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I will sing praise to thy name, O thou people his doings. most High.

3 When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy pressoice.

4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right

5 Thou hast rebuked the beathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and

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[ for victory.

12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

13 Have mercy upon me O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:

14 That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.

15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.

16 The LORD is known by the judg ment which he executeth : the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgain. Selah.

17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

18 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.

19 Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.

20 Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Seiah. (D)

EXPOSITION.

14 Psalm of David—in thanksgiving for utary-There seems no doubt but This was a song of triumph and thanksgiving fer a sigual victory over some po

erful pagan adversary, whose object seems to have been the overthrow of the Jewish church and state. David, however, piously attributes his vietery to divine interference, and thanks his deliverer for rescuing him from the gates of death, which had probably

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Ver. 12. Hi a tar–Ni srz “AS CAL”
Tenis The cotes en amai. – The risible world
IS COPSTILLẦY Ty esented sa the Scaptures as a place
el com emert, having ca es apá bars, Job xvii. 15,
-F7. Isa xxxV 8.

Ver. 16. B÷0ca0am—is zove,ally allowed to mean, as in de rada, “a mediation" As we lave sup posed Sečík PC 282 NO APSWUT UN s. me respects to a kad in oni movie, it is probade that the pious Is noctes were dice required story to meditate during this muschi pa, se

Ver 1. Todine bil-The place of fature pun shment, yet the grave, nor the state of death maevel, vor this is egašių tree of the righteous as of

the wicked

A Prayer]

PSALM X.

PSALMS.

WHY standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. 5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he pufeth at them.

6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.

7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages in the secret places

[for deliverance.

doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.

9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.

10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.

11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.

12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand forget not the humble.

13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.

14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.

15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man; seek out his wickedness till thou find none.

16 The LORD is King for ever and

EXPOSITION.

enclosed many both of his enemies and friends; and determines, in consequence of being so spared, that he will enter the rates of the daughter of Zion, and worship among her children.

We have reason to bless God that we live in times of peace, and in a land that has long been exempted from the miseries of war. But all true Christians have enemies, if not externally, yet in their own bosoms; against these enemies they have need, most earnestly, to pray, and to return thanks for every victory obtained wwer them.

The church of God also, as a body, have

their enemies, and will always be liable tɔ suffer from the hostilities both of infidels and wicked men: and though, under the Christian dispensation, we are forbidden to pray for the destruction of our enemies, there is nothing unchristian in praying that they may be made sensible of their frailty and bumbled before their Maker and their Judge, and thereby be prevented from showing their enmity against the people and the cause of God.

NOTES.

PSALM X. The LXX have united this psalm to the preceding, for which we know no reason, except that it has no distinct title; but this alteration makes diference in the numbering, till we come to the 471 psalm, which is divided into two, and makes efal number right. Father Calmet, Dr. Grey,

Bishop Horne, suppose it to have been comsed daring the time of the Babylonish captivity; at there is no certainty of this.

Ver 3 Heart's (Heb. " soul's) desire, and blesse-Marg. The covetous blesseth (himself); weatherreth the Lord."

Ver.4. God is not in all his thoughts---Marg. "A" is thoughts are, there is no God."

Ver & Neter be in adversity-Heb. "Not unto generation and generation.”

"Rise, great Redeemer, from thy seat,
To judge and save the poor;
Let nations tremble at thy feet,
And man prevail no more."-Watts.

Ver. 7. Vanity---Marg. "Iniquity." Ver.. His eyes are privily set --- Heb. "Hide themselves;" i. e. to watch for the poor.

Ver.9. Secretly---Heb. In secret places." Ver. 10. He croucheth Heb. "breaketh," or rather, bendeth himself, as a wild beast crouches down to spring at his prey. By his strong ones--Marg. "Into his strong parts;' i. e. into his paws. Ainsworth.

Ver. 12. The humble---Marg. "Afflicted." Ver. 14. Committeth himself (Heb. “ cleaveth ") unto thee.

Ver. 15. Break thou the arm---That is, the power of the wicked.

Ver. 17. Prepare (Marg. "establish ") their heart.

