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. XC.

‖ 1.1 A Prayer of Moses the man of God a 1.2.

1 LORD, thou hast been our dwelling-place † 1.3 in all generations b 1.4.

2 Before the mountains c 1.5 were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth, and the world d 1.6: even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God e 1.7.

3 Thou turnest man to destruction f 1.8, and say∣est g 1.9, Return ye children of men.

4 * 1.10 For a thousand years h 1.11 in thy sight i 1.12 are but as yesterday ‖ 1.13 when it is past k 1.14, and as a watch l 1.15 in the night m 1.16.

5 Thou carriest them n 1.17 away as with a floud o 1.18, * 1.19 they are as a sleep p 1.20: in the morning * 1.21 they are like grass which ‖ 1.22 groweth up q 1.23.

6 In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down and wither∣eth r 1.24.

7 For we s 1.25 are consumed t 1.26 by thine anger u 1.27, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee x 1.28, our secret sins y 1.29 † 1.30 in the light of thy countenance.

9 For all our days are † 1.31 passed away z 1.32 in thy wrath: we spend our years ‖ 1.33 as a tale that is told a 1.34.

10 † 1.35 The days of our years b 1.36 are threescore years and ten c 1.37; and if by reason of strength d 1.38 they be fourscore years, yet is their strength e 1.39 la∣bour

and sorrow f 1.40: for it g 1.41 is soon cut off h 1.42, and we flee away i 1.43.

11 Who knoweth k 1.44 the power of thine an∣ger l 1.45? even according to thy fear m 1.46, so is thy wrath n 1.47:

12 * 1.48 So teach us o 1.49 to number our days p 1.50, that we may † 1.51 apply our hearts unto wisdom q 1.52.

13 Return, O LORD r 1.53, how long s 1.54! and let it repent thee concerning thy servants t 1.55.

14 O satisfie us early u 1.56 with thy mercy; that we may rejoyce, and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad according to the days where∣in thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil x 1.57.

16 Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children y 1.58.

17 And let the beauty of the LORD z 1.59 our God be upon us, and establish thou the work of our hands upon us a 1.60, yea the work of our hands establish thou it.

Notes

• ‖ 1.1

  Or, a Prayer, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•… Psalm 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪
• a 1.2

  Who considering that terrible but righteous sentence of God concerning the cutting off all that sinful Generation in the Wilderness, of which see Numb. 14. takes that occasion to publish these Meditations concerning mans mortality and misery in this life, which might be useful both to that and to all succeeding Generations.
• † 1.3

  〈…〉〈…〉
• b 1.4

  Although we and our Fathers for some Generations have had no certain and fixed Habitation, but have been strangers in a land that was not ours, and afflicted for four hundred years, according to thy Prediction, Gen. 15. 13. and although we now are and have been for some time, and still are like to continue in a vast howling Wilderness, having no Houses but dwelling in Tents and wandring from place to place we know not whither; yet thou, O Lord, hast fully supplyed this want, and hast been in stead of, and better than, a dwelling place to us, by thy watchful and gracious Providence over us in all places and exigences. And this is a very proper Preface to this Psalm to intimate that all the following mise∣ries were not to be imputed to God but unto themselves who by their own sins had brought these mischiefs upon them∣selves.
• c 1.5

  Which he mentions as the most fixed and stable part of the Earth.
• d 1.6

  i. e. From Eternity; which is frequently de∣scribed in this manner, as Prov. 8. 25, 26. Ioh. 17. 24. Eph. 1. 4. because there was nothing before the Creation of the World but Eternity. And thus the words here following do explain it. And this Eternity of God is here mentioned part∣ly that men by the contemplation thereof might be wrought to a deeper sence of their own frailty and nothingness, which is the foundation of humility and of all true piety; and to a greater reverence and admiration of the Divine Majesty; and partly for the comfort of Gods people, who notwithstanding all their present miseries have a sure and everlasting refuge and portion.
• e 1.7

  Or, thou art the strong God. Thou hadst thy power and all thy perfections, not by degrees, as men have theirs, but from all Eternity. Or, thou art or wast, O God.
• f 1.8

  But as for man, his case is far otherwise, his time is short, and though he was made by thee an happy Creature, and should have been immortal, yet upon and for his sin thou didst make him mortal and miserable.
• g 1.9

  Or, didst say, i. e. pronounce that sad sentence here following, Return, O men, to the dust out of which you were taken, Gen. 3. 19. Psal. 146. 4. Eccles. 12. 7.
• * 1.10

