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TO Ieduthun] or, for him: and it may be meant [unspec 1] not onely for his person, but for his posteritie, as Aaron is put for the Aaronites, 1 Chron. 12. 27. This Ieduthun and his sonnes were singers in Isra∣el with the harpe: hee prophesied for the confes∣sing and giving praise to Iehovah, 1 Chron. 25. 3. So Psal. 77. 1. The Chaldee addeth to the title thus: To praise for the keeping of the house of the San∣ctuarie, by the mouth of Ieduthun.
Vers. 2. take heed] or, beware, observe. The like [unspec 2] speech is used, 1 King. 2. 4. from sinning] that is, as the Greeke translateth, that I sin not, or misse not. If any man sinne not in word, he is a perfect man and able to bridle all the bodie, Iam. 3. 2. a bridle] or mousell: the Greeke turneth it a ward: by this the untamednesse of the tongue is noted, which must by force and watchfulnesse be restrained. See Iam. 3. 3,—8.
Vers. 3. with stilnesse] or, silentnesse, tamed sub∣jection; [unspec 3] as the word often signifieth, Psal. 4. 5. Wherefore the Greeke here turneth it, I was hum∣bled. from good] in Greeke, from good things, which the Chaldee explaineth, the words of the Law. my paine was troubled] my sore was ex∣ulcerate, renewed (as the Greeke saith,) and increa∣sed.
Vers. 4. fire burned] with this speech of David we may compare that of Ieremie; And I said I will [unspec 4] not mention him, nor speake any more in his name: but it was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and could no longer, Ier. 20. 9.
Vers. 5. how soone ceasing] how temporary, fraile, brittle and short-lived; as the Chaldee expoundeth [unspec 5] it, when I shall cease out of the world; or, how defe∣ctive I am: so the Greeke saith, what I lacke, to wit, of the end of my dayes; what is the terme and peri∣od of my life.
Vers. 6. of hand bredths] that is, thou hast exactly [unspec 6] measured them out, and they are but short. A hand bredth is a short measure, the bredth of foure fingers. my worldly time] my life-time, my temporary age. The Greeke translateth it, my substance; the Chaldee, my bodie. The Hebrew Cheled, is the world; Psal. 17. 14. used here for mans life-time in this world. So Psal. 89. 48. Iob 11. 17. sure∣ly] or, but onely. all vanitie] or, a meere va∣pour, all manner vanitie, and nothing else. Whatsoe∣ver vanitie is in the world, may all be seene in man. The Hebrew Hebel is a soone-vanishing vapour, as the breath of ones mouth. To this the Apostle hath reference, saying; What is your life? it is even a va∣pour that appeareth for a little time, and afterward vanisheth away, Iam. 4. 14. every man] or, all mankinde, Hebr. all Adam. Adam called his se∣cond sonne Hebel, that is, vanitie, Gen. 4. 2. and here David saith, that all Adam (every man) is Hebel, vanitie. Solomon in Ecclesiastes declareth this at large. See also Psal. 62. 10. though setled] or standing, stedfast, and in good estate: in Greeke, living. The Chaldee saith, but all just ones live for ever.
Vers. 7. walketh in an image] or, in a shadow, [unspec 7] that is, obscurely, changeth daily, leadeth an imagi∣nary life, rather than a life it selfe, and so soone passeth hence; He fleeth as a shadow, and abideth not, Iob 14. 2. So Paul saith, the fashion (or hiew) of this world goeth away, 1 Cor. 7. 31. The Chaldee explaineth it otherwise, walketh in the image of the Lord. make a sturre] or a tumult, disquieting themselves and one another. he heapeth] that is, any one heapeth up, to wit, goods, and knowes not who shall enjoy them. See Eccles. 2. 18, 19.
Vers. 9. put me not] or, expose, make me not to be [unspec 9] the reproach of the foole, of Nabal; whereof see Psal. 14. 1.
Vers. 10. I am dumbe] or tongue-tied. This [unspec 10] is a profession of his patient sufferance of the things laid upon him by God. And so did David carry himselfe, 2 Sam. 16. 10. and Aaron, Levit. 10. 3.
Vers. 11. the striking] or buffeting: this noteth [unspec 11] the greatnesse and oft reiteration of his trouble.
Vers. 12. melt] that is, consume away. as a [unspec 12] moth] to wit, as a moth-worme consumeth, or perish∣eth, which is suddenly, as Iob 4. 19. they are destroy∣ed before the moth. Or, as the moth consumeth gar∣ments, so thou with thy rebukes consumest them, as Hos. 5. 12. Iob 13. 28. Isa. 50. 9. and 51. 8. that which is to be desired of his] or his desi∣rable; meaning his beautious grace, best strength, dignitie, and every whit of him, that is amiable, to be desired, or liked: which the Greeke expoun∣deth to be his soule; the Chaldee, his bodie.
Vers. 13. unto my teares] which cry unto God, [unspec 13] (as bloud is said to cry, Gen. 4. 10.) or, which are joyned with earnest prayers, as Heb. 5. 7. a stranger with thee] This is taken from the Law, Levit. 25. 23. The land is mine, yee are but stran∣gers and sojourners with me. The like acknow∣ledgement is also in 1 Chron. 29. 15. Hence saith the Apostle, They confessed that they were strangers and pilgrimes on the earth, and, they that say such things, declare plainly that they seeke a country, to wit, an heavenly, Hebr. 11. 13, 14, 16.
Vers. 14. Stay] or Leave off, to wit, thine an∣ger, [unspec 14] or affliction: or, Looke away, shut the eye, as this word sometime signifieth, Isa. 6. 10. and let me refresh) or, that I may recover strength. This speech is taken from Iob 10. 20, 21. Igoe] to wit, unto death: See Gen. 15. 2. and 25. 32. and 5. 24.