saying, {f} Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:

(f) 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.

Ps 105:14

105:14 He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved {g} kings for their sakes;

(g) That is, the king of Egypt and the king of Gerar, Ge 12:17,20:3

Ps 105:15

105:15 [Saying], Touch not mine {h} anointed, and do my {i} prophets no harm.

(h) Those whom I have sanctified to be my people.
(i) Meaning, the old fathers, to whom God showed himself plainly, and who set forth his word.

Ps 105:16

105:16 Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole {k} staff of bread.

(k) Either by sending scarcity or the strength and nourishment of it.

Ps 105:19

105:19 Until {l} the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.

(l) So long he suffered adversity as God had appointed, and till he had sufficiently tried his patience.

Ps 105:22

105:22 To bind his {m} princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.

(m) That the very princes of the countries would be at Joseph's commandment, and learn wisdom from him.

Ps 105:25

105:25 {n} He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.

(n) So it is in God, either to move the hearts of the wicked to love or to hate God's children.

Ps 105:28

105:28 He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they {o} rebelled not against his word.

(o) Meaning, Moses and Aaron.

Ps 105:31

105:31 He {p} spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, [and] lice in all their coasts.

(p) So that this vermin did not come by chance, but as God had appointed, and his prophet Moses spoke.

Ps 105:32

105:32 He gave them {q} hail for rain, [and] flaming fire in their land.

(q) It was strange to see rain in Egypt, much more it was fearful to see hail.

Ps 105:34

105:34 {r} He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,

(r) He shows that all creatures are armed against man when God is his enemy as at his commandment the grasshoppers destroyed the land.

Ps 105:37

105:37 He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and [there was] {s} not one feeble [person] among their tribes.

(s) When their enemies felt God's plagues his children by his providence were exempted.

Ps 105:38

105:38 Egypt was {t} glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.

(t) For God's plagues caused them to prefer to depart with the Israelites rather than with their lives.

Ps 105:40

105:40 [The people] {u} asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

(u) Not for necessity but for satisfying of their lust.

Ps 105:42

105:42 For he remembered his holy {x} promise, [and] Abraham his servant.

(x) Which he confirms to the posterity in whom after a sort the dead live and enjoy the promises.

Ps 105:43

105:43 And he brought forth his people with {y} joy, [and] his chosen with gladness:

(y) When the Egyptians lamented and were destroyed.

Ps 105:45

105:45 That they might {z} observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.

(z) This is the reason why God preserves his Church, because they should worship and call on him in this world.

Ps 106:1

106:1 Praise {a} ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.

(a) 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.

Ps 106:3

106:3 Blessed [are] they that {b} keep judgment, [and] he that doeth righteousness at all times.

(b) 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.

Ps 106:4

106:4 Remember me, O LORD, with the {c} favour [that thou bearest unto] thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;

Ps 106:6

106:6 We have {d} sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.

(d) 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.

Ps 106:8

106:8 Nevertheless he {e} saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.

(e) 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.

Ps 106:12

106:12 Then {f} believed they his words; they sang his praise.

(f) The wonderful words of God caused them to believe for a time, and to praise him.

Ps 106:13

106:13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his {g} counsel:

(g) The would prevent his wisdom and providence.

Ps 106:15

106:15 And he gave them their request; but sent {h} leanness into their soul.

(h) The abundance that God gave them did not profit, but made them pine away, because God cursed it.

Ps 106:17

106:17 The earth opened and {i} swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.

(i) 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.

Ps 106:20

106:20 Thus they changed their {k} glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.

(k) 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.

Ps 106:23

106:23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had {l} not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy [them].

(l) If Moses, by his intercession, had not obtained God's favour against their rebellion.

Ps 106:24

106:24 Yea, they despised {m} the pleasant land, they believed not his word:

(m) 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.

Ps 106:26

106:26 Therefore {n} he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:

(n) That is, he swore. Sometimes also it means to punish.

Ps 106:28

106:28 They joined themselves also unto {o} Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the {p} dead.

(o) Which was the idol of the Moabites.
(p) Sacrifices offered to the dead idols.

Ps 106:29

106:29 Thus they {q} provoked [him] to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.

(q) Signifying that whatever man invents of himself to serve God by, is detestable and provokes his anger.

Ps 106:30

106:30 Then stood up {r} Phinehas, and executed judgment: and [so] the plague was stayed.

(r) When all others neglected God's glory, he in his zeal killed the adulterers and prevented God's wrath.

Ps 106:31

106:31 And that was {s} counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.

(s) This act declared his living faith, and for his faith's sake was accepted.

Ps 106:32

106:32 They angered [him] also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with {t} Moses for their sakes:

(t) 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?

Ps 106:37

106:37 Yea, they sacrificed their {u} sons and their daughters unto devils,

(u) 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.

Ps 106:39

106:39 Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went {x} a whoring with their own inventions.

(x) Then true chastity is to cleave wholly and only to God.

Ps 106:43

106:43 Many {y} times did he deliver them; but they provoked [him] with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.

(y) 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.

Ps 106:45

106:45 And he remembered for them his covenant, and {z} repented according to the multitude of his mercies.

(z) Not that God is changeable in himself, but that then he seems to us to repent when he alters his punishment, and forgives us.

Ps 106:47

106:47 Save us, O LORD our God, and {a} gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, [and] to triumph in thy praise.

(a) Gather your Church which is dispersed, and give us constancy under the cross, that with one consent we may all praise you.

Ps 107:1

107:1 O give thanks unto {a} the LORD, for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.

(a) This notable sentence was in the beginning used as the foot or tenor of the song, which was often repeated.

Ps 107:2

107:2 Let the {b} redeemed of the LORD say [so], whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

(b) As was true in the Jews, so there is not one of God's elect who does not feel his help in their necessity.

Ps 107:5

107:5 {c} Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

(c) 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.

Ps 107:11

107:11 Because they {d} rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:

(d) 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.

Ps 107:13

107:13 Then they {e} cried unto the LORD in their trouble, [and] he saved them out of their distresses.

(e) He shows that the reason God punishes us extremely is because we can be brought to him by no other means.

Ps 107:16

107:16 For he hath broken the {f} gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

(f) When there seems to man's judgment no recovery, but all things are brought to despair, then God chiefly shows his mighty power.

Ps 107:17

107:17 {g} Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

(g) They who have no fear of God, by his sharp rods are brought to call on him, and so find mercy.

Ps 107:20

107:20 {h} He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered [them] from their {i} destructions.

(h) By healing them he declares his good will toward them.
(i) Meaning their diseases, which had almost brought them to the grave and corruption.

Ps 107:22

107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of {k} thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

(k) Praise and confession of God's benefits are the true sacrifices of the godly.

Ps 107:23

107:23 They that go down to the {l} sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

(l) 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.

Ps 107:26

107:26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is {m} melted because of trouble.

(m) Their fear and danger is so great.

Ps 107:27

107:27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and {n} are at their wits' end.

(n) When their art and means fail them, they are compelled to confess that only God's providence preserves them.

Ps 107:30

107:30 Then are they glad because they be {o} quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

(o) Though before every drop seemed to fight one against the other, yet at his command they are as still as if they were frozen.

Ps 107:32

107:32 Let them exalt him also in the {p} congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

(p) This great benefit should not only be considered particularly, but magnified in all places and assemblies.

Ps 107:35

107:35 He {q} turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.

(q) For the love that he bears to his Church, he changes the order of nature for their convenience.

Ps 107:37

107:37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of {r} increase.

