1The Psalmist calling for justice complaineth of the tyranny and impiety of the wicked: 8he sheweth God's providence; 12and teacheth the blessedness of affliction. 16God is the defender and avenger of the afflicted.
1O LORD God, to whom 1vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, 2shewa thyself.
1 That is, Who executest heavy vengeance or punishments upon iniquity, and to Whom all vengeance only belongs, Deut. 32:35.
2 Namely, to our comfort and to the terror of our enemies. See Psalm 80:1.
a Deut. 33:2; Psalm 50:2; 80:1.
23Lift up thyself, thou 4judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.
3 Namely, unto righteous vengeance. See Psalm 7:6.
4 That is, of men who dwell on earth, as Gen. 18:25; Psalm 82:8.
3LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked 5triumph?
5 Namely, by reason of the oppression and miseries of the godly.
4How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
5They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict 6thine heritage.
6 That is, Thy children, whom are as dear unto Thee as unto any is his inheritance.
6They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
7Yet they say, Theb LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
b Psalm 10:11, 13; 59:7.
8Understand,c7ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?
c Psalm 92:6.
7 That is, who are as beasts without understanding. See the annotation Psalm 49 on verse 10; 92:6.
9Hed that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
d Exod. 4:11.
10He 8that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? 9he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
8 That is, would He, Who visiteth and scourgeth entire nations and countries, not be able to punish one by one, or every one in particular, when he sins grievously or presumptuously against Him?
9 As if he said: Would He not know what men do and what the wicked practice?
11Thee LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
e1 Cor. 3:20.
12Blessed is the man 10whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;
10 Namely, thereby to bring him to understanding and to the knowledge of Thee and of himself.
13That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, 11until the pit be digged for the wicked.
11 That is, until the wicked be brought to destruction.
14For thef LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
f1 Sam. 12:22; Rom. 11:1, 2.
15But 12judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow 13it.
12 The sense of these words is; It seems there is every appearance as if the judgments of God run against His righteousness, while the godly are afflicted by God, and leave the ungodly to enjoy peace and quietness; but the judgment of God shall return at length to righteousness when the godly shall be delivered and saved, and the ungodly punished and damned. Compare Isa. 28:17.
13 Namely, judgment or righteousness, of which he spoke before, namely, after that they shall have seen God’s righteousness and justice manifested upon the wicked. Other, shall follow him or the same, namely, the Lord. Hebr. shall be after it.
16Who will 14rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
14 Namely, to help or assist me against them. As if he meant to say: Nobody among men, but God will do it. See Esther 8:11. The psalmist complains that his friends had forsaken him in his trouble.
17Unless the LORD had been my help, 15my soul had 16almost dwelt 17in silence.
15 That is, I, in as much as concerns the body.
16 Or, soon, shortly, within a little.
17 That is, I had been undone and soon in the ground, where one lies speechless and cannot praise the Lord. As Job 3:17, 18; Psalm 88:12; 107:18; 115:17.
18When 18I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
18 Namely, not knowing otherwise, but that I was quite down and lay under foot.
1919In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
19 Or, When my thoughts were multiplied within me. See the annotation Job 20 on verse 14.
20Shall the 20throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief 21by a law?
20 That is, the pernicious and ungodly judges. Understand here: by no means.
21 That is, by a decree. Or, against the institution? That is, against the commandments which God ordained and instituted. Other, for a law, that is, instead of good and wholesome laws.
21They 22gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and 23condemn the innocent blood.
22 Namely, these wicked and unrighteous judges.
23 See Job 10 on verse 2.
22But the LORD is my defence; and my God is 24the rock of my refuge.
24 Namely, where I might be safe and secure of all danger. See Psalm 91:14.
23And 25he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off 26in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.
25 That is, He shall recompense them according to their merits.
26 Or, because of their malice.