THe third Booke] to wit, of Psalmes. See the Note on Psal. 42.
Vers. 1. of Asaph] or, to As••ph, who was both a Prophet and a singer: see Psal. 50. 1. The like title [unspec 1] is of the 10. Psalmes following. These are for the most part complaints and meditations of the trou∣bles of Gods people.
Vers. 2. almost] or, a very little lacked, but my [unspec 2] feet had swarved; so after, welnigh, or, almost nothing lacked, but my steps had beene shed: noting hereby his great danger to have fallen through his infir∣mity, had not faith in God sustained him. swarved] or turned, declined. This and the next word slipped have a double reading in the Hebrew by the vowels, they had swar••••d, they had slipped; by the consonants, it had swarved, it had slipped; meaning each of his feet, and every of his steps, to his utter ruine. slipped out] or been powred out, to wit, as water, and so I had beene lost.
Vers. 3. envied] or was jealous, had envious zeale: [unspec 3] See Psal. 37. 1.
Vers. 4. bands] or knots, that is, paines, sores, dis∣eases, [unspec 4] &c. in their death] or till their death, mea∣ning that they live long in pleasure, & dye at ease, as is explained, Iob 21. 13. They spend their daies i•• wealth, and suddenly they goe downe to the grave. The Chaldee saith, For they are not terrified or troubled for the day of their death. but lusty] or, and fat is their fortitude (their firme strength of body) as Iob saith, one dieth in his full strength, br∣ing in all ease and prosperity, his breasts are full of milke, & his bones run full of marrow, Iob 21. 23, 24.
Vers. 5. molestation of sory man] that is, such tur∣moile [unspec 5] as other miserable men endure. See the like phrase in 2 Sam. 7. 14. Aenosh and Adam are here the names of all wretched mankind. See Psal. 8. 5. The Chaldee expoundeth it, They labour not in the labour of men that study in the Law, and with just men, &c.
Vers. 6. compasseth, &c.] or, is a chaine to them [unspec 6] and to him, that is, every of them; as a collar that is hanged for an ornament about the necke. And of this word Anak, to hang a chaine, that Giant Anak had his name, whose children were called Ana∣kims. men great of stature, proud and cruell. See Numb. 13. 23. 34. Ios. 15. 13, 14. a garment] a set habit or ornament finely fitted to the body; such was the harlots habit, Prov. 7. 10.
Vers. 7. eyes standeth] that is, Each eye stan∣deth [unspec 7] or starteth out of the hole for satnesse. In Chal∣dee, The similitude of their faces is changed for sat∣nesse. So in Iob 15. 27. he hath covered his face with his fatnesse. they passe the imaginations, &c.] that is, they exceed in prosperity above that they could imagine or thinke; or, they surpasse in wic∣kednesse above that which mans heart can thinke, ac∣cording to that which here followeth, and as in Ier. 5. 28. it is said, they are waxen fat and shining, they doe passe the words (or deeds) of the wicked.
Vers. 8. They doe corrupt] or consume, dissolve [unspec 8] or make dissolute by their wicked speeches, and by their oppression of men. It may be understood of corrupting, or making rotten with sinne themselves or others, or consuming and wasting with oppressi∣on. with maliciousnesse] or in evill, that is, ma∣liciously or malignantly. from aloft] that is, lof∣tily. Or, of the most High, that is, of God, as in the next verse: but the Chaldee expoundeth it, of the highnesse of their heart.
Vers. 9. against Heavens] that is, against God [unspec 9] and his Saints whom they blaspheme, as it is writ∣ten, he opened his mouth unto blasphemie against God, to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in Heaven, Rev. 13. 6. So elsewhere Heavens are used for God, Dan. 4. 23. L••k. 15. 18.
Vers. 10. his people] Gods owne people are by this [unspec 10]