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FROM THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON, D. D 
 
 BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO 
 
 THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 
 
84 Psalms — Wheatland and Silvester's Psalms 
 of David, translated into Heroic Verse in as 
 literal a manner as Rhyme and Metre will 
 allow, with Notes, etc., 8vo, dark blue morocco 
 extra, broad borders of gold on sides, gilt edges, 
 
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1 ' r 
 
 
 
^IVOFPd/^ 
 
 THE 
 
 SAL 
 
 V 
 
 -,, 
 
 '934 
 
 
 M S 
 
 O F 
 
 DAVID, 
 
 Translated into 
 
 HEROIC VERSE, 
 
 In as Literal a Manner, 
 
 As Rhyme and Metre will allow. 
 
 WITH 
 
 Arguments to each PSALM. 
 
 AND 
 
 Explanatory Notes. 
 
 - 
 I. i i . i ■ . 
 
 / will fing Praifes unto Thee amongjl the Nail:) 
 Pfalm cviii. ver. 3. 
 
 Cut mens dlvim 
 
 Ho 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for S. Birt, in Ave -Mary -Lane, and j. 
 Buckland, in Pater-nojler Ro<w. 
 
 M.DCC.LIV, 
 
THIS 
 
 WORK, 
 
 Sacred to the Glory of G D, 
 
 IS HUMBLY INSCRIB'D, 
 T O H I S 
 
 ROYAL HIGHNESS 
 
 GEORGE, 
 
 Prince of WALES, 
 
 AND TO HER 
 
 ROYAL HIGHNESS 
 
 THE 
 
 Princefs-Dowager of Wales, 
 
 B Y 
 
 Their moft dutiful Servants, 
 
 Steph. Wheatland, 
 Tipping Silvester. 
 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2013 
 
 http://archive.org/details/fdavidtraOOwhea 
 
(v) 
 A D 
 
 Sereniffimum Wallice Principem. 
 
 A C C I PE tu celebrem, Princeps dUette^ Camcenam. 
 "*- ■*■ Accipe Davidica carmina fancla lyras. 
 Non humilis mufa, aft olim quae lapfa fuperne 
 
 Incedit coram te, venerande Puer. 
 OfFerimus, Princeps 9 divina ora'cla pudenter, 
 
 Vel te digna fatis, digna parente tua. 
 
 Rex idem & vates, fama fuper aethera notus, 
 Augufta haec fcripilt dulcia verba manu. 
 
 Nee tamen haec, — Britcnes tenui quae fundimus ore, 
 Keu ! lons;e Hebraicis debiliora fonis. 
 
 Nos Deus interea fie adjuvet, ut minus altum 
 
 Ingenii culpa detereremus opus. 
 Hoc opus e ccelo defcendit, & evehit illuc, 
 
 Nempe Dei ubertim fpiritus intus alit. 
 
 Perlege, & hinc ccelo difcas te ferre mincrem, 
 
 Imperiique geras lenia fceptra pius. 
 Te Regem populi gaudent fpectare futurum, 
 
 Rex vigeas, — ferusfis modo,— fifque dim 
 
 a 3 Haec 
 
Hsec fi di&a memcr corde infpirata rccondas. 
 
 Hinc cceli, terrae qucm modo regna manent : 
 iEterna, at fero incanum, te gloria cingat, 
 
 Furpureo & vibres Temper ab ore jubar : 
 Aurebibasnumeros, queis cedat Davidis hymnus. 
 
 Sola facmrh hoc ibpcrant talia plectra melos. 
 
 Steph. Wheatland, 
 
( vii ) 
 
 TO HER 
 
 ROYAL HIGHNESS 
 
 THE 
 
 Princels-Dowager of Wales. 
 
 ACCEPT, great Princefs, what Jefides fings, 
 The bell of poets, and the firfl of kings : 
 What raptur'd David wrote, with pleafure hear, 
 His royal hand invites the royal ear. 
 Not Heliconian ftrains, or P indies' dreams, 
 But dread Jehovah fills his aweful themes. 
 Now he laments his falls in humble lays, 
 His voice now rifes with triumphant praife. 
 Here glows his page with pure devotion's flame, 
 There thofe are curs'd, who flight Jehovah's name, 
 What various turns his facred thought employ 
 In pious grief, or ardent love and joy ? 
 When from the ark, he drops the mournful tear, 
 Or when, return'd, he fees the beauty there. 
 Sometimes the meaner! of the vulgar throng 
 He deigns to call with his inftruclive fong. 
 
 a 4 Then 
 
( vlii ) 
 
 Then * GGd-like princes, fons of the mojl high 9 
 Are taught to live, fince they like men /hall die : 
 To live like You, not as for felf defign'd, 
 But,to diilribute good, and blefs mankind : 
 Their gracious influence greatly to beftow, 
 To raife the meek, and lay the tyrant low. 
 For thefe he points out ample blifs in flore, 
 Pleafures at God's right-hand for evermore : 
 Where the great juft their glories ftill renew, 
 Tho* fnatch'd from earthly diadems in view : 
 "Where, when your foul 's to heavenly regions flown, 
 You'll wear a brighter far than England's crown. 
 
 Tipping Silvester. 
 
THE 
 
 PREFACE, 
 
 * CTT*I S a Remark of an eminent TVit and Poet of 
 j[ long flanding, and almojl in the Mcuth of every 
 Cri tick, great and fmall, that vjhilft our Tranjla- 
 tors of the Pfalms of David, have not fought to fupply the 
 loft Beauties of his Diclion by new ones in their own 
 Language ; they have been fo far from doing Juftice to 
 that Divine Poet, that they fe em to revile him vjorfe than 
 Shimei.* But fince this Remark, others, by aiming to 
 avoid this, have fallen into an Error worfe than the 
 fir ft, and thro' a Mifapp Heat ion of this Striclure,havc 
 been fo diffufive in their Phrafe, and fo injur ioufly 
 kind in lending their own 'Thoughts to the Sacred Poet, 
 that the Scriptural, and Royal Stamp, feems to be 
 effaced in them, and injlead of David's Pfalms, they 
 rather appear like Hymns offuch Mafters own making. 
 And indeed if we confider the Turn of Thought and 
 Language, peculiar to the Eaftern Writers, fuch a 
 Liberty of intermixing foreign Sentiments in the modern 
 Tafte and Manner, mufl probably produce a Performance^ 
 which zuill appear like a piece of Patch-work, wherein 
 Strips of new Cloth /hall be here and there interfpers'd 
 
 upon 
 
 * And no Doubt this is as juft, as it is fevere, 
 concerning moll of the Tranflations extant in Mr. 
 Co-zvley's Time. 
 
* PREFACE. 
 
 sport an old Garment, However, there are two- 
 Translations of 'the dijfufive Kind, which are mention' d 
 fy Poetical Criticks with fome Honour and Regard ; 
 one of thetr. in French by Bijhop Godeau, and the 
 ether in Engliih by Dr. Woodford. But whatfoever 
 may be due to their Ingenuity, they have fallen under 
 Cenfure for the too great Liberty, zuhich they have 
 taken with the holy Penman ; the former having re- 
 ceived a foft Sentence from that Good-natured and 
 Ingenious Or i tick, and well- qualified fudge upon account 
 of his Knowledge of the French Tongue, Dr. Bafil 
 Kennet, and the latter from Sir John Denham, in 
 the Prefaces to their own Verfions. Tkefe are Names 
 of fuck confiderable Note in the learned World, that 
 their Authority may have fome Weight with any one in 
 fznning his Opinion upon this Point. But yet there is 
 a % Extreme on the other Side, which the latter of thefe 
 has net entirely avoided- For being Jlrongly poffefd 
 in Favour of his Sentence upon the Liberty, which he 
 Condemns, he hath run into the oppofite Offence, and 
 has in fome Places curtailed his Author, whofe facred 
 Character will not permit fitch a Diminution. But, 
 it doth not follow, that if Sir John Denham did not 
 per filly fuccccd in the Execution of his Defign, that 
 therefore his Defign was not commendable and judicious. 
 Wbtch may he vindicated from the following Reflections, 
 }n Favour of a literal Tranflatian* 
 
 In the firjl Plaec^ it is now the Language of 
 
 * (■ riters of no fmall Rank, as an In/lance of the 
 intcrnai t of the Holy Scripture, c< That 
 M whilji mojl : [}l ^, s ar - improve! by a free 
 " iiiid cmbell'fiul Translation red Writi 
 
 * : when h'ttralfy tranflated with a due Regard to the 
 of the different L'> full 
 
 their Beauty and 
 " Strong 
 
 * Sec B m the Charaftcrifticks, and 
 
 cks. 
 
