9—11. As for the head &c.] The Prophet, in these three verses, predicted those just judgments, which Heaven will inflict on the slanderers and persecutors of them. days they should be fashioned. e Ps. 40. 8. of pain, or, grey. 16. Thine eyes did see &c.] When the matter, of which I am made, was without form, it was visible to Thee how all my body should be framed; and accordingly all my members were fashioned, and adapted to their several uses. Bp. Patrick. 17. How precious &c.] How precious unto me, O God, are the thoughts of Thee! how numerous are the subjects of them! Green. 19. - ye bloody men.] Ye blood-thirsty men, shedders of blood. Bp. Horne, Poole. The consideration that the Divine Being inhabits infinitude, that He dwells among all his works, that He is present to the mind of man, and that He discovers Himself in a more glorious manner among the regions of the blessed, should be kept awake in us at all times and in all places, and possess our minds with a perpetual Ver. 2. Let my prayer &c.] This verse plainly shews, that the Psalmist was then at a distance from the taber- nacle, where all the solemn prayers of the Israelites, together with their daily sacrifices, were offered up. And therefore he begs that God would accept of all which it was in his power to perform, namely, the devotion of his heart, and the elevation of his hands in prayer; that the one might ascend to heaven, fragrant and well-pleasing as the cloud of "incense" mounting from the holy altar; and the other, in conjunction with it, prevail instead of the "evening oblation," for the deliverance of himself and his companions. Bp. Horne. 4. Incline not my heart] "O let not mine heart be inclined." Old Translation. — let me not eat of their dainties.] Let me not partake of their society. 6. When their judges &c.] This passage has been variously rendered. According to our translation, the sense may be, "When their judges" (the leaders, principal persons of my enemies) "are overthrown in stony places," endeavouring to escape into a place of safety, they will hearken to my counsels and offers, which they now despise. Poole. 7. Our bones are scattered &c.] Expressing the great danger, in which he and his friends were, of being utterly destroyed by their enemies. Junius. The chief security against the fruitless anguish of impatience, must arise from frequent reflection on the wisdom and goodness of the God of nature, in whose hands are riches and poverty, honour and disgrace, pleasure and pain, life and death. A settled conviction of the tendency of every thing to our good, and the possibility of turning miseries into happiness by receiving them rightly, will incline us to bless the name of the Lord, whether He gives or takes way. Dr. Johnson. Psalm CXLII. This Psalm is entitled, "A prayer of K 2 Ver. 1. I cried] Rather, I will cry. The whole of this Psalm seems to be an actual prayer. Bp. Horne. Ver. 2. — for in thy sight shall &c.] For if Thou shouldest proceed according to the rigour of the law, the best man living would not be acquitted at thy tribunal. Bp. Patrick. 3. When my spirit was overwhelmed &c.] Or, When my spirit is overwhelmed within me, then Thou knowest my path: in the way wherein I walk, have they privily laid a snare for me. The meaning is, Though my thoughts are so broken and confused, that I am not able to counsel and direct myself in these straits, yet Thou knowest the path wherein I walk, Thou art with me, and wilt preserve me from those who watch all my steps, and lie in ambush for me. Bp. Horne. 3. — he hath made me to dwell &c.] He hath forced me to seek my safety in holes and obscure places in the wilderness, where I seem to be buried alive, without any hope of a resurrection. Bp. Patrick. 5. — on the work of thy hands.] On what Thou hast done for others in the like distress. Bp. Wilson. 6. — as a thirsty land.] The circumstance of the lands of the East being subject to great dryness, which causes them to crack, affords the foundation of this figure, which is certainly extremely beautiful; for these thy lands have deep chinks, which "thirst" for the rain: this may be observed in India more than any where, a little before the rains fall, and wherever the lands are rich and hard. Harmer. 