1The Psalmist exhorteth God's redeemed to praise his goodness, 4particularly in his providence over travellers, 10captives, 17sick men, 23seamen, 33and in the prosperity and affliction of whole countries.
1O GIVE thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2Let 1the redeemed of the LORD 2say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
1 Or, the delivered ones, namely, out of various perils and troubles, as follows later.
2 Namely, that the LORD is good, etc. verse 1.
3And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from 3the south.
3 Namely, the Red Sea, which is situated south from the land of Canaan. Or, from the sea. This expression usually signifies the west, namely, toward the Mediterranean Sea, situated westward from the land of Canaan, Joshua 23:4.
4They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary 4way; they found 5no city to dwell in.
4 Hebr. in a wilderness or solitude of the way. See of this wilderness Deut. 8:15; Jer. 2:6.
5 Other, no inhabitable city. Hebr. no city of habitation.
5Hungry and thirsty, their soul 6fainted in them.
6 Namely, for the anxious fear, distress and straits they were in. See Psalm 102 in the title.
6Then they cried unto the LORD 7in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
7 Other, in the trouble.
7And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to 8a city of habitation.
8 Or, a city for habitation, as verse 4.
89Oh that men would praise 10the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works 11to the children of men!
9 This verse is repeated again in verses 15, 21, 31.
10 Or, before or by the LORD, that is, as well privately in their hearts (knowing that God is One Who knows and searches hearts and reins), as publicly before God’s congregation.
11 That is, so that the people may hear and see it.
9For he satisfieth 12the longing soul, and filleth 13the hungry soul with goodness.
12 Hebr. the desiring, or, desirous, namely of drink to quench the thirst, as Isa. 29:8. See the annotation on Job 38 on verse 39.
13 See Psalm 65:4; Luke 1:53. See likewise the annotation Job 18 on verse 12.
10Such as sit in darkness and 14in the shadow of death, being bound 15in affliction and iron;
14 That is, in very thick darkness, of which one is very much afraid; or, such darkness as is under ground where the dead lie buried. See Psalm 23:4.
15 That is, fettered or manacled with iron and grievously oppressed. See Job 36:8. 9.
11Because they rebelled against 16the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
16 Hebr. speeches or sayings, that is, precepts, commandments.
12Therefore 17he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
17 Namely, the Lord.
1318Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
18 As verse 6.
14He brought them 19out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
19 That is, out of their distress and anxious condition.
1520Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
20 As verse 8.
16For he hath 21broken 22the gates of brass, and 23cut the bars of iron in sunder.
21 Namely, to deliver the miserable and oppressed people.
22 Whereby they were shut up in their imprisonment. Understand hereby all kind of great impediments. See Isa. 45:2.
23 Namely, to deliver the miserable and oppressed people.
1724Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
24 That is, the ill-advised and ill-conceited people; or, those who do not fear God, which is the greatest folly, as on the contrary, the greatest wisdom is to fear God. See Job 5 on verse 2.
18Their 25soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and 26they draw near unto the gates of death.
25 That is, desire; as Job 33:20.
26 That is, they are in apparent danger of death. See Job 33:22; Psalm 9:13.
1927Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
27 See verse 6.
20He sent 28his word, and 29healed them, and 30delivered them from their 31destructions.
28 That is, His command, namely, that they would be restored to health again, or recover.
29 See Deut. 32:39; Job 33:19, 24; Hosea 6:1. See an example in Hezekiah, 2 Kings 20:1, 4, 5, 7.
30 That is, He did in a manner raise them from the dead again and preserved them in danger or peril of death. See Psalm 7:15; Job 33:24, 28, 30.
31 Or, corruptions.
2132Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
32 As verse 8.
22Anda let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
a Lev. 7:12; Psalm 50:14.
23They that 33go down to the sea in ships, that dob business 34in great waters;
33 Namely, deep into the waves of the sea. Or, which descend from the shore, put to sea or go down.
b Rev. 18:17.
34 Other, upon many waters.
24These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders 35in the deep.
35 See Job 41:31.
25For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up 36the waves thereof.