(r) Continual increase and yearly.

Ps 107:39

107:39 {s} Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

(s) As God by his providence exalts man, so he also humbles them by afflictions to know themselves.

Ps 107:40

107:40 He poureth {t} contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, [where there is] no way.

(t) For their wickedness and tyranny he causes the people and subjects to contemn them.

Ps 107:42

107:42 The {u} righteous shall see [it], and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

(u) They whose faith is lightened by God's spirit, will rejoice to see God's judgments against the wicked and ungodly.

Ps 108:1

108:1 [A Song [or] Psalm of David.] O God, my heart is {a} fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.

(a) This earnest affection declares that he is free from hypocrisy and that sluggishness does not stop him.

Ps 108:3

108:3 I will praise thee, O LORD, among the {b} people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.

(b) He prophecies of the calling of the Gentiles: for unless they were called, they could not hear the goodness of God.

Ps 108:5

108:5 {c} Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth;

Ps 108:6

108:6 That thy beloved may be delivered: {d} save [with] thy right hand, and answer me.

(d) 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.

Ps 108:7

108:7 God hath spoken in his {e} holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.

(e) 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.

Ps 108:11

108:11 {f} [Wilt] not [thou], O God, [who] hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?

(f) From the sixth verse of this psalm to the last, read also Ps 60:5.

Ps 109:1

109:1 [To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.] Hold not thy peace, O God of my {a} praise;

(a) Though all the world condemn me, yet you will approve my innocence and that is sufficient praise to me.

Ps 109:4

109:4 For my love they are my adversaries: {b} but I [give myself unto] prayer.

(b) To declare that I had no other refuge, but you, in whom my conscience was at rest.

Ps 109:6

109:6 {c} Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.

(c) 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.

Ps 109:7

109:7 When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his {d} prayer become sin.

(d) As to the elect all things turn to their profit, so to the reprobate, even those things that are good, turn to their damnation.

Ps 109:8

109:8 Let his days be few; [and] let another take his {e} office.

(e) This was chiefly accomplished in Judas, Ac 1:20.

Ps 109:11

109:11 Let {f} the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour.

(f) 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.

Ps 109:14

109:14 {g} Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.

(g) Thus the Lord punishes to the third and fourth generation the wickedness of the parents in their wicked children.

Ps 109:16

109:16 Because that {h} he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.

(h) He shows that God plagues them in a strange way who show themselves cruel toward others.

Ps 109:17

109:17 As he loved cursing, {i} so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.

(i) 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.

Ps 109:20

109:20 [Let] this [be] the reward of mine adversaries {k} from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.

(k) For being destitute of man's help, he fully trusted in the Lord, that he would deliver him.

Ps 109:21

109:21 But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy {l} name's sake: because thy mercy [is] good, deliver thou me.

(l) As you are named merciful, gracious and long suffering, so show yourself in effect.

Ps 109:23

109:23 I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the {m} locust.

(m) Meaning that he has no stay or assurance in this world.

Ps 109:24

109:24 My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh {n} faileth of fatness.

(n) For hunger that came from sorrow, he was lean and his natural moisture failed him.

Ps 109:26

109:26 Help me, O LORD my God: O {o} save me according to thy mercy:

(o) The more grievously Satan assailed him, the more earnest and instant was he in prayer.

Ps 109:28

109:28 Let them {p} curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.

(p) They will gain nothing by cursing me.

Ps 109:30

109:30 I will greatly praise the LORD with my {q} mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.

(q) Not only in confessing it secretly in myself but also in declaring it before all the congregation.

Ps 109:31

109:31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save [him] from those that {r} condemn his soul.

(r) 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.

Ps 110:1

110:1 [A Psalm of David.] The {a} LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

(a) Jesus Christ in Mt 22:44 gives the interpretation of this, and shows that this cannot properly be applied to David but to himself.

Ps 110:2

110:2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of {b} Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

(b) And then it will stretch through all the world: and this power chiefly stands in the preaching of his word.

Ps 110:3

110:3 Thy people [shall be] willing in the day of {c} thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

(c) By the word your people will be assembled into your Church...increase will be...anointed wonderful... drops of the...

Ps 110:4

110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of {d} Melchizedek.

(d) As Melchizedek the figure of Christ was both a King and Priest, so this effect cannot be accomplished on any king save only Christ.

Ps 110:6

110:6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill [the places] with the dead bodies; he shall wound the {e} heads over many countries.

(e) No power will be able to resist him.

Ps 110:7

110:7 He shall {f} drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.

(f) 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.

Ps 111:1

111:1 {a} Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with [my] whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and [in] the congregation.

(a) 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.

Ps 111:2

111:2 The works of the LORD [are] {b} great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

(b) He shows that God's works are a sufficient reason for us to praise him, but chiefly his benefits toward his Church.

Ps 111:5

111:5 He hath given {c} meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.

(c) 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 Pr 30:8,31:15.

Ps 111:7

111:7 The {d} works of his hands [are] verity and judgment; all his commandments [are] sure.

(d) 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.

Ps 111:10

111:10 {e} The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that {f} do [his commandments]: his praise endureth for ever.

(e) They only are wise who fear God and none have understanding but they who obey the word.
(f) That is, his commandment as in Ps 111:7.

Ps 112:1

112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed [is] the man [that] {a} feareth the LORD, [that] delighteth greatly in his commandments.

(a) He means that reverent fear which is in the children of God, which causes them to delight only in the word of God.

Ps 112:3

112:3 {b} Wealth and riches [shall be] in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

(b) The godly will have abundance and contentment, because their heart is satisfied in God alone.

Ps 112:4

112:4 Unto the {c} upright there ariseth light in the darkness: [he is] gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

Ps 112:5

112:5 A good man sheweth favour, and {d} lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.

(d) 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.

Ps 112:9

112:9 He hath {e} dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his {f} horn shall be exalted with honour.

(e) The godly are not stingy, but distribute liberally, as the need of the poor requires and as his power is able.
(f) His power and prosperous estate.

Ps 112:10

112:10 The wicked shall see [it], and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and {g} melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

(g) The blessings of God on his children will cause the wicked to die for envy.

Ps 113:1

113:1 Praise ye the LORD. {a} Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.

(a) 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.

Ps 113:4

113:4 The LORD [is] high above all {b} nations, [and] his glory above the heavens.

(b) 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?

Ps 113:7

113:7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth the {c} needy out of the dunghill;

(c) 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.

Ps 114:1

114:1 When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of {a} strange language;

(a) Or, barbarous.

Ps 114:2

114:2 Judah was his {b} sanctuary, [and] Israel his dominion.

(b) The whole people were witnesses to his holy majesty in adopting them, and of his mighty power in delivering them.

Ps 114:4

114:4 The {c} mountains skipped like rams, [and] the little hills like lambs.

(c) 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.

Ps 114:7

114:7 Tremble, thou {d} earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;

(d) Ought then his people to be insensible when they see his power and majesty?

Ps 114:8

114:8 Which {e} turned the rock [into] a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.

(e) That is, miraculously caused water to come out of the rock in great abundance, Ex 17:6.

Ps 115:1

115:1 Not {a} unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, [and] for thy truth's sake.

(a) 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.

Ps 115:2

115:2 Wherefore should the heathen say, {b} Where [is] now their God?

(b) When the wicked see that God does not always accomplish his promise as they imagined, they think there is no God.

Ps 115:3

115:3 But our God [is] in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath {c} pleased.

