*H Unto the end, for the hidden things of the Son. A psalm for David.
Ver. 1 or 22. In modern times, the Jews have done it. W. — The Church allows this title, though the Sept. found none in their copies, and therefore looked upon all to be one ps. The change of subject is no proof of the contrary, as such compositions mingle joy and fear together. David has shewn how the just had got the victory. He now proceeds to declare what persecutions they had to endure. Bert. — After peace war succeeds. There is no settled state here below. H. — The same sentiments occur, Ps. xi. and xiii. &c. C. — Trouble. God assists his servants in distress; (v. 10,) yet sometimes he delays, in order "to inflame their souls with a desire of his coming." S. Aug. — He is present, (Acts xvii. 28.) but only the men of prayer are truly sensible either of it, or of his absence. Bert. — The weak think he defers his aid a long time when they suffer any great persecution.
*H I will give praise to thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: I will relate all thy wonders.
Ver. 2 or 23. Fire. With zeal (W.) and indignation, or rather is oppressed (C.) and persecuted. See Mic. iii. 3. H. — They. Houb. would substitute "he is caught." But we may well explain this of the sinner and the unjust, v. 3. Bert. — Indeed both are under perplexity, as the poor knows not why the wicked prosper. Bellar. M. — An answer is given to the complaint of the just, intimating that the wicked are caught in their own snares, (W.) and are not free from trouble. H.
*H I will be glad, and rejoice in thee: I will sing to thy name, O thou most high.
Ver. 3. [or 24.] Blessed by flatterers, while his is full of himself also, as the Heb. insinuates. C. — "The miser, applauding himself, has blasphemed the Lord. The wicked in the height of his fury will not seek, nor is God in all his thoughts." H. — This is more energetic, and encourages us to study the original. The worldling wishes there were no God; or banishes him from his thoughts as much as possible. Bert.
*H When my enemy shall be turned back: they shall be weakened, and perish before thy face.
Ver. 4. [or 25.] Seek to regain his favour, (W. M.) or rather (H.) he flatters himself that God will not punish him, v. 13. C. — Multum irascitur, dum non exquirit. S. Aug. See Ps. xxxv. 5.
*H For thou hast maintained my judgment and my cause: thou hast sat on the throne, who judgest justice.
Ver. 5. [or 26.] Filthy. Heb. "as one in labour." He can enjoy no ease. Chal. "his ways are prosperous." Jun. "paved." C. — Removed. Heb. "height itself before him, he will blow upon all his enemies." This more forcibly denotes his violence and scorn. Bert. Acts ix. 1. M. — He ruleth for a time, and supposeth that his dominion will never have an end, and that he will enjoy constant happiness. W.
*H Thou hast rebuked the Gentiles, and the wicked one hath perished; thou hast blotted out their name for ever and ever.
Ver. 6. [or 27.] Evil. Always happy, or as the Heb. Chal. &c. may signify, "I shall not desist from evil." C. — I will gratify my passions. Who dares to oppose me? A. — The pride of Nabuchodonosor is known. Dan. iv. 19. &c.
*H The swords of the enemy have failed unto the end: and their cities thou hast destroyed. Their memory hath perished with a noise:
Ver. 7. [or 28.] Sorrow. Which he prepares for others, and yet feels himself. C. — Etiam ad perniciem laboratur. S. Aug. — To gain hell requires some trouble. H. — The wicked is his own executioner. C.
* Footnote * Romans 3 : 14
Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:*H But the Lord remaineth for ever. He hath prepared his throne in judgment:
Ver. 8. [or 29.] Rich. S. Jer. "in the porches," is equivalent. Moderns translate, "villages," which Houbigant would change for a word signifying "ditches," without necessity. Bert.
*H And he shall judge the world in equity, he shall judge the people in justice.
Ver. 9. [or 30.] Poor. "His eyes look round the strong," for aid; or "the poor," (Prot.) for destruction. See v. 14.
*H And the Lord is become a refuge for the poor: a helper in due time in tribulation.
Ver. 10. [or 31.] Fall. Prot. "and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones." H. — He imitates the lion in the fable, which feigned sickness. Hor. ep. — But the Vulg. gives a better sense. C. — "He will bring under the broken, (poor) and will rush on violently with all his power." S. Jerom here explains chelecaim, valenter, instead of "the poor;" (H.) as some of the Gr. interpreters must have done, if it be true that his version is formed on the plan of the Hexapla, of a mere selection from Aq. Sym. and Theodotion, as Houbigant asserts, (Pref.) in order to confute the Jews. H.
*H And let them trust in thee who know thy name: for thou hast not forsaken them that seek thee, O Lord.
Ver. 11. [or 32.] End. God delays for a time; but he will punish. C. — Religion lays open all the sophisms of infidelity. Bert.
*H Sing ye to the Lord, who dwelleth in Sion: declare his ways among the Gentiles:
Ver. 12. Ways, (studia) "favours," (H.) works, &c. C. — This was done by the apostles. S. Aug. — Men ought chiefly to study the precepts of God. W.
