19 Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, And for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually. 20 Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, And of them that speak evil against my soul. 21 But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord! for thy name's sake; Because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me. 22 For I am poor and needy, And my heart is wounded within me. 23 I am gone Plike the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust. 24 My knees are weak through fasting; And my flesh faileth of fatness. 25 I became also a reproach unto them: When they looked upon me they shaked their heads. 26 Help me, O LORD my God! O save me according to thy mercy! 27 That they may know that this is thy hand; That thou, LORD, hast done it. 28 Let them curse-but bless thou: When they arise-let them be ashamed; But let thy servant rejoice. 29 Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, And let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle. 30 I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; NOTE.-Peter, in his discourse upon the fall of Judas Iscariot, (Acts i, 20,) quotes the 8th verse of this Psalm, as prophetically referring to Judas. The word "bishoprick," in the former passage, meaning no more than charge, office. What primarily referred to Doeg, is thus prophetically applied to Judas. On the maledictory portions of this Psalm, see page 117. PSALM XVII. ON THE DESTRUCTION OF THE HOUSE OF AHIMELECH. David, in confidence of his integrity, craveth defence of God against his enemies, 1-9; he showeth their pride, craft, and eagerness, 10–12; he prayeth against them, 13-14; he declareth his hope, 15. TA Prayer of David. 1 Hear 'the right, O LORD! Attend unto my cry, Give ear unto my prayer, that goeth 'not out of feigned lips. 2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; Let thine eyes behold the things that are equal. 3 Thou hast proved my heart; a Thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. 4 Concerning the works of men, By the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. 5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, That my footsteps 'slip not. 6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God! Incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. e 7 Show thy marvellous loving kindness, O Thou that savest by thy right hand 8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, Hide me under the shadow of thy wings, 9 From the wicked that 'oppress me, From my deadly enemies, who compass me about. 10 They are enclosed in their own fat: h With their mouth they speak proudly. 11 They have now compassed us in our steps: They have set their eyes bowing down to the earth; 12 'Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, And as it were a young lion 'lurking in secret places. 13 Arise, O LORD! 'disappoint him-cast him down: Deliver my soul from the wicked," which is thy sword: 14 From men "which are thy hand, O LORD! 15 From men of the world, 'which have their 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. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. David prayeth to be delivered from Saul and Doeg, 1-7; he prayeth against them, 8-11; he comforteth himself by confidence in God, 12, 13. To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. 1 Deliver me, O LORD! from the evil man, Preserve me from the 'violent man; 2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; Continually are they gathered together for war. 3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; Adders' poison is under their lips. Selah! 4 Keep me, O LORD! from the hands of the wicked; Preserve me from the violent man; Who have purposed to overthrow my goings. 6 I said unto the LORD, "Thou art my God: 9 As for the head of those that compass me about, Let the mischief of their own lips cover them. 10 Let fburning coals fall upon them: Let them be cast into the fire; Into deep pits, that they rise not up again. 11 Let not 'an evil speaker be established in the earth: Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him. 12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, And the right of the poor. 13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: The upright shall dwell in thy presence. b Pss. 58. 4. Rom. 8. 18. d Psa. 35. 7. Jer. 18. 22. e Psa. 7. 16. Prov. 12. 18; 18. 7. Heb. a man of tongue. Or, lished in the earth-Let him be hunted to his overthrow. 81 Kings 8. 45. Psa. 9. 4. PSALM XXXV. ON THE DESTRUCTION OF THE HOUSE OF AHIMELECH. David prayeth for his own safety, and his enemies' confusion, 1-10; he complaineth of their wrong dealing, 11-21; he pleadeth with God to interpose for him, to the confusion of his enemies, and the joy of the righteous, 22-28. TA Psalm of David. 1 Plead my cause, O LORD! with them that strive with me: Fight against them that fight against me. 2 Take hold of shield and buckler, And stand up for my help. 3 Draw out also the spear, And stop the way against them that persecute me: Say unto my soul, "I am thy salvation." 4 Let them be confounded and put to shame That seek after my soul: Let them be turned back and brought to confusion That devise my hurt. 5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: And let the Angel of the LORD chase them. 6 Let their way be 'dark and slippery: And let the Angel of the LORD persecute them. 7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, Which without cause they have digged for my 8 Let "destruction come upon him at unawares; And let his net that he hath hid catch himself: Into that very destruction let him fall. 9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; It shall rejoice in his salvation. soul. 2 Heb. which he knoweth not of. i Psa. 7. 15, 16. Prov. 5. 22. k Psa. 18. 5. |