Ps 115:4

115:4 Their idols [are] {d} silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

(d) Seeing that neither the matter nor the form can commend their idols it follows that there is no reason that they should be esteemed.

Ps 115:7

115:7 They have {e} hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.

(e) 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.

Ps 115:8

115:8 They that make them are {f} like unto them; [so is] every one that trusteth in them.

(f) As much without sense as blocks and stones.

Ps 115:10

115:10 {g} O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he [is] their help and their shield.

(g) For they were appointed by God as instructors and teachers of faith and religion for others to follow.

Ps 115:12

115:12 The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless [us]; he {h} will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.

(h) That is, he will continue his graces toward his people.

Ps 115:15

115:15 Ye [are] blessed of the LORD which {i} made heaven and earth.

(i) And therefore still governs and continues all things in it.

Ps 115:16

115:16 The {k} heaven, [even] the heavens, [are] the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

(k) And they declare enough his sufficiency so that the world serves him nothing, but to show his fatherly care toward men.

Ps 115:17

115:17 The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that {l} go down into silence.

(l) Though the dead set forth God's glory, yet he means here, that they praise him not in his Church and congregation.

Ps 116:1

116:1 I {a} love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice [and] my supplications.

(a) 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.

Ps 116:2

116:2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon [him] {b} as long as I live.

(b) That is in convenient time to seek help, which was when he was in distress.

Ps 116:5

116:5 Gracious [is] the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God [is] {c} merciful.

(c) 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.

Ps 116:7

116:7 Return unto thy rest, O {d} my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.

(d) Which was disturbed before, now rest on the Lord, for he has been beneficial towards you.

Ps 116:9

116:9 I will {e} walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

(e) The Lord will preserve me and save my life.

Ps 116:10

116:10 {f} I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:

(f) I felt all these things, and therefore was moved by faith to confess them, 2Co 4:13.

Ps 116:11

116:11 I said in my {g} haste, All men [are] liars.

(g) 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.

Ps 116:13

116:13 I will {h} take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

(h) 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.

Ps 116:15

116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD [is] the {i} death of his saints.

(i) I perceive that God has a care over his, so that he both disposes their death, and takes an account.

Ps 116:18

116:18 I will pay my {k} vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,

(k) I will thank him for his benefits, for that is a just payment, to confess that we owe all to God.

Ps 117:2

117:2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the {a} truth of the LORD [endureth] for ever. Praise ye the LORD.

(a) That is, the most certain and continual testimony of his fatherly graces.

Ps 118:1

118:1 O {a} give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: because his mercy [endureth] for ever.

(a) 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.

Ps 118:5

118:5 I called upon the LORD in {b} distress: the LORD answered me, [and set me] in a large place.

(b) We are here taught that the more that troubles oppress us, the more ought we to be instant in prayer.

Ps 118:6

118:6 The LORD [is] on my side; I will not fear: what can {c} man do unto me?

(c) 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.

Ps 118:8

118:8 [It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence {d} in man.

(d) 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.

Ps 118:13

118:13 {e} Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.

(e) He notes Saul his chief enemy.

Ps 118:14

118:14 The LORD [is] my strength and {f} song, and is become my salvation.

(f) 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.

Ps 118:15

118:15 The {g} voice of rejoicing and salvation [is] in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

(g) He promises both to render graces himself, and to cause others to do the same, because in his person the Church was restored.

Ps 118:17

118:17 I shall not die, but live, and {h} declare the works of the LORD.

(h) So that all, that are both far and near, may see his mighty power.

Ps 118:19

118:19 Open to me the {i} gates of righteousness: I will go into them, [and] I will praise the LORD:

(i) He wills the doors of the tabernacle to be opened, that he may declare his thankful mind.

Ps 118:22

118:22 The stone [which] the builders {k} refused is become the head [stone] of the corner.

(k) Though Saul and the chief powers refused me to be king, yet God has preferred me above them all.

Ps 118:24

118:24 This [is] the {l} day [which] the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

(l) In which God has shown chiefly his mercy, by appointing me king and delivering his Church.

Ps 118:25

118:25 Save now, I beseech thee, {m} O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

(m) The people pray for the prosperity of David's kingdom, who was the figure of Christ.

Ps 118:26

118:26 Blessed [be] he that cometh in the name of the LORD: {n} we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

(n) Who are the priests, and have the charge of it, as in Nu 6:23.

Ps 118:27

118:27 God [is] the LORD, which hath shewed us {o} light: bind the sacrifice with cords, [even] unto the horns of the altar.

(o) Because he has restored us from darkness to light, we will offer sacrifices and praises to him.

Ps 119:1

119:1 ALEPH. Blessed [are] {a} the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

(a) 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.

Ps 119:3

119:3 They also do {b} no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

(b) For they are ruled by God's Spirit and embrace no doctrine but his.

Ps 119:5

119:5 {c} O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

Ps 119:7

119:7 I will praise thee with uprightness of {d} heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous {e} judgments.

(d) For true religion stands in serving God without hypocrisy.
(e) That is, your precepts, which contain perfect righteousness.

Ps 119:8

119:8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not {f} utterly.

(f) He does not refuse to be tried by temptations, but he fears to faint, if God does not help his infirmity in time.

Ps 119:9

119:9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a {a} young man cleanse his way? by taking heed [thereto] according to thy word.

(a) Because youth is most given to licentiousness, he chiefly warns them to frame their lives after God's word.

Ps 119:11

119:11 Thy word have I {b} hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

(b) 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.

Ps 119:14

119:14 I have {c} rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as [much as] in all riches.

(c) The prophet does not boast of his virtues, but sets forth an example for others to follow God's word, and leave worldly vanities.

Ps 119:17

119:17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, [that] I may {a} live, and keep thy word.

(a) 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.

Ps 119:19

119:19 I [am] a {b} stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.

(b) Seeing man's life in this world is only a passage, what should become of him, if your word were not his guide?

Ps 119:21

119:21 Thou {c} hast rebuked the proud [that are] cursed, which do err from thy commandments.

Ps 119:23

119:23 {d} Princes also did sit [and] speak against me: [but] thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.

(d) 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.

Ps 119:25

119:25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the {a} dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.

(a) That is, it is almost brought to the grave and without your word I cannot live.

Ps 119:26

119:26 I have {b} declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.

(b) I have confessed my offences and now depend wholly on you.

Ps 119:28

119:28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy {c} word.

Ps 119:29

119:29 Remove from me the {d} way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.

(d) Instruct me in your word, by which my mind may be purged from vanity and taught to obey your will.

Ps 119:32

119:32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt {e} enlarge my heart.

(e) 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.

Ps 119:33

119:33 HE. Teach {a} me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it [unto] the end.

(a) He shows that he cannot follow on to the end, unless God teaches him often and leads him forward.

Ps 119:34

119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with [my] whole {b} heart.

(b) Not only in outward conversation, but also with inward affection.

Ps 119:36

119:36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to {c} covetousness.

Ps 119:37

119:37 Turn away mine {d} eyes from beholding vanity; [and] quicken thou me in thy way.

(d) Meaning, all his senses.

Ps 119:39

119:39 Turn away {e} my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments [are] good.

(e) Let me not fall to your dishonour but let my heart still delight in your gracious word.

Ps 119:40

119:40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: {f} quicken me in thy righteousness.

(f) Give me strength to continue in your word even to the end.

Ps 119:41

119:41 VAU. Let thy {a} mercies come also unto me, O LORD, [even] thy salvation, according to thy word.

(a) He shows that God's mercy and love is the first reason for our salvation.

Ps 119:42

119:42 So shall I {b} have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.