PREFACE. g 
 
 " Strength in whatfoever Language, by the file Energy 
 " of unadorrid Phrafe, natural Images, Weight of 
 " Sentiment, and great Simplicity,'" 
 
 And then, if this Remark be juft, it zvill more 
 particularly hold as an Argument for fuch an Attempt, 
 as this, in the EnglifhTongue at this Time, when our 
 Poetry has received fuch Refinements from feme late 
 modern Hands^ particularly Mr. PopeV, as well as 
 its Language ; the Nature and Genius of which are 
 extremely well fuited to fuch a Defign. For 'tis an 
 Obferuation of the Celebrated Mr. * Addifon, " That 
 " the Hebrew Idioms run into the Englifh Tongue 
 " with a particular Grace and Beauty. Our Lan* 
 <c g ua g e i f a )' s k e i has received innumerable Elegancies 
 u and Improvements from that Infufion a/^Hebraifms, 
 " which are derived to it out of the Paffages in Holy 
 w Writ. They give a Force and Energy to our" 
 u Exprejfions, warm and animate our Language, and 
 m convey our Thoughts in more ardent and intenfe 
 M Phrafes, than any that are to be met with in our 
 m native Tongue." 
 
 But above all, the facred Character of the Book of 
 Pfalms fbould keep it free from Foreign Incroachments. 
 For tho' f Bifhop Godeau acknowledges himfelfto have 
 mix'd his own Thoughts with the Holy Scripture, 
 without any feeming Confcioufnefs of Offence, 'tis no 
 doubt an high Trefpafs, and an unwarrantable Free- 
 dom ; and Jhould fuch an intermix' d Piece come out 
 under the Title of David's Pfalms, it would have a 
 Merit in proportion to the Value of a Piece of Coin, 
 which Jhould bear the King's Image and Supejfcription, 
 but be depreciated by the Mixture of a Metal of an 
 inf trior Kind, and of debafing Alloy \ 
 
 But 
 
 * Spectator, Vol. vi. N°. 405. 
 
 t See the Preface to Kennefs Veriion. 
 
xii PREFACE. 
 
 But tho' this may he jujl concerning Foreign Mix- 
 tures with the divinely infpir'd Matter of the Sacred 
 Books, yet fince Divines attribute the Language to the 
 Authors tbemfdveSy fuppofing them to have us'd their 
 ozvn Words and Phnfies in the Delivery of the holy 
 Oracles, may not a different Liberty be allowable with 
 refpeel to the manner of Expreffion in a Tranjiaiion, or 
 Verfiohy of a Sacred Canonical Poem ? To which we 
 reply, that upon Suppofition the Poetic Turn and Style, 
 end the external Beauty can be Jo prejerv'd, that Verfion 
 will probably be mojl acceptable to the general Tajle y 
 which fall give us as near, as poffibly, the Matter 
 hi the Pfalmift'i own Maimer of Expreffion. For 
 David is in the Sacred Hijiory celebrated by the Title 
 tf/*the fweet Singer of Ifrael ; and is confikerd as the 
 bejl of Poets by both ancient and modern Writers. Who 
 then zvould not defire to fee him, as he is i?i himfelf f 
 But if that cannot he in a Tranflation ; the next 
 Thing to be defir'd is to have him in a Tranfation y as 
 like himfelf, as the Nature of the Thing will permit. 
 From whence we conclude it to be an high Error to 
 make ufe cf any Expreffion in a Tranflation of him of 
 an idolatrous Stamp, fince one grand Reafon, why he 
 is fly led the bejl of Poets, -is becaufe his Hymns are all 
 fa creel to the True God ; in which Particular the 
 bejt of the Latin Tranfators have been found to cffeiid. 
 Another Error in Jtyle upon this Viezu would be an 
 Affeclation of one continued Strain of lofty and exalted 
 Diclion, juch as is fuited properly and peculiarly to 
 fublime Matter alone. Widen David in his Numbers 
 delivers moral Rides and Precepts for the Injiruclion 
 cf All, his Style is fuited to the didaclic Matter, being 
 plain and fimple, and lefs adorn d with Tropes and 
 Figures. When he groans in the Pfahns under the 
 Senfe of Guilt, he groans indeed aloud, but for the 
 friojt part in the humbler Strains of Penitence and 
 Contrition. When he petitions for future Favours, 
 his Expreffions are ardent and fervent, but of equable 
 end more continued Tenor. JVhen he burjls forth into 
 
 Raptures 
 
PREFACE. xiii 
 
 Raptures of Praife and lhankf giving, 'tis in more 
 elevated Language, and more exalted Meafures* 
 And when he defcribes the Almighty s going out 
 to exercife his Judgments on his Emmies, we may 
 fay, as Bijhop Patrick doth on the Thirty-eighth, and 
 fome following Chapters of Job, that the PfalmiiVi- 
 Poetry is as much fuperior to that of others, as 
 Thunder is louder than a Whifper. From hence it 
 will follow, that an Expectation of lofty and fublime 
 Diclion in all and every Part of an Englifh Verfion 
 cfthe Pfabns, is injudicious, and founded on a falfe 
 Tajie. 
 
 Having thus vindicated our Atte?npt of a clofe 
 Tranjlation, meaning one with as little Paraphrafe, as 
 Rhyme and Metre will allow ; we will now give fome 
 Account of the Menage of it. The firji Thing 
 remarkable, and which will be obvious to every Reader \ 
 is the frequent Ufe of the dread and aweful Name 
 of the Supreme Being, Jehovah. 'Th well known, 
 that the later Jews forbore the Pronunciation of it ; 
 hut * Bishop Hare deems it a Superjlition of more 
 modern Date ; which probably prevailed after the 
 Knowledge of the Hebrew Metre was loji -, becaufe^ 
 as he reads the Divine Name, (Javoh) the fupply 
 ofthofe other Names in the room of it, viz. Adonai, 
 or Elohim, in reading the Verfe, where this occurs in 
 the Text, would mar the Meafure, and fpoil the 
 Harmony of the Numbers. Befidcs, it bearing the 
 Import of that Name, by which God hiwf elf commanded 
 Mofes to call him to the Jews, no doubt the ancient 
 Jews gave him that Name on Solemn Occafions, by 
 which he himfelf chofe to be called. To which add, 
 that the Holy Vfalmiitfeems to delight in the Repetition 
 of it, to take the highejl Pleafure in, and to dwell upon 
 the Sound. And 'tis for thefe Reafons, that we have 
 for the mojl Part in this refpeel follow' d the Text in 
 
 this 
 
 * See hi; Prolegomena, 
 
xlv PREFACE. 
 
 this Tranflation ; and more fomallf in thcfe pfalms, 
 which are addrcjs'd to the Nations, and wh'u h call 
 upon them to acknowledge the True God, the God of 
 Ifrael, by Name, in Oppofition to the flrange and falfe 
 Gods, or Idols of the Heathen. 
 
 Again, as we have above made a Determination in 
 Favour of a clofe Tranflation, it may be proper .to 
 remark thereupon, that tue do not therein ?nean to 
 exclude a fparing JJfe of the Periphrasis, or Circum- 
 locution. For iho* Sir * John Dennam cenfures 
 Mr. Barton upon this Account, yet wc ?nay venture to 
 affirm, that if it is a Fault, 'tis the mojl excufable 
 of any, which one, engaged in fuch a Work, can be 
 guilty cf For it relates only to the Diction, and may 
 be us 9 d without any Addition to, or Diminution of the 
 divinely infpir'd Matter. And fine e neither of thefe 
 will be allovSd by the judicious Tajle, it remains, as 
 fome Alteration rnujl be made in the Transfufion from one 
 Language to another, that this Indulgence Jhould be 
 granted in the Diclion, fo that it be modefily taken to 
 ferve the end of Perfpicuity, and fo far, as to gain a 
 Scope for the Rhyme to turn in % and for the framing 
 of the Meafures. 
 
 But then as to the kind of Meafure, what may 
 vindicate fuch an Attempt in Heroic Numbers ? Now 
 of all thofe, zvho have endeavour' 'd to refcue the 
 Hebrew Metre from Oblivion, fuch as Gomarus, 
 Meibomius, Le Clerc, and Bijhop Hare, each is 
 diffentient from his Fredeceffr in this Work ; and the 
 t-afi -mention d Bijhop is far from having ?nade the 
 Skillful in the Hebrew Tongue perfeel Converts to his 
 Opinion. So that there can be no Rule of Imitation 
 from their Performances to determine a Tranjhtor to 
 any certain Mcafures in fuch an Attmpt. Nay, I 
 believe, whoever fhall confute their Specimens, will find 
 fc?ne Lines, (if they regard not the Quantity of Syllables, 
 
 according 
 
 * See the Preface to his Yerfion. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 according to the Pofitlon of BijhopHzre) not perfectly 
 ejlrangd from the Numbers of our Enghih Heroic 
 Verfe. But wbetloer that be allowed, or not, there 
 have been Greek Exemplary both Ancient and Modern^ 
 as well as Latin, to countenance fuch a Vcrfion in cur 
 Tongue. And tho* the Englifh Verfions have hitherto 
 run into the Variety of the foorter Ferfe, as fuiting 
 bejl to Church- Mufick, and the Publick Service-, yet 
 Sir John Denham acknoiuledges, that he could have 
 fucceeded better in various Injlances, had he indulged 
 himfelf in the Verfe of Ten Syllables, or the Englifh 
 Heroic ; which may vindicate the Ufe of it in this 
 Work, that is intended for the Pockety or the Clofet^ 
 and not to be fet to Church- Mufick, or for the 
 Publick Worjhip. And indeed, it would not have been 
 confiftent with Modefly, nay it would have been bold 
 Prefumption, to have engaged in fuch a Work with 
 the latter View, unlefs under the Direclio?i and Appro- 
 bation of the Bijhops and Governors of the Church. 
 
