ment.

32. The law of his God is in

23. The Lord ordereth (o) a good man's going and maketh his way acceptable to himself.

24. Though he fall (p), he shall not be cast away for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

25. I have been young, and now am old and yet saw I never the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging their bread.

26. The righteous is ever merciful, and lendeth and his seed is blessed.

27. Flee from evil, and do the thing that is good and dwell (q) for evermore.

28. For the Lord loveth the thing that is right he forsaketh not his that be godly, but they are preserved for ever.

29. The unrighteous shall be punished as for the seed of the ungodly, it shall be rooted out.

30. The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell therein for

ever.

31. The mouth of the righteous is exercised in wisdom and his

(m) v. 20. "Fat of lambs," "which cannot resist the fire, and soon melts." (n) v. 21. " Borroweth, &c." The meaning probably is, the ungodly is so poor, that he has not wherewithal even to pay what he has borrowed, whilst the righteous hath sufficient for all the purposes of beneficence and liberality.

(o) v. 23. "Ordereth," "not leaving "him to himself."

his heart not slide. 33. The righteous to slay him.

and his goings shall

ungodly seeth the and seeketh occasion

34. (r) The Lord will not leave him in his hand : nor demn (s) him when he is judged.

con

35. Hope thou in the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall promote thee, that thou shalt possess the land when the ungodly shall perish, thou shalt see it.

36. I myself have seen the ungodly in great power and flourishing like a green bay-tree.

37. I went by, and, lo, he was gone I sought him, but his place could no where be found.

38. Keep innocency, and take heed unto the thing that is right: for that shall bring a man peace at the last.

39. As for the transgressors, they shall perish together and the end of the ungodly is, they shall be rooted out at the last.

40. But the salvation of the righteous cometh of the Lord: who is also their strength in the time of trouble.

41. And the Lord shall stand by them, and save them : he shall deliver them from the ungodly, and shall save them, because they put their trust in him.

(p) v. 24. "Though he fall, &c." i. e. (probably) "though he meet with misfor"tune, it shall not overwhelm him; he "shall overcome it."

(q) v. 27. "Dwell, &c." i. e. "thou "shalt not be disturbed in thy possessions, "thou shalt be prosperous.'"

(r) v. 34. An answer to verse 33. (s)" Condemn him," or "let him be "condemned."

MORNING PRAYER.

Psalm xxxviii. (t)

PUT me not to rebuke, O Lord, in thine anger (u): neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure.

2. For thine arrows stick fast in me and thy hand presseth me

sore.

3. There is no health in my flesh, because of thy displeasure: neither is there any rest in my bones, by reason of my sin.

4. For my wickednesses are gone over my head and are like a sore burden, too heavy for me to bear.

5. My wounds stink, and are corrupt through my foolishness. (x)

6. I am brought into so great trouble and misery that I go mourning all the day long.

7. For my loins are filled with a sore disease: and there is no whole part in my body.

8. I am feeble, and sore smitten: I have roared for the very disquietness of my heart.

9. Lord, thou knowest all my (y) desire and my groaning is

not hid from thee.

(t) Intitled, "A Psalm of David, to "bring to remembrance." It was probably written when he was in great distress of mind, which he describes as though his body was afflicted with some sore disease. Perhaps after his sin in the matter of Uriah. His object might be, that he might not forget the sorrow he had sustained, and that the remembrance of it might restrain him from further sin. It is one of the Psalms for Ash-Wednesday.

(u) v. 1. "In thine anger, &c." The meaning probably is, "if I am to be put to "rebuke and chastened, let it not be when "thine anger is great, or thy displeasure "heavy." See note on Ps. vi. 1.

(x) v. 5. "Foolishness," i. e. (probably) "sin."

10. My heart panteth, my strength hath failed me and the sight of mine eyes is gone from

me.

