1David exhorteth to a patient and humble trust in God, in full assurance of an happy issue to the righteous, and of the shortlived prosperity of the wicked.
0A Psalm of David.
1FRETa not thyself because of 1evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
a Prov. 23:17; 24:1.
1 Such of them as thrive and prosper in the world, as is declared in the sequel; from which it appears that the goodly promises, which are made to the godly both in this psalm and elsewhere, do not exclude the temporal prosperity of the wicked, nor the cross and adversity of the godly, since this psalm, (together with others) do especially serve to prevent offences, which the godly might derive from them. See likewise Psalm 34 on verse 12; but in this all the blessing of God rests upon the godly, and His curse upon the wicked so that those shall be blessed forever, and these shall be lost everlastingly. Compare Job 9 on verse 23; Psalm 73:2, etc.
2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and 2wither as the 3green herb.
2 Or, decay, whither, like falling leaves, as Psalm 1:3. See there.
3 Hebr. the greenness of the young grass.
3Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou 4dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be 5fed.
4 That is, thus shall ye inhabit the earth in general and the land of Canaan (which was a type of the heavenly) in particular, and feed yourselves or be fed, etc.; also verse 27 and elsewhere. Such promises, uttered in the imperative mood (giving a command or making a request), are very effective, as putting the godly already in the present possession and enjoyment of the things promised. Compare Prov. 3 on verse 3.
5 Hebr. tended for, or be tended, that is, the Lord shall feed and provide for you faithfully, according to His promises; as is further declared in the sequel. Or, entertain and sustain thyself with the contemplation of God’s faithful promises, which cannot fail. Some take the word emuna for assurance, steadfastness, that is, a settled and assured condition, which God does promise the godly, even in the midst of their crosses and afflictions, whereas the smiling condition of the wicked soon passes and vanishes like the grass of the field. Compare Prov. 2 on verse 7
4Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
56Commitb thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall 7bring it to pass.
6 Hebr. Roll thy way upon, that is, commend and commit all thy purposes, doings, care and grief unto the LORD, put it all upon Him. See Psalm 22 on verse 8, and compare Mat. 6:25, etc.; Luke 12:22, etc.
b Psalm 22:8; 55:22; Prov. 16:3; Mat. 6:25; Luke 12:22; 1 Peter 5:7.
7 Or, he shall perform, effect it.
6And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the 8light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
8 Of the sun, or of the day, that is, that it shall appear as clear as the sun shines on a bright afternoon. Compare Job 5 on verse 14.
79Rest in the LORD, and 10wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him 11who prospereth in his way, because of the man who 12bringeth wicked devices to pass.
9 Hebr. Be silent to, that is, murmur not against the LORD, but take it patiently. See this kind of being silent, or the silence of patience and hope Psalm 39:9; 62:1, 5; 65:1; Isa. 30:15; Lam. 3:26, 27, 28; Zeph. 1:7.
10 Other, suffer pain for His sake.
11 That is, whose purposes and practices are followed with success, be it good for nothing.
12 Hebr. doth.
8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fretc not thyself in any wise to do 13evil.
c grieve, be angry*
13 That is, to transgress with doubting or mistrusting God’s Providence and faithfulness; or with apostasy and be inclined to follow the example of the wicked, because with them it seems that everything is sailing before the wind. See Psalm 125:3.
9For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
10For yet a 14little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his 15place, and 16it shall not be.
14 He shall be able to trouble the godly but a very short time. See Psalm 30 on verse 5.
15 Where he stood, flourishing like a goodly tree, verses 35, 36.
16 Or, she, namely, his place, that is, his habitation, he himself with all his state and excellence. See Job 7:10 with the annotation.
11But the 17meek shall inherit the earth;d and shall delight themselves in the 18abundance of peace.
17 See Psalm 10 on verse 17.
dMat. 5:5.
18 Hebr. greatness, or multitude of peace, that is, great prosperity, in great health, principally in matters spiritual. Compare Isa. 48:18 and see Gen. 37 on verse 14.
12The wicked plotteth against the just, and 19gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
19 As Psalm 35:16. See there.
13The Lord shall 20laugh at him: for he seeth that 21his day is coming.
20 See Psalm 2 on verse 4.
21 The day of the Lord’s vengeance or the day of the wicked’s downfall and destruction, coming upon him by the just judgment of God. See Job 18:20; Jer. 17:18; 18:17; Ezek. 7:10, 12; 27:27; 30:2, 3, 9; 32:10; Hosea 1:11. A man’s day is otherwise also taken for his dying day, as Job 15:32, as likewise a man’s time, Eccl. 7:17.
14The wicked have 22drawn out the sword, and have 23bent their bow, to cast down the 24poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright 25conversation.
22 Hebr. opened; the sheath being opened by the drawing forth of the sword.
23 Hebr. trodden. See Psalm 7:12.
24 These titles do set out the promises which God makes them here. See on verse 1, and compare verses 16, 19, 21, 25, 26.
25 That is, in life and conduct. Also verse 23.
15Their 26sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
26 Their plots shall turn to their own destruction.
16A little that a righteous man hath is 27better than the 28riches of many wicked.
27 As possessed righteously, and used devoutly.
28 Hebr. properly, multitude, great quantity, namely, of goods, that is, riches, as Eccl. 5:9.
17For the 29arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
29 That is, their power, means and violence. See Job 22 on verse 8.
18The LORD 30knoweth the 31days of the 32upright: and their inheritance shall 33be for ever.
30 Compare Psalm 1 on verse 6.
31 That is, the condition of their life, how they do spend their time in crosses, godliness and patience. Compare Psalm 31 on verse 15.
