O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame ? How long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing.* Selah. But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: The LORD will hear when I call unto him. Stand in awe, and sin not: Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD. There be many that say, Who will show us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.‡ Thou hast put gladness in my heart, More than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: For thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.-Psa. iv. * Falsehood. + Mark this. Grant us thy favour. XXI. The Lord the Shepherd of his people. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.* Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,t I will fear no evil : For thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies : Thou anointest my head with oil; Surely goodness and mercy shall fol low me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.-Psa. xxiii. ‡ Not for merit, but of his own grace. danger, dreadful fear. + Awful See Isa. xl. 11; John x. XXII. Divine forgiveness. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity," And in whose spirit there is no guile When I kept silence, my bones waxed old Through my roaring all the day long.+ For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: My moisture is turned into the drought Selah. of summer. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee In a time when thou mayest be found. *See Rom. iv. 6-8. + Before I confessed my sin I was in the deepest horror. # Surely in the floods of great waters They shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my hiding-place; Thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.-Psa. xxxii. 1-7. * Great trials. XXIII. Divine guidance.-Sorrow to the wicked, joy to the righteous. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, Or as the mule, which have no understanding; Whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, Lest they come near unto thee. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: But he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: And shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. -Psa. xxxii. 8-11. XXIV. The King of glory and his subjects. The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof: The world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, That seek thy face, O Jacob.* Selah. *Or, O God of Jacob, Margin. |