5. — because of my foolishness.] Meaning, the affliction had been justly brought upon him by his sin foolishly committed. Bp. Hall. 33. The Lord will not leave &c.] God will find means to clear his innocence, though he be pronounced guilty by his enemies. Dr. Wells. — nor condemn him] Nor suffer him to be condemned. Edwards. 35. — like a green bay tree.] This should rather be rendered, as in the margin, "like a flourishing tree in its native soil." Green. The original simply signifies, "a native tree;" a tree growing in its native soil, not having suffered by transplantation: such a tree spreads itself luxuriantly. Script. illust. Expos. Ind. 36. Yet he passed away, &c.] Yet, firm as he seemed to stand, he vanished on a sudden like a cloud: I looked about for him, to see whether he might not, like a tree, be transplanted to some other spot; but there was no such man to be seen. Bp. Patrick. 38. — the end of the wicked shall be cut off.] They and their posterity shall be destroyed. Dr. Hammond. The design of this whole Psalm is, to convince men of the justice of God's dealings with all his people; to persuade them not hastily to conclude or judge of the ways of Providence, but to wait to see the end; not to depend upon their own reason, but to apply to God for light and satisfaction; for human reason, being too short to pass judgment upon the ways of an infinitely wise and just God, would only lead men into doubts and fears, and rush censures of his providence. Bp. Wilson. The "meek," mentioned at ver. 11, are they, who bear their own adversities, and the prosperity of their enemies, without envy, anger, or complaint. For these there is a possession in the kingdom and city of the Prince of "peace," which "the Lord the righteous Judge shall give them at that day." "Blessed are the meek," saith that Lord and Judge Himself, "for they shall inherit the earth," Matt. v. 5. In the mean time, they, and they only, possess the present earth, as they go towards the kingdom of heaven, by being humble, and cheerful, and content with what their good God has allotted them. They have no turbulent, repining, vexatious thoughts that they deserve better; nor are vexed, when they see others possessed of more honour, or more them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. 9. — all my desire is before thee;] That is, Thou knowest all my wants. Dr. Wells. 11. My lovers and my friends &c.] This passage is very similar to the words of Job xix. 13, and following verses, in which he complains of being deserted by his friends and companions: many other parts of this Psalm are also like the words and circumstances of Job. Rosenmiller. 13. — heard not; &c.] The meaning is, that he took no notice of their designs; only in a patient and humble silence commended himself to the care of God. Bp. Hall. This Psalm offers to our consideration these three things: 1. It represents to us the sentiments of a penitent sinner, humbled under the load of his sins, and a sense of the Divine displeasure: these sentiments are expressed in this prayer; "O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure." 2. What is said in this Psalm is very proper for the instruction and consolation of those who are afflicted with pains and diseases, or in any other manner: David teaches them by his own example to look upon the evils that befall them, how severe soever they be, as a just correction for their sins; and to ask God's pardon for them. 3. If they suffer by the malice and injustice of men, they should imitate David in his humility, patience, and meekness; and wait with resignation till God, who never forsakes the innocent, is pleased to deliver them. Ostervald. Psalm XXXIX. The foundation of this Psalm is much the same with the foregoing: the author laboured under some great illness; he knew it due to his sins; he was afraid therefore to speak in the presence of the wicked, lest he might say any thing of which they might take advantage: at last, however, he could hold no longer, but burst forth into an acknowledgment of the weakness and vanity of man in the hands of God; confessing that, whatever he might think heretofore, he has now no longer any expectation but from God, whom therefore he supplicates for mercy. Mudge. This Psalm is with the utmost propriety appointed by our Church to be used at the burial of the dead, as a funeral is indeed the best comment upon it. Bp. Horne. — Jeduthun.' Jeduthun is mentioned as a singer in 1 Chron. xxv. 3. This Psalm was perhaps composed by David to be sung by that Jeduthun. Street. Ver. 2. I was dumb &c.] I refrained from speaking what was good; from giving God the glory with relation to my illness, by acknowledging his greatness and justice, and the nothingness and sinfulness of man. —This seems to show that the reason why he would not speak at all before his enemies was, because he did not care to give them an occasion of triumph, as he must by acknowledging his own weakness and sin: but he could not bear this restraint; it grew worse and worse, and therefore he burst out, &c. Mudge. There is a time to keep silence, because there are men who will not hear; there are tempers savage and sensual as those of swine, before whom the treasures of heavenly wisdom are not to be cast. This consideration stirreth up fresh grief and trouble in a pious and charitable heart. Bp. Horne. Ver. 2. He brought me up &c.] David means, that God delivered him, when he was fallen into such deep distress, that he was quite unable to help himself. Bp. Patrick. 