Annotations upon the Holy Bible. Vol. I wherein the sacred text is inserted, and various readings annex'd, together with parallel scriptures, the more difficult terms in each verse are explained, seeming contradictions reconciled, questions and doubts resolved, and the whole text opened / by the late reverend and learned divine Mr. Matthew Poole.

PSAL. CXLIII.

A Psalm of David.

This Psalm is much of the same nature with the form•…•…, and seems to have been composed much about the same time and upon the like occasion. This is the last of those which are called Penitential Psalms, the former being Psal. 6. & 32. & 38. & 51. & 102. & 130.

1 HEar my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me: and in thy righteousness a 1.1.

2 ‖ 1.2 And enter not into judgment with thy ser∣vant b 1.3: for * 1.4 in thy sight shall no man living be justified c 1.5.

3 For d 1.6 the enemy hath persecuted my soul e 1.7, he hath smitten my life down to the ground f 1.8: he hath made me to dwell in darkness g 1.9, as those that have been long dead h 1.10.

4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me i 1.11: my heart within me is desolate k 1.12.

5 I * 1.13 remember the days of old l 1.14, I meditate on all thy works: I muse on the works of thy hands.

6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee m 1.15: * 1.16 my soul thirsteth after thee n 1.17, as a thirsty land o 1.18. Selah.

7 Hear me speedily, O LORD, my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me * 1.19, ‖ 1.20 lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit p 1.21.

8 Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the morning q 1.22, for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk r 1.23, for * 1.24 I lift up my soul unto thee.

9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I † 1.25 flee unto thee to hide me s 1.26.

10 * 1.27 Teach me to do thy will t 1.28, for thou art my God: thy spirit is good, lead me u 1.29 into the land of uprightness x 1.30.

11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy Names sake: for thy righteousness sake bring my soul out of trouble.

12 And of thy mercy y 1.31 cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for * 1.32 I am thy servant.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Whereby thou art inclined and engaged to favour righ∣teous persons and just causes.
• ‖ 1.2

  Or, but.
• b 1.3

  But when I appeal to thy righteousness, I do it onely with respect to mine enemies, whose cause as well as their persons is worse than mine, but not in reference to thee, as if I could absolutely justifie my self upon a severe tryal at the Tribunal of thy Justice; for if thou shouldest rigorously exa∣mine all the passages of mine heart and life, I dread the thoughts and consequences of it.
• * 1.4

  Exod. 34. 7. Job 4. 17. Rom. 3. 20. Gal. 2. 16.
• c 1.5

  To wit, upon terms of strict justice, without thy indulgence and infinite mercy.
• d 1.6

  This is not a reason of what he last said, v. 2. but an argument to enforce his petition delivered v. 1. and repeat∣ed v. 7, &c. For though I am not faultless, if thou shouldest make an exact search into me, yet mine enemies are more culpable and highly unjust, and therefore I hope for thy help against them from thy justice as well as mercy.
• e 1.7

  i. e. My life; for nothing less will satisfie him.
• f 1.8

  He hath beaten me down to the ground where I lie strugling for life.
• g 1.9

  He hath forced me to have mine abode in dark vaults and caves.
• h 1.10

  Where I am out of sight and memory, and in as •…•…orlorn and hopeless a condition in the eye of man, as those that have •…•…ain long rotting in the grave.
• i 1.11

  See on Psal. 61. 2. & 14•…•…. 3.
• k 1.12

  Deprived of all hope and comfort. Or, is astonished.
• * 1.13

  Psal. 77. 5. 11.
• l 1.14

  i. e. What thou hast done for thy servants in former times. Which he mentions either, 1. as matter of terror, to consider how unlike God now was to himself and to his former dealings: or, 2. as matter of support from former experience, because God was still the same. Either way it drive him to his prayers, which here follow.
• m 1.15

  I pray to thee •…•…ervently. See on Psal. 141. 2.
• * 1.16

  Psal. 63. 1.
• n 1.17

  After thy favour and help.
• o 1.18

  To wit, thirs•…•…eth for rain.
• * 1.19

  Psal. 28. 1.
• ‖ 1.20

  Or, for I am become like, &c.
• p 1.21

  That are dead and buried, of whom there is no hope.
• q 1.22

  i. e. Early, as this phrase is taken, Psal. 90. 14. and else∣where, seasonably and speedily.
• r 1.23

  So as to please thee, and to secure my self.
• * 1.24

  Psal. 25. 1.
• † 1.25

  Heb. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with thee.
• s 1.26

  Without whose care these caves and rocks can give me no protection.
• * 1.27

  Psal. 25. 4, 5. & 139. 24.
• t 1.28

  To continue in faithful obedience to thee, notwithstand∣ing all temp•…•…ations to the contrary.
• u 1.29

  Or rather, as it is ex∣actly in the Hebrew, and as many both ancient and modern Translators render it, Let thy good Spirit lead me. Leave me not to my own blind and vain mind or corrupt affections, neither give me up to the evil Spirit, as thou didst Saul, •…•…ut conduct me in all my ways by thy good, i. e. gracious and holy Spirit.
• x 1.30

  Or, in plain or even land or ground, in a straight and smooth path, that I may not stumble nor fall ei∣ther into sin or mischief. This is opposed to the crooked and rugged ways in which sinners are said to walk. See Psal. 125. 5. Prov. 2. 15. Isa. 40. 4.
• y 1.31

  Out of thy mercy to me, whose life they seek.
• * 1.32

  Psal. 16. 16.