7. — out of prison.] That is, out of the cave in which he was confined. Bp. Patrick. — the righteous shall compass me about:] To join my party and assist me. The state of David in the cave of Adullain was a state of utter destitution; but in that disconsolate, and seemingly desperate situation, he desponded not. He had a Friend in heaven, into whose bosom he "poured forth his complaint," and to whom he told the story of his trouble and distress. When danger besets us around, and fear is on every side, let us follow the example of David, and that of a greater than David, who, when the Jews and Gentiles conspired against Him, and He was prayer. 7 He prayeth for grace, 9 for deliverance, 10 for sanctification, 12 for destruction of his enemies. ¶ A Psalm of David. HEAR my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. 8. — in the morning:] That is, speedily. Dimock. 7.—great waters.] See the notes on Ps. xviii. 16, and on Numb. xxiv. 7. —from the hand of strange children:] That is, from the Philistines, or from idolaters. Dimock. 8.—their right hand is &c.] The forms of oaths, like other religious ceremonies, have been always various; but consisting, for the most part, of some bodily action, and of a prescribed form of words. Amongst the Jews, the juror held up his right hand towards heaven, which explains this passage. Archdeacon Paley. See the note on Deut. xxxii. 40. 10.—thy spirit is good; lead me] Let thy good Spirit lead me. Abp. Secker. —into the land of uprightness.] Or, “through plain ground;” the clause before leads to this sense, and there is an expression much the same, Ps. xxvii. 11, in which the Psalmist prays God to conduct him in a plain level way, (such was that of God's law,) because if he went out of that, he should be liable to stumble. Mudge. The Prayer which king David makes at the beginning of this Psalm, in these words, “Enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified;” is of such general use, that there is no man who has not reason to make it with humility and fervency. His application to God in the time of trouble teaches us, that, whatever danger we are in, we ought to seek for security and comfort in prayer, and trust in God; and to this end we should meditate upon his works, and the many proofs He has given in all ages of his loving-kindness towards those that fear Him. But whether we are in affliction, or in any other state, we ought above all things to beg of God grace to fear Him, that we may feel the effects of his love, and be guided by his good Spirit. Ostervald. Psalm CXLIV. ver. 3. Lord, what is man, &c.] This is spoken in rapture on the regard God had shewn to his petition. Mudge. 13.—our garners] Our storehouses. Green. 14.—no breaking in, nor going out:] No hostile invasion, nor going into captivity. Green. The last verse of this Psalm leads us to reflect, wherein the peculiar happiness doth now principally consist, of “that people, whose God is the Lord.” Their happiness consists in something far above riches and outward greatness; it consists in having the Lord Himself, the Supreme Governour of the world, to take care of them, and to provide all things needful for them. They have his wisdom to instruct them; his power to protect them; his mercy to pardon them; his grace to adorn them here, and his glory to crown them for ever; Ver. 4. — his thoughts] All his devices and contrivances. Dr. Wall. We may learn from this Psalm: 1. That the best use we can make of our lives is to employ them in praising and glorifying God's holy name: 2. That it is a great folly to put our trust in princes, or in any man, since they are mortal, and therefore are mere weakness, and even as nothing; but to enjoy true happiness, we must con- Ver. 2. The Lord doth build &c.] It is the Lord that enables us to build up Jerusalem again, Ezra vi. 14, and encourages all our brethren, that still remain in foreign countries, to return home. Dr. Wells. Ver. 7. — ye dragons.] The word here translated "dragons," probably means whales and other sea monsters. Dimock. See note on Lam. iv. 3. 9. — and all cedars:] Comprehending all forest trees. 10. He delighteth not &c.] He grants not his favour to the nations which excel in military power, in cavalry and infantry: but He "taketh pleasure &c." ver. 11. 13. For he hath strengthened &c.; That is, He hath enabled us to fortify again the city of Jerusalem with walls and gates. See Neh. vi. 15, 16. Dr. Wells. 15. He sendeth forth &c.; Whatsoever his pleasure is concerning his creatures upon earth, it is speedily and effectually accomplished. Bp. Hall.