Annotations upon the five bookes of Moses, the booke of the Psalmes, and the Song of Songs, or, Canticles VVherein the Hebrevv vvords and sentences, are compared with, and explained by the ancient Greeke and Chaldee versions, and other records and monuments of the Hebrewes: but chiefly by conference with the holy Scriptures, Moses his words, lawes and ordinances, the sacrifices, and other legall ceremonies heretofore commanded by God to the Church of Israel, are explained. With an advertisement touching some objections made against the sinceritie of the Hebrew text, and allegation of the Rabbines in these annotations. As also tables directing unto such principall things as are observed in the annotations upon each severall booke. By Henry Ainsworth.

PSAL. XXV.

Davids desire and confidence in God. 4 He pray∣eth [unspec] for instruction; 7 and for remission of sins. 8 He celebrateth Gods goodnesse and mercy to such as feare [unspec] him. 15 He prayeth for deliverance out of his affli∣ctions, and for the redemption of Israel.

1. A Psalme of David. [unspec א]

VNto thee, Iehovah, lift I up my soule.

2. My God, in thee doe I trust, let [unspec ב] me not be abashed; let not my ene∣mies shew gladnesse over me.

3. Yea all that earnestly expect thee, shall [unspec ג] not be abashed; they shall be abashed, that unfaithfully transgresse in vaine.

4. Thy wayes, Iehovah, make thou mee to [unspec ד] know; learne me thy paths.

5. Make me to tread in thy truth, & learne [unspec ה] me, for thou art the God of my salvation; [unspec ו] thee doe I earnestly expect all the day.

[unspec ז] 6. Remember thy tender mercies, Ieho∣vah, and thy kinde mercies, for they are from eternitie.

7. The sinnes of my youth, and my tres∣passes, [unspec ח] remember thou not: according to thy mercy doe thou remember me, for thy good∣nesse sake, Iehovah.

8. Good and righteous Iehovah is, there∣fore [unspec ט] will he teach sinners in the way.

9. Hee will make the meeke to tread in [unspec י] judgement, and will learne the meeke his way.

10. All the paths of Iehovah are mercie and truth, to them that keepe his covenant, [unspec כ] and his testimonies.

11. For thy Name sake, Iehovah, even [unspec ל] mercifully pardon wilt thou my iniquitie, for it is much.

12. Who is the man that feareth Ieho∣vah? [unspec מ] hee will teach him in the way that hee shall chuse.

13. His soule shall lodge in good, and his [unspec נ] seed shall inherit the land.

14. The secret of Iehovah is to them that [unspec ס] feare him, and his covenant to make them for to know.

15. Mine eyes are continually unto Ieho∣vah, [unspec ע] for hee will bring forth my feet out of the net.

16. Turne the face unto mee, and bee [unspec פ] gracious to me, for I am solitary and poore afflicted.

17. The distresses of my heart are in∣larged; [unspec צ] bring thou mee forth out of my vexations.

18. See mine affliction, and my molesta∣tion, [unspec ק] and forgive all my sinnes.

19. See mine enemies, for they are multi∣plied, [unspec ר] and with hatred of violent wrong have they hated me.

20. Keepe thou my soule, and deliver me; [unspec ש] let me not be ashamed, for I hope for safetie in thee.

21. Let perfection and righteousnesse pre∣serve [unspec ת] me, for I earnestly expect thee.

22 Redeeme Israel, O God, from all his distresses.

Annotations.

OF David] This Psalme is composed after the [unspec 1] order of the Hebrew letters or Alphabet: which care denoteth the weight and excellencie of the matter in it. The same is to be observed of some other Psalmes, as the 34. and 37. and 111. and 112. and 119. and 145. Lift I up my soule] The Chaldee addeth, in prayer. This signifieth an ear∣nest desire, with delight and expectation or hope to have what he would. For to lift up the soule, is to desire, Ier. 22. 27. and 44. 14. and a like phrase in Ezek. 24. 25. implieth both desire and delight; and in Deut. 24. 15. the poore man is said to lift up his soule unto his hire or wages, hoping by it to have his life sustained. In this place, every of these hath use, and so in Psal. 86. 4.

