20. He keepeth all his bones: so that not one of them is broken. 21. But misfortune shall slay the ungodly and they that hate the (h) righteous shall be desolate.

22. The Lord delivereth the souls of his servants: and all they that put their trust in him shall not be destitute.

MORNING PRAYER.

Psalm xxxv. (i)

PLEAD thou my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: and fight thou against them that fight against me.

2. Lay hand upon the shield and buckler: and stand up to help me.

3. Bring forth the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, "I am thy salvation."

4. Let (k) them be confounded, and put to shame, that seek after my (1) soul: let them be turned back, and brought to confusion, that imagine mischief for me.

5. Let them be as the dust be

fore the wind and (m) the angel of the Lord scattering them.

v. 21. will intimate the punishment and destruction which should come upon his

opposers.

(i) This is generally considered as a prayer of David whilst he was persecuted by Saul; but it may be looked upon as spoken in the person of the Messiah, of whom David was a type, to intimate prophetically, that what is here said would be suitable to the condition of the Messiah.

(k) v. 4. "Let, &c." This and the other verbs in this Psalm, which are put optatively, as imprecations, might be put in the future tense, so as only to express a confidence or belief, or in the character of a prophet to foretell, that thus it would be.

(7) "Soul," i. e, "life."

6. Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the Lord persecute them.

7. For they have privily laid their net to destroy me without a cause yea, even without a cause have they made a pit for my soul.

8. Let a sudden destruction come upon him (n) unawares, and his net that he hath laid privily, catch himself: that he may fall into his own mischief.

9. And, my soul, be joyful in the Lord it shall rejoice in his salvation. (0)

10. All my bones shall say, "Lord, who is like unto thee, "who deliverest the poor from "him that is too strong for him:

66

yea, the poor, and him that is "in misery, from him that spoil"eth him ?"

11. False witnesses did rise up: they laid to my charge things that I knew not. (p)

12. They rewarded me evil for good: to the great discomfort of my soul. (9)

13. Nevertheless (r), when they were sick, I put on sackcloth, and humbled my soul with fasting:

(m) v. 5. "And, &c." i. e. “when the angel of the Lord is scattering them." (n) v. 8. For "him," "his," "himself," "he," and "his," read "them," "their," "themselves," "they," and "their." The connection requires it, and the alteration is supported by many of the ancient versions. (o) v. 9." His salvation," i. e. “ the "preservation he shall vouchsafe."

(p) v. 11. "That I knew not," i. e. "things of which I had not the least knowledge. Acts that had never entered "even into my thoughts,

(q) v. 12. "Discomfort of my soul," i. e. "danger of my life."

(r) v. 13. Nevertheless, &c." He contrasts his behaviour towards them, with theirs towards him.

and my prayer shall turn into mine own bosom.

14. I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother: I went heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

15. But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the very abjects came together against me unawares, making mouths at me, and ceased not.

16. With the flatterers were busy mockers: who gnashed upon me with their teeth.

17. Lord, how long wilt thou look upon this: O deliver my soul from the calamities which they bring on me, and my darling (s) from the lions.

18. So will I give thee thanks in the great congregation (t): I will praise thee among much people.

19. O let not them that are mine enemies triumph over me ungodly (u): neither let them wink

(s) v. 17. "My darling," i. e. "my life, "what is most precious to me." So Ps. xxii. 20. "Deliver my soul from the "sword, my darling from the power of "the dog."

(t) v. 18. "In the great congregation," and "among much people," i. e. " in the "great religious meetings of the people." So Ps. xxii. 25. "My praise is of thee "in the great congregation, my vows will I perform in the sight of them that fear "him;" and cxvi. 16. "I will pay my "vows unto the Lord in the sight of all "his people, in the courts of the Lord's "house, even in the midst of thee, O "Jerusalem." And Ps. xl. 11. 13. "I have "declared thy righteousness in the great "congregation," and "I have not kept "back thy mercy and truth from the great congregation."

(u) v. 19. Or, "enemies wrongfully "triumph over me:" this is the Sept. and Bible translation; and "they that "hate me without a cause," answers to

with their eyes (x), that (y) hate me without a cause.

20. And why? their communing (2) is not for peace but they imagine deceitful words (a) against them that are quiet in the land.

21. They gaped upon me with their mouths, and said: "Fie on "thee, fie on thee, we saw (b) it "with our eyes."

22. This thou hast seen, O Lord (c): hold not thy tongue, then, go not far from me, O Lord. (d)

23. Awake, and stand up to judge my quarrel: avenge thou my cause, my cause, my God, and my Lord. (d)

24. Judge (e) me, O Lord (c) my God, according to thy righte ousness: and let them not triumph

over me.

25. Let them not say in their hearts, "There, there, so would "we have it :" neither let them say, "We have devoured him."

26. Let them be put to confusion and shame together, that

those "who are mine enemies wrongfully." See Ps. xxxviii. 19. and Ps. lxix. 4.

(x)" Wink with their eyes," i. e. “in "derision, or exultation."

(y)" Hate, &c." It is to this passage our Saviour is supposed to have alluded, John xv. 25. when he refers to the hatred and persecution he experienced: "that "the word might be fulfilled that is written "in their law, they hated me without "a cause.'

(2) v. 20. "Their communing, &c." i. e. if they consult together, it is not for "peaceful purposes, but to bring mischief upon them that are quiet."