11. My lovers and my neighbours did stand looking (2) upon my trouble and my kinsmen stood afar off.

12. They also that sought after my life, laid snares for me and they that went about to do me evil, talked of wickedness (a), and imagined deceit all the day long.

13. As for me, I was like a deaf man, and heard not and as one that is dumb, who doth not open his mouth.

14. I became even as a man that heareth not and in whose mouth are no reproofs. (b)

I

15. For in thee, O Lord, have put my trust thou shalt answer for me, O Lord my God.

16. I have required (c) that they, even mine enemies, should not triumph over me for when my foot slipped (d), they rejoiced greatly against me.

17. And I truly am set in the plague and my heaviness is ever in my sight.

(y) v. 9. "Desire," i. e. " anxiety," "un"easiness."

(z) v. 11. "Looking, &c." i. e. "with"out giving comfort or assistance." See Ps. xxxi. 13.- Ps. lxxxviii. 18.

(a) v. 12. "Wickedness," i. e. “wicked "plans and devices against me."

(b) v. 14. "Reproofs," i. e. (probably) "answers." This properly introduces the idea expressed in the next verse, that God should answer for him, leaving his cause to God, not taking it upon himself.

(c) v. 16. "Required," or "prayed," "asked," "requested."

(d) "Slipped" and "rejoiced," rather "slippeth," and "rejoice;" referring, not to a single instance, but to a habit.

18. For I will confess my wickedness and be sorry for my

sin.

19. But mine enemies live (e), and are mighty and they that hate me wrongfully are many in number.

20. They also, that reward evil for good, are against me : because I follow the thing that good is. 21. Forsake me not, O Lord my God be not thou far from

me.

22. Haste thee to help me : O me: O Lord God of my salvation.

I

66

Psalm xxxix. (g)

SAID, "I will take heed to my ways that I offend not (h) in my tongue;

2. "I will keep my mouth as "it were with a bridle: while (i) "the ungodly is in my sight."

3. I held my tongue, and spake nothing I kept silence, yea, even from good words; but it was pain and grief to me.

4. My heart was hot within me; and while I was thus musing, the fire kindled : and at the last I spake with my tongue;

5. "Lord, let me know my "end, and the number of my

(e) v. 19. "Live," i. e. " flourish, "succeed."

(g) A pious hymn (written in sickness or trouble) upon the vanity of earthly acquisitions and our absolute dependence upon God, with an earnest prayer for deliverance from distress, and exemption from immediate death. David is considered the author. It is one of the Psalms in the burial service.

(h) v. 1. "Offend not," i.e. (probably) "by repining."

(i) v. 2. "While, &c." Lest any word which escapes me should make them speak irreverently of God.

"days that I may be certified "how long I have to live."

6. Behold, thou hast made my days as it were a span long and mine age is even as nothing in respect of thee; and verily every man living is altogether vanity.

7. For man walketh in a vain shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.

8. And now, Lord, what is my hope (k)? truly, my hope is even in thee.

9. Deliver me from all mine offences and make me not a (1) rebuke unto the foolish.

10. I became dumb, and opened not my mouth for it was thy doing. (m)

11. Take thy plague away from me: I am even consumed by means of thy heavy hand.

12. When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, thou makest his beauty to consume away, like as it were a (n) moth fretting a garment: every man therefore is but vanity.

13. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and with thine ears consider my calling: hold not thy peace at my

(p) Dr. Kennicott thinks (and perhaps rightly) that this constitutes two distinct Psalms; the first ending at the 13th verse, and the second beginning with the 14th. The first is considered a prophetic song of triumph, in the person of the Messiah, noticing his humiliation, his perfect obedience, and subsequent exaltation. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews evidently treats the 8th, 9th, and 10th verses, as spoken in the person of our Saviour, Heb. x. 5., &c. (ante, 128.) "Wherefore "when he cometh into the world, he saith, "Sacrifice, &c." plainly pointing out the Messiah as the person speaking. See 2. Kennicott's Sermons, and his Remarks, p. 193. David is considered as the author. The latter part, from the end of verse 13. is an anxious prayer for deliverance, apparently written in great trouble. If that is prophetic also, it might look forward to the time of our Saviour's agony before he was betrayed, and to his sufferings whilst upon the cross. This is one of the proper Psalms for Good Friday.