Vers. 2. In thee] the Chaldee expoundeth it, In [unspec 2] thy Word: so in vers. 3. not be abashed] that is, not disappointed of my hope, nor vanquished by my foes. See Psal. 6. 11. shew gladnesse] insult or triumph for ioy, as having got the victory, 2 Chron. 20. 27.

Vers. 3. yea all] or, Yea any: for, whosoever be∣leeveth [unspec 3] in God shall not be ashamed, Rom. 10. 10. earnestly expect] or patiently hope. they shall be] or prayer-wise, let them be. Unfaithfully transgresse] that deale disloyally, contrary to dutie, promise, and trust reposed in them. So elsewhere he prayeth, that no grace be shewed to such, Psa. 59. 6. in vaine] or without cause, and without fruit, Psal. 7. 5.

Vers. 4. Thy wayes] that is, thy true faith and re∣ligion, [unspec 4] as Act. 18. 25, 26. and thy guidance of mee therein. So Moses prayed, Exod. 33. 13. learne me thy paths,] inure me with thy paths, or journeyes. Learning implieth are and exercise, and informing by customable practise.

Vers. 5. Make me to tread] or to goe; guide my [unspec 5] way in thy truth, that is, in thy word, for that is the truth, Ioh. 17. 17. 3 Joh. 3. So after, vers. 9.

Vers. 6. tender mercies] or bowels of compassion: [unspec 6] See Psal. 18. 2. This word noteth the inward affe∣ctions, as the next, kinde mercies, imply the actions or effects of love. from eternitie] or, from ever. This in humane affaires sometime meaneth but of old, or a long while, Gen. 6. 4. Esay 42. 14. But here and else-where it noteth the eternitie of Gods love, which was firme unto his before the world was, 2 Tim. 1. 9. Eph. 1. 4. so shewed throughout all ge∣nerations, and is in like sort for ever, or to eternity, Psal. 100. 5. because our firme happinesse shall have no end, Dan. 12. 3. 1 Pet. 1. 4. And these both are conjoyned, Psal. 103. 17.

Vers. 7. Sinnes of my youth] The imagination [unspec 7] of mans heart is evill from his youth, Gen. 8. 21. and of all mans life, youth commonly is most vaine, Eccles. 11. 9, 10. for which God often punisheth men in their age, so making them (as Iob saith) to inherit the iniquities of their youth, Iob 13. 26. Ier. 3. 25.

Vers. 8. will he teach] or informe with the law; [unspec 8] for of this word the Law is derived, Psal. 19. 8. sinners in the way] that is, such as sinne and misse the right way, God will teach and reduce them: thus the Greeke interpreteth it. Or, those that are sinners he will teach and informe in the way that is right, or in his way, as vers. 9.

Vers. 9. to tread in judgement] to walke judicious∣ly, [unspec 9] and as is right and fit.

Vers. 10. his covenant] his testament all bond or [unspec 10] league, called in Hebrew Brith, w^ch hath the signi∣fication of brotherly or friendly parting, & of explai∣ning the conditions of agreement. For at the making of solemne covenants, beasts were killed and parted

asunder, and the covenant-makers went betweene the parts, Gen. 15. 9, 10. 17. Ier. 34. 18. Hereupon is the phrase of cutting (or striking) a covenant, Psal. 50. 5. and 83. 6. and 89. 4. The Apostles in Greeke call it diathekee, a testament, a testamentall covenant or disposing of things, Heb. 8. 8. from Ier. 31. 31. And there be two principall covenants or testaments; the first, that which God made with our fathers, when he brought them out of Aegypt; the summe whereof was contained in the ten commande∣ments written by the finger of God, Deut. 4. 13. Exod. 24. 28. 1 King. 8. 21. & the other laws written by Mo∣ses in a booke, called the booke of the covenant, 2 King. 23. 2. Exod. 24. 4. 7. The second covenant is that new testament all bond, which God hath made with us in Christ, established upon better promises, and con∣firmed by the bloud and death of Christ the testator, as the first was by the bloud and death of beasts, Luke 22. 20. Heb. 8. 6. 8. and 9. 16, 17, 18, &c.

