1David professing his confidence in God discourageth his enemies. 5In the same confidence he encourageth the godly. 9No trust is to be put in worldly things. 11Power and mercy belong to God.
0To the chief Musician, to 1Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.
1 That is, the family and order of Jeduthun; or, to Jeduthun, as being a chief musician. See the second annotation at Psalm 39 in the title.
12TRULY my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
2 Or, Nevertheless, or yet is my soul quiet, or, silent, holding her peace. Or, My soul is silent to God, or before God, as if he said: Let it go as it may, I shall not cease by prayers, patience and confidence to wait for God’s help and salvation; notwithstanding He seems ready to forsake me, because mine enemies still persecutes me with so much bitterness and malice. Compare Psalm 37 on verse 7 and below in verse 5. Thus David breaks out with words of comfortable assurance after a great conflict endured in his mind. Compare Psalm 73:1, etc.
2He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be 3greatly moved.
3 That is, not so, as that I shall be in danger of falling and perishing utterly. See Psalm 15 on verse 5 and further 1 Cor. 10:13; 2 Cor. 4:9.
34How long will ye imagine 5mischief against a 6man? ye shall be 7slain all of you: as a 8bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering 9fence.
4 Addressing here his persecutors.
5 The Hebrew word (only existent in this place) signifies to devise and to bring about all manner of evil and mischievous practices unto someone’s sorrow and ruin.
6 Namely, me, as if he said: Against one only man, the innocent and honest David, who never wronged you, yea, who has acquitted himself as a man and conqueror before Saul and the people of God. Compare Jer. 5:1.
7 The fulfillment may hereof be gathered from the great overthrow where Saul and most of his people lost their life, 1 Samuel 31.
8 Which inclines and is ready to fall.
9 Understand this of loose stones, or such like materials, raised up to serve for a fence (as about vineyards, or otherwise for a partition. See Num. 22:24; Prov. 24:31) and being pushed at is easily thrown down. This similitude implies a sudden and a heavy fall. See Isa. 30:13; Ezek. 13:13, 14.
4They only consult to cast 10him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they 11bless with 12their mouth, but they curse 13inwardly. 14Selah.
10 Me, David, whom God has chosen, anointed and exalted to the royal dignity.
11 Compare Psalm 5:9, and see 2 Sam. 8 on verse 10; Job 31 on verse 20.
12 Hebr. his mouth, that is, every one of them does as such.
13 That is, their heart.
14 See Psalm 3 on verse 2.
5My soul, 15wait thou only upon God; for my 16expectation is from him.
15 See on verse 1.
16 That is, from Him I do expect my salvation, as verse 1.
6He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
7In God is my salvation and my glory: the 17rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
17 That is, my strong Rock.
8Trust in him at all times; ye 18people, pour out your 19heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
18 Namely, of the LORD, ye people of Israel.
19 That is, the desires of your heart, your prayers with tears. Compare 1 Sam. 1:15; Psalm 42 on verse 4; Lam. 2:19.
9Surely men of 20low degree are 21vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid 22in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
20 Hebr. the sons or children of a man, and afterwards sons or children of a man. See hereof Psalm 4 on verse 2.
21 That is, both, small and great, are vain and deceitful. See Job 15 on verse 31.
22 Or, in the balance would they together go up above or more than vanity; that is, vanity being laid in the one scale and all they together in the other, vanity would yet outweigh them, they would weigh less than vanity.
10Trust not in 23oppression, and become not 24vain in robbery: if 25riches 26increase, set not your heart upon them.
23 That you would go about by any way of craft or force to oppress and ruin others. See Isa. 30:12.
24 Deceiving yourselves and regarded by others as a fool, for putting your trust in vain things. Compare Psalm 31 on verse 6.
25 Wealth and power.
26 Like an herb that comes up spreading and multiplying in abundance. Compare Psalm 92:14; Prov. 10:31.
11God hath spoken 27once; 28twice have I heard this; that power belongeth 29unto God.
27 Or, one thing; as a most sure and undoubted word, once for all, whereof all the prophets jointly testify, namely, that God alone is almighty, and in comparison thereof all the power of the great ones on earth is mere vanity.
28 That is, oftentimes, a certain number for an uncertain, as is usual in the Scripture.
29 Or, belongeth, appertaineth to God, that He hath strength, namely, to restrain and to punish the wicked; as He has likewise kindness or mercy, together with strength, as follows, to do good to His (own), and thus to give everyone his due.
12Also unto thee, O Lord, 30belongeth mercy: 31fora thou renderest to every man according to his work.
30 Or, is thine, thou hast it.
31 Or, surely, verily.
a Job 34:11; Prov. 24:12; Jer. 32:19; Ezek. 7:27; 33:20; Mat. 16:27; Rom. 2:6; 2 Cor. 5:10; Eph. 6:8; Col. 3:25; 1 Peter 1:17; Rev. 22:12.