(b) By trusting in God's word he assures himself to be able to confute the slanders of his adversaries.

Ps 119:45

119:45 And I will {c} walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.

(c) 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.

Ps 119:46

119:46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before {d} kings, and will not be ashamed.

(d) He shows that the children of God should not permit their fathers glory to be obscured by the vain pomp of princes.

Ps 119:49

119:49 ZAIN. Remember {a} the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

(a) Though he feels God's hand still lies on him, yet he rests on his promise, and comforts himself in it.

Ps 119:51

119:51 The {b} proud have had me greatly in derision: [yet] have I not declined from thy law.

(b) Meaning the wicked who contemn God's word, and tread his religion under foot.

Ps 119:52

119:52 I remembered thy {c} judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.

Ps 119:53

119:53 {d} Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.

(d) That is, a vehement zeal to your glory and indignation against the wicked.

Ps 119:54

119:54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my {e} pilgrimage.

(e) In the course of this life and sorrowful exit.

Ps 119:55

119:55 I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the {f} night, and have kept thy law.

(f) Even when others sleep.

Ps 119:56

119:56 {g} This I had, because I kept thy precepts.

(g) That is, all these benefits.

Ps 119:57

119:57 CHETH. [Thou art] my {a} portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.

(a) I am persuaded that to keep your law is a heritage and great gain for me.

Ps 119:59

119:59 I thought on my {b} ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

(b) He shows that no one can embrace the word of God, unless he considers his own imperfections and ways.

Ps 119:61

119:61 The bands of the wicked have {c} robbed me: [but] I have not forgotten thy law.

Ps 119:63

119:63 I [am] a {d} companion of all [them] that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

(d) Not only in mutual consent, but also with aid and help.

Ps 119:64

119:64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: {e} teach me thy statutes.

(e) For the knowledge of God's word is a singular token of his favour.

Ps 119:65

119:65 TETH. Thou hast dealt {a} well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.

(a) Having proved by experience that God was true in his promise, he desires that he would increase in him knowledge and judgment.

Ps 119:67

119:67 Before I was {b} afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

(b) 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.

Ps 119:70

119:70 {c} Their heart is as fat as grease; [but] I delight in thy law.

Ps 119:71

119:71 [It is] {d} good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

(d) He confesses that before he was chastened he was rebellious as man by nature is.

Ps 119:73

119:73 JOD. Thy hands have {a} made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

(a) Because God does not leave his work that he has begun, he desires a new grace: that is, that he would continue his mercies.

Ps 119:74

119:74 They that {b} fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.

(b) When God shows his grace toward any, he testifies to others that he does not fail them who trust in him.

Ps 119:77

119:77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may {c} live: for thy law [is] my delight.

Ps 119:79

119:79 Let those that fear thee {d} turn unto me, and those that have {e} known thy testimonies.

(d) That is, be comforted by my example.
(e) He shows that there can be no true fear of God without the knowledge of his word.

Ps 119:81

119:81 CAPH. My soul {a} fainteth for thy salvation: [but] I hope in thy word.

(a) Though my strength fails me, yet my soul groans and sighs, resting still in your word.

Ps 119:83

119:83 For I am become like a {b} bottle in the smoke; [yet] do I not forget thy statutes.

(b) Like a skin bottle or bladder that is parched in the smoke.

Ps 119:84

119:84 How many [are] the {c} days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?

Ps 119:85

119:85 The proud have {d} digged pits for me, which [are] not after thy law.

(d) They have not only oppressed me violently but also craftily conspired against me.

Ps 119:86

119:86 All thy commandments [are] faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; {e} help thou me.

(e) He assures himself that God will deliver his and destroy such as unjustly persecute them.

Ps 119:87

119:87 They had almost consumed {f} me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.

(f) Finding no help on earth, he lifts up his eyes to heaven.

Ps 119:89

119:89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in {a} heaven.

(a) 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.

Ps 119:91

119:91 They {b} continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all [are] thy servants.

(b) Seeing the earth and all creatures remain in that estate in which you have created them, much more your truth remains constant and unchangeable.

Ps 119:94

119:94 I [am] {c} thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.

Ps 119:96

119:96 I {d} have seen an end of all perfection: [but] thy commandment [is] exceeding broad.

(d) There is nothing so perfect in earth, but it has an end, only God's word lasts forever.

Ps 119:97

119:97 MEM. O how love I thy law! it [is] my meditation {a} all the day.

(a) He shows that we cannot love God's word unless we exercise ourselves in it and practise it.

Ps 119:99

119:99 I have more {b} understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies [are] my meditation.

(b) 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.

Ps 119:102

119:102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for {c} thou hast taught me.

(c) So then of ourselves we can do nothing, but when God inwardly instructs us with his spirit, we feel his graces sweeter than honey.

Ps 119:105

119:105 NUN. Thy word [is] a {a} lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

(a) Of ourselves we are but darkness and cannot see unless we are lightened with God's Word.

Ps 119:106

119:106 I have {b} sworn, and I will perform [it], that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

(b) 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.

Ps 119:108

119:108 Accept, I beseech thee, the {c} freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.

Ps 119:109

119:109 My {d} soul [is] continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.

(d) That is, I am in continual danger of my life.

Ps 119:111

119:111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an {e} heritage for ever: for they [are] the rejoicing of my heart.

(e) I esteemed no worldly things, but made your word my inheritance.

Ps 119:113

119:113 SAMECH. I hate {a} [vain] thoughts: but thy law do I love.

(a) Whoever will embrace God's word correctly must abhor all fantasies and imaginations both of himself and others.

Ps 119:115

119:115 {b} Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.

(b) And hinder me not to keep the law of the Lord.

Ps 119:117

119:117 {c} Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.

Ps 119:118

119:118 Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their {d} deceit [is] falsehood.

(d) The crafty practises of them who contemn your law will be brought to nothing.

Ps 119:119

119:119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth [like] {e} dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.

(e) Which infected your people, as dross does metal.

Ps 119:120

119:120 My flesh {f} trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.

(f) Your judgments not only teach me obedience, but cause me to fear, considering my own weakness which fear causes repentance.

Ps 119:122

119:122 {a} Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me.

(a) Put yourself between me and my enemies, as if you were my pledge.

Ps 119:124

119:124 Deal with thy {b} servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.

(b) 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.

Ps 119:126

119:126 [It is] {c} time for [thee], LORD, to work: [for] they have made void thy law.

(c) 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.

Ps 119:128

119:128 Therefore I esteem all [thy] precepts [concerning] all [things to be] right; [and] I hate every false {d} way.

(d) That is, whatever dissents from the purity of your word.

Ps 119:129

119:129 PE. Thy testimonies [are] {a} wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.

(a) Containing high and secret mysteries, so that I am moved with admiration and reverence.

Ps 119:130

119:130 The entrance of thy {b} words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

(b) 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.

Ps 119:131

119:131 I opened my mouth, and {c} panted: for I longed for thy commandments.

Ps 119:136

119:136 Rivers of waters {d} run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

(d) He shows what should be the zeal of God's children when they see his word contemned.

Ps 119:138

119:138 Thy testimonies [that] thou hast commanded [are] {a} righteous and very faithful.

(a) We cannot confess God to be righteous, unless we live uprightly and truly as he has commanded.

Ps 119:141

119:141 I [am] {c} small and despised: [yet] do not I forget thy precepts.

Ps 119:144

119:144 The righteousness of thy testimonies [is] everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall {d} live.

