1David prayeth against the malice of his enemies, professing his innocence. 10By faith he seeth his defence, and the destruction of his enemies.
0Shiggaion1 of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of 2Cush the 3Benjamite.
1 This word comes from another Hebrew word signifying, to stray or wander; whereby some conjecture that this was a song with variations, affecting the one tone into another, and it is used in great anguish of heart when the thoughts and stirrings of the heart, through greatness of trouble, do vary and fall from the one into another and, as it were, be scattered.
2 Who this person was, is uncertain. It appears that he was one of Saul’s courtiers and in great credit with him, being of the same tribe of Benjamin, as Saul himself. David poured out this prayer unto God in poetic form against this man’s bitter and bloody counsel, together with Saul’s persecution.
3 That is, a Benjamite. See Judges 19:16; 2 Sam. 16:11.
1O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:
2Lest 4he tear my 5soul like a lion, 6rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
4 Namely, Saul, through the instigation of the evil counselors; or, he, that is, every one of them.
5 That is, my life and person.
6 Implying, that they shall tear him as lions, if God does not deliver him speedily.
3O LORD my God, if I have done 7this; if there be iniquity in my 8hands;
7 Of which they falsely accuse me, especially that Cush.
8 Hebr. palms.
4If I have rewarded evil unto 9him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have 10delivered him that 11without cause is mine enemy:)
9 Or, lived peaceably with me. Compare Psalm 55:20, with the annotation; and of the Hebrew word, here rendered rewarded, see 2 Chron. 20 on verse 11.
10 As manifestly appeared in the case of Saul, whom he spared and rescued when he was in his own and his officers’ power. See 1 Samuel 24 and 26. Other, yea, if I have not delivered, etc., in the same sense.
11 Or, vainly, idly, that is, without any reason, wrongfully.
5Let the enemy persecute my 12soul, and take it; yea, let him 13tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine 14honour in the dust. 15Selah.
12 That is, my person, as Psalm 3:2.
13 That is, let him put me to a shameful death that I fall and lie down with dishonor.
14 That is, change mine honorable state into the most contemptible (state). See Job 19 on verse 9; 1 Kings 16 on verse 3.
15 See Psalm 3 on verse 2.
616Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake 17for me to the judgment that thou hast 18commanded.
16 See Psalm 3 on verse 7.
17 Or, awake and turn thyself to me. Humanly spoken of God; as before and in the following. Other, thus: awake for me unto the judgment that thou hast commanded, that is, to do justice unto me according to Thine own institution, Thou, Who art a God of judgment.
18 Or, instituted, ordained. See 2 Sam. 6 on verse 21.
7So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: 19for their sakes therefore 20return thou on high.
19 Or, above them, namely, around the gathering of the surrounding nations.
20 That is, return once more to sit as Judge on Thy high throne or judgment-seat to declare openly mine innocence before the spectators. These are speeches borrowed from the manner of great men when they keep publicly the courts of justice.
8The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my 21righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
21 That is, according to the righteousness of my cause; as frequently in this book. See the explanation in Psalm 9:4.
9Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God 22trieth the heartsa and reins.b
22 That is, examines and searches thoughts and exercises; a comparison taken from goldsmiths who refine gold through fire. So Psalm 11:4, 5; 17:3, and elsewhere frequently. See Job 19 on verse 27.
a 1 Chron. 28:9; Jer. 11:20; 17:10; 20:12; Rev. 2:23.
b mind, inmost being (literally, kidneys)*
10My 23defence is of God, which saveth the 24upright in heart.
23 As Psalm 3:3.
24 Or, the honest-hearted. Hebrew properly, the right or straight of heart; as 2 Chron. 29:34, and often in this book; also without the addition, the right or right minded, (the straightforward as we call them); as the word is likewise used of God and His commandments. See Deut. 32:4; Psalm 19:8, etc., and further Job 1 on verse 1.
11God judgeth the righteous, and God is 25angry with the wicked 26every day.
25 Namely, with or against the wicked, to which the sequel points.
26 Other, the entire day.
12If 27he turn not, 28he will whet his sword; he hath 29bent his bow, and made it ready.
27 The wicked, who persecutes me.
28 God.
29 Hebr. trodden, in regard that the foot-bow was to be bent with setting the foot upon it; and often elsewhere.
13He hath also prepared 30for him 31the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against 32the persecutors.
30 That is, for Himself, to use it against the wicked: or, against him, namely, the wicked, as follows.
31 Hebr. vessels, tools, instruments or weapons of death.
32 See of the Hebrew word in Gen. 31 on verse 36.
14Behold,c33he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth 34falsehood.
c Job 15:35; Isa. 59:4.
33 The wicked labors much to put into practice his wrongful and evil device against me, being restless as a woman in labor or in pains of childbirth. Compare Job 15:35; Isa. 59:4; James 1:15.
34 That is, a miscarriage. The meaning is: his plot shall be abortive and fail him; it shall be as vain and of no effect, as a falsehood, which frustrates him who relies on it. Compare Psalm 4 on verse 2. Some understand falsehood here as lies and deceit.
15Hed made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the 35ditch which he made.
dJob 4:8; Psalm 9:15; 10:2; Prov. 5:22; 26:27; Eccl. 10:8.
35 The Hebrew word properly signifies destruction, corruption, and further grave, ditch, etc., in which something does rot and perish.
16His mischief shall return upon his own 36head, and 37his violent dealing shall 38come down upon his own pate.e
36 See Judges 9 on verse 24.
37 Which he inflicts upon me.
38 It shall happen to him from above through God’s righteous judgment and government what he intended against me.
e head
17I will praise the LORD according to his 39righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
39 Which He shows in the deliverance of me (who am innocent) and in the punishment of my malicious enemies.