1The faithful are called upon to praise God for his goodness; 6for his power seen in his works of creation, and in the stability of his counsel; 12and for his providence, 18and especial care over good men. 20Confidence is therefore to be placed in God.
1REJOICE in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praisea is 1comely for the upright.
a Psalm 147:1.
1 Or, doth well beseem or agree well with the upright.
2Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the 2psalteryband an instrument of ten strings.
2 These two latter ones are expressly distinguished, Psalm 92:3.
b stringed instrument*
3Singc unto him a 3new song; 4play skilfully with a loud noise.
c Psalm 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; Isa. 42:10; Rev. 5:9; 14:3.
3 Which never grows old, but still is renewed and kept in fresh memory, by reason of the new and fresh mercies, which God from time to time does show unto His people. Compare Job 29 on verse 20; 1 John 2:7, 8.
4 Hebr. make the playing or striking good, that is, play well, ingeniously, skillfully. Compare Deut. 5 on verse 28; Isa. 23:16; Jer. 1 on verse 12.
4For the word of the LORD is 5right; and all his works are done in 6truth.
5 See Psalm 19 on verse 8.
6 Hebr. in faithfulness, or truth, certainty, that is, as His Word is right, good and true, so all He does is likewise sure and steadfast.
5He loveth 7righteousnessd and judgment: thee8earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
7 Protecting the innocent, and punishing the guilty.
d Psalm 45:7; Heb. 1:9.
e Psalm 119:64.
8 Compare Mat. 5:45; 1 Tim. 4:10.
6Byf the 9word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the 10host of them by the 11breath of his mouth.
f Gen. 1:6, 7.
9 Understand the eternal, self-subsisting Word of the Father. See Gen. 1 on verse 3.
10 See Gen. 2 on verse 1.
11 Understand this of the Holy Spirit, Who proceeds from and is sent by the Father and the Son, being together with them, the Author of the creation of all things. Compare Gen. 1:2; Job 26:13; 33:4.
7He 12gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the 13depth in storehouses.
12 That is, having gathered them, He keeps and maintains them together as in a heap, that they shall not be able to hinder men from inhabiting the earth. See Gen. 1:9; Job 38:8, etc.; Prov. 8:29.
13 That is, abysses; He lays up the great depths or deep waters in the abstruse holes of the earth, even as treasures are laid up in hidden places. Compare Job 38:16; Prov. 8:28.
8Let all the 14earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
14 That is, all the inhabitants of the earth, as the sequel declares.
9For he spake, 15and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
15 That is, when He spoke, etc., as frequently.
10Theg LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
g Isa. 19:3.
11Theh counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the 16thoughts of his heart 17to all generations.
h Prov. 19:21; 21:30; Isa. 46:10.
16 Spoken of God after the manner of men, implying the counsel and will of God, mentioned before.
17 Hebr. unto or in generation and generation.
12Blessediis the nation 18whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
i Psalm 65:4; 144:15.
18 See Gen. 17 on verse 7.
13The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
14From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
15He 19fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
19 Of one as well as of another, everyone his in particular. Compare Num. 16:22; Zech. 12:1; Heb. 12:9. Other, He alone doth form their heart. See of this signification of the Hebrew word Ezra 4 on verse 3.
16There is no king saved by the 20multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
20 Hebr. by the greatness or multitude of an host; so in the sequel: by the greatness or multitude of power.
17An horse 21is a vain thing 22for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
21 Hebr. is a lie or falsehood, that is, it deceives his master, who by it conceived to obtain the victory, or to escape and save himself, but it failed him. By the horse (as a special help in the battle) we are to understand all other means, as being of no avail without the blessing of God.
22 Or, preservation. See of the Hebrew word 2 Sam. 8 on verse 6.
18Behold, the 23eyej of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
23 Compare 1 Kings 8 on verse 29; Psalm 32 on verse 8.
j Job 36:7; Psalm 34:16; 1 Peter 3:12.
19To deliver their 24soul from 25death, and to keep them alive in famine.
24 That is, their life.
25 That is, from deadly or mortal dangers.
20Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
21For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted 26in his holy name.
26 Or, in the name of his holiness.
22Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.