8. — happy shall he be.] The meaning of these words is, He shall go on and prosper, for the Lord of hosts shall go with him, and fight his battles against the enemy and oppressor of his people. Bp. Horne. 9. — dasheth thy little ones against the stones.] That the Babylonians probably used this cruelty to the Israelitish children, see Lam. ii. 11, and Isa. xiii. 16. Dimock. If the law of nature obliges a man to love and reverence his parents who begat him, it also binds him to a vehement affection and concernment for his country, the place of his birth, and the air that nourished him. The happy state and condition of his country is a greater joy and comfort to a true patriot, than his own particular state of wealth and prosperity can be; and he is more afflicted and cast down for any publick misery that befalls it, than for any circumstance of it that brings calamity to himself. Lord Clarendon. Psalm CXXXVIII. In the Greek version this Psalm is said to have been made use of by Haggai and Zechariah at the rebuilding of the temple. Dr. Hammond. Ver. 1. — before the gods] Probably, in the presence of the princes and nobles assembled at some national solemnity. 3. Thou compassest my path &c.] That is, Thou watchest and siftest all my actions, both by day and night. Travell. 5. — laid thine hand upon me.] That is, hast so re-Vol. II. 6. — but the proud he knoweth afar off.] As to the proud, God "knoweth" and He detesteth them; He beholdeth and keepeth them at a distance. Bp. Horne. In the former part of this hymn, the fervent zeal which animates true believers appears in a strong light; it inclines them to rejoice in God, to worship Him, to sing his praises, and to declare his loving-kindness before all men, even before the great men of the earth, that they may learn to fear God, and shew forth his glory. Ostervold. From the last verse we learn, that in troublous times, and the days of affliction, we must look back on that which God hath already done for us, and from thence draw an argument, that He will perfect that which remains, and not leave his work unfinished: we must remember that his mercies fail not after a time, but endure for ever the same; and when we call to mind, that we are the work of his own hands, how can we think He will forsake us, unless we utterly and finally forsake Him? Bp. Horne. Psalm CXXXIX. It seems evident, from the latter part of this noble and instructive Psalm, that the author penned it at a time when he was persecuted and calumniated, as an appeal to the all-seeing Judge between him and his adversaries. Bp. Horne. Ver. 2. — afar off.] From Heaven thy dwelling-place. Green. "Long before;" that is, Long before they are uttered, is the rendering in the old translation. 8. — if I make my bed in hell.] That is, if I lie down in the grave. Abp. Secker. 9. If I take the wings &c.] Could I be transported, with the swiftness of light, to the regions of the farthest east; or could I make my dwelling in the remotest western sea. Travell. — the sea:] That is, the Mediterranean sea, which was west of Judea. Dimock. 13. For thou hast possessed my reins:] Or rather, Because Thou hast created my reins. This verse contains the reason why darkness could not screen him from the Lord, because He who fashioned the heart and reins, would in every place be able to search them. Dimock, Green. 14. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:] Those who were skilled in anatomy among the ancients, concluded from the outward and inward make of the human body that it was the work of a Being transcendently wise and powerful. As the world grew more enlightened in this art, their discoveries gave them fresh opportunities of admiring the conduct of Providence in the formation of a human body. Galen was converted by his dissections, and could not but own a Supreme Being upon a survey of this his handy- K Ver. 1. - from the violent man;] Thus Saul is characterized, Ps. xviii. 48. Green. 3. They have sharpened &c.] That is, By their false accusations, as by so much poison, they have endeavoured to destroy me. Dr. Wells. 5. The proud have hid a snare &c.] David here describes the subtlety and industry employed by his enemies to effect his destruction, by lying in wait for him, as a skilful fowler doth for his game, so that they thought it impossible he should escape their hands. Bp. Horne. — gins] Or, "traps." Old Translation. 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.