4. The Lord is in his holy temple, &c.] The meaning is, that the Lord is the supreme and righteous Ruler of all affairs; that He knows the most secret designs 10. He croucheth, &c.] He will meanly crouch and counterfeit any thing that will serve his purpose; so that the helpless may fall into his power. Travell. 12. — the humble.] Or rather, "the afflicted," as in the margin. Street. 13. — Thou wilt not require it.] The wicked concludes from God's patience, that He will never punish him. Bp. Patrick. 15. Break thou &c.] This may be either a prayer or a prediction, implying that the time will come, when the power of Jehovah will dash in pieces that of the enemy, by the demolition either of sin or the sinner, until wickedness be come utterly to an end, and righteousness be established for ever in the kingdom of the Messiah. Bp. Horne. 18. To judge the fatherless &c.] Thy gracious assistance shall assert the right of those who are helpless and oppressed; so that their insolent persecutors, whose sordid minds cling entirely to this world, may be prevented from doing them further mischief. Travell. We may learn from this Psalm, 1st, That to behold the righteous cause oppressed, and good men seemingly deserted by Heaven, is apt to offend the weak, and oftentimes stagger those who are strong. 2ndly, That prosperity begets presumption in the wicked; and he, who has long been accustomed to see his designs succeed, begins to think it impossible they should ever do otherwise. The long-suffering of God, instead of leading such an one to repentance, only hardens him in his iniquity. 3rdly, That though "the wicked saith in his heart, Thou wilt not require it," the faithful know assuredly, that God beholds all that travail and vexation which some inflict, and others sustain, upon the earth; and that He will infallibly recompense to the former their deeds, to the latter their sufferings. Bp. Horne. Psalm XI. This Psalm seems to have been composed by David, when, in order to avoid the evil designs of Saul, his friends advised him to flee to the mountainous parts of Judea. Edwards. In the first verse David expostulates with his friends for advising him to fly to the mountainous parts of Judea, as the only safe retreat from Saul. In the second and third verses, he subjoins the reasons which his friends assigned for their advice. In the four last, he replies to the advice of his friends, telling them that the God of heaven, who searcheth the heart, would protect the innocent. Green. Ver. 3. If the foundations be destroyed, &c.] When the fundamental laws of the land, such as stipulate protection to the subject, are subverted by the prince, who ought to be the guardian of them, what has the persecuted subject to trust to? or what can he do, but, as in a state of nature, fly to the fastnesses of the mountains for security? Green. Had David been guilty of any crime, he ought to have had a fair trial by the laws: but Saul tried to assassinate him, contrary to justice, and to the fundamental law of all nations. Dr. Kenincott. Ver. 2. — shall I take counsel in my soul.] That is, Shall I be perplexed in my soul, not knowing which way to turn? Bp. Horne. 3. — lighten mine eyes, &c.] Give me wisdom to find out proper measures for my safety, and cheer my spirits; lest I die with grief, or my enemy destroy me. Dr. Wells. 4. — when I am moved.] Or overcome by them. Dr. Wells. It is observable, that this, and many other Psalms with a mournful beginning, have a triumphant ending; to shew us the prevailing power of devotion, and to convince us that prayer brings with it the comforts of heaven, and revives our weary spirits, in the gloomy seasons of sorrow and temptation. Bp. Horne. Psalm XIV. David here complains of the impiety and general corruption of the people who had led the Israelites into captivity; describes their terrours; and begs of God to bring back his captive people to their own land. Green. Ver. 2. The Lord looked down &c.] Contrary to the opinion of the wicked, the Lord has all along "looked down from heaven upon the children of men." Dr. Wells. 4. — eat up my people as they eat bread.] That is, cruelly devour my people without fear or remorse. Bp. Hall. 5. There were they in great fear: &c.] In the parallel place, Ps. liii. 5, after the words, "There were they in great fear," are added these, "where no fear was;" which certainly connect better with what follows, "for God is in the generation of the righteous." David is supposed to be speaking primarily of Israel's defection from him to Absalom, and here to be assigning the motive of that defection in many, namely, fear of the rebels' growing power, and distrust of his ability to heaven upon the children of men, b to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. b Rom. 3. 10.