  2 Pet. 3. 8.
• h 1.11

  If we should now live so long as some of our Progenitors well-nigh did. As he compared mans duration with Gods in respect of its beginning, v. 2. so here he compareth them in respect of the end, or continuance.
• i 1.12

  In thy account, and therefore in truth; which is opposed to the partial and false judgment of men who think time long because they do not un∣derstand Eternity: Or, in comparison of thy endless dura∣tion.
• ‖ 1.13

  Or, when he hath passed them.
• k 1.14

  Which is emphatically added; because time seems long when it is to come, but when it is past and men look backward upon it, it seems very short and contemptible, and men value one hour to come more than a thousand years which are past.
• l 1.15

  Which lasted but for three or four hours; for the night was antiently divided into three or four Watch∣es. See Iudg. 7. 19. Mark 6. 48. and 13. 35. Luk. 12. 38.
• m 1.16

  Which also hath its weight: for the silence and slumbers of the night makes time seem shorter than it doth in the day.
• n 1.17

  i. e. Mankind, of whom he spake, v. 3.
• o 1.18

  Unexpected∣ly, violently and irresistibly, universally, without exception or distinction.
• * 1.19

  Psal. 73. 20.
• p 1.20

  Short and vain, as sleep is, and not min∣ded till it be past. Or, like a Dream when a man sleepeth, wherein there may be some real pleasure, but never any sa∣tisfaction, or some real trouble, but very inconsiderable, and seldom or never pernicious. Even such an idle and insigni∣ficant thing is humane life considered in it self without re∣spect to a future state, in which there is but a meer shadow or dream of felicity, onely the calamities attending upon it are more real and weighty.
• * 1.21

  Psal. 103. 15.
• ‖ 1.22

  Or, is chan∣ged.
• q 1.23

  Heb. which is changed, either first for the worse, which passeth away, as some render the word. Which having generally affirmed here, he may seem more particularly to explain in the next Verse. Or rather second∣ly for the better, as this word is sometimes used, as Iob 14. 7. Isa. 40. 31. which sprouteth out of the Earth and grow∣eth more apparent and green and flourishing. And this inter∣pretation is confirmed from the next Verse, where this same word is used in this sence, where also the morning is again mentioned, and that as the time not of its decay, but of its flourishing.
• r 1.24

  The whole space of mans life is compared to one day, and his prosperity is confined to a part of that day and en∣ded in the close of it.
• s 1.25

  Either, 1. we men: or rather, 2. we Israelites in this wilderness.
• t 1.26

  Either naturally by the frame of our bodies, or violently by extraordinary judgments. Thou dost not suffer us to live so long as we might by the course of nature.
• u 1.27

  Caused by our sinful state and lives.
• x 1.28

  Thou dost not now cover or blot out or pass by our sins, as thou hast usually done to thy people; but thou dost dili∣gently search them out, and accurately observe them, as a se∣vere, but righteous Judge, and art now calling us to an ac∣count for them.
• y 1.29

  Thou dost not onely punish us for our notorious and scandalous sins, which thine honour may seem to oblige thee to do, but even for our secret lusts, the mur∣muring and unbelief and Apostasie and Idolatry of our hearts; which though hid from the eyes of men, thou hast set before thine eyes and brought them to light by thy judgments.
• † 1.30

  Heb. at the luminary of thy countenance.
• † 1.31

  Heb. turned away.
• z 1.32

  Or, turn away themselves or their face from us. They do not continue with us, but quickly turn their backs upon us and leave us.
• ‖ 1.33

  Or, as a me∣ditation.
• a 1.34

  Which may a little affect us for the present, but is quickly ended and gone out of mind. Or, as a word, as Iob 37. 2. which in an instant is gone, and that irrevoca∣bly. Or, as a thought, or a sigh, or a breath. All which come to one sence.
• † 1.35

  Heb. as for the days of our years in them are seventy years.
• b 1.36

  Either 1. of the Israelites in the desart, who being twen∣ty years old, and some thirty, some forty, some fifty years old when they came out of Egypt, and dying in the Wilder∣ness, as all of that age did, Numb. 14. 29. a great number of them doubtless died in their seventieth or eightieth year, as is here implyed. Or rather 2. of the generality of mankind, and the Israelites no less than others, in that and all following Ages, some few persons excepted, amongst whom were Mo∣ses and Caleb and Ioshua, who lived an hundred and twenty years; which is therefore noted of them as a thing singular and extraordinary. This sence suits best with the following words, and with the scope of Moses; which was to represent the vain and transitory condition of men in this life, and how much mankind was now sunk below their Ancestors, who commonly lived many hundreds of years, and that the Israe∣lites, though Gods peculiar people and endowed with many priviledges, yet in this were no better than other men. All which may be considered either as an argument to move God to pity and spare them, or as a motive to awaken and quick∣en the Israelites to serious preparations for death, by com∣paring this with v. 12.
• c 1.37