 It only remains , that we Jhould point out the peculiar 
 Ufe, that this Work may tend to, when there are fo 
 many Verfions already extant. Now, tho* its one 
 continued Meafure is not fo well adapted, as above 
 obferv'd, to be fet to various Tunes, yet all Poetry is 
 Mufick in itfelf', and as the Heroic Verfe is the 
 Favourite of fome Ears, it may with fuch P erf ons have 
 an Advantage over a Profe Tranfation, or one in 
 ether Meafures, for private Vfe, and in their devotional 
 Retirements. For which End the Book of Pfalms is 
 fweetly fuited ; as well as for publick Worjhip. And 
 the Arguments to each Pfalm in this Verfion may be of 
 fervice for this Purpofe, to point out thofe, proper for 
 the various Occafions of Confeffion of Sin, Petition for 
 Grace and Pardon, Faith and Reliance upon God, and 
 for future Bleffmgs for ourfelves dnd all Mankind ; 
 of Thankfgiving for thofe already recevud, for our 
 Creation, Prefervation by God the Father, and our 
 Redemption thro' the JMeiTuh, therein promised ; and 
 
xvi PREFACE. 
 
 of Praife for the Excellence of the Divine Nature ', and 
 all the Wonders of his Providence. Befides which, the 
 Notes, together with the Arguments, which are not 
 common to other Poetical Editions, may ajfifl the 
 Apprehenfion of the Reader, who is not converfant 
 with Commentators and Expofitors, and tend to the 
 better under/landing of the Pfalms ; which is a very 
 confiderable End, and may it/elf alone be an Apology 
 for the Publication of this Work ; as this good Intention* 
 and the known Difficulty of the Performance, may 
 apologize for the many Defecls in the Execution of it. 
 
 E R R A T £, 
 
 Page 50, in the note, for Pith-hhe read Pith-he. P. 
 1 1 6, 1. 5, for lead read led. P. 1 86, 1. 1 2, for nam read 
 name. P. 193, 1. 10, add a period at the end of the line. 
 P. 227, J. 1, for his read its. P. 265, 1. 10, read 
 As thro" the <wild, he led them thro' the deep. P. 288, L 
 io, in the Argument, for defparation read defperation. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 PSALMS 
 
 O F 
 
 DAVID, 
 
 In Heroic Measure, 
 
 PSALM I. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The End cf Man is Bleffednefs, and the Way to It 
 
 the Obfervance of God's Law ; which the Author y 
 
 whether the Colleclor of thefe five Books of Pfalms ^ 
 
 or David a , as Apollinarius, and others^ think^ lays 
 
 B down 
 
 * Though the whole book of Pfalms is fometimes 
 entitled, The Pfalms of David, yet 'tis apparent, as 
 well from the matter, as the Hebrew infcriptions, that 
 feveral of them had different authors. But then there 
 are fifty, which have no author, or occafion, infcrib'd ■, 
 and of thefe twenty- five have no infcription at all : 
 •ne of which is this noted hymn, which is introductory 
 
 to 
 
2 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 down here tss the Foundation (fo St. Bafil concaves 
 cf it) of the whele unfiling Work. So that out of 
 AthanafiusV Epijile to Marcellinus, and Theo- 
 doret'j Preface to this Pfalm y we may bejiow 
 upon it the Title ^Makarismos, or Blefled- 
 neis. Patrick. 
 
 TJLES SINGS b await that man, who never (trays 
 *^ Thro' wicked counfel from religion's ways ; 
 From finners paths who keeps his cautious feet, 
 And fits not vaunting in the fcorner's feat : 
 Nought from its joy his raptured foul can draw, 
 But day and night he fcans Jehovah's law. 
 This blefied man mall future feafons fee 
 His honours fpreading, as a verdant tree ; 
 
 Which 
 
 to the whole work. Yet the Seventy, and other ancient 
 interpreters, have either from tradition, or written au- 
 thority, afcrib'd molt of them to their feveral Authors, 
 and in particular Apollinarius in his Greek, heroic, 
 verfion has infcrib'd this, An hymn of David, the king 
 and prophet. 
 
 b Blessings. Heb. Ash-re. 'Tis noted by the 
 learned bifhop Hare in his metrical Hebrew edition of 
 the Pfalms, (complaining thereupon of the prefent 
 flender knowledge of the Hebrew tongue,) that the 
 grammatical acceptation of this word is doubtful, viz. 
 whether it is to be taken adverbially, adjcftively, or 
 fubftantively ; but he is inclined to the latter, and ac- 
 cordingly we have render'd it fubftantively, different 
 from the common run of tranflations in profe and 
 verfe. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 3 
 
 Which c riv'lets, that divide the winding mead, 
 With fertile flores from plenteous currents feed ; 
 He mail with timely fruit unfading ftand, 
 And all fhall profper which he takes in hand. 
 Not fo th' unjuft : far different is his lot, 
 Whofe leaf fhall wither, and whofe branches rot : 
 Soon fhall he pafs, with no remains behind, 
 Like empty chaff before the driving wind : 
 He fhall not ftand, when judgment's fummons call ; 
 Before th' afTembled juft fhall finners fall : 
 Jehovah knows th' upright, and notes his way, 
 But ways of fin lead to a fwift decay. 
 
 c Rivulets, in Heb. called Placim, dtvifions or 
 partitions. In hot countries they ufed to plant gardens 
 near fprings of water, from whence the hufbandman 
 deriv'd many little becks, or riverets, to run on the 
 roots of trees, fet in a row, whereby they were moift- 
 en«d and made fruitful. Ainswqrth. 
 
 B 2 PSALM 
 
4 The PSALMS *f DAVID, 
 
 PSALM IL 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Tbts Pfalm (under the Hiftory of David, whim 
 from a low and afflitted Condition, through much 
 Oppo/kion from Saul and others, God raifed to v 
 Throne^) -contains &n illujlrious Prophecy of the 
 Kingdom of Chrift ; zvhom God raifed even from 
 the Dead , made the King of Glory, and notwith- 
 standing all that the Scribes, and Pharifees, Herod, 
 <md other Princes, could do to hinder it, eyilarged 
 his Kingdom to the icttermojl Parts of the Earth* 
 Patjuck, 
 
 TI7HY do the heathens in fierce tumults rage ? 
 
 Why do the lands in vain with heav'n engage ? 
 The worldly kings againft the Lord combine, 
 Againlr. his d Christ the furious princes join : 
 
 Let 
 
 d Christ, Anointed. Heb. Mashiach, wMes- 
 st as j which word, though it be general for the ancient 
 Kings, Priefts, Prophets, who were anointed with 
 oil, yet it is principally the name of the Son of God, 
 our Saviour, who was known in Ifrael by the name of 
 the Me ssi as, and among the Greeks by the name of 
 Christ. Accordingly it here points more eminently 
 at him, who was the king immortal, anointed tvitb 
 the oil of gladfiefs abo<ve his fellonvs, as well as at Da- 
 vid, who was a type of him, and luffered the like op- 
 
 pofition, 
 
T!x PSALMS f DAVID, 5 
 Let us, they rafhly fay, exert out hand's 
 To caff away thefr cords, and break their bands* 
 But he, who fills the regal feat on highy 
 Shall laugh with fcorn, and all their rage defy j 
 Jehovah fhall deride the rebel crew* 
 Andfpeak his wrath in the fwift judgments due* 
 M I have anointed, through my fbv'reign will* 
 *' My king, enthroned on e Sion's facsed hill : 
 M I'll publi/h the decree, no power ihall break. 
 This is the purpofe, which Jehovah fpake : 
 u Thou art ray Son, begotten to the thron*,, 
 u This is the birth-day of my Chofen One : 
 " Afk me — the heathen kingdoms mall be thise, 
 " Thy 'flabliuYd rule fliall dillant realms confine : 
 u Thine iron rod mail bear refiftlefs fway, 
 w Dafh kings in pieces, as the potter's clay." 
 Learn now, ye kings, ye earthly judges, hear^ 
 With joyful homage the dread Lord revere. 
 
 b 3 o: 
 
 pontion, as he did, from his own people, and the ru- 
 lers and governors of the nations. Acts iv. 27, 28, 
 
 AlNSWORTH. 
 
 c Sion. The name of an high mountain and fort 
 in Jerufalem, taken from the Jebujites- by David* t3 
 which he brought the ark, and near which was bttilt 
 the temple. It was therefore called the mountain oi 
 holinefs, and was a figure of Cbri]i\ church , 
 
6 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 O ! kifs the Son f ; his kindling fury flay, 
 Left ye fhould perifh from the righteous way, 
 If it blaze forth but little. O ! ye juft, 
 Bleffings are yours, who iix on him your truft. 
 
 PSALM III. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Hebrew Infcription. 
 
 A Pfalm of David, when he fed from the Face of 
 Abfalom bis So?i. 
 
 T TOW thick, Jehovah, my diflre/Tes rife ! 
 
 *" What numerous troops my threat'ned fall deviie ? 
 
 His fqul {hall die, the faithlefs Many fay, 
 
 His Saviour God has caft him quite away. 
 
