unto the

power.

courts.

9. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (v) let the whole earth stand in awe of him. 10. Tell it out among the heathen, that the Lord is King : and that it is he who hath made (w) the round world so fast that it cannot be moved; and how that he shall judge the people righteously.

11. Let the heavens (x) rejoice, rejoice, and let the earth be glad: let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is.

12. Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it then (y) shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord.

13. For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth and with righteousness to judge the

(v) v. 9. "Beauty of Holiness," i. e. (perhaps) "the sanctuary of the tabernacle or temple." Parkh. Hebr. Dict. 154. (w) See note on verse 5. supra.

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(x) v. 11. "The heavens, &c." How highly poetical to call upon the heavens and the earth, the sea and fields, the inanimate parts of the creation, to partake in this joy! See note on Ps. lxv. 14. So in Ps. cxlviii. 3, &c. "Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all ye stars and light, "&c. &c." and see Isaiah xliv. 23.-xlix. 13. and Ps. xcviii. 8, 9. Bp. Lowth says, "Nothing can excel in sublimity this noble "exultation of universal nature, where the "whole creation, animate and inanimate, "unite in the praises of their Maker." Does not Milton's Morning Hymn owe its beauty to this cause?

(y) v. 12. "Then shall, &c." rather "Yea, "let, &c."

(2) A spirited hymn upon the superiority and irresistible power either of God, or

truth.

Psalm xcvii. (z)

THE Lord is King, the earth may be glad thereof: yea, the multitude of the isles may be glad thereof.

2. Clouds and darkness are round about him righteousness and judgement are the habitation (a) of his seat.

3. There shall go (b) a fire before him and burn (b) up his enemies on every side.

4. His lightnings gave shine unto the world: the earth saw it and was afraid.

5. The hills (c) melted like wax at the presence of the Lord: at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

6. The heavens have declared his righteousness and all the people have seen his glory.

7. Confounded be all they that worship carved images, and that

of the Messiah. Many commentators consider it as applying to the Messiah; and if it be to v. 7. that Hebr. i. 6. refers, that is a decisive authority that it does. See Poli Synopsis. It refers chiefly to the spiritual reign of Christ, who should overthrow the idolatry of the heathen, put down his enemies, and make glad the spiritual daughters of Judah, because of his judgments. Travell. Doyley. Bp. Patrick says of it, "It belongs, in the "diviner meaning, to Christ's triumph over "the grave, and all the powers of darkness. So Bellarm. de Christo, Lib. 1. c. iv. p. 282.

(a) v. 2." Habitation," or " basis," Hamm. "Firmamentum," Jerome. (b) v. 3. "Shall go" and "burn," or "went" and "burnt." B. T. is "goeth" and "burneth."

(c) v. 5." The hills," i. e. (perhaps) the troops upon the hills, or "the mighty ones "of the earth."

delight in vain gods: worship gods worship him (d), all (e) ye gods.

8. Sion heard (ƒ) of it, and rejoiced and the daughters of Judah were glad, because of thy judgements, O Lord.

9. For thou, Lord, art higher than all that are in the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.

10. O ye that love the Lord, see that ye hate the thing which

(d) v. 7. " Worship him, &c." It is to this passage the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews is supposed to refer, Heb. i. 6. "Again, when he bringeth in the first "begotten into the world, he saith, and let "all the angels of God worship him."

(e) " All ye gods," or "powers," "prin"ces." Schindler, 79. The Sept. is, "all his "angels," Tále, ayyeλo ail: and so the author cites it. Heb. i. 6." See supra, note (d).

is evil the Lord preserveth the souls (g) of his saints; he shall deliver them from the hand of the ungodly.

11. There is sprung up a light for the righteous and joyful gladness for such as are truehearted.

12. Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous and give thanks for a remembrance (h) of his holi

ness.

(ƒ) v. 8.“ Of it" should be omitted. It is not in the original, or Sept. and weakens the spirit of the passage.

