1David describeth the general corruption of mankind. 7He wisheth to see the salvation of God.
0To the 1chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1 See the first annotation at Psalm 4 in the title.
12THEa3fool hath 4said in his heart, There is no God. They 5are corrupt, 6they have done abominable works, thereb is none that doeth good.
2 Compare Psalm 53.
a Psalm 10:4; 53:1.
3 See 1 Sam. 25 on verse 25.
4 That is, thinks within himself, as Psalm 10:6; although outwardly he resigns himself sometimes differently. Compare Job 21:14.
5 Or, They have corrupted themselves or their way. Compare Gen. 6:12; Exod. 32:7; Deut. 31:29.
6 Or, they makes themselves abominable with their dealing.
b Rom. 3:10.
2The LORD 7looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and 8seek God.
7 Spoken of the all-knowing God after the manner of men. Compare Gen. 11 on verse 5.
8 See 2 Chron. 15 on verse 2.
39They are all gone aside, they are all together become 10filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
9 See Rom. 3:12, etc. and compare Psalm 5 on verse 9.
10 Or, molded, rotten, putrefied, like loathsome corrupt meat or vile stinking carrion. Compare Prov. 13:5.
411Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my 12people as they eat bread, and 13call not upon the LORD.
11 Other, Do not than all workers of iniquity, who eat up my people as if they ate bread, know that they do not call upon the LORD? Or, (as some) Have not, etc., who eat up my people? They eat bread and call not upon the LORD.
12 That is, recklessly despoil them by wrong and violence of life and goods. Compare Exod. 22:25; Psalm 79:7; Micah 3:3.
13 As if he said: There these wretches fall short that they will have nothing to do with God; and therefore is their punishment sure and ready, as follows.
514There were they in great fear: for God is 15in the generation of the righteous.
14 That is, then. See Psalm 36:12; Zeph. 1:14, etc. When God shall show and they be convinced in their conscience that He takes part with the number or the congregation of the godly and is an Adversary to these wicked wretches, then shall they be surprised with great terror, although they never thought of it before. This is a prophecy of the future, of which the prophet makes an account so certain as if it were done already. Compare Psalm 36:12; 53:5.
15 Or, among or with the righteous generation. Compare Psalm 12 on verse 7.
6Ye have 16shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.
16 That is, you seek to shame him, mocking him with it that he, etc., but, he implies, one day you shall find out.
717Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the 18captivity of his people, 19Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
17 Other, Who shall give out of Zion the salvation of Israel? A kind of wishing phrase, usual with the Hebrews. See Deut. 5 on verse 29. The meaning is: O that the LORD would be pleased to deliver His people out of Zion, the place where He dwells, by the ark of the covenant. Otherwise it might well be a question also, whereupon the answer follows. Compare further Rom. 11:26.
18 Or, the captives. See Num. 31 on verse 12. That is, the godly, who, as it were, are as prisoners under the tyranny of the wicked. See further Deut. 30:3; Luke 4:19; Eph. 4:8.
19 The posterity of Jacob, the Israelites; understand the godly, who follow the footsteps of their forefather.