(d) So that the life of man without the knowledge of God is death.

Ps 119:145

119:145 KOPH. I {a} cried with [my] whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.

(a) He shows that all his affection and whole heart were bent toward God to have help in his dangers.

Ps 119:148

119:148 Mine eyes {b} prevent the [night] watches, that I might meditate in thy word.

(b) He was more earnest in the study of God's word, than they who kept the watch were in their charge.

Ps 119:150

119:150 They draw nigh that follow after {c} mischief: they are far from thy law.

Ps 119:152

119:152 {d} Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.

(d) His faith is grounded on God's word, that he would always be at hand when his children are oppressed.

Ps 119:154

119:154 Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy {a} word.

(a) For without God's promise there is no hope of deliverance.

Ps 119:156

119:156 Great [are] thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy {b} judgments.

(b) According to your promise made in the law, which because the wicked lack they have no hope of salvation.

Ps 119:158

119:158 I beheld the transgressors, and was {c} grieved; because they kept not thy word.

Ps 119:159

119:159 Consider how I {d} love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.

(d) It is a sure sign of our adoption, when we love the Law of God.

Ps 119:160

119:160 Thy word [is] true [from] the {e} beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments [endureth] for ever.

(e) Since you first promised it, even to the end all your sayings are true.

Ps 119:161

119:161 SCHIN. Princes have {a} persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

(a) The threatenings and persecutions of princes could not cause me to cease to confess you whom I fear more than men.

Ps 119:164

119:164 {b} Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.

(b) That is, often and various times.

Ps 119:165

119:165 Great peace have they which {c} love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

Ps 119:166

119:166 LORD, I have {d} hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.

(d) He shows that we must first have faith before we can work and please God.

Ps 119:168

119:168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: {e} for all my ways [are] before thee.

(e) I had no respect for men, but set you always before my eyes as the judge of my doings.

Ps 119:169

119:169 TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding {a} according to thy word.

(a) As you have promised to be the schoolmaster to all who depend on you.

Ps 119:171

119:171 My lips shall {b} utter praise, when thou hast {c} taught me thy statutes.

(b) The word means to pour forth continually.
(c) All his prayer and desire is to profit in the word of God.

Ps 119:175

119:175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy {d} judgments help me.

(d) That is, your provident care over me, and with which you will judge my enemies.

Ps 119:176

119:176 I have {e} gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

(e) Being chased to and fro by my enemies, and having no place to rest in.

Ps 120:1

120:1 [A Song of {a} degrees.] In my {b} distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.

(a) That is, of lifting up the tune and rising in singing.
(b) 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.

Ps 120:3

120:3 What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou {c} false tongue?

Ps 120:4

120:4 {d} Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.

(d) He shows that there is nothing so sharp to pierce, nor so hot to set on fire, as a slanderous tongue.

Ps 120:5

120:5 Woe is me, that I sojourn in {e} Mesech, [that] I dwell in the tents of {f} Kedar!

(e) These were people of Arabia, who came from Japheth, Ge 10:2.
(f) That is, of the Ishmaelites.

Ps 120:7

120:7 I [am for] {g} peace: but when I speak, they [are] for war.

(g) 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.

Ps 121:2

121:2 My help [cometh] from the LORD, which made {a} heaven and earth.

(a) He accuses man's ingratitude, which cannot depend on God's power.

Ps 121:3

121:3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not {b} slumber.

(b) He shows that God's providence not only watches over his Church in general, but also over every member of it.

Ps 121:6

121:6 The sun shall not {c} smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

(c) Neither heat nor cold, nor any inconvenience will be able to destroy God's Church, even though for a time they may molest it.

Ps 121:8

121:8 The LORD shall preserve thy {d} going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

(d) Whatever you attempt will have good success.

Ps 122:1

122:1 [A Song of degrees of David.] I {a} was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

(a) He rejoices that God had appointed a place where the ark would still remain.

Ps 122:2

122:2 Our {b} feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.

(b) Which were wont to wander to and fro, as the ark moved.

Ps 122:3

122:3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is {c} compact together:

Ps 122:4

122:4 Whither {d} the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.

(d) All the tribes according to God's covenant will come and pray there.

Ps 122:5

122:5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of {e} David.

(e) In whose house God placed the throne of justice, and made it a figure of Christ's kingdom.

Ps 122:7

122:7 Peace be within thy {f} walls, [and] prosperity within thy palaces.

(f) The favour of God prosper you both within and without.

Ps 122:8

122:8 For my {g} brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace [be] within thee.

(g) Not only for my own sake but for all the faithful.

Ps 123:2

123:2 Behold, as the eyes of {a} 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.

(a) 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.

Ps 123:3

123:3 Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are {b} exceedingly filled with contempt.

(b) 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.

Ps 124:1

124:1 [A Song of degrees of David.] If [it had not been] the LORD who was {a} on our side, now may Israel say;

(a) 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.

Ps 124:3

124:3 Then they had swallowed us up {b} quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:

(b) So unable were we to resist.

Ps 124:4

124:4 Then the {c} waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:

(c) He uses proper similitudes to express the great danger that the Church was in, and out of which God miraculously delivered them.

Ps 124:7

124:7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the {d} snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.

(d) For the wicked not only furiously rage against the faithful, but craftily imagined to destroy them.

Ps 125:1

125:1 [A Song of degrees.] They that trust in the LORD [shall be] as mount Zion, [which] cannot {a} be removed, [but] abideth for ever.

(a) Though the world is subject to mutations, yet the people of God will stand sure and be defended by God's providence.

Ps 125:3

125:3 For the {b} rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.

(b) 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.

Ps 125:5

125:5 {c} 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.

Ps 126:1

126:1 [A Song of degrees.] When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that {a} dream.

(a) Their deliverance was incredible and therefore took away all excuse for ingratitude.

Ps 126:2

126:2 Then was our mouth {b} filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the {c} heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.

(b) He shows how the godly should rejoice when God gathers his Church or delivers it.
(c) If the infidels confess God's wonderful work, the faithful can never show themselves sufficiently thankful.

Ps 126:4

126:4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the {d} streams in the south.

(d) It is no more impossible for God to deliver his people than to cause the rivers to run in the wilderness and barren places.

Ps 126:6

126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing {e} precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves [with him].

(e) That is, seed which was scarce and dear: meaning, that they who trusted in God's promise to return had their desire.

Ps 127:1

127:1 [A Song of degrees for Solomon.] Except the LORD {a} build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the {b} city, the watchman waketh [but] in vain.

(a) That is, govern and dispose all things pertaining to the family.
(b) The public estate of the commonwealth.

Ps 127:2

127:2 [It is] vain for {c} you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread {d} of sorrows: [for] so he giveth his beloved {e} sleep.

(c) Who watch and ward and are also magistrates and rulers of the city.
(d) Either that which is gained by hard labour, or eaten with grief of mind.
(e) Not exempting them from labour, but making their labours comfortable and as it were a rest.

Ps 127:4

127:4 As arrows [are] in the hand of a mighty man; so [are] {f} children of the youth.

(f) That is, endued with strength and virtues from God: for these are signs of God's blessings, and not the number.

Ps 127:5

127:5 Happy [is] the man that hath his quiver full of them: they {g} shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

(g) Such children will be able to stop their adversaries mouths, when their godly life is maliciously accused before judges.

Ps 128:1

128:1 [A Song of degrees.] Blessed [is] every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his {a} ways.

(a) God approves not our life, unless it is reformed according to his word.

