Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? [why] hidest thou [thyself] in times of trouble? Ver. 1. _Why standest thou afar off, O Lord?_] As if thou hadst forgotten what thou hadst promised thy people in the formed psalm; which the Greek and Latin versions make to be one and the same with this, as having... [ Continue Reading ]
The wicked in [his] pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. Ver. 2. _The wicked in his pride doth persecute, &c._] Heb. hotly pursueth (εμπυριζεται. Chrysost.), and that out of his pride, the true cause of persecution, whatever else is pretended. And... [ Continue Reading ]
For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, [whom] the LORD abhorreth. Ver. 3. For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire] Though the soul of the wicked desire evil, Proverbs 21:10, yet he glorieth in it, as did that thrasonical Lamech, Genesis 4:23,24, and that pyr... [ Continue Reading ]
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek [after God]: God [is] not in all his thoughts. Ver. 4. _The wicked, through the pride of his countenance_] That is, of his heart, appearing in his countenance, as a master pock in his forehead. For pride buddeth, Ezekiel 7:10; the prid... [ Continue Reading ]
His ways are always grievous; thy judgments [are] far above out of his sight: [as for] all his enemies, he puffeth at them. Ver. 5. _His ways are always grievous_] As he pleaseth not God, so he is contrary and vexatious to men, _Viae eius semper terrent,_ so Aben Ezra. The psalmist here noteth him... [ Continue Reading ]
He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for [I shall] never [be] in adversity. Ver. 6. _He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved_] So said a better man once, Psalms 30:6, but he was quickly confuted. If a believer conclude, by the force of his faith, that he shall never be moved fro... [ Continue Reading ]
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue [is] mischief and vanity. Ver. 7. _His mouth is full of cursing and deceit_] Such cursing men are cursed men; and for such slippery and deceitful persons the Lord is the avenger of all such, 1 Thessalonians 4:8 . _ Under his tongu... [ Continue Reading ]
He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor. Ver. 8. _He sitteth in the lurking places, &c._] A. description of a highway robber, saith Diodati, under which name are meant all violent and fraudulent me... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 9. _He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den_] See Job 38:40, _See Trapp on "_ Job 38:40 _"_ When he draweth him into his net] That is, into his... [ Continue Reading ]
He croucheth, [and] humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones. Ver. 10. He croucheth (or crusheth), and humbleth himself] Lion like, Job 38:40. He can sow the fox's skin to the lion's hide for a need, and to compass his design. As proud as he is, yet in subtlety he can abase himse... [ Continue Reading ]
He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see [it]. Ver. 11. _He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten_] That is, he knoweth it not, regardeth it not. To learn is nothing else but to remember, said Socrates; and what a man hath utterly forgotten it is all... [ Continue Reading ]
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble. Ver. 12. _Arise, O Lord_] _Surge, age, summe Pater,_ said Mantuan to the pope, stirring him up against the Turks; may we better say to the Almighty God, against his people's enemies, O God, lift up thine hand Lift it up on high, that... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require [it]. Ver. 13. _Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God?_] _q.d._ It is time for thee, Lord, to arise and bestir thyself; for otherwise what will become of thy great name? The saints cannot endure that God should... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 14. _Thou hast seen it_] For thou art All-eye, whatever the wicked conceiteth to the contrary, making thee a God of clouts, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil [man]: seek out his wickedness [till] thou find none. Ver. 15. _Break thou the arm of the wicked_] That arm that hath been lifted up against the godly. See Psalms 3:8; Psalms 58:7 . _ Seek out his wickedness till thou find none_] _Ad alios vel inficiend... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD [is] King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land. Ver. 16. _The Lord is King for ever and ever_] Therefore he will doubtless do whatsoever hath been before desired, and much more than we can ask or think. Many kings have been long lived, as was Artaxerxes Mnemon, who r... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: Ver. 17. _Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble_] The whole life of a good Christian is a holy desire, saith Austin. And the desires of the righteous shall be satisfied, Prover... [ Continue Reading ]
To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress. Ver. 18. _To judge the fatherless, &c_] The Vulgate hath it, to judge for the fatherless and for the oppressed. It is one thing (saith Austin) to judge the fatherless and another thing to judge for him; this l... [ Continue Reading ]