(g) v. 10. "Souls," i. e. " lives."

(h) v. 12. "For a remembrance,” i. e. "to commemorate, to call it to mind, to "keep it in the memory."

(i) Ante, p. 6. where this Psalm also

occurs.

5. Shew yourselves joyful unto the Lord, all ye lands: sing, rejoice, and give thanks.

6. Praise the Lord upon the harp sing to the harp with a psalm of thanksgiving.

7. With trumpets also, and shawms O shew yourselves joyful before the Lord the King.

8. Let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is: the round world, and they that dwell therein.

9. Let the floods clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord: for he is come to judge the earth. 10. With righteousness shall he judge the world and the people with equity.

Psalm xcix. (k)

between the cherubims (m), be the earth never so unquiet.

2. The Lord is great in Sion : and high above all people.

3. They shall give thanks unto thy Name: which is great, wonderful, and holy.

4. The king's power loveth judgement; thou hast prepared equity: thou hast executed judgement and righteousness in Jacob.

5. O magnify the Lord our God and fall down before his footstool, for he is holy.

6. Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among such as call upon his Name: these called upon the Lord, and he heard them.

7. He spake unto them out of the cloudy pillar (n) for they kept his testimonies, and the law that he gave them.

8. Thou heardst them, O Lord our God: thou forgavest (o) them, O God, and punishedst their own inventions.

9. O magnify the Lord our God, and worship him upon his holy hill for the Lord our God is holy.

Psalm c. (p)

(k) Upon the propriety of making God the object of worship, on account of his power, his justice, and his attention to the prayers of his servants. Justin M. considers it as applying to the Messiah. Justin M. Dial. cum Tryphone, 255. 288. (l) v. 1. "Sitteth," i. e. " undisturbed." (m)" Between the cherubims," where the ark (the type of God) was placed. See 2 Chron. v. 7, 8.

(n) v. 7. "Cloudy pillar." This may refer to the time when the Israelites left Egypt, and God went before them in the pillar of a cloud, and spake to them out of the cloud; (see Exod. xiii. 21.- xiv. 1.

ye

&c.) or it may apply to the time when Moses went into the cloud, and God delivered him the ceremonial law. See Exod. xxiv.

(l) v. 8. "Thou forgavest, &c." This probably refers to what occurred upon the making of the golden calf, when Ĝod would have destroyed the people, but for the intercession of Moses, and Moses burnt the calf, and ground it to powder, and strewed it on the water, and made the children of Israel drink thereof. See Exod. xxxii. 10. 20.

(p) See ante, p. 8. where this Psalm also occurs.

with a song.

2. Be ye sure that the Lord he is God; it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves: we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

3. O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and speak good of his Name. 4. For the Lord is gracious; his mercy is everlasting: and his truth endureth from generation to ge

neration.

Psalm ci. (9)

My song shall be of mercy and judgement unto thee, O Lord, will I sing.

2. O let me have understanding in the way of godliness!

3. When wilt thou come unto me? I will walk in my house with a perfect heart.

4. I will take no wicked thing in hand; I hate the sins of unfaithfulness there shall no such cleave unto me.

5. A froward heart shall depart from me I will not know (r) a wicked person.

6. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I destroy.

7. Whoso hath also a proud

(g) Resolutions (supposed to be David's) for private and public conduct, to procure God's countenance and favour. It is used upon the king's inauguration.

(r) v. 5.“ Know," i. e. " countenance." See note on Ps. i. 7.

(s) v. 11. "That I may," i. e. " so as to :" "I will do it effectually."

(t) An earnest prayer to God for the re-establishment of Jerusalem and of the Temple. It was probably written about the end of the Babylonish captivity, or during the opposition made to the rebuilding of Jerusalem, of which Ezra and Nehemiah give an account. It describes

8. Mine eyes look upon such as are faithful in the land: that they may dwell with me.

9. Whoso leadeth a godly life: he shall be my servant.

10. There shall no deceitful person dwell in my house he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.

11. I shall soon destroy all the ungodly that are in the land: that I may (s) root out all wicked doers from the city of the Lord.