3. — shall see it.] Shall see this great deliverance. Dr. Wells. 4. Lord, make me to know &c.] Teach me, O Lord, to consider my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may be sensible how short my life is. Green. 4. — respecteth not the proud, &c.] The proud and those who incline to lies are, on one side, the haughty daring atheists, who laugh at all application to any power above; and on the other, those who put their confidence in idol superstitions, which are all lie and deceit. Mudge. 5. — mine age is as nothing before thee:] That is, my age is as nothing in thy sight; or when compared with thy duration. Green, Merrick. 6. — in vain:] In the pursuit of transitory things. Bp. Wilson. 7. — what wait I for?] What can I depend on for happiness? Bp. Wilson. — my hope is in thee.] I will not impatiently desire any thing in this world: but my hope is in Thee, as the only true and lasting good. Dr. Wells. 8. — the reproach of the foolish.] That is, a matter of scorn and insult to the sneerer and atheist, who is the fool described by the Psalmist; and who is indeed eminently so above all others. Mudge. 11. — thou makest his beauty to consume away &c.] See the note on Job iv. 19. Such as have formed themselves to feel the impressions of resignation are in proportion superior to all difficulties. Their spirits are calm; and, instead of plunging into deeper distresses and even guilt, as the impatient do, they find their way, if any one can be found, out of every perplexity. By excluding eager hopes and high desires of earthly good, this pious principle excludes also jealous envy, keen resentment, tormenting fears, bitter disappointments, and final dislike of every thing. He that gives himself up into the hands of God, with unfeigned approbation of the Divine conduct in whatever may befall him, will act as he ought on all emergencies, with uprightness and alacrity, with 6. — mine ears hast thou opened: ] This phrase seems to signify, the fitting and disposing the ear to hear God's will. It is remarkable, that the Greek version, as well as the quotation from it in Heb. x. 5, instead of the phrase, "Mine ears hast thou opened," reads, "A body hast thou prepared me:" intimating the great superiority of Christ's death to the sacrifices of the law. Travell, Edwards. — burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.] That is, considered independent of that holiness of life, without which, sacrifice never could have been acceptable to a holy and righteous God. Dr. Magee. 7. — Lo, I come: &c.] Lo, I come to make an offering of myself by a sincere obedience unto thee; as Christ will also actually do, by offering up his body to be a sacrifice for the sins of the world: In the volume of the book of the law it is thus written, or required of all truly religious persons, particularly of kings, and so of me in both respects, to be careful to offer a due obedience to thy will, as well as to legal sacrifices. Dr. Wells. — in the volume] Or "roll," of the book. See Jer. xxxvi. 2, &c. It is well known that the ancient Jewish books did not, like ours, consist of distinct leaves bound together; but were, as the copies of the Pentateuch used in the Jewish synagogue still are, long scrolls of parchment, rolled upon two sticks, with the writing distinguished into columns. Parkhurst. 9. I have preached &c] I have proclaimed thy mercy and goodness to me before thy people, in their full assemblies. Bp. Patrick. 12. — mine iniquities] He means the evils which his iniquities had brought upon him. Bp. Hall. By this expression, as relating to Christ, is meant, the iniquities of mankind which He had taken upon Himself. Bp. Wilson. The Church, like her Redeemer, is often poor and afflicted in this world, but Jehovah thinketh upon her, and is solicitous for her support; she is weak and defenceless, but Jehovah is her help and her deliverer. With such a Father, and such a Friend, poverty becometh rich, and weakness itself strong. In the mean time, let us remember, that He who once came in great humility, shall come again in glorious majesty. "Make no long tarrying, O our God." Bp. Horne. Psalm XLI. It is not improbable that this Psalm was written by David after his sickness, when Absalom Ver. 4. — heal my soul;] Forgive my sins, and restore me to health. Dr. Wells. 4. When I remember &c.] I pour out my soul within me while I call to mind these things; how I went to the tabernacle, walking in solemn pace to the house of God, amidst the multitude keeping holiday, with the voice of praise and thanksgiving. Green. 5. — for I shall yet praise him &c.] This passage 6. And if he come &c.] If one of them cometh to see me, he telleth lies; his heart gathereth up falsehood against me, and when he goeth forth he immediately spreadeth it. "He telleth lies," that is, his very compliments of condolence are falsehood and lies. Green. 8. An evil disease, &c.] That is, the punishment of some great crime hath so entirely seized upon him, that he shall not be able to escape from it. Rosemuller. 9. Yea, mine own familiar friend, &c.] He means either Aluthophel, or some other perfidious counsellor or courtier, who was a type of Judas, as David was a type of Christ, in being thus betrayed. Poole. — hath lifted up his heel against me.] Has shewn great treachery towards me. Edwards. The figure is taken from wrestlers who endeavour to supplant each other with their feet. Rosemuller. 12. — settest me before thy face, Raisest me up again to the enjoyment of thy presence. Mudge.