Confidence]

PSALMS.

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[in God. upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.

3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

4 The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.

7 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright. (L)

EXPOSITION.

(K) A Prayer for deliverance from atheistical and cruel enemies.-This psalm having no title, it is in vain to guess at either its author or occasion. Bishop Horsley calls it "a supplication in behalf of certain helpless people cruelly persecuted by a powerful enemy; who, renouncing all fear of God and regard of men, uses both force and deceit as means of oppression." The heathen formerly, as well as at present, were divisible into two classes; the one extremely ignorant and superstitious-the other more enlightened, as to general knowledge, but atheistical and profane. Persecutors may be found in both classes; the one jealous for their favourite superstition-the other rejecting superstition, and with it all religious worship; the true God as well as idols. The Lord Jehovah is, however, the universal sovereign. He will punish impenitent sinners of every class. At the same time, he hears the desire of the humble, before that desire is expressed in words; and will never fail to answer the prayer which his spirit teaches them to offer.

God will "prepare their hearts to pray,
And cause his ear to hear;
He hearkens what his children say,
And puts the world in fear."

PSALM XI.

Watts.

(L) A Psalm of David, expressive of his confidence in God.-Whether this was writ

PSALM XI. Ver. 2. Privily shoot

"Shoot in darkness."

ten during Saul's persecution of him, when some advised him to seek his safety in flight; or during the rebellion of Absalom, when the foundations of the kingdom appeared to be subverted (as intimated ver. 3.) we cannot ascertain. But it was certainly during a time of great danger and alarm; when the fate of his kingdom seemed very precarious, and when his friends seemed utterly in despair. David, however, strengthened himself in the Lord his God, and trusted in him for support deliverance.

and

"As the choicest of heavenly blessings (says Bishop Horne) are frequently in scripture represented by the salutary effects of wine, a cup of which the master of the family is supposed to hold in his hand, ready to distribute due portions of it to those around him; so, from the noxious and intoxicating qualities of that liquor, when drunk strong, and in too large a quantity, is borrowed a most tremendous image of the wrath and indignation of Almighty God. Calamity and sorrow, fear and trembling, infatuation and despair, the evils of the present life, and of that which is to come, are the bitter ingredients which compose this most horrible cup of mixture. It is entirely in the hand and disposal of God, who, through every age, has been pouring out its contents, more or less, in proportion to the sins of men. But much of the strength and power of the liquor still remains behind, until the day

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Ver. 3. If the foundations---Heb. "For the foun"The just, what hath he

dations are cast down."

done?" Ainsworth,

Ver. 6. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, &c. Bishop Lowth renders this verse,

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He shall rain live coals upon the ungodly, Fire, and sulphur, and a burning storm; This shall be the contents of their cup."

Divine help]

PSALM XII.

PSALMS.

To the chief Musician upon Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

HELP, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour; with flattering lips, and with a double heart do they speak. 3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will Tarise, saith the LORD; I will set

[amplored.

him in safety from him that puffeth at him.

words: as silver tried in a furnace 6 The words of the LORD are pure of earth, purified seven times.

7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

8 The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted. (M) PSALM XIII.

To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David. HOW long wilt thou forget me,

O LORD? for ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

EXPOSITION.

of final vengeance. It will be then exbausted, even to the dregs, by unrepenting rebels, when 'burning coals, fire and Brimstone, and eternal ، tempest, shall bethe portion of their cup.'" (Horne in Psalm lxxv. 8.)

The concluding sentiment is equally carsolatory to good men under every dispensation." As the righteous Lord loveth righteousness," so he countenanceth the pright by his providence, and rewards them by his grace. The light of his countenance shall afford them everlasting hap piness.

PSALM XII.

MA Psalm of David, imploring the divine aid in a time of great degeneracy.— It is in vain to conjecture to what particu lar period this psalm originally referred; but often do such unhappy periods occur, both in the world and in the church. In the former, by the spread of infidel and atheistic principles; and in the latter, by the lukewarmness of zeal and the decay of ety among believers. We are encouraged, bowever, to rest assured that the Lord will

not forsake his people. His word is pure, and his promises have been often tried.