MORNING PRAYER.
Psalm cii. (t)

HEAR my prayer, O Lord and let my crying come unto thee.

2. Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble: incline thine ears unto me when I call; O hear me, and that right soon.

3. For my days are consumed away like smoke and my bones are burnt up, as it were a firebrand.

4. My heart is smitten down, and withered like grass so that I forget to eat my bread.

5. For the voice of my groaning my bones will scarce cleave to my flesh.

6. I am become like a pelican

the condition to which the writer (or perhaps the nation) was reduced; it alludes to God's promise for bringing them back to Jerusalem, and notices the impression it would make, in turning mankind to the worship of God, when they should see this promise performed. It was anciently used among the Jews in times of humiliation is one of the seven penitential Psalms, and one of the proper Psalms for Ash Wednesday. Heb. i. 10. applies verses 25, 26, and 27. to Christ, and therefore implies that this Psalm was addressed to him, and that he was the object of this prayer.

shadow:

like (w) grass.

12. But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever: and thy remembrance throughout all generations.

13. Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Sion: for it is time that thou have mercy upon her; yea, the time (x) is come.

(u) v. 8. "Revile me, &c." This may refer to the opposition made to the rebuilding of the temple. Artaxerxes, at the instance of the people of the land, ordered the work to be stopped; but Darius, on finding Cyrus's decree for building it, directed it to proceed, and made another decree for advancing its progress. See Ezra iv. v. vi. It was 91 years after their return from Babylon, before the Jews could rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, Nehem. vi. 15. and it appears by Nehem. i. 3. that in the 20th year of Artaxerxes, ninety years after their return, they were" in great affliction and reproach."

(v) v. 10. "Taken me up, &c." i. e. (perhaps) "given me hopes, by bringing me "back to Jerusalem, and dispirited me by "the opposition I have experienced."

(w) v. 11, 12. Like grass, &c." So Isaiah xl. 6. 8. " All flesh is grass, and all "the goodliness thereof is as the flower of "the field: the grass withereth, the flower "fadeth: but the word of our God shall "stand for ever." It is not improbable the passage in Isaiah suggested that in

14. And why? thy servants think upon her stones: and it pitieth them to see her in the dust.

15. The heathen (y) shall fear thy Name, O Lord and all the kings of the earth thy Majesty;

16. When (2) the Lord shall build up Sion and when (≈) his glory shall appear;

17. When (2) he turneth him unto the prayer of the poor destitute and despiseth not their desire.

18. This shall be written for those that come after and the

people, which shall be born, shall praise the Lord.

19. For he hath looked down from his sanctuary: out of the heaven did the Lord behold the earth;

20. That he might hear the mournings of such as are in captivity and deliver the children appointed unto death;

the Psalm, particularly as the attention of the Jews was at this time strongly drawn to Isaiah's prophecies.

(x) v. 13. "The time, &c." God had stated distinctly by Jeremiah, that the Babylonish captivity should continue 70 years, and that at the end of that time the people should return. "Thus saith the

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Lord of hosts, (Jer. xxv. 8. 11.) this "whole land shall be a desolation, and an "astonishment: and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years." And "Thus saith the Lord, "(Jer. xxix. 10.) after seventy years be "accomplished at Babylon, I will visit you, "and perform my good word towards you, "in causing you to return to this place."

(y) v. 15." The heathen, &c." This is another instance of urging as a reason for deliverance, the influence it would have in inducing the heathen to think upon God with astonishment and reverence.

(z) v. 16, 17. Instead of the first "when," read "for," and omit the second and third; read also "shall turn" and "despise." So Jerome; and it comes nearer to the original.