*H For requiring their blood, he hath remembered them: he hath not forgotten the cry of the poor.
Ver. 13. Their, may be omitted, as it would seem to refer to the Gentiles. God declares that he will demand the blood of all that shed it without authority. Gen. ix. 5. H. — He had punished the Chanaanites, &c. for their cruelty, as he did afterwards the persecutors of his Church. If the names of Herod, Nero, &c. be infamous in history for their sanquinary proceedings, they are not less so on account of the judgments which God exercised upon them, even in this world. C. See Lact. de Mort. Persec. H. — God avengeth the blood of his martyrs. W.
*H Have mercy on me, O Lord: see my humiliation which I suffer from my enemies.
Ver. 14. [or 35.] Sorrow. Thou punishest with pain. S. Aug. — Thou beholdest all the iniquity which is committed, (C.) but waitest until the measure be full. S. Chrys. — Terrible delay! — Poor. S. Jer. "art left thy strong ones," who distrust in themselves, and rely on thee. H. — Others explain cheleca, "poor and weak." Parkhurst. — Cheleca only occurs here and v. 9. 10. Prot. "the poor committeth himself to thee." H.
*H Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death, that I may declare all thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
Ver. 15. [or 36.] Found. When the means of sinning are withdrawn, he will repent; (SS. Chrys. Aug. Is. xxviii. 19.) or it is a sort of irony: he will see whether, as he said, God will take no notice, v. 4. C. — He shall be utterly exterminated. Ps. xxxvi. M. — No vestige of his magnificent works, founded on injustice, shall remain. H.
*H I will rejoice in thy salvation: the Gentiles have stuck fast in the destruction which they prepared. Their foot hath been taken in the very snare which they hid.
Ver. 16. [or 37.] Shall. Or Heb. "have perished." In the prophetic style, things to come are spoken of as past, on account of their certainty. Bert. — The wicked shall not appear in the kingdom of God, to pollute his earth. H. — Ye nations which have seized the promised land, expect not to keep possession. If God suffer the sinner for a while, it is because he is eternal, so that he will never let him escape. C.
*H The Lord shall be known when he executeth judgments: the sinner hath been caught in the works of his own hands.
Ver. 17. [or 38.] The. Heb. "Thou, Lord, hast heard the desire of the humble. Thou wilt prepare their heart; thou wilt cause thine ear to hear." Prot. H. — Luther seems to have altered the text in his German version, in order to establish his error of the certitude of salvation; "their heart is sure that thine ear hath heard." The Heb. intimates that God prepares the heart for all good. Bert. — He hears before his servants cry out, (Is. lxv. 24.) since his spirit inspires the petitions. Rom. viii. 26. Gal. iv. 6. C. — The cry of the heart is charity, amore petitur. S. Aug. Mor. Ecc. — The just man is always ready to suffer whatever God may appoint. W.
*H The wicked shall be turned into hell, all the nations that forget God.
Ver. 18 or 39. Earth. S. Jer. is more expressive, "that the man of earth may by no means cherish pride any longer." Though he may be the greatest monarch, he is but man, dust and corruption, v. 21. H. — Christ, who shewed himself wonderful in humility at his birth, (v. 1.) will display his power at the last day, by giving sentence against the wicked, and by exalting his servants. W.
*H For the poor man shall not be forgotten to the end: the patience of the poor shall not perish for ever.
Ver. 19. Not perish. Heb. does not express the negation, but it must be understood. Bert. — Prot. supply it from the former part of the verse. The expectation of the just will not be frustrated.
*H Arise, O Lord, let not man be strengthened: let the Gentiles be judged in thy sight.
Ver. 20. Man. Heb. enosh, (H.) "weak," sinful "man." Bert. — Gentiles, or all notorious sinners. The Jews despised the Gentiles, as the Romans did all barbarians. W.
*H Appoint, O Lord, a lawgiver over them: that the Gentiles may know themselves to be but men.
Ver. 21. Lawgiver. Heb. mora. H. — Sept. intimate one who rigorously enforces his laws. M. — Sym. "a law." Heb. "instruction." C. — Houb. "fear." S. Jer. "terror: let the nations know that they are men always." Sela is thus frequently explained as a part of the sentence by S. Jerom, though neglected by others. H. — It is no proof that the ps. ends here; but serves to excite attention. W. — The Gentiles lived without law, like beasts, except that their conscience sometimes admonished them of their duty. Rom. ii. 14. H. — Whether a person can ever silence it entirely, is a very serious and terrible question. The great ones stand in need of being admonished frequently of their frail condition. Bert. — When Pausanias, king of Sparta, asked Simonides to give his some important lesson, he replied, "Remember that thou art a man." Whoever reflects on this, will beware never to yield to sentiments of pride. The Fathers understand this lawgiver to be Jesus; or Antichrist, whom the wicked have deserved to have set over them. Theod. S. Athan. &c. C. — Those who will not believe in Christ, will give credit to Antichrist. S. Aug. 2 Thes. ii.