*H Unto the end, a psalm of David.
Ver. 1. David. He, (C.) Ezechias, (Ven. Bede) the captives, (Bossuet) or Jesus Christ and his servants under persecution, speak in this psalm. Holy Fathers. See Ps. lv. C.
*H Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: rescue me from the unjust man.
Ver. 2. Man. Saul, (C.) Judas, (S. Hil.) or self-love, the old man, who is our most dangerous enemy. Bert.
*H Who have devised iniquities in their hearts: all the day long they designed battles.
Ver. 3. Battles. And formed plots to destroy the just. W.
*H They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: the venom of asps is under their lips.
Ver. 4. Serpent. So Plautus says, "A double-tongued and wicked man is like a creeping beast," in Persa. H.
* Footnote * Romans 3 : 13
Their throat is an open sepulchre: with their tongues they have dealt deceitfully. The venom of asps is under their lips.*H The proud have hidden a net for me. And they have stretched out cords for a snare: they have laid for me a stumblingblock by the wayside.
Ver. 6. Side. The enemies of David calumniated him, and strove to make him follow idols. 1 K. xxvi. 19.
*H O Lord, Lord, the strength of my salvation: thou hast overshadowed my head in the day of battle.
Ver. 8. Battle. Against Goliath, or against the attempts of Saul, &c. C. — Prayer and divine grace are necessary, to guard us from sin. W.
*H Give me not up, O Lord, from my desire to the wicked: they have plotted against me; do not thou forsake me, lest they should triumph.
Ver. 9. Desire. If I yield to my passions, (S. Aug.) or after I have expressed my request, contrary to my desire, &c. Heb. "Grant not the desire of the sinner, complete not his thought. They will be elated." Some supply, "lest they be." The ancients seem not to have read in the same manner. Bert. — Abandon not my soul, which is all my care, (Ps. xxi. 21.) to the sinner. C.
*H The head of them compassing me about: the labour of their lips shall overwhelm them.
Ver. 10. Head. Heb. also, "poison," (Bert.) or "sum" of their mischievous devices. W. — Labour, or punishment. C. — Their subtle persuasions shall turn to their ruin. W.
*H Burning coals shall fall upon them; thou wilt cast them down into the fire: in miseries they shall not be able to stand.
Ver. 11. Fire of hell, (W. Chal.) as well as temporal afflictions, from lightning, &c. Ps. xvii. 9. H. — Some have ridiculed the belief of hell. But the universality of this opinion is a strong proof of it, as it is also confirmed by revelation. Bert.
*H A man full of tongue shall not be established in the earth: evil shall catch the unjust man unto destruction.
Ver. 12. Tongue. This member is very dangerous. Pet. Bless. cxix. Jam. iii. 6. — The just man is not styled "a man of tongue," but "of heart;" for which reason Christ exhorted his disciples not to make long speeches in prayer. Matt. vi. 7. Bert. — Into. Lit. "in;" though (H.) it should be into, conformably to the Sept. Bert.
*H I know that the Lord will do justice to the needy, and will revenge the poor.
Ver. 13. I know. Heb. "thou knowest." But some copies read more accurately. Houbig. — Poor. Thus, in the end, was Lazarus treated. W.
*H But as for the just, they shall give glory to thy name: and the upright shall dwell with thy countenance.
Ver. 14. Countenance in glory, when thou shalt appear. 1 Jo. iii. 2. H. — They shall dwell under thy special protection in the tabernacle. C.