36 Namely, of the sea. See the annotations at Job 26 on verse 12.
2637They mount up to the heaven, they go down again 38to the depths: 39their soul is melted because 40of trouble.
37 This is a description of the dangers in which men are at sea when storm winds and tempest arise.
38 That is, to the bottom of the sea. See Psalm 42 on verse 7.
39 That is, their courage fails them, and they are as much dismayed and afraid as if they were to die instantly at that moment.
40 Hebr. from or of evil.
27They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are 41at their wits' end.
41 That is, they do not know what to do to be able to get out of such an anxiety.
28Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
2942He maketh the storm a calm, so that 43the waves thereof are 44still.
42 Hebr. He putteth the storm into quietness, that is, He changes the storm into calm. See Job 26 on verse 12.
43 Hebr. their waves, namely the waves of which they were so much afraid, fearing to perish or to be drowned by them. See Jonah 1:15; Mat. 8:26; Mark 4:37.
44 Also verse 30.
30Then are they glad because 45they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
45 Namely, the waters.
31Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
32Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him 46in the assembly 47of the elders.
46 That is, in the places or courts where the ancient are assembled.
47 That is, the senators, governors and magistrates of the people.
3348He 49turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the 50watersprings into dry ground;
48 Namely, the Lord.
49 That is, He changes or turns fruitful watered countries into dry and barren deserts.
50 Hebr. outgoings, that is, moist and fertile soils. The meaning of this verse is: that God by His Divine power, Providence and government often brings wonderful changes in the world when He purposes to punish or bless a land or country to the end that His glory and power may appear as well in punishing as in blessing.
3451A fruitful land 52into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
51 What is here spoken of, appears evidently in the land of the Jews, which of old times was indeed a fruitful land, but is now very unfruitful, dry and barren.
52 Hebr. to saltines; that is, unto a salty and unfruitful land. So likewise Job 39:6; Jer. 17:6; for, saltiness causes barrenness. See Deut. 29:23; Judges 9:45.
3553He turneth thec wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground 54into watersprings.
53 That is, He makes the dry and barren ground moist and thereby fruitful.
c Isa. 41:18.
54 Hebr. into the outgoings of waters, as verse 33.
36And 55there he maketh 56the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare 57a city for habitation;
55 Namely, in that land, which from a barren one, He turned it into a fruitful land.
56 See verse 9.
57 Hebr. a city of habitation.
37And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits 58of increase.
58 Hebr. which make fruit of income or revenue, that is, fruit coming in yearly. Or, they, namely, the husbandmen give or yield fruitful revenues.
38He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle 59to decrease.
59 Understand in addition: but He does increase them.
39Again, they are minished and 60brought low through oppression, 61affliction, and sorrow.
60 Hebr. are bowed or bended down, namely when upon their sinning again against Him, God gives some change again in the land, wherein they dwelled.
61 That is, mishap, all manner of misery.
4062He 63poureth contempt 64upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
62 Namely, the Lord. See Job 12:21, 24.
63 Namely, when He wants to punish them.
64 That is, upon the leading and most eminent persons of the land.
41Yet setteth hed the poor 65on high from affliction, and 66maketh him families like a flock.
d 1 Sam. 2:8; Psalm 113:7, 8.
65 That is, into an high place where he is out of danger to be trod upon or overtaken by violence.
66 That is, He blesses them to become many generations; or, He multiplies them.
42Thee righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and 67allf iniquity shall stop her mouth.
e Job 22:19.
67 That is, all unrighteous or wicked ones, as Job 24:20. In Psalm 36:11 pride is put for proud persons, and malice for malicious ones. The prophet wants to say: The wicked seeing this, they are compelled to keep the mouth closed, which they had opened against God, not daring to speak against God’s providence any more. See Job 5:16.
f Job 5:16.
4368Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, 69even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.
68 Or, Who is wise and doth observe these things? As if he said: Alas, how few are there who are so wise. Likewise Jer. 9:12; Hosea 14:9.
69 Or, and let them understandingly mark the loving-kindnesses of the LORD.