 ? Selah. 
 To 
 
 1 0\ kiss the Son. Kifling was ufed in fign of 
 love and obedience, Gen. xli. 40. As alfo in reli- 
 gion and divine worfhip ; and therefore due to Chnji. 
 
 AlNSWORTH. 
 
 8 Selah, from Salal, exalta<vit, or Salah, remjft. 
 The learned bifhop Hare remarks, that this word en- 
 tirely refpecls the mufic, to which the pfalm is fet : 
 but that whether it fignifies an elevation, or remiffion 
 of the voice, or a paufe, was not to te difcover'd. 
 Yet if we confider, that the firft time it occurs, as in 
 this place, it follows an expreffion, in which a princi- 
 pal 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 7 
 
 To thee, Jehovah, all mine hope is fled, 
 My fliield, my glory, which exalts mine head : 
 Yet with my voice I mov'd Jehovah ftill, 
 Who kindly anfwer'd from his holy hill. 
 
 Selah. 
 I laid me down, and flept, and wak'd again, 
 For 'twas Jehovah did my life fuflain : 
 Tho* round about me foes in myriads rofe, 
 My fearlefs foul fhall reft in fweet repofe. 
 Jehovah, rife; forbear, my God, no more, 
 To fave me from the rebels treach'rous powV. 
 Thou in their cheeks the crackling bones hall broke, 
 And crafti'd their teeth with thine avenging ftroke. 
 *Tis thine, O Lord, falvation to beitow, 
 From thee alone thy people's blefiings flow. 
 
 Selah, 
 
 pal word is heightened by an additional, emphatical, 
 letter, to encreafe the fenfe ; and that in two places be- 
 low, it anfwers to an exultation of the Pfalmift in the 
 love and favour of God, we may conjecture it denotes, 
 that the mufic there dwells and reds upon the thought. 
 So that in matter of more intenfe joy, or forrow, or 
 raging wickedncfs, or pride, or the aggravated vanity 
 of human nature, or a&s of devotion, and eagernefs 
 of defire, it indicates, that by an elevation of the notes, 
 or other modulation, and alfo by a proper paufe, the 
 found is there defigned to be an Echo to the fenfe, and 
 that thereby the attention be more ftrongly excited. 
 See Buxtorf upon the word, and Ainsworth, 
 Bythner, &c. on the place. 
 
 B 4 PSALM 
 
8 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM IV. 
 
 To the Matter of Mufic on Neginoth (ftringed 
 Inftruments.) A Pfalm of David, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 IVhen, or upon zvhat Occafton, this Pfalm was 
 penn'dy is not certainly known : though the Matter 
 of it makes it probable, it was the fame y or the 
 like Diftrefs, wherein he made the foregoing, Pa- 
 trick. 
 
 /~\H ! righteous God, receive my juft addrefs, 
 ^^^ Thou haft enlarg'd me, when in ftrait diftrefs : 
 I fly for mercy, and relief to thee, 
 Hear thou mine humble pray V, and fet me free : 
 How long, h ye fons of men, will ye defame 
 My life ; and turn my glory into fhame ? 
 How long will ye my fov'reign pow'r defy 
 With vain pretexts, and forge th' infidious lye ? 
 
 Selah 
 Know, thro 1 Jehovah's wond'rous choice I reign, 
 I ne'er mall afk Jehovah's ear in vain, 
 
 His 
 
 h Sons of men. Hereby is meant great men, the 
 Hebrew being Ish, which is the name of man in refpect 
 to his power and dignity, as appeareth from Pfalm 
 xliii. 3. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 9 
 
 His favoured fervant. Stand in holy awe, 
 Nor by your fins tranfgrefs his righteous law. 
 When on your beds you lie reclin'd at eafe, 
 Confult your hearts, and your commotions ceafe. 
 
 Selah. 
 Bring ye the ' offering of a foul that's juft, 
 And in Jehovah put your certain truft. 
 Who will promote our good ? the Many fay ; 
 Beam forth, O Lord, thy face's chearful ray : 
 Thy gracious looks more cordial joys afford, 
 Than corn, and wine, and oil, upon their board. 
 I'll lay me down in peace, and fweetly fleep, 
 Since thou, O Lord, alone my tent dofl fafely keer 
 
 1 The Chaldee giveth this fenfe, Subdue your htj 
 and it Jhall be counted unto you as a facrifice of jujln 
 So that the paffage of the Roman Satyrift to this pur 
 pofe feems to be a ray of the divine wifdom. 
 
 Compojttum fas, jufque animi, fanSlofque receffus 
 Mentis y & incoclum generofo peilus honejio ; 
 Hac cedoy ut admoveam templis> cl*f farre litabo, 
 
 Pers. Sat. ii. 
 
 PSALM 
 
*o The PSALMS of DAVID, 
 
 PSALM V. 
 
 To the chief Mufician upon Nehiloth y (the Organ*} 
 A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Ji ts prefumed to have been compos 'd, when the Au- 
 thor was under the Perfecution of Saul, or Ab- 
 feiom 3 in Commemoration of that fad Condition^ 
 end of the devout Confidence he placed in God for 
 Deliverance out of it. Patrick. 
 
 T T EAR me, O Lord, when by my words addreft, 
 
 ** And weigh the mufings of my penfive breaft ; 
 
 Yield to my crying with thy gracious nod, 
 
 To thee I make my prayV, my king, and God. 
 
 In early morn (halt thou, Jehovah, hear, 
 
 When with my vows I court thy fav'ring ear : 
 
 When early morn (hall gild the ruddy fkies, 
 
 Tow'rds heav'n Fll fend my voice, and k fix mine eyes : 
 
 Thou, God, no evil can'ft with pleafure fee, 
 
 No wicked perfon fhall abide with thee ; 
 
 Vain- 
 
 k Heb. Va-atsap-pe, and I will intently bend mine 
 eyes. The word here and conjugation denote vigilant 
 and diligent expectation of what God will anfwer. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. u 
 Vain-glorious folly dreads thy fearching fight, 
 Thou hateft all, who I do not truth and right. 
 Liars fhall perilh, by thine arm withftood ; 
 The Lord abhors the m guileful man of blood. 
 Thro' mercies great Til in thine houfe appear, 
 And tow'rds thy temple bow in holy fear. 
 In thy ftrait paths of right thy fervant guide, 
 O Lord, left thro' my foes my footfteps Aide. 
 Forth from their mouth no certain truths proceed, 
 Whilfl in their hearts the woeful evils breed. 
 Their throat's an open fepulchre ; their tongue 
 Smooths with deceitful fpeech the purpos'd wrong. 
 Their crimes for thy judicial vengeance call ; 
 Let them, O God, by their own counfels fall : 
 P.eje& them, thro' their num'rous fins thy foes, 
 For againft thee their rebel bands arofe. 
 Let thofe who lean on thy protecting care, 
 Sing hymns, and with loud tranfports rend the air : 
 
 Since 
 
 1 Chaldee trnnflateth it, Them, that do falfbood. 
 The Heb. Ave n, or according to bifhbp Hare, On fig- 
 nifies Mendacium, a lie : but then 'tis a lie in things, 
 not in words, as when one omitteth the good, which 
 he ought to do, or commits evil, efpecially idolatry, 
 from whence comes forrow, and judicial mifery. 
 
 m Orig. Man of bloods ; which expreffion, in the 
 plural number, fignines, not the heroic blood-fpiller, 
 but the treacherous man-flayer. Ainsworth. 
 
12 Tfo PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Since thou from danger doft preferve them free, 
 Let thofe, who love thy name, rejoice in thee : 
 Thy grace fhall crown them, Lord, thy ble fling guide. 
 And fcreen then*, as a ihield, on tvery fide. 
 
 PSALM VL 
 
 To the chief Mufician on Negbioih, upon Sheminitby 
 i. e. on the Harp of eight Strings. 
 
 A R G U M E N T. 
 
 Wl?£n David labour' *d under feme grievous Difeafe^ 
 he made bis Complaints to God^ and, deprecated bis 
 Difpleafure^ according to the Senje of this Pfalm. 
 By way of Accommodation^ the JFords have been ap- 
 plied So the Sicbiefs of the Mind; hut upon the 
 former Account alfo it may be caWd one of the Peni- 
 tential Pfalms. Patrick. 
 
 /^HECK thy rebukes, O Lord, thy wrath affwage, 
 ^~ > ^ Do not chaftife me in thy boiling rage. 
 Have mercy on me, Lord, diflrefi.'d and weak. 
 To heal my vexed bones thee, Lord, I feek. 
 My fore-vex'd foul's refentment quick, and ftrong, 
 Anfwers each pang ; but thou, O Lord, how long ?— 
 Turn, for thy mercy's fake, O Lord, and fave 
 A dying wretch, and match him from the grave. 
 