Ps 128:2

128:2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine {b} hands: happy [shalt] thou [be], and [it shall be] well with thee.

(b) 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.

Ps 128:3

128:3 Thy wife [shall be] as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy {c} children like olive plants round about thy table.

(c) 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.

Ps 128:5

128:5 The LORD shall {d} bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of {e} Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

(d) Because of the spiritual blessing which God has made to his Church, these temporal things will be granted.
(e) For unless God blessed his Church publicly, this private blessing was nothing.

Ps 129:1

129:1 [A Song of degrees.] Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may {a} Israel now say:

(a) 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.

Ps 129:4

129:4 The LORD [is] {b} righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

(b) Because God is righteous, he cannot but plague his adversary, and deliver his as oxen out of the plough.

Ps 129:6

129:6 {c} Let them be as the grass [upon] the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:

(c) 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.

Ps 129:8

129:8 {d} Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD [be] upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.

(d) That is, the wicked will perish, and none will pass for them.

Ps 130:1

130:1 [A Song of degrees.] Out of the {a} depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

(a) Being in great distress and sorrow.

Ps 130:3

130:3 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, {b} who shall stand?

(b) He declares that we cannot be just before God but by forgiveness of sins.

Ps 130:4

130:4 But [there is] forgiveness with thee, that thou {c} mayest be feared.

Ps 130:7

130:7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD [there is] {d} mercy, and with him [is] plenteous redemption.

(d) He shows to whom the mercy of God belongs, that is, Israel, to the Church and not the reprobate.

Ps 131:1

131:1 [A Song of degrees of David.] LORD, {a} my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great {b} matters, or in things too high for me.

(a) He sets forth his great humility as an example to all rulers and governors.
(b) Which pass the measure and limits of his calling.

Ps 131:2

131:2 Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul [is] even as a {c} weaned child.

Ps 132:1

132:1 A Song of degrees. LORD, remember David, [and] all his {a} afflictions:

(a) That is, with great difficulty he came to the kingdom, and with great zeal and care he went about to build your temple.

Ps 132:3

132:3 Surely I {b} will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed;

(b) 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.

Ps 132:5

132:5 Until I find out a place for the {c} LORD, an habitation for the mighty [God] of Jacob.

Ps 132:6

132:6 Lo, we heard of it at {d} Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.

(d) 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.

Ps 132:8

132:8 Arise, O LORD, into thy {e} rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.

(e) That is Jerusalem, because later his Ark would move to no other place.

Ps 132:9

132:9 Let thy priests be clothed with {f} righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.

(f) Let the effect of your grace appear both in the priests and in the people.

Ps 132:10

132:10 For thy {g} servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed.

(g) As you first made promise to David, so continue it to his posterity that whatever they ask for their people, it may be granted.

Ps 132:12

132:12 If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for {h} evermore.

(h) Because this cannot be accomplished but in Christ, it follows that the promise was spiritual.

Ps 132:14

132:14 This [is] my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have {i} desired it.

(i) 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.

Ps 132:16

132:16 I will also clothe her priests with {k} salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.

(k) That is, with my protection, by which they will be safe.

Ps 132:17

132:17 There will I make the {l} horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.

(l) Though his force for a time seemed to be broken, yet he promises to restore it.

Ps 133:1

133:1 [A Song of degrees of David.] Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] for brethren to dwell {a} together in unity!

(a) 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.

Ps 133:2

133:2 [It is] like the precious {b} ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, [even] Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

(b) The ointment was a figure of the graces which come from Christ the head of his Church.

Ps 133:3

133:3 As the dew of {c} Hermon, [and as the dew] that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for {d} there the LORD commanded the blessing, [even] life for evermore.

Ps 134:1

134:1 [A Song of degrees.] Behold, bless ye the LORD, all [ye] {a} servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.

(a) You who are Levites and chiefly appointed to this office.

Ps 134:2

134:2 Lift up your {b} hands [in] the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.

(b) For their charge was not only to keep the temple, but to pray there and to give God thanks.

Ps 134:3

134:3 The LORD that {c} made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.

(c) 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.

Ps 135:2

135:2 Ye that {a} stand in the house of the LORD, in the {b} courts of the house of our God,

(a) You Levites who are in his sanctuary.
(b) Meaning, the people: for the people and Levites had their courts, which were separate places of the temple.

Ps 135:4

135:4 For the LORD hath {c} chosen Jacob unto himself, [and] Israel for his peculiar treasure.

Ps 135:6

135:6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, [that] {d} did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

(d) 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.

Ps 135:12

135:12 And {e} gave their land [for] an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.

(e) He shows what fruit the godly conceive of God's power, by which they see how he destroys his enemies, and delivers his people.

Ps 135:14

135:14 For the LORD will {f} judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.

(f) That is, govern and defend his people.

Ps 135:15

135:15 The {g} idols of the heathen [are] silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

(g) 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 Ps 115:4-14.

Ps 136:1

136:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: for his {a} mercy [endureth] for ever.

(a) 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.

Ps 136:6

136:6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his {b} mercy [endureth] for ever.

(b) This was a common kind of thanksgiving, which the whole people used, when they had received any benefit from God, as in 2Ch 7:6,20:21, meaning that God was not only merciful to their fathers, but also continued the same to their posterity.

Ps 136:11

136:11 And {c} brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:

(c) 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.

Ps 136:12

136:12 With a strong hand, and with a {d} stretched out arm: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.

(d) In doing such a work as was never done before, nor that any other could do.

Ps 136:16

136:16 To him which led his people through the {e} wilderness: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.

(e) Where for the space of forty years he showed infinite and most strange wonders.

Ps 136:18

136:18 And slew {f} famous kings: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:

(f) Declaring by it that no power or authority was so dear to him as the love of his Church.

Ps 136:23

136:23 Who remembered us in our {g} low estate: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:

(g) In our greatest affliction and slavery when we looked for nothing less than to have had any help.

Ps 136:25

136:25 Who giveth food to all {h} flesh: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.

(h) Seeing that God provides even for the beasts much more has he care over his.

Ps 136:26

136:26 {i} O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.

(i) Seeing that all ages have had most plain testimonies of God's benefits.

Ps 137:1

137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we {a} sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

(a) 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.

Ps 137:2

137:2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst {b} thereof.

(b) That is, of that country.

Ps 137:3

137:3 For there they that carried us away captive {c} required of us a song; and they that wasted us [required of us] mirth, [saying], Sing us [one] of the songs of Zion.

Ps 137:5

137:5 {d} If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget [her cunning].

(d) 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.

Ps 137:6

137:6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my {e} chief joy.

(e) The decay of God's religion in their country was so grievous that no joy could make them glad, unless it was restored.

Ps 137:7

137:7 Remember, O LORD, the children of {f} Edom in the {g} day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase [it], rase [it, even] to the foundation thereof.

(f) As was prophesied in Eze 25:13,Jer 49:7,Ob 1:10, showing that the Edomites who came from Esau, conspired with the Babylonians against their brethren and kinsfolk.
(g) When you visited Jerusalem.

Ps 137:9

137:9 {h} Happy [shall he be], that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

(h) 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.

Ps 138:1

138:1 [[A Psalm] of David.] I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the {a} gods will I sing praise unto thee.

(a) Even in the presence of angels and of them who have authority among men.

Ps 138:2

138:2 I will worship toward thy holy {b} temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

(b) 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.

Ps 138:3

138:3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, [and] {c} strengthenedst me [with] strength in my soul.

Ps 138:4

138:4 All the {d} kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.

