39 The salvation of the just is from Jehovah. He is their strength in the time of trouble. 40 Jehovah will help and deliver them; He will deliver them from their enemies, and save them, Because they trust in him. PSALM XXXVIII. A prayer of one in deep affliction. It may have been occasioned by the affair of Bathsheba, or by some other offence of David. Some suppose the whole Jewish nation to be represented in it, under the image of an individual. 1 A psalm of David. To bring to remembrance. O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath, Nor chasten me in thy hot displeasure! 2 For thine arrows have deeply pierced me, And thine hand hath been heavy upon me. 3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; Nor rest in my bones because of my sin. 4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden, they are more than I can bear. 5 My wounds putrefy and are loathsome on account of my folly. 6 I am bent; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. 7 For my bowels are full of burning heat, 9 O Lord, thou knowest all my desire, And my sighs are not hidden from thee! 10 My heart panteth; my strength faileth me; The very light of my eyes is gone from me. 11 My friends and acquaintance keep aloof from my woe, And my kinsmen stand afar off! 12 While they, who seek my life, lay snares for me; They, who seek my hurt, threaten destruction, And meditate deceit all the day long. 13 But I, like a deaf man, hear not; And, like a dumb man, open not my mouth. 14 I am like one who heareth nothing, And in whose mouth are no reproofs. 15 For in thee, O Jehovah, do I place my trust; Thou wilt hear, O Lord, my God! 16 For I have prayed, Let them not rejoice over me; Let them not exult at the slipping of my feet! 17 For I am just ready to fall, And my pain doth never leave me ; 18 For I confess my iniquity, And am troubled on account of my sin. 19 But my enemies flourish and are strong; They, who hate me without a cause, are multiplied. 20 They, who repay good with evil, are my enemies, Because I follow that which is good. 21 Forsake me not, O Jehovah! O my God, be not far from me! 22 Make haste to mine aid, O Lord, my salvation! V. 4. Have gone over my head, i. e. overwhelm me, as waves a - V. 10. Light of my eyes. See note on xiii. 3. man. drowning PSALM XXXIX. Complaints of one in affliction respecting the shortness and vanity of human life, with expressions of submission, and prayer for relief. A psalm of David. For the leader of the music of the Jeduthunites. 1 I SAID, I will take heed to my ways, That I may not sin with my tongue; I will keep my mouth with a bridle, 2 I was dumb with silence; I spake not even what was good; But my pain was increased. 3 My heart was hot within me; In my agitation the fire burned; Then spake I with my tongue; 4 Lord, make me to know mine end, And the number of my days, That I may know how long I have to live! 5 Behold, thou hast made my days as a hand-breadth, And my life is as nothing before thee; Yea, every man, in his firmest state, is but a vapor. 6 Surely every man walketh, as a shadow; Surely he disquieteth himself in vain ; He heapeth up, and knoweth not who shall gather. 7 What then, O Lord, is my hope? 8 My hope is in thee! Deliver me from all my transgressions; 9 Yet, I am dumb; I open not my mouth; For thou hast done it! 10 But remove from me thine infliction; For I am perishing by the blow of thine hand. 11 When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for ini quity, Thou consumest his glory like the moth! Surely every man is a vapor. 12 Hear my prayer, O Jehovah ; Give ear to my cry; Deny not an answer to my tears! For I am but a stranger with thee; 13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, V. 3. The fire burned, i. e. the fire of impatience and repining.-V. 6. As a shadow, i. e. an unsubstantial phantom, or image. PSALM XL. Thanksgiving for past favors, and prayer for continued mercy. This psalm is commonly supposed to relate to the circumstances of David after the rebellion of Absalom, or to some circumstances of his life not recorded in the sacred history. But on account of the quotation of verses 6-8 in the Epistle to the Hebrews, x. 5, &c., some apply the whole psalm to the Messiah. Others, finding insuperable difficulties in applying the whole of it to him, refer verses 6-8 to him, and the remainder to David. Rabbi Jarchi mentions an opinion of the ancient Jews, that both this psalm and the last are designed for the use of the whole Jewish nation, represented under the image of an afflicted man. 1 For the leader of the music. A psalm of David. I TRUSTED Steadfastly in Jehovah, And he listened, and heard my cry. 2 He drew me out of a horrible pit ; Out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, And made my steps firm. 3 He hath put into my mouth a new song; A song of praise to our God. Many shall see, and fear, And put their trust in Jehovah. 4 Happy the man, who maketh Jehovah his trust, And resorteth not to men of pride and falsehood. 5 Many, O Jehovah, my God, are the wonderful works, which thou hast done; Many have been thy gracious purposes toward us; None can be compared to thee! I would declare and rehearse them, But they are more than can be numbered. 6 In sacrifice and oblation thou hast no pleasure; So thou hast instructed me; Burnt-offering and sin-offering thou requirest not. 7 Therefore, said I, Lo, I come To do what in the written volume is prescribed to me. 8 O my God, to do thy will is my delight; And thy law dwelleth in my heart! 9 I have proclaimed thy righteousness in the great assembly; I have not restrained my lips; O Lord, thou knowest it! 10 I hide not thy justice in my heart; 11 I declare thy faithfulness and thy preserving care! Withdraw not from me thy goodness, O Lord! May thy mercy and truth continually preserve me ! 12 For evils innumerable have encompassed me; My iniquities have overtaken me; I cannot see the end of them; They are more than the hairs of my head, |