 There 
 
Tn PSALMS f DAVID. 13 
 
 ■ There he no longer can adore thy name, 
 Sound forth his thanks, or blaze thy glorious fame. 
 Weary, and with my groaning faint and low, 
 All night my forrows make my bed o'erflow : 
 Whene'er I court the foft recruits of fleep, 
 My water'd couch in ftreaming tears I fleep : 
 Mine eye is gnawn with grief, decay'd its grace, 
 And thro' my -foes ■&£ in my furrow'd face ; 
 Avaunt, ye wicked crew, Jehovah hears, 
 And melts with pity at my mournful tears : 
 I am no outcaft, no ; the Lord will grant 
 My full petition, and relieve my want, 
 Let all my foes with mame and horror burn, 
 Let them, oonfus"d, with fudden mame return, 
 
 n This argument is often ufed in the Pfaims to ob- 
 tain the favour of God, that not the Dead, but thoie, 
 who remain in the land of the living, can (openly, i. e. 
 in the church amongft men) celebrate and ihew forth 
 the name and praifes of God. See Pfalm xxx. 9. lxxx. 
 10. cxv. 17. Alfolfaiah. xxxviii. 18. Hare, Ains- 
 
 WORTH. 
 
 VSAIM 
 
i 4 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM VII. 
 
 Shiggaion (Solace) of David, which he fang unto 
 the Lord, concerning the Words (or Bufinefs) 
 of Cujh the Benjamite, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 An excellent Pfalm, composed by David, to comme- 
 morate the Loving-kindnefs of the Lord, upon Occa- 
 fion of fome Calumnies andfalfe Accufations ; where- 
 in Cufh, one of the fame Tribe with Saul, and 
 probably one of his Courtiers, or Captains, if not 
 his Kinfman, had charged David with fome very 
 great Crime, of Treafon it is likely, and Confpiracy 
 againjl Saul. Patrick. 
 
 f^\ Lord, my God, my truft is fix'd on thee, 
 ^■^ From the purfuing tyrant fet me free : 
 Left, if thou fhouldft with-hold thy faving pow'r, 
 He, like a lion, mould my foul devour. 
 
 Lord, my God, if this againft me ftand, 
 If there's difloyal treadTry in mine hand ; 
 If, well receiv'd on favour's gracious call, 
 
 1 e'er devis'd my peaceful Sov'reign's fall ; 
 (Nay, when provok'd, and urg'd by hoflile ftrife, 
 His I preferv'd, who caufelefs fought my life) 
 
 May 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 15 
 May I the objedl of his wrath remain, 
 And let my Wood his vengeful fword diftain : 
 Let my pale corfe be trampled in the mire, 
 And let mine honour in the duft expire. 
 
 Selak 
 
 At length, Jehovah, roufe thy fieeping rage, 
 
 Exert thy terrors, and my foes engage : 
 
 Arife up for me, in my caufe declare, 
 
 And in thy juflice prove my dealings fair ; 
 
 Then all the people mall to thee refort, 
 
 Attend thy fentence, and revere thy court. 
 
 Lord, for their fakes, fit thou, enthron'd on high, 
 
 Judge them, and me ; mine upright confcience try. 
 
 Stop, Hop, the wicked's wild career, but give 
 
 The good to profper, and the juft to live. 
 
 The righteous God doth try the fecret reins, 
 
 And fearches out the heart's moft hidden flains : 
 
 God is my fhield, who takes the glorious part 
 
 To fave the penitent and pure of heart. 
 
 The judge fupreme abets the righteous caufe, 
 
 God daily frowns on thofe, who break his laws : 
 
 If ftill they turn not, and their fins forego, 
 
 He whets his fword, and bends his ready bow ; 
 
 P repares Death's arms, which may their fouls annoy, 
 
 His (hafts the fiery tyrants will deltroy. 
 
 The 
 
16 Tk PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 The fland'rer travels big with fruitful guile, 
 
 And, when matur'd, brings forth the treach'rous whV 
 
 He digs a pit, and fets a deadly gin, 
 
 But mark, O ftrange reverfe ! He falls therein, 
 
 Caught in his own premeditated toil ; 
 
 On his own head his mifchiefs all recoil. 
 
 To fing Jehovah's truth my voice I'll raife, 
 
 And blazon forth, O Lord mofl High, thy praife. 
 
 PSALM VIII. 
 
 To the chief Mufician upon Gittith (Harps of 
 Gatb.) A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 'Tis prefunid to have been composed upon his Viclory 
 over the haughty and infolent Giant, Goliath of 
 Gath ; which is very agreeable to the Matter of the 
 Pfalm, and a lively Emblem of Chrift'j Conquejl 
 over our great Enemy, the Devil. Patrick. 
 
 •""X Lord, our Lord ; how glorious is thy name ? 
 ^-^ Proclaim'd o'er all the earth's extended frame. 
 Not bounded there, the lower orbs out-gone, 
 Thy glory mines around the heavenly throne. 
 
 That 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 17 
 That ° ftrength is thine, thy foes indignant fee, 
 From babes and Sicklings mouths afcrib'd to thee : 
 They ftand confounded, who oppos'd thy will, 
 The p Enemy is quell'd, th 1 Avenger ftill. 
 When o'er the heav'ns I call my fearching eye, 
 And the bright wonders of thine hands defcry, 
 The moon and ftars, with every fpangled fphere, 
 Which, by thy mandate, blaze fufpended there : 
 What ! what is i man ! to merit thus thy care ? 
 Why doth the fon of r man fuch favours mare ? 
 
 C Him; 
 
 Heb. Ghnoz, ftrength, or Jirong praife, i. e. 
 praife for ftrength. Pfalm xxix. i . " Give the Lord 
 glory and ftrength." Ainsworth, Bytkner. 
 
 p This probably' refers to Goliath, vanquifh'd by Da- 
 vid in his minority. See the argument, and Bp. Hare's 
 note upon the place. 
 
 <i Heb. Enosh. Here man is {o called after the 
 name of Adams nephew, Gen. iv. 26. which Signifies 
 doleful, forrowful, wretched, and nek incurably. And 
 this name is given to all men, to put them in mind of 
 their mifery and mortality. Ains worth. 
 
 r Heb. Adam. As before men are in the original 
 called Enojh, for their doleful eftate by fin, fo are they 
 Adam, or fons of Adam, that is earthly, to put them 
 in mind of their origin and end, who were made of 
 Adamah, the earth, even of the dull, to which they 
 fhall return. Ains worth. 
 
 But Bp. Patrick is of opinion, that Ben-Adam is 
 here, and in other places of the Pfalms, equivalent to 
 Ben-Ijh, a denomination of dignity, lignifying a prince, 
 cr mighty man. See the preface to his paraphrafe, 
 
18 J& PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Him, when the breath of 'life thou didit infpire, 
 
 Thou mad'fc but lower than th' angelic choir ; 
 
 With grace and honour crown'd, creation's king ; 
 
 Her ftores beneath his feet doth nature bring : 
 
 To him all fheep and oxen homage yield, 
 
 To him the favage bealls, which range the field ; 
 
 Th' aerial fowl, and nfh their tribute pry, 
 
 Which cleave the fca, and walk thro' th' ocean's way, 
 
 O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is thy name, 
 
 Proclaim' d o'er all the earth's extended frame ? 
 
 PSALM IX. 
 
 To the chief Mufician vaponMutk-Iabben, (the Death 
 of a great Champion.) A Pfalm of David, 
 
 A R G U M E N T. 
 
 // was compofed and delivered to the Majler of Muftc 
 in the Tabernacle, when he was in fane great Dif- 
 trefs, v. 13. wherein be. commemorates God's for met 
 Deliverances of him, both when he kind Goliath, 
 and got frequent Victories afterwards over the Phi- 
 liilines, and other Enemies of Ifrael. Patrick. 
 
 •"""•, N great Jehovah my whole heart (hall dwell, 
 ^~^ And all his wond'rous works my tongue mall tell : 
 Thy name with joy mall fill the gladfome lay, 
 My fongs, O Lord, melt hi tribute pay. 
 
 My 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 19 
 
 My foes confounded fly, or tamely yield, 
 When thy dread prefence awes the hoftile field. 
 My caufe is refcu'd from o'erpow'ring might; 
 He fills the throne, who always judges right. 
 Rebuk'd the Heathen, and ungodly Hand, 
 Their very name is perifh'd from the land. 
 Each city's raz'd s , and its memorial's o'er, 
 Thou foe, deftruction's work is now no more, 
 The great Jehovah always mull endure, 
 Fix'd is his feat of judgment, ever fure. 
 To his dread fentence all the world mufl fland, 
 Who deals forth right with an impartial hand. 
 Jehovah's an high fort, when tyrants prefs, 
 He's an high fort in feafons of dlferefs : 
 Sure is their friend, who to Jehovah flee, 
 And they, that know thy name, will truft in thee. 
 Sing to the Lord, who doth in Sion dwell, 
 His mighty deeds amongft the people tell. 
 
 C 2 He 
 
 s This is a difficult pafTage in the original. Some 
 underftand it as an ironical iniult upon the enemy, who 
 had meditated the utter extirpation of Ifrael, but in 
 vain. Simeon de Muis holds it as fuch an irony, 
 with an immediate retort upon the enemy, that on the 
 contrary the event of deitruction happened on them. 
 But Le Clerc underilands it of the villas of the ene- 
 my, built in folitary or retir'd places ; which the He- 
 brews had burnt, and their cities, which they had razed. 
 'Tis manifeft it refers to fome notable devastation, but; 
 what particular one is not certain. Bp. Har^. 
 