  Which time the antient Heathen Writers also fixed as the usual space of mens lives.
• d 1.38

  i. e. By the strength of their natural constitution; which is the true and common cause of longer life.
• e 1.39

  Their strongest and most vigorous old Age. Or, their excellency, or pride; that old age which is their glory, and in which men do commonly glory.
• f 1.40

  Filled with troubles and griefs from the infirmities of age, the approach of Death, and the contingences of humane life.
• g 1.41

  Either our age, or our strength.
• h 1.42

  It doth not now de∣cline by many degrees and slow steps, as it doth in our young and flourishing age, but decayeth apace and suddenly fleeth away.
• i 1.43

  We do not now go to Death, as we do from our very Birth, nor run, but flee swiftly away like a Bird, as this word signifies.
• k 1.44

  Few or none sufficiently apprehend it or stedfastly be∣lieve it, or duly consider it, or are rightly affected with it. For all these things are comprehended under this word know∣eth.
• l 1.45

  The greatness and force and dreadful effects of thine anger conceived against the Sons of men, and in particular a∣gainst thine own people for their miscarriages.
• m 1.46

  i. e. Ac∣cording to the fear of thee, as my fear is put for the fear of me, Mal. 1. 6. and his knowledge for the knowledge of him, Isa. 53. 11. According to that fear or dread which sinful men have of a just and holy God. These fears of the Deity are not vain Bugbears, and the effects of ignorance and folly or Su∣perstition, as Heathens and Atheists have sometimes said, but are just and built upon solid grounds and justified by the ter∣rible effects of thy wrath upon mankind.
• n 1.47

  It bears full pro∣portion to it, nay indeed doth far exceed it. It cannot be said of Gods wrath which is said of Death, that the fear of it is worse than the thing it self. But this Verse is by many both antient and later Interpreters rendred otherwise, and that very agreeably to the Hebrew Text, who knoweth the power of thine anger, and thy wrath according to thy fear? i. e. either 1. according to the fear of thee, or so as thou art to be feared, or answerably to thy terrible displeasure against sin and sinners. Or 2. so as to fear and dread thee in such manner and measure as sinful Creatures ought to fear the in∣finite and offended Majesty of God their Creator and Judge and Soveraign, and thereby to be moved to humble himself before thee and fervently to seek thy face and favour; which is the onely true wisdom, for which he prayeth in the next Verse.
• * 1.48

  Psal. 39. 4.
• o 1.49

  By thy spirit and grace as thou hast already taught us by thy word. Or, Teach us rightly (as this word is used Numb. 27. 7. and 2 Kings 7. 9.) to number, &c. as it follows.
• p 1.50

  To consider the shortness and miseries of this life, and the cer∣tainty and speediness of Death, and the causes and conse∣quences thereof.
• † 1.51

  Heb. cause to come.
• q 1.52

  That we may heartily devote our selves to the study and practice of true wisdom, which is nothing else but piety or the fear of God. And why so? Not that the Israelites might thereby procure a revocation of that perem∣ptory sentence of death passed upon all that Generation; nor that other men might hereby prevent their death, both which he very well knew to be impossible, but that men might arm and prepare themselves for death, and for their great account after death, and might make sure of the happi∣ness of the future life. Of which this Text is a plain and pregnant proof.
• r 1.53

  To us in mercy; for thou seemest to have forsaken us and cast us off.
• s 1.54

  Understand, wilt thou be angry: or, will it be ere thou return to us.
• t 1.55

  i. e. Of thy severe proceedings against us, and change thy course and carriage to us.
• u 1.56

  Speedily, or seasonably before we be utterly con∣sumed.
• x 1.57

  Our afflictions have been sharp and long, let not our prosperity be small and short.
• y 1.58

  Let that great and glorious work of giving thy people a compleat deliverance, which thou hast long since designed and promised, be at last accomplished and manifested unto us, and in the sight of the World.
• z 1.59

  i. e. His favourable countenance and gracious influence and glorious presence.
• a 1.60

  Or, in us. Do not onely work for us but in us. And because the glorious work of thy hands is hindered by the evil works of our hands, be thou pleased by thy holy spirit to direct or establish (for this Hebrew word signifies both) the works of our hands, that we may cease to do evil and learn to do well, and turn and constantly cleave unto thee, and not revolt and draw back from thee, as we have frequently done to our own undoing.