Bible Commentaries

Verse 1
"[A Psalm] of David." Unto thee, ^a O LORD, do I lift up my soul.

(a) I did not put my trust in any worldly thing.

Verse 2
O my God, I ^b trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

(b) That you will take away my enemies, which are your rods.

Verse 4
^c Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.

(c) Retain me in the faith of your promise that I swore not on any side.

Verse 5
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou [art] the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait ^d all the day.

(d) Constantly and against all temptations.

Verse 7
Remember not the ^e sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.

(e) He confesses that his many sins were the reason that his enemies persecuted him, desiring that the cause of the evil may be taken away, so that the effect may cease.

Verse 8
Good and upright [is] the LORD: therefore will he ^f teach sinners in the way.

(f) That is, call them to repentance.

Verse 9
The meek will he ^g guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

(g) He will govern and comfort them that are truly humbled for their sins.

Verse 11
For thy ^h name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it [is] great.

(h) For no other respect.

Verse 12
What ⁱ man [is] he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way [that] he shall ^k choose.

(i) Meaning, the number is very small.

(k) He will direct such with his spirit to follow the right way.

Verse 13
His soul shall dwell at ^l ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.

(l) He will prosper both in spiritual and corporal things.

Verse 14
The ^m secret of the LORD [is] with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

(m) His counsel contained in his word, by which he declares that he is the protector of the faithful.

Verse 17
The troubles of my heart ⁿ are enlarged: [O] bring thou me out of my distresses.

(n) My grief is increased because of my enemies cruelty.

Verse 19
Consider mine ^o enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.

(o) The greater that his afflictions were and the more that his enemies increased, the more near he felt God's help.

Verse 21
Let ^p integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.

(p) As I have behaved myself uprightly toward my enemies, let them know that you are the defender of my just cause.

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