mine high defence. The God of my mer∣cie will prevent me, God will let mee see on [unspec 11] mine enviers. Slay them not, lest my peo∣ple forget; make them wander abroad in thy [unspec 12] power, and bring them downe, our shield, Lord. The sinne of their mouth, the word of their lips; when they shall be taken in their [unspec 13] haughtinesse; and of cursing, and of false de∣niall, let them tell. Consume in wrath, con∣sume and let them be no more; and let them [unspec 14] know that God ruleth in Iakob, to the ends of the earth Selah. And they shall returne at evening, make noise as a dog, and com∣passe [unspec 15] the citie. They shall wander abroad for to eat, and shall howle if they be not satis∣fied. [unspec 16] But I will sing thy strength, and will shout at morning thy mercie; for thou hast [unspec 17] beene an high defence to me, and a refuge in day of my distresse. My strength, unto thee will I sing Psalme, for God is mine high de∣fence, [unspec 18] the God of my mercy.
Annotations.
COrrupt not] or bring not to perdition. See Plasm. 57. 1. Michtam] a notable song: [unspec 1] see Psalm. 16. 1. to kill him] or to doe him die. Saul having cast his speare at David, and mis∣sed him, sent messengers after unto Davids house, for to keepe (or watch) him, and to kill him. But his wife Michal (Sauls daughter,) bewrayed the matter, let David downe at a window, and so he escaped, 1 Sam. 19. 10, 11, 12. Hereupon he made this Psalme.
Vers. 2. set mee on high] set mee aloft, where I [unspec 2] may be safe, that my foes reach not to me.
Vers. 4. not for my trespasse] to wit, against them; as else-where David professeth, 1 Sam. 24. [unspec 4] 10, 12.
Vers. 5. without iniquitie] to wit, of mee, or on my part, understanding it of sinne, as in the [unspec 5] former verse: or without punishment (understan∣ding it of the enemies) they runne. &c. Iniqui∣tie is often used for Punishment: See Psalm. 69. 28. Or, without iniquitie, (without blame) in their owne conceit; as in Ierem 50. 7. their ene∣mies said wee offend not, because they have sin∣ned, &c. to meet me] meaning, for good, that is, to assist me. For sometime meeting is to oppose and resist, Psal. 35. 3.
Vers. 6. to visit] namely, with punishment, as [unspec 6] Exod. 20. 5. See otherwise, in Psal. 8. 5. the heathens] that is, the wicked mine enemies, called here heathens, as elsewhere strangers, Psalm. 54. 5. unfaithfully worke] or, distoyally commit. See this word, Psal. 25. 3.
Vers. 7. They returne at evening] The enemies, like hungry dogs, come at evening, secretly to sur∣prise [unspec 7] and devoure me. So wicked persecutors are likened to dogs, Psal. 22. 17. or it may be a pro∣phesie of their extreme poverty, that when others goe to rest, they goe about howling for meat. make noise as a dog] barking, grinning, howling, as a dog for his meat; as after, vers. 15, 16. therefore the Greeke turneth it, they are hungry.
Vers. 8. utter] or well out, as from a fountaine; [unspec 8] belch or babble, as Prov. 15. 2, 28. This simili∣tude is explained, Ierem. 6. 7. As the fountaine casteth out her waters, so shee casteth out her malice. swords &c.] that is, they speake sharpe de∣vouring words. So the Chaldee interpreteth it, words that are sharpe like a sword. See Psalm. 57. 5. who heareth] These are the ad∣versaries words, who thought that none did heare, or (as the Chaldee addeth) would punish them.
Vers. 10. His strength] understand, O God that [unspec 10] art his strength: and it may be meant of himselfe, though he speake as of another: 1. Because in the Hebrew there is sometime a sudden change of the person, as Dan. 9. 4. thou keepest covenant towards them which love him, that is, which love thee, Deut. 5. 10. that love me, and keepe his Commandements; for, my commands, Mic. 1. 2. Heare yee people all they, for all yee. 2. Because in the last verse of this Psalme it is repeated, My strength. 3. Also in this place, both the Greeke and Chaldee turne it My strength. 4. Because in the next verse it is written in the Hebrew text letters, his mercy, but by the vowels and margine, read, my mercy; which gi∣veth occasion to suppose the like meaning here. Howbeit the sense is good, if we understand it of the enemie Saul, thus, O God that art his strength, and hast given him the kingdome, and this power. For even wicked rulers have no power, except it be given them from above, Ioh. 19. 11. And Da∣vid much respected Saul, as Gods Anointed, 1 Sam 26. 11. 2 Sam. 1. 14. I take heed] or, will I keep, observe, that is, wait upon thee, or keep thanks and praises for thee, as vers. 18.
Vers. 11. God of my mercy] or, of his mercy, (as [unspec 11] is observed on the former verse;) or, my God of mercy, that is, my mercifull God. prevent me] to wit, with mercy, or blessings, as Psal. 21. 4. let mee see] to wit, vengeance, Psalm. 54. 9. as the Chaldee also here explaineth it.
Vers. 12. people forget] to wit, their sinne, and [unspec 12] punishment for the same. Dead men are forgotten, Psal. 31. 13. Eccles. 9. 5. so their punishment whiles they live, is the more memorable. make them wander] to wit, as vagabonds. The word hath re∣ference to Cains judgment, who was not killed, but marked for a vagabond, Gen. 4. 14, 15. Some pu∣nishments are lesse tolerable than death it selfe, Re∣velat. 9. 6.
Vers. 13. The sinne of their mouth, &c.] This [unspec 13] sentence is difficult; for, 1. It may have reference to the former, that my people forget not their sinnes and punishments, but may tell of them: or, 2. It may respect themselves; let them tell (or confesse) their owne sinnes and punishments, as did Cain, Iudas, &c. Gen. 4. 13, 14. Mat. 27. 4. Or, 3. It. may shew the cause of their judgements, For the sin of their mouth, &c. and so the Chaldee expoundeth