20 Toe PSALMS of DAVID. 
 He counts the number of the righteous flain, 
 Nor marks the meek afflifted's blood in vain. 
 Look, gracious, on my Tuff rings, Lord; my breath 
 Prolong ; and fave mc from the gates of death. 
 Then in thy courts my tuneful voice I'll raife, 
 In Sion's beauteous ports refound thy praife : 
 Sunk are the Heathen in the pits they made, 
 
 foot is caught in nets themfelves have laid : 
 Known is the Lord, known are his judgments done ; 
 By his own hands is fnar'd the wicked one. 
 
 * Hig-ga-jon Selah. 
 
 Heirs gaping mouth will the tranfgrefTors take, 
 And all the Heathen, who mall God forfake : 
 
 "ways fhall the poor forgotten lye, 
 Nor hopekfs ever fhall the needy cry : 
 Arife, Jehovah, quell the human arm, 
 Eefore thy face found forth the dire alarm ; 
 Judge, Lord, the Heathen; make them fear thy name, 
 And know they're men, and but of weakly frame. 
 
 Selah. 
 
 * Hic-ga-jon denotes, that the preceding matter 
 is worthy of the highclt attention ; and the fubfequent 
 Selah imports, that the mufick ihould confilt of rifing 
 and fwelling notes, followed with a fit paufe, corre- 
 fpondent to it. 
 
 PSALM 
 
Tm PSALMS ef DAVID. 21 
 
 PSALM X. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Pfalm is a lively DefcripUon of wicked, atheifiical^ 
 Men in Power and Authority, which they abufe to 
 the OppreJJion of the meaner Sort ; againji whom 
 the Pjalmiji befeeches the divine Vengeance, and rejis 
 confident they Jhall befupprefsd. Patrick. 
 
 TT THY art thou not, Je h o va h, kindly near ? 
 
 Why dofl thou hide in times of troublous fear ? 
 The haughty proud with heat the poor purfues ; 
 Let fuch be caught in the fhrewd arts they ufe : 
 He boafls, he plumes himielf, in wickednefs, 
 And tyrants, whom Jehovak hates,, will blefs. 
 No thoughts of heaven his lofty looks controul, 
 No fear of God awes his prefumptuous foul. 
 Clouds veil thy judgments from his diftant eye?, 
 Still doth he thrive, and all his foes defy : 
 His heart fuggefts, his foot fliall itand fecure, 
 And his fuccefs from age to age endure : 
 His mouth is full of fraud, deceit, and wrong. 
 And painful evil dwells beneath his tongue ; 
 
 C 3 Clofc 
 
2t2 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 Clofe couch'd in wily ambufcade he lies, 
 Way-lays the innocent, the poor defcrys, 
 Then on his prey with murth'ring fury flies. 
 As the fierce lion b lurketh in his den, 
 He lieth fecretly, and lurks for men : 
 To match the poor diflrefs'd his toils are fet, 
 The poor diftrefs'd he fnatches in his net : 
 He crouching bows, their ruin to enfure, 
 Then rufh his forces on a troop of poor. 
 God, fays his heart, will not fuch a&ions trace, 
 He will not always fee, he hides his face. ■ 
 Jehovah, rife, lift up, O God, thine hand, 
 Think on the meek ; regard their lowly band : 
 Why do th' unjuft the heavenly king defpite, 
 Why think, that God will not their ill requite ? 
 Surely thou feeft, thou dolt, behold the wrongs, 
 To crufh fuch mifchiefs to thine hand belongs : 
 To thee for refuge naked orphans flee, 
 And all the poor commend their caufe to thee : 
 
 Difarm 
 
 * The repetitions of the words and expreflions in this 
 paffage are defigned to correfpond therein to the origi- 
 nal \ and fo thro' the whole tranilation. 
 
77je PSALMS of DAVID. 23 
 Difarm the wicked, quell the evil one, 
 Seek out his evil, 'till thou findeft none ■ : 
 Jeh vah's king, endlefs is his command,. 
 Swept are the Heathen from his chofen land : 
 Jehovah, thou our humble cry doft hear, 
 Prepare our heart, and lend thy fav'ring ear : 
 To judge th' opprefs'd, and orphan, and afiwage 
 O'er abject man the duft-fprung tyrant's ragd. 
 
 P S A L M XL 
 
 To the Mailer of Mufick. A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 // was probably co?npos y d^ when Saul p erf edited him 9 
 and fame advifed him to feek bis Safety by Flight ; 
 or rather when Saul began to have evilDeJigm againft 
 htm 9 and he was invited by fome, who pretended 
 Friendjhip to him^ to a Place"of Safety in the moun- 
 tainous Ccuniry of Judea. Patrick. 
 
 o 
 
 N good J e h va h doth mine hope rely , 
 To rocks and mountains I difdain to fly ; 
 
 C 4 " What, 
 
 u In Jer. 1. 20. The fins of God's people are not 
 found, becaafe of his mercy in j 1 
 
 the fins of the wicked are not found, 
 judgments in utterly confuming them. E : . 4.3. 
 
 Which is the texfe here. Ain swo & th. 
 
24 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 " What, bid my foul to defart hills repair, 
 
 " And feek, like lonely birds, a refuge there ? 
 
 u The ungodly bend their bow, the twanging firing 
 
 < f Is nVd, and death is juft upon the wing : 
 
 f* From covert darknefs aims the pointed dart, 
 
 " To flrike the pious and upright in heart : 
 
 u The * founded laws are raz'd all o'er the land, 
 
 « y How then mail innocence unguarded ftand f" 
 
 Yet in his facred houfe the Lord abides, 
 
 J E h o va h on his heav'nly throne prefidcs : 
 
 O'er all the world he darts his piercing eye, 
 
 And Adam's earthly fons his eye-lids try : 
 
 He proves th' upright ; the men of violence 
 
 The Lord abhors, and foon will fweep them hence. 
 
 Forth rufh his florms, thro' burning blafls they quake, 
 
 And o'er their heads fulphureous tempeits break : 
 
 Live 
 
 x Heb. Hajb-foa-thoth 'Je-ha-rc-fun, the foundations 
 are cafi dovju : That the former of thefc words is right- 
 ly rendcr'd in the bible verfion, foundations, is evi- 
 dent from the latter, but then the fenfe is not lb cer- 
 tain. The bed interpreters, following Sy?nmachus and 
 Jerom, underhand it of the laws, in which the fafety 
 of the members of fociety confifts. Hare. 
 
 y The meaning is, What fhall the innocent man do 
 for fecurity, but betake himfelf to flight ? Thus far are 
 the words of David's friends, perfuading him to fly 
 for fafety. Hare. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 25 
 Live coals, fire, brim Hone, in their cup are thrown, 
 And doom'd are they to drink the potion down. 
 The juft J e h va h loves the juft and true, 
 His face with pleafure doth the righteous view. 
 
 PSALM XII. 
 
 To the chief Mufician upon Sheminitb (the Harp of 
 eight Strings.) A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 'The Occafion of it is not exprefid ; but it feems a fad 
 Complaint of the Manners of that Age, efpecially of 
 the Court of Saul : fome think it aim'd at Doeg, or 
 partly at the Ziphites, or fuch like, vjho promifing 
 him their Friendjhip, would have betray 9 d him t& 
 Saul. Patrick, 
 
 y^VN thee, Je h o va h, muft mine help depend, 
 
 Ceas'd is the godly man, and faithful friend. 
 Who trufis his neighbour foon fhall find the fmart, 
 From flattering lips, and from a double heart : 
 Th' upright Jehovah never will abide , 
 The lips deceitful, or the tongue of pride : 
 Which fay, we will prevail, we own no lords, 
 Then who fhall feal our mouths, or bar our words ? 
 
 Whilfl 
 
26 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Whilft the fpoil'd needy their fad groans prolong, 
 
 I, fays the Lord, will rife, and eafe the wrong : 
 
 Jehovah's words mall Hand for ever fure, 
 
 Like filver, feven-times try'd, his words are pure : 
 
 Always fecure beneath Jehovah's care, 
 
 His Pow'r fhall keep them from the tyrant's fnare. 
 
 z Amaz'd the wicked wander to and fro, 
 
 When thou dolt raife from earth th' obfcure and low . 
 
 PSALM XIII. 
 To the chief Mufician. A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It is not known to zuhat Time it relates ; but by the 
 Matter of it we may underftand he was in fome 
 great D'lfirefs, when he indited it ; either by the 
 Perfecution of Saul> or of Abfalom. Patrick. 
 
 w 
 
 I L T thou for ever 3 fhroud thy beaming grace ? 
 Forget me mil, O Lord, and hide thy face ? 
 
 How 
 
 z This is reckon'd a very obfcure place in the ori- 
 ginal, which is varioufly render'd by expofitors. The 
 learned bifhop Hare declares himfelf at a lofs for the 
 fenfe. We have translated it under the authority of 
 bifhop Patrick in his paraphrafe, which feems to iuit 
 the connection. 
 
 a That is by withdrawing thy favourable count-: 
 and comfort ; which the Chaldee expoundeth, the bright' 
 vljs of thy face. AlNSWOHTH, 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 27 
 How long fliall fad fufpence my peace controul ? 
 How long th' exalted Foe o'er-awe my foul ? 
 Behold, O Lord; hear, and preferve my breath; 
 Lighten mine eyes, left they mould deep in 1 death. 
 Let not my foes for joyful trophies call, 
 Say, we've prevail'd, and triumph in my fall. 
 Thy tender mercies folid hope impart, 
 Whilit thy falvation glads my grateful heart : 
 To thee my voice will I, Jehovah, raife, 
 And give, for thy rewarding bounty, praife. 
 