(d) All the world will confess that you have wonderfully preserved me, and performed your promise.

Ps 138:6

138:6 Though the LORD [be] high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth {e} afar off.

(e) Distance of place cannot hinder God to show mercy to his, and so judge the wicked though they think that he is far off.

Ps 138:8

138:8 The LORD will {f} perfect [that which] concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, [endureth] for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

(f) Though my enemies rage, yet the Lord, who has begun his work in me, will continue his grace to the end.

Ps 139:2

139:2 Thou knowest my {a} downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

(a) 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.

Ps 139:3

139:3 Thou {b} compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted [with] all my ways.

(b) So that they are evidently known to you.

Ps 139:4

139:4 For [there is] not a word in my {c} tongue, [but], lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

Ps 139:5

139:5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine {d} hand upon me.

(d) You so guide me with your hand, that I can turn no way, but where you appoint me.

Ps 139:7

139:7 Whither shall I go from thy {e} spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

(e) From your power and knowledge?

Ps 139:10

139:10 Even there shall thy hand {f} lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

(f) Your power holds me so fast that there is no way I can escape from you.

Ps 139:11

139:11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be {g} light about me.

(g) Though darkness is a hinderance to man's sight, yet is serves your eyes as well as the light.

Ps 139:13

139:13 For thou hast {h} possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

(h) You have made me in all parts and therefore must know me.

Ps 139:14

139:14 I will praise thee; for I am {i} fearfully [and] wonderfully made: marvellous [are] thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well.

(i) Considering your wonderful work in forming me, I cannot but praise you and fear your mighty power.

Ps 139:15

139:15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, [and] curiously wrought {k} in the lowest parts of the earth.

(k) That is, in my mother's womb: which he compares to the inward parts of the earth.

Ps 139:16

139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; {l} and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them.

(l) 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.

Ps 139:17

139:17 How {m} precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

(m) How should we esteem the excellent declaration of your wisdom in the creation of man?

Ps 139:18

139:18 [If] I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, {n} I am still with thee.

(n) I continually see new opportunity to meditate in your wisdom, and to praise you.

Ps 139:21

139:21 Do not I {o} hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

(o) 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.

Ps 139:24

139:24 And see if [there be any] {p} wicked way in me, and lead me in the {q} way everlasting.

(p) 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.
(q) That is, continue your favour toward me to the end.

Ps 140:1

140:1 [To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.] Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the {a} violent man;

(a) Who persecutes me out of malice and without cause.

Ps 140:2

140:2 Which imagine mischiefs in [their] {b} heart; continually are they gathered together [for] war.

(b) That is, by their false accusations and lies, they kindle the hatred of the wicked against me.

Ps 140:3

140:3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; {c} adders' poison [is] under their lips. Selah.

Ps 140:4

140:4 Keep {d} me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.

(d) He declares the remedy of the godly, when they are oppressed by the worldlings.

Ps 140:7

140:7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou {e} hast covered my head in the day of battle.

(e) 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.

Ps 140:8

140:8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: {f} further not his wicked device; [lest] they exalt themselves. Selah.

(f) For it is in God's hand to overthrow the counsels and enterprises of the wicked.

Ps 140:9

140:9 [As for] {g} the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

(g) It seems that he alludes to Saul.

Ps 140:10

140:10 Let burning coals fall upon them: {h} let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

(h) That is by God, for David saw that they were reprobate and that there was no hope of repentance in them.

Ps 140:11

140:11 Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall {i} hunt the violent man to overthrow [him].

(i) God's plagues will light on him in such sort, that he will not escape.

Ps 140:13

140:13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall {k} dwell in thy presence.

(k) That is, will be descended and preserved by your fatherly providence and care.

Ps 141:1

141:1 [A Psalm of David.] LORD, I {a} cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.

(a) He shows that there is no other refuge in our necessity but only to flee to God for comfort of soul.

Ps 141:2

141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee [as] incense; [and] the {b} lifting up of my hands [as] the evening sacrifice.

(b) 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.

Ps 141:3

141:3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; {c} keep the door of my lips.

Ps 141:4

141:4 Incline not my heart to [any] evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their {d} dainties.

(d) Let not their prosperity lure me to be wicked as they are.

Ps 141:5

141:5 Let the righteous smite me; [it shall be] a kindness: and let {e} 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.

(e) He could abide all corrections that came from a loving heart.

Ps 141:6

141:6 When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall {g} hear my words; for they are sweet.

(g) The people who follow their wicked rulers in persecuting the prophet will repent and turn to God, when they see their wicked rulers punished.

Ps 141:7

141:7 Our bones are scattered at the {h} grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth [wood] upon the earth.

(h) Here it appears that David was miraculously delivered out of many deaths as in 2Co 1:9,10.

Ps 141:10

141:10 Let the wicked fall into {i} their own nets, {k} whilst that I withal escape.

(i) Into God's nets, by which he catches the wicked in their own malice.
(k) So that none of them escape.

Ps 142:1

142:1 [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 {a} make my supplication.

(a) 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.

Ps 142:5

142:5 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou [art] my {b} refuge [and] my portion in the land of the living.

(b) Though all means failed him, yet he knew that God would never forsake him.

Ps 142:7

142:7 Bring my soul out of {c} prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall {d} compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

(c) For he was on all sides beset with his enemies as though he had been in a severe prison.
(d) Either to rejoice at my wonderful deliverer, or to set a crown on my head.

Ps 143:1

143:1 [A Psalm of David.] Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: {a} in thy faithfulness answer me, [and] in thy {b} righteousness.

(a) That is, as you have promised to be faithful in your promise to all who trust in you.
(b) That is, according to your free goodness, by which you defend your own.

Ps 143:2

143:2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy {c} sight shall no man living be justified.

(c) 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.

Ps 143:3

143:3 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 {d} long dead.

(d) 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.

Ps 143:4

143:4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my {e} heart within me is desolate.

(e) So that only by faith and by the grace of God's Spirit was he upheld.

Ps 143:5

143:5 I remember the {f} days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

(f) That is, your great benefits of old, and the manifold examples of your favour towards your own.

Ps 143:8

143:8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the {g} morning; for in thee do I trust: {h} cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

(g) That is, speedily and in due season.
(h) Let your Holy Spirit counsel me how to come forth from these great cares and troubles.

Ps 143:9

143:9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: {i} I flee unto thee to hide me.

(i) I hid myself under the shadow of your wings that I might be defended by your power.

Ps 143:10

143:10 {k} Teach me to {l} do thy will; for thou [art] my God: thy spirit [is] good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

(k) 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.
(l) That is, justly and aright, for as soon as we decline from God's will, we fall into error.

Ps 143:12

143:12 And of thy mercy {m} cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I [am] thy {n} servant.

(m) Which will be a sign of your fatherly kindness toward me.
(n) Resigning myself wholly to you, and trusting in your protection.

Ps 144:1

144:1 [[A Psalm] of David.] Blessed [be] the LORD my strength, which {a} teacheth my hands to war, [and] my fingers to fight:

(a) Who out of a poor shepherd has made a valiant warrior and mighty conqueror.

Ps 144:2

144:2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and [he] in whom I trust; who {b} subdueth my people under me.

(b) He confesses that neither by his own authority, power or policy was his kingdom quiet, but by the secret grace of God.

Ps 144:3

144:3 LORD, what [is] man, that thou {c} takest knowledge of him! [or] the son of man, that thou makest account of him!

(c) 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.

Ps 144:5

144:5 {d} Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

(d) He desires God to continue his graces, and to send help for the present need.

