5 Thus the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous;

6 Because JEHOVAH careth for the way of the righteous, And the way of the wicked cometh to nothing.

PSALM II.

1

WHY are the gentiles tumultuously assembled, And why do the people meditate a vain attempt? 2 Why do the kings of the earth array themselves, And the rulers sit together consulting,

Against JEHOVAH

And against His Messiah?

3 "Let us burst asunder Their bonds,

(saying)

"And cast away from us Their shackles."

4 HE who sitteth enthroned in the heavens laugheth at them; The Lord holdeth them in derision.

of the royal house of David, intimating that these troubles are one day to cease, when his august descendant, Messiah, shall reign as universal Lord.

We are not to be surprised at the warlike tone of this composition, as being ill suited to the peaceful character of Messiah's kingdom. It entirely accords with the idea entertained at the time by the Jewish people, in common with other nations, as to the nature of the kingly office. "Nay but we will have a king over us that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." 1 Sam. viii. 19.

2 His Messiah i. e. the king anointed by Jehovah.

5 Soon will He speak unto them in His anger,

And in the heat of His wrath He will confound them:

6 But as for Me, I have anointed My King

66

"Upon Sion, My holy mountain.”

7 I will proclaim the decree of Jehovah.

HE said unto me:

"THOU art My Son,

"This day have I begotten Thee.

8 "Ask of Me,

9

"And I will give Thee the gentiles for Thine inheritance,

"And for Thy possession the extremities of the earth.

"THOU shalt crush them with a rod of iron;

"Like a potter's vessel, shalt Thou break them in pieces."

10 Now, therefore, ye kings, be wise;

Receive instruction, ye rulers of the earth.

11 Obey JEHOVAH with fear,

And rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss His Son, lest He be angry,
And ye perish in your course;
For His wrath will shortly kindle.

6

PSALM III.

1 JEHOVAH, how greatly mine enemies increase !
How numerous are those who rise up against me!
2 How many are those who say respecting me:
"There is no salvation for him in God."

3 But Thou, JEHOVAH, art a shield unto me;
THOU art my glory and the lifter up of my head.
4 With my voice unto JEHOVAH do I call,

And He answereth me from His holy mountain. 5 I lie down and I fall asleep;

I duly awake, because JEHOVAH upholdeth me.

I am not afraid of the myriads of people,

Who set themselves in array against me on every side.

7 Arise, JEHOVAH!

Save me, O my God,

For Thou hast smitten my many enemies upon the cheekbone— THOU hast broken in pieces the teeth of the wicked.

PSALM IV.

1 WHEN I call, answer me, O God of mine innocency, Set me at large in my strait,

Be gracious unto me and hear my prayer.

2 Sons of men!

3

How long will my dignity be the object of your contempt? How long will ye cherish a vain purpose?

How long will ye engage in a fallacious pursuit ?

Know that JEHOVAH hath set apart for Himself the pious man

That JEHOVAH heareth when I call unto Him.

4 Tremble and sin not,

Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Offer righteous sacrifices,

And put your trust in JEHOVAH.

6 Many are those who say:

"Who will cause us to see prosperity?"

JEHOVAH! lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us!

7 THOU hast put into my heart greater gladness

Than theirs, at the time when their corn and new wine abound.

preserving of the mind unruffled by ambitious projects.

5 Offer &c. and think not to propitiate
the Almighty by sacrifices offered with-
out purity of intention.

6 Many probably these were some des-
ponding followers of David.
-lift Thou up &c. regard us with

favour. Compare Ps. LXXX. 3. 7. 19. 7 Thou hast &c.- This seems to be said

under a conviction that the foregoing prayer had been granted.

- greater gladness Than theirs &c.-Heb. gladness above the time their &c. "They joy before Thee according to the joy in harvest." Isai. ix. 3.

8 In peace, I lie down and fall asleep at once,

Because Thou, JEHOVAH, art of Thyself sufficient
To make me rest securely in my dwelling.

PSALM V.

1 GIVE ear unto my words, JEHOVAH, Consider my sighing;

2 Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, For unto Thee do I pray.

3 Every morning Thou, JEHOVAH, hearest my voice, Every morning do I prepare for Thy service and watch. 4 For Thou art not a God delighting in wickedness, A wicked man doth not sojourn with Thee. 5 Presumptuous men stand not before Thine eyes, THOU hatest all the workers of iniquity.

6 THOU destroyest those who speak lies;

JEHOVAH abhorreth the murderous and deceitful man.