 PSALM XIV. 
 To the chief Mufician. A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It may probably refer to the univerfal Apojlacy of the 
 People in the Rebellion of Abfalom from the Duty 
 they cvfd to God, and the Allegiance they ow'd to 
 him. Patrick. 
 
 t 
 
 HE b gracelefs fool doth in his heart furmife, 
 There is no God, no Sovereign of the fides : 
 
 All 
 
 * Heb. Nabal, which fignifies a thing in a corrupt 
 #ate, faded, fallen, and ib denotes a man of no 
 eitimation, ungrateful, inhuman, vicious, gracelefs, 
 which are qualities of the praSiical atheijl : accordingly 
 Abigail fays of her hufband, As his name is, Je is 
 be\ Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. 
 
2:8 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 All are corrupt, all have preverfely done, 
 
 None are upright, who praclife goodnefs, none. 
 
 The Lord look'd down from heav'n on Adam's race, 
 
 If any might be wife, or feek his face : 
 
 They all are fruitlefs, all have backward gone, 
 
 There's none doth prattife goodnefs, no not one. 
 
 Have they no knowledge ? that they eat, like bread, 
 
 My people up ; by ravenous fury led : 
 
 They call not upon God : c then dread the more, 
 
 What guards the juft, the great avenging pow'r : 
 
 Th' afflicted poor ye would confound with lhame, 
 
 Who iix their hope in good J e h o va h's name. 
 
 Oh ! who from Sion fnall falvation Ihow 
 
 To Ifrael? d when the Lord mall reft bellow, 
 
 When to his own he fhall redemption bring, 
 
 Then Jacob mall rejoice, and Ifrael fmg. 
 
 c There is fuch a difference in the original between 
 this paffage here, and that of Pfalm liii. which other- 
 wife correiponds to it, that Le Clerc is of opinion, 
 the latter is tranfcrib'd from a better copy : but 'tis 
 probable the difference in the text is owing to the dif- 
 ferent occafion to which it was purpofely fuited. Hare . 
 
 d This is meant, not only of David and his people's 
 deliverance from their then diilrefsful condition, but of 
 Ckrijl, the/ of God to Ifrael, who was expected 
 
 out of Sion: as it is written, The Redeemer pall come 
 wt of Sion, and jl: all turn a-~:aj impieties from Jacob. 
 
 VORTH. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 29 
 
 ■ ■ ■ ■ 
 
 PSALM XV, 
 
 A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It was compofed either when he brought the Ark from 
 Mount Sion (2 Sam. vi.) or when he was re/ior'd 
 thither again^ as he defied in the Conclufion of the 
 foregoing Pfalm after the Rebellion of Abfalom. 
 2 Sam. xix. Patrick, 
 
 TT7HO fliall within thy glorious tent be bleft? 
 
 Who, Lord, within thine holy mountain reft ? 
 That man, v/ho walks in wifdom's perfect way, 
 Whofe deeds the rules of heavenly juftice fway : 
 Whilll candid truth flows from his open heart, 
 To grace his language, and his mind impart : 
 Who is not e fwift to utter guileful wrong, 
 And tales of flander ne'er debas'd his tongue : 
 Who injures not, nor dares his friend defame, 
 Or blaft with falfe report his neighbour's name. 
 
 Holds 
 
 e The principal word of this verfe, Racal, from 
 whence Reg el, a foot, is deriv'd, properly noteth in 
 the original, a going to and fro, prying and fpying, and 
 carrying tales and rumours, and fo is us'd for defaming 
 and calumniating by craft and guile. Ai n s wo r t h , 
 
3 o TJje PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Holds wicked abjects in his eyes abhorr'd, 
 But greatly honours thofe, who fear the Lord : 
 Who, if he fwears, perfiils for ever true, 
 Tho' his own certain damage mould enfue : 
 Who ne'er for wealth inhuman profit made, 
 By following the curs'd • ufurer's biting trade : 
 With bribes againfl the jufl ne'er ftain'd his hand : 
 That man with feet unmov'd (hall ever Hand. 
 
 f Heb. Bene-shech, to kiting ufitry, or with biting, 
 i. e. ufury, fitly fo call'd, becaufe it biteth and con- 
 fumeth the borrower, and his fubftance. Ains worth, 
 Bythner, 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 31 
 
 PSALM XVI. 
 
 Miftam. A Golden Hymn of David. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Title may denote fome remarkable Tune^ or Way of 
 Playing, then in life. The Chaldee interprets it, A 
 curious Piece of Engraving, and the Septuagint 
 tranjlaies it, An § Infcription on a Pillar. 'Twas 
 probably wrote under Saul's Perfecution, but withal 
 contains a Prophecy of the Refurreclion of our Lord 
 Chrift from the Dead. Patrick, Nichols, 
 Mudge. 
 
 O AV E me, O God, who h place mine hope in thee, 
 
 And to thy fhadowing wings for refuge flee : 
 My foul to thee addrefs'd this aweful word, 
 Thou, O Jehovah, art my Sovereign Lord : 
 What is the good by me, thy fervant, done ? 
 What, what to thee, thou all-fufficient One P 
 
 Tis 
 
 s It may fignify a Pfalm to be wrote in gold letters, and 
 fet up, like our commandments, in fome publick place 
 to teach, (for fo it is exprefs'd, Pfalm lx.) that the 
 people might learn it, and be able to join. Mudge. 
 
 h Heb . H a - s 1 - t h 1 from H a s a , He betakes him/elf 
 for refuge to any one, under <whofe protection he may befafe, 
 m chickens under the wings of the hen, B u x t r f f . 
 
32 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 'Tis to thy faints, who here in grace excel, 
 
 With them 'tis my fincere delight to dwell. 
 
 Their preffing forrows Mill and (till mall grow, 
 
 Who in their idols temples vainly bow ; 
 
 Whilft ' blood-libations round their altars fmoke, 
 
 Their rites I'll ftiun, their names I'll ne'er invoke. 
 
 Thou art my portion in a fruitful place, 
 
 My cup is crown'd, Jehovah, with thy grace : 
 
 My lot is meted with thy bounteous hand, 
 
 The lines are fall'n in a delightful land ; 
 
 Fair is mine heritage : my voice I'll raife, 
 
 And give to thee, Jehovah, bounden praife ; 
 
 For thine infpired counfel makes me wife, 
 
 And points the way, when night invades mine eyes. 
 
 Go thou before k , O Lord, I'll fearlefs tread, 
 
 With fteady fteps, where'er thy path mail lead; 
 
 By thy right hand fuftain'd : my heart fhall beat 
 
 Exulting thanks, and joy, to meafures meet : 
 
 My glory fhall rejoice ; tho' now it lies 
 
 Downcafl ; my flefh {hall reft in hope to rife. 
 
 Thro 1 
 
 1 The blood of men, offered in facrifice. 
 
 k This paffage is quoted by St. Peter, Acls ii. 25. &c, 
 and applied to our Lord's pajjion, death, and refurreQion : 
 and therefore the tranflators, thought proper to retain, as 
 near as might be, the expreiuons of the original. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID, 33 
 
 Thro' thee from death and hell's embraces free> 
 Thine holy one mall no corruption fee : 
 The path of life thou wilt benignly mow, 
 Thy prefence gives us full delight to know, 
 Pleafures at thy right hand mall never ceafe to flow. 
 
 PSALM XVII. 
 
 A Prayer of David, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In this Pfalm the Author earnejlly prays for Deliver ana 
 from his Enemies (Saul and his Prompters) whom 
 he defcribes, as juji ready to /wallow him up. In 
 the fourth and fifth l Verfes he juftifies his Innocence* 
 hnd pictures his Enemies in the fourteenth *, as Perfons 
 intoxicated with Profperity. By the third and 
 fifteenth it fie ems to be a Night-Piece, Mudge, &c, 
 
 T TEAR, Lord; my juft addrefs, and cry attend, 
 
 •*• ■*• Which to thine ear my lips unfeigned fend ; 
 
 Give from thy throne the fentence of thy laws, 
 
 With equal eyes behold my righteous cauie : 
 
 For thou haft vifited mine heart by night, 
 
 Hail try'd mine inward man, and prov'd it right? 
 
 & Thi? 
 
 1 See the bible tranjlation* 
 
34 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 This fleady purpofc fhn.ll my mouth fulfil, 
 
 That not an accent fhall tranfgrefs thy will : 
 
 Since by thy word his evil works I fcan, 
 
 I've fhunn'd the bloody ways of m lawlefs man. 
 
 My goings in thy n beaten track fuftain, 
 
 May in thy paths my feet uiimoy'd remain. 
 
 Thee I invoke ; for thou O God, wilt hear; 
 
 Receive my pray'r, and bow thy gracious ear. 
 
 Our faving hope, thy wond'rous mercy mow, 
 
 Who doft with thy right hand confound the foe. 
 
