powre not out my soule. Keepe mee from [unspec 9] hands of the snare, which they have laid for me, and the grinnes of them that worke pain∣full iniquity. Let the wicked fall into his net, [unspec 10] whiles I together passe over.
Annotations.
BE firmely directed] or prepared; and so accepta∣ble. as incense] or perfume, which was a [unspec 2] confection of sweet spices, made after the art of the Apothecary, pure and holy, and was by the Priests burned upon the golden altar, every mor∣ning before the Lord, Exod. 30. 34, 35, 36. 7. 8. a figure of the praiers of the Saints, acceptable to God, through Christs mediation, as this place sheweth, compared with Rev. 8. 3. my hands] or palmes, lifted up in praier: see Psal. 63. 5. eve∣ning oblation] the Manchah properly was the meat∣offering, (which was fine flower mingled with oile) offered together with the Lambe every evening, before the Lord continually, as Exod. 29. 39, 40, 41, 42. Num. 28. 2, 3,—8. Here it is taken for the whole oblation, at the time of the offering where∣of the godly used to pray, Exod. 9. 5. Dan. 9. 21. it was at the ninth houre of the day, (about three of the clocke in the afternoone) called the houre of praier, Acts 3. 1.
Vers. 3. a watch] or, a ward, custody, to keep me from speaking amisse. keepe] observe thou: or, [unspec 3] an observation, before the doore. the doore] or gate of my lips, by which my words passe out as at a doore: so the doores of the wombe, Iob 3. 10. The originall dal, is contracted for deleth, a doore: though this be rare: yet the Hebrew text some∣time doth the like, as Chaji, 2 Sam. 23. 20. for Chajil, 1 Chron. 11. 22.
Vers. 4. Incline not] to wit, by Satan, or mine owne corruption: for God properly tempteth no [unspec 4] man to evill, but the devill, and mans owne con∣cupiscence, Iam. 1. 13, 14. 1 Cor. 7. 5. and by Satan, God moveth mens minds, as appeareth, 1 Chro. 21. 1. with 2 Sam. 24. 1. So Matt. 6. 13. evill thing] or word: see Psal. 7. 1. to pretend pretences] or, excuses; thus the Greeke turneth it: the Hebrew also signifieth occasions pretended, as Deut. 22. 14, 17. Or we may reade it, to practise practises in wic∣kednesse. with men that worke] or, with men wor∣kers, that is, such as stoutly, boldly, and manfully worke iniquity. their dainties] the Chaldee ex∣poundeth it, of their songs at bankers.
Vers. 5. smite] or beat me; the word properly signifieth beating with an hammer, Psal. 74. 6. Iudg. [unspec 5] 5. 26. applied to sharperebukes. So Prov. 23. 35. Compare also Prov. 9. 8. and 25. 12. and 28. 23. Zach. 13. 6. it shall be a kindnesse] a mercy, or, with kindnesse, that is, let him smite mee kindly, and reprove me. the head-oile] that is, the chiefe or precious oile: (as head spices are chiefe and princi∣pall, Exod. 30. 23.) or oile of the head, which is to anoint the head with. Or, by head, understand the chiefest of his adversaries, as before, Ps. 140. 10. for this seemeth to be an opposition to the former thus, let the just smite mee, but let not the precious oile (or the oile of the head) of the wicked break mine head: and this the Greeke favoureth, saying, but let not the oile of the sinner supple mine head: by oile, meaning flattering words, as Psal. 55. 22. O∣therwise we may referre it to the former just mans reproofe, it shall be a precious oile, let him not make it faile my head. The Chaldee otherwise expoun∣deth it, and let the Priest reprove me, anointing mee with the anointing oile of the Sanctuary: but let him not take the crowne of the kingdome from mine head. let it not breake my head] not distract or dazell my wits, not overcome me; the Hebrew word sig∣nifieth breaking and bringing to nought, Ps. 33. 10. and is applied to the breaking of the heart by dis∣couragement, Num. 32. 7. and here to the breaking of the head, or bringing to nought of counsels, pur∣poses, &c. by flattery. Or, if it be understood of the just, we may reade it, let him not make it faile mine head, that is, let the oile of his reproofe not be wanting upon mine head. in their evils] or, a∣gainst their evils: which may be applied to the evil deeds of the wicked, or calamities of the just: and here understand, is or shall be in their evils: or, as the Chaldee explaineth it, is ordered against their evill.
Vers. 6. Their Iudges] the Princes of mine ad∣versaries. [unspec 6] are throwne downe] or, throw downe themselves, that is, secretly pursue and beset me in the rockes and mountaines whither I am forced to flee, 1 Sam. 24. 3. and 23. 26. The word may also beare their throwing down to destruction, as 1 Chro. 25. 12. by the rock sides] or, in rockie places; Hebr. in the hands of the rocke; as Psal. 140. 6. and they shall heare] or, though they have heard.
Vers. 7. cutteth and cleaveth] to wit, wood, or [unspec 7] the ground with the plough. of hell] or, the grave. Compare Ezek. 37. 1, 11, 12. Iehovih] or God: see Psal. 68. 21. powre not out my soule] to wit, unto death, as Esa. 53. 12. that is, kill mee not: or, make not my soule bare, that is, leave it not destitute and helplesse.
Vers. 10. Let the wicked fall] or, They shall fall. [unspec 10] into his net] that is, every of them into his owne not, or flue. together] namely, with their fall, or together with them that are with me: or, altogether (wholly) passe over, and escape: the Greeke saith, alone I am, untill I passe over. See this word, Psal. 33. 15.