(g) v. 4. "It," i. e. "the deliverance "God has accomplished, the salvation he "has wrought."

(r) v. 6. "Wondrous works, &c." This may refer to the mystery of man's redemption, by the incarnation, sufferings, and exaltation of our Saviour.

fear and shall put their trust in the Lord.

5. Blessed is the man that hath set his hope in the Lord and : turned not unto the proud, and to such as go about with lies.

6. O Lord my God, great are the wondrous works (r) which thou hast done; like as be also thy thoughts, which are to us ward and yet there is no man that ordereth them unto thee.

7. If I should declare them, and speak of them they should be more than I am able to express.

8. Sacrifice and meat-offering thou wouldest not (s): but mine ears (t) hast thou opened.

(s) v. 8, 9. "Wouldest not," and "hast "not required," i. e. " these are things you "no longer will or can require; they shall "be wholly discontinued." It probably refers prophetically to that time when the Messiah, that great sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world, (of whom all other sacrifices were types,) was, by the sacrifice of himself once offered, to cause (in the language of Dan. ix. 27.) the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.

The

(t) v. 8. For mine ears, &c." quotation in Hebr. x. 5. is, "A body hast "thou prepared me," and the variation of a small part of three Hebrew letters would warrant that translation. But the present reading, when explained, is per fectly intelligible. Where a bondman preferred perpetual bondage to freedom, he was to be brought before the judges, and in their presence the master was (as explained, ante, 113.) to bore his ear through with an awl, and then he was to serve the master for ever. See Exod. xxi. 1 to 6. and Deut. xv. 12 to 17. also Mede, 896. This passage, therefore, implies, that the service or obedience the bondman under such circumstances engaged to render, viz. "to serve for ever," was what God required; and the "Lo, I come," in verse 9. imports that such service and obedience the person speaking was ready to perform.

(u) v. 10. "The volume, &c." i. e. " the "Bible." See Ps. cxix. 16. 24. 47.

() v. 11. "Great congregation," i. e. "the great religious assembly of the "Jews." See ante, Ps. xxii. 25.- XXXV. 18. and the notes there.

(y) v. 12. "Hid, &c." i. e. "confined "it to my own meditations, but have "made it the subject of conversation with "others."

that I am not able to look up: yea, they are more in number than the hairs of my head, and my heart hath failed (b) me.

16. O Lord, let it be thy pleasure to deliver me make haste, O Lord, to help me.

17. Let (c) them be ashamed and confounded together, that seek after my soul (d) to destroy it let them be driven backward, and put to rebuke, that wish me evil.

18. Let them be desolate, and rewarded with shame that say unto me, "Fie upon thee, fie

upon thee."

19. Let all those that seek thee, be joyful and glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation, say (e) alway, "The Lord be praised."

20. As for me, I am poor and needy: but the Lord careth for

me.

21. Thou art my helper and redeemer: make no long tarrying, O my God.

"And his agony was such, when he was taking our sins upon him, that his sweat "was as it were great drops of blood fall"ing to the ground, Luke xxii. 44.” "Hath failed, &c." (b) Just before our Saviour was betrayed, "his soul was "exceeding sorrowful, even unto death, " and he fell on his face and prayed, "O "my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; Matt. xxvi. 33, 34.;" so that this part of the Psalm was strictly verified in him.

(c) v. 17, 18. "Let, &c." This may be prophetic; "they shall be, &c." referring to the destruction which should come upon the Jews for their conduct towards Christ. The verbs in v. 17, 18, 19. are all futures. "life.' (d) v. 17. "Soul," i. e. (e) v. 19. "Say," i. e. "have occasion to say," from the protection thou givest me.