This psalm is also inscribed as a psalm of David. Both the title and the contents agree in fixing the time of its composition, and the occasion, as being the same as in the two previous psalms. Knapp indeed refers it to the time of Absalom, and DeWette supposes that it was composed in the time of th... [ Continue Reading ]
DO YE INDEED SPEAK RIGHTEOUSNESS, O CONGREGATION? - Luther renders this, “Are you then dumb, that you will not speak what is right, and judge what is proper, ye children of men?” The meaning of the verse is exceedingly obscure; but probably the whole sense of the psalm turns on it. The word rendered... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, IN HEART YE WORK WICKEDNESS - Whatever might be the outward appearances, whatever pretences they might make to just judgment, yet in fact their hearts were set on wickedness, and they were conscious of doing wrong. YE WEIGH THE VIOLENCE OF YOUR HANDS IN THE EARTH - It is difficult to attach any... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WICKED ARE ESTRANGED FROM THE WOMB - The allusion here undoubtedly is to the persons principally referred to in the psalm - the enemies of David. But their conduct toward him suggests a more general reflection in regard to “all” the wicked as having the same characteristics. The psalmist, theref... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR POISON - Their malignity; their bad spirit; that which they utter or throw out of their mouth. The reference here is to what they speak or utter Psalms 58:3, and the idea is, that it is penetrating and deadly. LIKE THE POISON OF A SERPENT - Margin, as in Hebrew, “according to the likeness.” I... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH WILL NOT HEARKEN TO THE VOICE OF CHARMERS - The word rendered “charmers” - לחשׁ _lachash_ - means properly “whisperers, mutterers,” and it refers here to those who made use of spells or incantations - sorcerers or magicians. See the notes at Isaiah 8:19. These incantations were accompanied usu... [ Continue Reading ]
BREAK THEIR TEETH, O GOD, IN THEIR MOUTH - The word here rendered “break” means properly “to tear out.” The allusion is to his enemies, represented as wild beasts; and the prayer is, that God would deprive them of the means of doing harm - as wild animals are rendered harmless when their teeth are b... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEM MELT AWAY AS WATERS WHICH RUN CONTINUALLY - Let them vanish or disappear as waters that flow off, or floods that run by, and are no more seen. “Perhaps” the allusion here may be to the waters of a torrent that is swollen, which flow off and are lost in the sand, so that they wholly disappea... [ Continue Reading ]
AS A SNAIL WHICH MELTETH, LET EVERY ONE OF THEM PASS AWAY - Or rather, As the snail which melteth as it goes; that is, which leaves a slimy trail as it moves along, and thus melts away the more as it advances, until at length it dies. Gesenius, Lexicon. The allusion is to what seems to occur to the... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE YOUR POTS CAN FEEL THE THORNS - The word “thorns” here - אטד _'âṭâd_ - refers to what is called “Christ’s thorn,” the southern buckthorn. “Gesenius.” The fire made of such thorns when dry would be quick and rapid, and water would be soon heated by it. The idea is, that what is here referre... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL REJOICE WHEN HE SEETH THE VENGEANCE - When he sees the just punishment inflicted on the wicked. He will approve of it; he will see that it is right; he will be glad that law is maintained, and that wickedness does not triumph; he will rejoice in the safety of those who do right,... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THAT A MAN SHALL SAY - That is, every man shall say, or people everywhere shall see this. This expresses the result of a close observation of the divine dealings among people. The conclusion from those dealings is, (a) that there is, on the whole, a reward for the righteous on earth, or that rig... [ Continue Reading ]