Among the signs of our Lord's second coming, we have been taught to consider this as one, that "the love of many shall wax cold" toward him. (Matt. xxiv. 12.) Many such seasons have occurred, and the Lord has been pleased, by signal appearances, to produce revivals in his church, and such we still expect, even in an unprecedented degree. But even the millennium itself is to be followed with a degeneracy equally remarkable. Satan, though bound for a thousand years, will be again let loose with all the powers of infidelity, (Rev. xx. 7 -11.) so that finally, when the Son of Man cometh, he shall find little faith upon the earth. (Luke xviii. 8.) "When the wicked walk around on every side, the vilest of men shall be exalted;" and when the thrones of earth are filled with infidels an tyrants, then-when good men shall shrink in despair under the power of the last tyranny-then shall the "sign of the Son of Man" suddenly appear, and his ، trumpet sound to judgment."

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haps it might be rendered, “I will put him in safety for whom the snare is laid."

Ver. 6. Furnace-Bp. Horne, “Crucible" of earth. Ver. 7. Preserve them-Heb." him ;" i. e. every one

of them

Ver. 8. The vilest men Heb. " The vilest of the sons of men."

PSALM. XIII. Title,-To the chief Musician. See title of Psalm iv.

C

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PSALM XIII.

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[of man. see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.

5 There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righ

teous.

6 Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.

7 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. (O)

EXPOSITION.

(N) A Psalm of David, complaining of desertion, and imploring divine aid. "While God permits his servants to continue under affliction, he is said, after the manner of men, to have forgotten and hid his face from them.' For the use, therefore, of persous in such circumstances, is this psalm intended; and consequently, it suits the different cases of the church universal, languishing for the advent of our Lord to deliver her from this evil world; of any particular church, in time of persecution, and of each individual, when harrassed by temptations, or broken by sickness, pain, and sorrow. He who bore our sins, and carried our sorrows, may likewise be presumed to have made it a part of his devotions in the day of trouble.”(Bishop Horne.)

The complaint of desertion here resembles that in the beginning of the twentysecond Psalm, which we know was used by our blessed Lord upon the cross; and the complaint is not of desertion only, but

also of persecution from the enemy. In both, deliverance is implored and confidence expressed, with a promise of the like grateful return of praise. "The heart which trusteth in God's mercy (says the above excellent writer) shall alone rejoice in his salvation, and celebrate by the tongue, in songs of praise, the loving-kindness of the Lord. It is observable, that this and many other psalms with a mournful beginning, have a triumphant ending; to show us the prevailing power of devo tion, and to convince us of the certain return of prayer, sooner or later, bringing with it the comforts of heaven, to revive and enrich our weary and barren spirits in the gloomy seasons of sorrow and temptation, like the dew descending by night upon the withered summit of an easteru mountain."

PSALM XIV.

(0) A Psalm of David, lamenting the depravity of human nature.-This psalm is also ascribed to David, but the occasion is

NOTES.

Ver. 3. Lighten mine eyes-That is, res'ore to me health and joy and comfort; for darkness is the shadow of death.

Ver. 5. I have trusted.-Or, “I trust." Bp. Horne.

PSALM XIV. This psalm bears the name of David, and is addressed likewise to the chief Musician. Another copy of it is given, with some slight variations, Psalm lii., and a difference in the title, which will be there noticed.

Ver. 3. Gone aside-Become filthy-The expressions, Mr. Hervey suggests, "are borrowed from wines souted or turned) and meats putrified." The

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word for the latter is used Job xv. 16. At the end of this verse, the present copies of the LXX insert three verses quoted by St. Paul in the third chapter of Romans from the other psalms, and which have thence been also introduced into this psalm in the Common Prayer-Book.

Ver. 4. Who (or they eat up my people.-That is, devour the poor. See Micah iii. 3.

Ver. 5. There were they in great fear.-Heb. They feared a fear: the parallel passage, Ps. liii. 5. it is added "where no fear was see that Psalm. Ver. 7. O that, &c.-Marg. "Who will give," &c.

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