(a)" Imagine deceitful words," or, "fabricate false stories."

(b) v. 21. "Saw, &c." "imputing not "only that he had done what was heinous, "but that they had themselves seen it, so as "to exclude all doubt as to his guilt."

(c) v.22. 24. "Lord." Heb. "Jehovah." (d) v. 22, 23." Lord." Heb. "Adonai." (e) v. 24. "Judge," or "vindicate."

rejoice at my trouble: let them be clothed with rebuke and dishonour, that boast themselves against me.

27. Let them be glad and rejoice, that favour my righteous dealing yea, let them say alway, "Blessed (e) be the Lord, who "hath pleasure in the prosperity "of his servant."

28. And as for my tongue, it shall be talking of thy righteousness; and of thy praise all the day long.

Psalm xxxvi. (g)

My heart sheweth me the wickedness of the ungodly that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

2. For he flattereth himself in his own sight until his abominable sin be found out.

3. The words of his mouth are unrighteous, and full of deceit :

(e) v. 27. "Blessed, &c." "Give them "this additional motive for looking up to "thee, for glorifying thy name.' He often insinuates that God's protection to the good furnishes ground for praising and depending upon him, and that his suffering them to be oppressed and in adversity gives occasion to the ungodly to question his providence and power.

(g) Supposed to have been written by David during his persecution by Saul. It characterizes the conduct of his enemies as being unrestrained by any fear of God, notices the certainty and all-sufficiency of God's protection, prays for its continuance, and concludes as if his enemies had met with some fresh discomfiture during the Psalm.

(h) v. 4. "Upon his bed," strongly marking its malevolent character: not the transport of sudden indignation, but the result of cool deliberation.

(i) v. 5. "Reacheth, &c." So that nothing is beyond its compass, and it shall therefore defeat the attempt of the wicked.

he hath left off to behave himself wisely, and to do good.

4. He imagineth mischief upon his bed (h), and hath set himself in no good way: neither doth he abhor any thing that is evil.

5. Thy mercy, O Lord, reacheth (i) unto the heavens and thy faithfulness unto the clouds.

6. Thy righteousness standeth like the strong mountains (k): thy judgements are like the great deep. (1)

7. Thou, Lord, shalt save (m) both man (n) and beast; How excellent is thy mercy, O God! and the children of men shall put (0) their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

8. They shall be satisfied (p) with the plenteousness (q) of thy house and thou shalt give them drink (r) of thy pleasures as out of the river.

9. For with thee is the well (s)

(m) v. 7. "Shalt save," or "savest." B.T. (n)" Man and beast," so complete and perfect is thy superintendence; leaving nothing unpreserved.

(0) Shall put," i. e. " from seeing "the vengeance thou canst take, and the protection thou affordest."

(p) v. 8. "Satisfied," i. e. "filled to the "utmost, so as to have no want."

(q)" Plenteousness of thy house," i. e. "all kinds of blessings, temporal and spi"ritual."

(r)" Drink, &c." i. e. "as abundant a supply as a river would furnish of "drink.'

(s) v. 9. "The well, &c." i. e. “ an in"exhaustible fountain of real life." See John iv. 10 to 14. where our Saviour speaks of the water he could give, as "a well of "water springing up into everlasting life."

of life and in thy light shall we see light.

:

10. O continue forth thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee and thy (t) righteousness unto them that are true of heart. 11. O let not the foot of pride

come against me: and let not the hand of the ungodly cast me down.

12. There are they fallen, all that work wickedness: they are cast down, and shall not be able to stand.

(a) v. 5. "Commit, &c." So Prov. xvi. 3. "Commit thy works unto the "Lord, and thy thoughts shall be esta"blished."

(b) "It," i. e. "thy purposes."

(c) v. 7." At him whose way, &c." i. e. "because of the prosperity of the wicked." (d) v. 8. "Wrath" and "displeasure," i. e. (perhaps)" at the successes of the "sinful."

(e) v. 9." Inherit, &c." So said our Saviour in his sermon on the Mount, Matt. v. 5. "Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the land." And see post, verses 11. 18. 22. 30. 35.

(g) v. 10. "Gone, &c." How magnificently is this expressed, Job xx. 4 to 7.? "Knowest thou not this of old, since man "was placed upon earth, that the triumph"ing of the wicked is short, and the joy

refreshed in the multitude of peace.

12. The ungodly seeketh counsel against the just and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

13. (h) The Lord shall laugh him to scorn: for he hath seen that his day (i) is coming.

14. The ungodly have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as are of a right conversation.

15. Their sword shall go through their own heart (k): and their bow shall be broken.

16. A small thing that the righteous hath is better than great riches of the ungodly.

17. For the arms of the ungodly shall be broken and the Lord upholdeth the righteous.

18. The Lord knoweth (1) the days of the godly and their inheritance shall endure for ever.

19. They shall not be confounded in the perilous time : and in the days of dearth they shall have enough.

20. As for the ungodly, they

"of the hypocrite but for a moment? "Though his excellency mount up to "the heavens, and his head reach unto "the clouds, yet he shall perish for ever: "they which have seen him shall say, "Where is he?"

(h) v. 13. An answer to verse 12.; and verse 15. is an answer to verse 14.

(i) "Day," i. e. " ruin, time of adversity." So Ps. cxxxvii. 7. the desolation of Jerusalem is called "the day of "Jerusalem."