1David exhorteth to praise God, 5to observe his great works, 8to bless him for his gracious benefits: 13he voweth for himself religious service to God: 16he declareth God's special goodness to himself.
0To the 1chief Musician, A 2Song or Psalm.
1 See the first annotation at Psalm 4 in the title.
2 See the first annotation at Psalm 48 in the title.
1MAKE a joyful noise unto God, all ye 3lands:
3 That is, all inhabitants of the earth, for the reason that the Hebrew verb, expressing Make a joyful noise is in the plural form; also in verse 4; Psalm 98:4; 100:1, and elsewhere frequently.
2Sing forth the honour of his name: 4make his praise glorious.
4 Hebr. set or put as Joshua 7:19. Give (Hebr. set or put) the honour to the LORD. It may be thus understood: give Him honour through His praise, or, namely, His praise. Or, make his praise glorious, that is, praise Him in the highest degree. Or, put it, hold it your greatest honour that ye praise God, let all your praise be to that end.
3Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the 5greatness of thy power shall thine enemies 6submit themselves unto thee.
5 Or, multitude.
6 Hebr. lie, feign, dissemble, as Deut. 33:29; 2 Sam. 22:45, see there.
47All the earth 8shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. 9Selah.
7 That is, all the inhabitants of the earth, as verse 1.
8 Hebr. properly: bow herself before Thee. See Gen. 24 on verse 26.
9 See Psalm 3 on verse 2.
5Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.
6Hea turned the 10sea into dry land: they went through theb11flood on foot: there did 12we rejoice in him.
a Exod. 14:21, etc.
10 That part of the reed-sea, or Red Sea, which the children of Israel passed over on dry foot. Exodus 14.
b Joshua 3:14, etc.
11 The Jordan, when Israel was first of all brought into the land of Canaan by Joshua, Joshua 3.
12 They attribute unto themselves, what was done by their forefathers, according to the doctrine, Rom. 15:4. Compare Hosea 12:4.
7He ruleth by his power for ever; hisc eyes 13behold the nations: let 14not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.
c 2 Chron. 16:9; Job 28:24; Psalm 33:13.
13 Like unto a watchman who keeps watch or sentinel upon an high tower, and looks heedfully about upon all occurrences.
14 Or, the revolting ones or gain-striving ones shall not be exalted for themselves, or shall not exalt themselves; that is, although they set themselves against God and will not bow under Him, yet they shall not be able to stand before or against Him to their advantage and prejudice, or damage to the godly.
8 O 15bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:
15 Or, Praise. Hebr. bless.
9Which holdeth our 16soul in life, and suffereth not 17our feet to be moved.
16 That is, Who does as it were restore our life when we were as good as dead. Compare Psalm 30:3.
17 Hebr. properly: giveth not over our foot to waver or wavering. See Psalm 15 on verse 5.
10For thou, O God, hast 18proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
18 By heavy afflictions. Compare Isa. 48:10; Ezek. 22:19, 20, 21, 22; Zech. 13:9; Mal. 3:3; 1 Peter 1:6, 7.
11Thou broughtest us into the 19net; thou laidst 20affliction upon our loins.
19 Ensnared with sorrow; a similitude taken from hunters and fishermen frequently used in Scripture.
20 The stress and oppression of our enemies.
12Thou hast caused men to ride over our 21heads; we went through 22fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a 23wealthy place.
21 That is, have dealt with us as slaves and beasts, which are ridden and, as it were, are trodden under foot; or like a common way or road, upon which everyone travels. Compare Isa. 51:23.
22 That is, into all manner of crosses and extremities, from which there appeared no deliverance. Compare Isa. 43:2; Ezek. 15:6, 7; and see 2 Sam. 22 on verse 17; Job 15 on verse 34.
23 Or, into a place which refresheth abundantly. You have the Hebrew word likewise, Psalm 23:5.
13I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,
14Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.
15I will offer unto thee burnt 24sacrifices of fatlings, with the 25incense of rams; I will 26offer 27bullocks with goats. Selah.
24 Hebr. properly, as if one would say: marrowed-ones, that is, which are full of marrow.
25 That is, with the fat of rams or mutton, which was kindled for incense; see Lev. 3:9, 10, 11, compared with Lev. 1:10, 11, 12, 13.
26 For offerings, namely, as frequently in the books of Moses.
27 Hebr. bullock.
16Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
17I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled 28with my tongue.
28 That is, (as some do understand it) within my heart, in my inmost parts. For the wicked have indeed God upon their tongue as well, but deeper it does not go with them. Others take it in this sense: My mouth shall be full of Thy praise. Compare Psalm 10:7.
18If I regard 29iniquity in my heart, the Lord will 30not hear me:
29 That is, given up myself to the service of iniquity. Compare Job 31:26; Hab. 1:13. Other, Had I seen iniquity in my heart, that is, purposed it.
30 For He hears neither sinners nor hypocrites, Job 27:8, 9; Prov. 15:29, etc.; John 9:31.
19But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
2031Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
31 Or, Praised.