32 See Gen. 6 on verse 9. Also verse 37.
33 Or, remain. So Jer. 17:8; 27:22; 32:5; Dan. 1:21, etc.
19They shall not be ashamed in the 34evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
34 Or, in the time of evil, that is, when all manner of trouble and miseries abound, as here follows of famine.
20But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the 35fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
35 That is, the fat, which is held the best and most precious, and was by the law of God to be consumed with fire, in the offerings or sacrifices, which it seems the prophet has an eye unto this expression. See Lev. 3:10, 11, 14, 15, 16. Or, the most precious lambs. Hebr. the precious ones, or the preciousness of the lambs. Other, the preciousness of the fields or pastures, since the Hebrew word is so likewise taken elsewhere.
21The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous 36sheweth mercy, and giveth.
36 Or, deals kindly, favourably, freely.
22For 37such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
37 That is, those who are blessed of the LORD; and later in the text His cursed ones, that is, those who are cursed of Him, from verse 20; where mention is made of the enemies of the LORD. See Mat. 25:34, 41, and as for the manner of speaking, compare Psalm 69:26, 33; Isa. 16:4.
23The 38steps of a good 39man are 40ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
38 Or, goings, treadings.
39 Who is blessed of the LORD, from the previous verse, or, of the righteous, from verse 21.
40 Or, guided, directed, that is, He governs and blesses his enterprise; and though at any time he might happen to fall, yet He does so keep him that he shall not finally fall into ruin, but establishes him again, as follows.
24Though he 41fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
41 Compare Prov. 24:16.
25I have been 42young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his 43seed begging bread.
42 Or, a youth. See Jer. 1 on verse 6.
43 That is, his children and posterity, and so likewise verses 26, 28. Unless it pleased God, according to His free and Fatherly disposing, to try and exercise His children with poverty and hunger, for His honour and their own good; wherein notwithstanding He does not forsake them, but assists and strengthens them rather the more, so that they rest satisfied and contended nevertheless. See on verses 1 and 14; likewise verse 19, and compare Luke 16:20, 21; 2 Cor. 11:27; Philip. 4:11; Heb. 11:37.
26He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is 44blessed.
44 Or, in blessing, that is, is blessed of God, inheriting the blessing of Abraham. Compare Gen. 12 on verse 2, likewise 1 Peter 3:9.
27Depart from evil, and do good; and 45dwell for evermore.
45 See on verse 3.
28For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his 46saints; they are preserved for ever: but the 47seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
46 See Psalm 4 on verse 3.
47 See Job 18:19; Psalm 21:10; 109:13.
29The righteous shall inherit the 48land, and dwell therein for ever.
48 Although they are strangers upon earth, yet they shall in the land of promise (being a pledge of the heavenly) and wherever else they may have their abode in the world, in the midst of the troublesomeness of the wicked and the uncertainty of this life, enjoy a constant, sure and secure estate and condition through faith, confidence and hope in God, under His Fatherly protection and oversight, as true possessors and heirs of all the blessings of Abraham, in the only begotten Son of God, the Messiah, Rom. 8:17; Gal. 3:14.
30The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of 49judgment.
49 Or, what is right. See Job 34 on verse 4.
31Thee law of his God is in his 50heart; none of his steps 51shall slide.
ePsalm 40:8; Isa. 51:7.
50 Compare Deut. 6:6; Jer. 31:33; Heb. 8:10.
51 Hebr. shall not stagger or slip, that is, not one of his steps shall miss or falter, he shall be kept from mishaps and destruction, or from falling away from the law of God. Compare the sequel with what goes before and what follows.
32The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
33The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he 52is judged.
52 When he comes to his trial, he shall find a favorable and gracious God.
34Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt 53see it.
53 With delight and joy in the LORD, or, when the wicked shall be destroyed, thou shalt behold it.
35I have seen the 54wicked in 55great power, and 56spreading himself like a green 57bay tree.
54 Such as were Saul, Doeg, Absalom, Ahithophel, etc.
55 Or, tyrannous, terrible.
56 Or, uncovering himself. Hebr. properly, discovering himself, because the stem, which before (when the twigs were small and close to each other round about the top of the stem) was as covered, becomes uncovered afterwards, when the branches are fully grown and have spread themselves abroad.
57 Or, locally grown, which is not brought from other parts or transplanted, but grew up out of its own native soil; having remained there as such commonly endure the longer and thrive better than one which is transplanted. The Hebrew word likewise signifies a native, opposite to a stranger or alien. Exod. 12:19; Lev. 16:29. Some understand a bay or laurel-tree, others a cedar, yet the proper signification of the word is followed in the text.
36Yet he 58passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
58 That is, he vanished suddenly as a cloud that passes by and vanishes ere one is aware. Other, one passed by, etc.
37Mark the perfect man, and behold the 59upright: for the 60end of that man is peace.
59 Hebr. the right, straight or direct, etc. See Psalm 7 on verse 10.
60 Hebr. the aftermost, the uttermost, the last. Compare Deut. 32 on verse 20; Prov. 14 on verse 12; that is, he shall fare well, it shall go well with him at last; thou shalt find it so, if thou observe and mark it. Other, for there is reward for the peaceful man. Some do understand it of the posterity, and so in the sequel. Compare Psalm 109 on verse 13; Jer. 31 on verse 17.
38But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the 61end of the wicked shall be cut off.
61 That is, the wicked are cut off or rooted out at last, like a tree, root and branch wholly and utterly.
39But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
40And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.