Ps 144:6

144:6 {e} Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.

(e) By these manner of speeches he shows that all the hindrances in the world cannot prevent God's power, which he apprehends by faith.

Ps 144:7

144:7 Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great {f} waters, from the hand of strange children;

(f) 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.

Ps 144:8

144:8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand [is] a right hand {g} of falsehood.

(g) For though they shake hands, they do not keep their promises.

Ps 144:9

144:9 I will sing a {h} new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery [and] an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.

(h) That is, a rare and excellent song, as your great benefits deserve.

Ps 144:10

144:10 [It is he] that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his {i} servant from the hurtful sword.

(i) 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.

Ps 144:12

144:12 {k} 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:

(k) 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.

Ps 144:13

144:13 [That] our {l} garners [may be] full, affording all manner of store: [that] our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:

(l) That the corners of our houses may be full of store for the great abundance of your blessings.

Ps 144:14

144:14 [That] our {m} oxen [may be] strong to labour; [that there be] no breaking in, nor going out; that [there be] no complaining in our streets.

(m) He attributes not only the great conveniences, but even the least also to God's favour.

Ps 144:15

144:15 Happy [is that] people, that is
(n) in such a case: [yea], happy [is that] people, whose God [is] the LORD.

(n) And if God does not give to all his children all these blessings, yet he replaces them with better things.

Ps 145:1

145:1 [David's [Psalm] of praise.] {a} I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

(a) 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.

Ps 145:3

145:3 {b} Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness [is] unsearchable.

(b) By this he declares that all power is subject to God, and that no worldly promotion should obscure God's glory.

Ps 145:4

145:4 One generation shall praise thy works to {c} another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.

(c) 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.

Ps 145:6

145:6 And [men] shall speak of the might of thy {d} terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.

(d) Of your terrible judgments against the wicked.

Ps 145:8

145:8 The LORD [is] gracious, and full of {e} compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

(e) 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.

Ps 145:11

145:11 {f} They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;

(f) 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.

Ps 145:12

145:12 To make known to the sons of men his {g} mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.

(g) He shows that all things are out of order, only but where God reigns.

Ps 145:14

145:14 The LORD upholdeth all that {h} fall, and raiseth up all [those that be] bowed down.

(h) 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.

Ps 145:15

145:15 The eyes of {i} all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.

(i) That is, as well of man as of beast.

Ps 145:17

145:17 The LORD [is] {k} righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

(k) 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.

Ps 145:18

145:18 The LORD [is] nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in {l} truth.

(l) Which only belongs to the faithful: and this virtue is contrary to infidelity, doubting, impatience and murmuring.

Ps 145:19

145:19 He will fulfil the {m} desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

(m) For they will ask or wish for nothing, but according to his will, 1Jo 5:14.

Ps 145:21

145:21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all {n} flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

(n) That is, all men will be bound to praise him.

Ps 146:1

146:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my {a} soul.

(a) He stirs up himself and all his affections to praise God.

Ps 146:3

146:3 Put not your trust in {b} princes, [nor] in the son of man, in whom [there is] no help.

(b) 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.

Ps 146:4

146:4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his {c} thoughts perish.

Ps 146:6

146:6 Which made {d} heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein [is]: which keepeth truth for ever:

(d) 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.

Ps 146:7

146:7 Which executeth judgment {e} for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:

(e) 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.

Ps 146:8

146:8 The LORD openeth [the eyes of] the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD {f} loveth the righteous:

(f) 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.

Ps 146:9

146:9 The LORD preserveth the {g} strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

(g) Meaning, all who are destitute of worldly means and help.

Ps 146:10

146:10 The LORD shall {h} reign for ever, [even] thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.

(h) He assures the Church that God reigns forever for the preservation of the same.

Ps 147:1

147:1 Praise ye the LORD: for [it is] good to sing praises unto our God; for [it is] {a} pleasant; [and] praise is comely.

(a) He shows in which we ought to exercise ourselves continually, and to take our pastime: that is, in praising God.

Ps 147:2

147:2 The LORD doth build up {b} Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.

(b) 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.

Ps 147:3

147:3 He healeth the {c} broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

Ps 147:4

147:4 He {d} telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by [their] names.

(d) 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.

Ps 147:6

147:6 The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the {e} ground.

(e) For the more high that the wicked climb the greater is their fall in the end.

Ps 147:8

147:8 Who {f} covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

(f) He shows by the example of God's mighty power, goodness, and wisdom, that he can never lack just opportunity to praise God.

Ps 147:9

147:9 He giveth to the beast his food, [and] to the young ravens which {g} cry.

(g) 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?

Ps 147:10

147:10 He delighteth not in the {h} strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.

(h) 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.

Ps 147:13

147:13 For he hath {i} strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.

(i) He not only furnishes his Church with all that is necessary but preserves also the same, and makes it strong against all outward force.

Ps 147:15

147:15 He sendeth forth his {k} commandment [upon] earth: his word runneth very {l} swiftly.

(k) His secret working in all creatures is as a command to keep them in order and to give them moving and force.
(l) For immediately and without resisting all things obey him.

Ps 147:19

147:19 He sheweth his {m} word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.

(m) 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.

Ps 147:20

147:20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and [as for his] judgments, they have not {n} known them. Praise ye the LORD.

(n) 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.

Ps 148:2

148:2 Praise ye him, all {a} his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

(a) 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.

Ps 148:3

148:3 Praise ye him, {b} sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

(b) In that God's glory shines in these insensible creatures, this their beauty is as a continual praising of God.

Ps 148:4

148:4 Praise him, ye {c} heavens of heavens, and ye {d} waters that [be] above the heavens.

(c) 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.
(d) That is, the rain which is in the middle region of the air, which he here comprehends under the name of the heavens.

Ps 148:7

148:7 Praise the LORD from the earth, ye {e} dragons, and all deeps:

(e) Meaning the great and monstrous fishes, as whales and such like.

Ps 148:8

148:8 {f} Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

(f) Which come not by chance or fortune, but by God's appointed ordinance.

Ps 148:11

148:11 {g} Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:

(g) 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.

Ps 148:14

148:14 He also exalteth the {h} horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; [even] of the {i} children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.

(h) That is, the dignity, power and glory of his Church.
(i) By reason of his covenant made with Abraham.

Ps 149:1

149:1 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD {a} a new song, [and] his praise in the congregation of saints.

(a) For his rare and manifold benefits bestowed on his Church.

Ps 149:2

149:2 Let Israel rejoice in him that {b} made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their {c} King.

(b) In that they were preferred before all other nations, it was a new creation, and therefore Ps 95:7 they were called the sheep of God's hands.
(c) 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.

Ps 149:5

149:5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their {d} beds.

(d) He alludes to that continual rest and quietness which they should have if they would suffer God to rule them.

Ps 149:7

149:7 {e} To execute vengeance upon the heathen, [and] punishments upon the people;

(e) 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.

Ps 149:8

149:8 To bind {f} their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;

(f) Not only the people, but the kings who were their enemies should be destroyed.

Ps 149:9

149:9 To execute upon them the judgment {g} written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.

(g) By this God binds the hands and minds of all his to enterprise no farther than he appoints.

Ps 150:1

150:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his {a} sanctuary: praise him in the {b} firmament of his power.

(a) That is, in the heaven.
(b) 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.

Ps 150:3

150:3 Praise him with the sound of the {c} trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.

(c) 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.)

Ps 150:6

150:6 Let every thing that hath {d} breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

(d) 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.

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