10

Be wise, therefore, O ye kings!

Be admonished, ye rulers of the earth!

11 Be subject to Jehovah with awe,

And fear with trembling!

12 Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ruin come upon

you;

For soon shall his wrath be kindled!

Happy are all they, who seek refuge in him.

V. 7. Thou art my son, &c., i. e. Thou art a king; this day have I appointed, or established thee. See Ps. lxxxix. 26, 27. 2 Sam. vii. 14. V. 12. Kiss the son, i. e. pay homage to the king.

1

PSALM III.

A psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom.

How many, O Jehovah, are mine enemies? How many are they, who rise up against me? 2 How many are they, who say of me,

3

"There is no help for him with God"?

But thou, O Jehovah, art my shield, My glory, and the lifter up of my head. 4 I call upon Jehovah with my voice; And he heareth me from his holy hill. 5 I lay me down and sleep;

I awake, for Jehovah sustaineth me.

6 I will not fear the ten thousands of people, Who on every side are encamped against me.

7

O my

God!

Arise, O Jehovah! Save me,
For thou smitest the cheek of all my enemies ;
Thou breakest the teeth of the wicked.

8 Deliverance cometh from Jehovah ;

May thy blessing be with thy people!

V. 3. My glory, i. e. my vindicator. - V. 7. For thou smitest: A metaphor borrowed from beasts of prey, who, when their jaws and teeth are broken, have no power to do injury.

PSALM IV.

A prayer for deliverance from enemies; with a remonstrance to them, and expressions of confidence in divine aid. It may, with the last psalm, have been occasioned by the rebellion of Absalom. But it is rather remarkable that there is no particular allusion to the affecting circumstance of David's own son being at the head of it.

For the leader of the music, to be accompanied with stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

1

2

HEAR me when I call, O my merciful God!
Thou hast helped me, when I was in trouble
Have pity upon me, and hear my prayer!

How long, O men, will ye dishonor my dignity, How long will ye love vanity, and seek disappoint

ment?

3 Know ye that Jehovah hath exalted one, that is devoted to him;

Jehovah will hear, when I call upon him.

4 Stand in awe, and sin no more;

Commune with your hearts upon your beds, and desist! 5 Offer your just sacrifices,

And put your trust in Jehovah !

6 There are many who say, Who will show us any good?

Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us!

7 Thou puttest gladness into my heart,

Greater than theirs, when their corn and wine are abundant.

8 I will lay me down in peace,

and sleep;

For thou alone, O Jehovah, makest me dwell in safety. V. 4. Desist, i. e. from your rebellious undertaking.-V. 6. Who will show, &c. i. e. Our condition is desperate.

PSALM V.

Prayer of a pious man for aid against impious, deceitful, and sanguinary enemies. It may be referred to the rebellion of Absalom; or to the persecution of David in the court of Saul.

For the leader of the music; to be accompanied with wind instruments. A psalm of David.

1

GIVE ear to my words, O Lord,

Have regard to my cry!

2 Listen to the voice of my supplication, my King and my God!

For to thee do I address my prayer.

3 In the morning shalt thou hear my voice, O Lord! In the morning will I pray to thee, and look for help. 4 For thou art not a God, that hath pleasure in wickedness;

The unrighteous man dwelleth not with thee. 5 Transgressors shall not stand in thy sight; Thou hatest all, that do iniquity.

6 Thou destroyest them, that speak falsehood;

The man of blood and deceit Jehovah abhorreth.

7 But I, through thy great goodness, will come to thy

house;

In thy fear will I worship at thy holy temple.

8

Lead me, O Lord, in the way of righteousness, be

cause of mine enemies ;

Make thy path straight before my face.

9 For in their mouth there is no truth; Their heart is all malignity;

Their throat is an open sepulchre ;

They flatter with their tongue.

10 Requite them, O God!

11

Let them be confounded in their devices;

Cast them out for the multitude of their transgressions;
For against thee have they rebelled!

But let all, that put their trust in thee, rejoice;
Let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest

them;

Let them, that love thy name, be joyful in thee!

12 For thou, O Lord, dost bless the righteous;

With faver dost thou encompass him, as with a shield. V. 9. An open sepulchre: An image of death or destruction; since a sepulchre is opened only that a dead person may be put into it.

PSALM VI.

A prayer of one in great distress.

David in his flight from Absalom.

Some refer it to the circumstances of
Others to the whole Jewish nation,

represented under the image of a sick and distressed man.

For the leader of the music; to be accompanied with instruments of eight strings. A psalm of David.

1

O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger;
Chasten me not in thy hot displeasure!

2 Have pity upon me, O Lord, for I am weak !
O Lord, heal me, for my bones tremble!

3 My soul, also, is sore troubled;

And thou, O Lord, how long — 4 Return, O Lord, and deliver me;

O save me according to thy mercy! 5 For in death no praise ascends to thee; In the grave, who can give thee thanks! 6 I am weary with groaning;

All the night I make my bed to swim, And drench my couch with my tears. 7 Mine eye is wasted with grief;

8

It hath become old because of all my enemies.

Depart from me, all ye that do iniquity;

For Jehovah heareth the voice of my weeping.

9 Jehovah heareth my supplication;

Jehovah accepteth my prayer.

10 All my enemies shall be ashamed, and utterly confounded;

They shall be turned back and put to shame suddenly.

V. 3. How long, i. e. How long wilt thou delay to help me!

PSALM VII.

A psalm of David, which he sang to Jehovah, on account of the reproaches of Cush the Benjamite.

1 O JEHOVAH, my God, to thee do I look for help! Save me from them that persecute me, and deliver me! 2 Lest mine enemy tear me like a lion;

Lest he rend me in pieces, while there is none to help.