Vers. 11. even mercisully pardon] or, therefore thou wilt mercifully forgive. This David taketh from [unspec 11] Moses, who first used this word in a case of great of∣fence, Exod. 34. 9. and it betokeneth to spare or pardon upon pacification, of grace and mercie; and is interpreted by the Apostle in Greeke, to be merci∣cifull, propitious or appeased, Heb. 8. 12. from Ier. 31. 34. Often used in the Law, for forgivenesse upon oblation or intercession made by the Priest, Lev. 4. 20. 26. 31. 35. and 5. 10. 13. 16. 18. &c.

Vers. 12. Who is the man] or, What manner of man shall he be? The Hebrew phrase is, Who this the [unspec 12] man: which also may be resolved, Whosoever is the man. he shall chuse] that is, which he shall love and like; or, which he loveth. So chosen, Isa. 42. 1. is translated in Greke, beloved, Matt. 12. 18. Or, which he shall require and command; for so chusing sometime signifieth, 2 Sam. 19. 38. and 15. 15.

Vers. 13. lodge in good] that is, continue in good estate, case and prosperitie. So lodging is for continu∣ance, [unspec 13] Iob 17. 2. Prov. 19. 23. and for good, the Chaldee saith, the blessednesse of the world to come: the Greeke translateth, in good things. the land] meaning Canaan, the land promised for a possession to Abraham and his seed, Gen. 15. 7. and 12. 7. called therfore the land of promise, Heb. 11. 9. & elsewhere, the holy land, Zach. 2. 12. the Lords land, Ps. 10. 16. the land of Immanuel, that is, of Christ, Isa. 8. 8. a land flowing with milke & honey, and the pleasantast of all lands, Ezek. 20. 6. the seat of Gods ancient Church, and figure of his Kingdome.

Vers. 14. The secret] or The mysterie of the [unspec 14] Lord; meaning that his secret favour is towards them, and his secret counsell and mysterie of the faith is revealed unto them: for so this word noteth, as when Iob saith, Gods secret was upon his tabernacle, meaning his favour and providence, Iob 29. 4. and Gods secret is his counsell, Iob 15. 8. Ier. 23. 18. 22. and the hid thing of Christ are often called a myste∣rie, Rom. 16. 25. 1 Cor. 2. 7. and 4. 1. 1 Tim. 3. 9. 16. Eph. 3. 3. 4. 9. Col. 1. 26, 27. So Prov. 3. 32.

Vers. 16. turne the face] or Have respect unto [unspec 16] me. This was a blessing promised in the law, Levit. 26. 9. I will turne the face unto you, and make you in∣crease. Contrary to this is the hiding of Gods face, Psal. 69. 17, 18. solitary] alone or desolate; see Psal. 22. 21.

Vers. 17. are inlarged] or doe inlarge themselves, [unspec 17] doe make wide roomth. He sheweth his heart to bee penned in with straights and distressing sorrowes, which largely spread themselves overall. vex∣ations] or anguishes, tribulations, which presse and wring.

Vers. 18. See my affliction] This phrase is taken [unspec 18] from Deut. 26. 7. he saw our affliction. And it here meaneth, a seeing and regarding with compassion, and so, a redresse and helpe, Gen. 29. 22. Exod. 3, 7, 8. Psal. 31. 8. and 119. 153. and 106. 44. Sometime it meaneth otherwise, as in the next verse, See my enemies. forgive] or lift up, take away. This word which properly signifieth to take up or beare, is applied to forgivenesse of sinnes, Rom. 4. 7. from Psal. 32. 1. and the phrase hath reference to Christ, who bare and tooke away the sinnes of the world, Ioh. 1. 29. For when it is applied to a man himselfe, bearing his owne sinne, it meaneth guilt and punish∣ment, Num 5. 31.

Vers. 19. of violent wrong] that is, most violent [unspec 19] or wrongfull hatred.

Vers. 22. his distresses] or their distresses, for [unspec 22] Israel being put for the whole people, may have with it a word singular or plurall, which the He∣brew text also often sheweth; as, all Edom was, 2 Sam. 8. 14. or all Edom were, 1 Chron. 18. 13. The like is in 2 King. 23. 30. with 2 Chron. 36. 1. He tooke, or they tooke, speaking of the people.