*H A psalm of a canticle on the sabbath day.
Ver. 1. Day. The Jews say, that Adam sung this at his creation, (Chal.) or that it refers to the reign of the Messias, which shall last one thousand years after this world is ended. Kimchi. — Others think it is a thanksgiving after the defeat of Sennacherib, (Ven. Bede.) or Absalom. Ferrand. — It might be sung by the sons of Moses, who expected to be shortly delivered from Babylon, (C.) or by the people on the sabbath, (Bert.) though many of the Fathers think, that this word denotes "the repose of the life to come." The occasion or author of this psalm cannot be clearly ascertained. C. — When we enjoy rest from labour, we ought particularly to praise God's works. W.
*H It is good to give praise to the Lord: and to sing to thy name, O most High.
Ver. 2. Praise. Lit. "to confess," (H.) as we must be free from sin before we can worthily proclaim God's praises. Euseb. S. Jer. — But here to confess means to praise, (C.) or give thanks. W.
*H To shew forth thy mercy in the morning, and thy truth in the night:
Ver. 3. Night. Of adversity, and at all times, (Bert.) as well as in prosperity. W. — Morning and evening prayer must not be neglected. H. — These times were particularly pointed out. Ps. liv. 18.
*H Upon an instrument of ten strings, upon the psaltery: with a canticle upon the harp.
Ver. 4. Strings, upon. Heb. "on the hasor, and on the nabel, on the higaion with the cinnor." Yet the ten stringed instrument seems to have been the same with the psaltery, or nobol. H. — Bellarmin thinks and is redundant, and was not in the copies of the Sept. or it is only explanatory, as we know that the psaltery had ten strings. Ps. xxxii. 2. and cxliii. 9. M. — The matter is of small consequence. Bert. — Eusebius seems to insinuate, that instruments were not used in the Church of his time. C. — The observance of the commandments, and mortification, signified by the harp, are requisite. W.
*H For thou hast given me, O Lord, a delight in thy doings: and in the works of thy hands I shall rejoice.
Ver. 5. Rejoice. Admiring thy providence, (C.) or the Messias. "What are all things compared with thee, O Lord!" S. Aug. Conf. x. 4.
*H O Lord, how great are thy works! thy thoughts are exceeding deep.
Ver. 6. Deep. We cannot easily explain thy ways, (M.) in exalting some, and depressing thy people. C. Rom. xi. 33.
*H The senseless man shall not know: nor will the fool understand these things.
Ver. 7. Things. Pretended sages hence take occasion to blaspheme whatsoever things they know not. Jude 10. The wise adore God in silence, (H.) and confess, that the misery of the just here proves a future life, while the wicked prosper, to be more tormented. Euseb. — Carnal men, who think only of present things, see not this. M.
*H When the wicked shall spring up as grass: and all the workers of iniquity shall appear: That they may perish for ever and ever:
Ver. 8. Appear. Heb. "flourish." Still they are but as grass, (H.) short-lived, and of small utility. The just resembles the palm-tree, v. 13. C.
*H For behold thy enemies, O lord, for behold thy enemies shall perish: and all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
Ver. 10. Enemies. The Babylonians, (C.) or all the wicked at the last day. Bert. — This shews God's power, and insures the exaltation of the just. M.
*H But my horn shall be exalted like that of the unicorn: and my old age in plentiful mercy.
Ver. 11. Mercy. Heb. and some copies of the Sept. have "oil," an emblem of mercy. Prov. xxi. 20. — Bert. "I shall be anointed with fresh oil." — Prot. "My old age shall be like a verdant olive." Houbig. Sym. — Those who have a good conscience, expect final happiness. W.
*H My eye also hath looked down upon my enemies: and my ear shall hear of the downfall of the malignant that rise up against me.
Ver. 12. Me. I shall live to hear of the vengeance which God will take. Ps. cxi. 9. C. — The just pray for sinners here; but must approve of God's judgment. Bert.
*H The just shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus.
Ver. 13. Palm-tree. Sept. φοινιξ, means also a "Phnician, or the Phnix" bird, of which the ancients have said so much, Job xxix. 18. (C.) and of which Tertullian, (de Res. xiii.) and S. Ambrose, (de fid. Res.) seem to understand this passage. Amama. — But it must be explained in the sense of the Vulg. as the Heb. Tamar evinceth. This tree, and the cedar, were the most famous in those countries; the former for its fruit, and the latter for buildings and duration. The palm-tree will shoot forth again, after it has been cut down or burnt, (Pliny xiii. 14.) so the just will rise up from oppression. C.
*H They that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of the house of our God.
Ver. 14. Courts. In the Church triumphant, as well as in the militant. W. — The piety of the faithful induces strangers to embrace the truth. Bert.
*H They shall still increase in a fruitful old age: and shall be well treated,
Ver. 15. Well treated. Or affected. W. — Bene patientes, ευπαθουντες, "flourishing," (Grot.) tranquil, (S. Aug.) or in a prosperous condition. Bert. — Erasmus, to shew the utility of consulting the originals, informs us, what a multiplicity of authors he consulted in vain, to know the import of this word. Amama. — "They shall be fat and covered with leaves," (S. Jer.) alluding to the aforesaid comparison.
*H That they may shew, That the Lord our God is righteous, and there is no iniquity in him.
Ver. 16. In him. The general judgment will set this in the clearest light. At present, the ways of Providence may be mysterious, v. 6. H.