_David, destitute of human comfort, asketh help of God: he comforteth himself with God's judgments on the wicked, and confidence in God's tried promises._ To the chief musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. _TITLE._— השׁמינית על למנצח _lamnatseach al hoshsheminith._ See the note on the title o... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SPEAK VANITY— _They speak falsehood._ Mudge. _A double heart,_ in the Hebrew is ולב בלב _beleb valeb, with heart and heart;_ that is, they spake as if they had two hearts: the one to hate their neighbour and form designs against him, and the other to prompt the tongue to pretend a friendship fo... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT SPEAKETH PROUD THINGS— The Hebrew word גדלות _gedoloth_ signifies _great things,_ or _great words;_ for the more artificial and dissembling a man is, the more he affects a pompous formality in his discourse, that he may the better deceive.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WILL I ARISE, SAITH THE LORD— The beauty and energy of this fine prosopopoeia, must be felt by every reader. Nothing can be more poetical and expressive. Houbigant renders the last clause, _I will procure them safety, that they may breathe;_ namely, from their troubles.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORDS OF THE LORD ARE PURE WORDS— The words of God, mentioned in the verse before, may certainly be depended on; they are pure truth, without any mixture of dross or deceit: _Silver fined in a ground furnace_ [a furnace or melting-pot in the earth] _seven times purified._... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT KEEP THEM, &C.— _Thou shalt keep those_ [_words_] _O Lord; thou shalt preserve him,_ &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WICKED WALK ON EVERY SIDE— Dr. Hammond observes that this verse is very obscure, and Bishop Hare ingenuously acknowledges that he does not understand it. Mudge renders it thus: _The wicked walk up and down on every side; as thou art on high, thou art become contemptible to the sons of men._ I ma... [ Continue Reading ]