 O ! keep me, as the apple of thine eye, 
 
 Let me beneath thy wings o'erihadowing lye : 
 
 Thus fcreen me from the fpoiling wicked's face, 
 
 Who clofc befet me in mine hiding place : 
 
 Inclos'd in their own fat, and fwoln with pride, 
 
 Me they with triumph immature deride : 
 
 Now they're at hand,-- 1 hear their hoftiie found; 
 
 They bow to mark my fteps, and hem me round : 
 
 As a fierce lion, ramping in the way, 
 
 Or the young lions, which erft couchant lay 
 
 In coverts falfe, rum greedy on the prey. 
 
 Arife, 
 
 m Heb. Parits, the breaker through, i. e. the robber, 
 or thief, one that breaketh bounds, or limits, houies, 
 hedges, laws. So Exek. xviii. 10. 
 
 '• Heb. Bhemaghn-celo-THECAj in thy beaten 
 paths, or round paths: properly the word iignines paths 
 with waggon wheels, here ue'd for ilrait, direft, 
 and beaten ways. Ains worth. 
 
lie PSALMS of DAVID. 35 
 Arife, and blaft their ianguine hopes, O Lord; 
 Crufh them, and fave me from th' unjuil, thy ° fword : 
 From men, O Lord, the creatures of thy pow'r, 
 From earthly men> whofe portion's worldly ftore ; 
 To whom thine hand its choiceft goods affords, 
 Whilil flowing plenty crowns their various boards : 
 And when the vital air they ceafe to breathe, 
 The reft they to their numerous race bequeath. 
 At length illumin'd with thy faving grace, 
 In rightecufnefs I fhall behold thy p face ; 
 Be fatisfy'd beneath the bright difplay, 
 When waking to a flood of joyful day. 
 
 All means of deftru&icn are the herd's fword. Ifa. 
 lxvi. 16. 27. 1. Ainsworth. 
 
 p He means that he fhculd be irjjidiated with the 
 glory of the tabernacle here, or awake from the flcep of 
 death, to the glory of the heavenly fanfluary. Ains- 
 worth, Hare, Mudge. 
 
 J)2 P S A L U 
 
36 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM XVIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 To the chief Mufician. A Pfalm of David, the Servant 
 of the Lord, who fpoke unto the Lord the Words of 
 this Song) in the Day that the Lord deliver' d him 
 
 from all his Enemies, ( Philiftines, Syrians, and 
 other Nations,) and from the Hand of Saul : and he 
 
 faid\ (Heb. Infcription) 
 
 A-T^O thee 9, Jehovah, tends mine ardent love, 
 My ftrength of fure protection from above; 
 Jehovah, my firm rock, and guardian fort, 
 My God, my caflle, and fecure fupport ; 
 My faithful buckler, and my refcuing pow'r, 
 The horn of my falvation, mine high tow'r. 
 With praife before Jehovah bending low, 
 I caird,— and was deliver'd from my foe : 
 Comparing round me, deadly forrows rofe, 
 WhUft floods of impious men my foul enclofe : 
 
 Opprefs'd 
 
 9 
 
 4 This Pfalm, as it here ftands, differs in feveral 
 
 places from the fame, as in z Sam. xxii. i. which the 
 
 learned bifhop Hare, notwithftanding the various con- 
 
 -res of interpreters, prefumes to be owing to an 
 
 after-revife of the author, or the correction of fome 
 
 ,v'xV hand ; and that fome places are therein 
 
 alter'd, not through accident, or carelefsnefs of the 
 
 . ribers, but on purpofe, and with weigh'd defign. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 37 
 
 Opprefs'd with pangs, as finking to the dead, 
 
 The fnares of hell were all about me fpread : 
 
 Then to the Lord I cry'd with filial fear, 
 
 He to my crying gave a gracious ear : 
 
 From his high palace, where he holds his reign, 
 
 He humbly deign'd to mark each plaintive ftrain. 
 
 The quaking mounts r did at his fury rock, 
 
 Down to their bafe they felt the rending mock : 
 
 Thick fmoaky volumns, mix'd with ruddy flame, ~\ 
 
 Devouring wide, forth from his noftrils came, > 
 
 Whilft kindled coals the Lord incens'd proclaim. J 
 
 He bow'd the heavens, and from his aweful throne, 
 
 In terrible array defcended down : 
 
 A fpeedy Cherub was his flaming feat, 
 
 And 5 clouds the dull: which rofe beneath his feet : 
 
 Swift o'er his radiant courfe th 1 alarming God, 
 
 On wings of mighty winds came flying all abroad. 
 
 But then, with-holding his tremendous light, 
 
 Retire!, envelop 'd in a made of night : 
 
 D 3 IK 
 
 r This viftory of David over his enemies was ac- 
 companied with a very remarkable fiorm of thunder 
 and lightning, mix'd with an earthquake, defcrib'd 
 from the feventb to the fifteenth verfe. And this is the 
 fubjeft of his thanks to the end of the nineteenth verfe, 
 (the bible tranjlation ;) after which, his praife become* 
 general for many favours received from God. Mud c £ 
 
 ■ Nahum i. 3. 
 
38 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 In fhrowds of waters fat pavilion'd deep, 
 
 Whilfl: gloomy clouds the troubled region fweep : 
 
 Nor might they long his uihering brightnefs hide, 
 
 The gloomy clouds pafs'd in a ftrcaming tide : 
 
 With hail, and coals of fire, their dreadful load : *\ 
 
 Jehovah, thund'ring, gave his voice abroad ; ^ 
 
 Halftones, and coals of fire,peard down th'aerial road . ' 
 
 He fent his arrows, and diipers'd them round, 
 
 Quick flafh'd his lightning, and they flrew'd the ground. 
 
 The trembling earth djfcover'd, yawning wide, 
 
 Her fecret channels ; nor could, Lord, abide 
 
 Thy furious blaft ; but, with thy thunder ftruck, 
 
 Its rock'd foundations own'd the dire rebuke. * 
 
 Yet 
 
 * The author of the Lif? of David, remarks thus upon 
 this paifage : " I know of but one defcription in the 
 " whole compafs of heathen poetry, which may be fo 
 f* much as narn'd with this, and that is FirgiPs noble 
 €t defcription of a tempei! in the firil of the Georgia, 
 
 Scfpe etiam immenfvm, &C* 1 ' 
 
 But the reader will obfcrve this efTential and truly 
 poetic difference, that in Virgil every thing but the 
 thunder is natural action. ---In David the whole uni- 
 verfe is animated at the prefence of God, affrighted at 
 his wrath, and obedient to his beck. God is angry, and 
 the earth trembles, &c. VirgiPs Jupiter wields his 
 thunders: Jehovah commands his, and they obey. 
 Jupiter deals about his belts in the attitude of an heated 
 %ero, or, to fpeak more properly, a giant of refiftlefs 
 fbrcngth. J e h o va h but fends out his arrows ; they 
 
 know 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 39 
 Yet from thefe deeps a gracious God could fave, 
 And raife my head above the whelming wave. 
 My foe muft have prevail'd, too flrong for me, 
 But thou, O God, wert ftronger far than he. 
 I had been loft in trouble's cloudy day, 
 But that the Lord flood forth my glorious ftay : 
 Thy loving favour eas'd my anxious pain, 
 And chang'd my cave into a fpacious plain. 
 Mine innocence thus meets thy kind regard, 
 And my pure hands enfure their bright reward. 
 But, wherefore ? I have always kept thy way, 
 And never with the wicked walk'd anray : 
 Thy facred flatutes were my conftant guide, 
 Not left for worldly policy, or pride : 
 Upright, not like my fGes, on evil bent, 
 Although not their's, mine rum I could prevent : 
 Mine innocence hence meets its bright reward, 
 And my pure hands enfure thine eye's regard. 
 
 D 4 Thou 
 
 know what to do: they tear and difperfe, and his 
 lightning confounds. Jupiter is angry, and he beats 
 down a mountain. Jehovah is wroth, and the earth 
 feels it; and the foundations of the mountains are tofTed 
 to and fro, tremble and make like the joints of an 
 affrighted man. At one blafl of his breath the ocean 
 opens to its deeped channels j and the foundations of 
 the earth are bared be;bre him. In a word, VirgiP% 
 defcription is truly noble; but Davids, beyond all ex* 
 pre&on, grand. Seethe Life of DaviJ. B. I. p. 71. 
 
40 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Thou to the merciful malt mercy fhew, 
 
 The righteous man mall find thee righteous too. 
 
 The pure ihall find thee pure ; but thofe, who deal 
 
 In fro ward fury, fhall thy fury feel. 
 
 *Tis thy prerogative, thine is the praife, 
 
 To fave the needy, and the lowly raife. 
 
 My lamp expiring gave a trembling light, 
 
 But, thro' thy faccours, blazes flrong and bright. 
 
 By thee I've pierc'd through troops of numerous foes, 
 
 In vain their fortreiTes, and walls oppofe : 
 
 God's way is pure, and perfect is the Lord, 
 
 As gold refiVd from drofs, fuch is his word, 
 
 He is the faithful's buckler, and their fword. 
 
 Who, but Jehovah, who's God, 
 
 To fave his people from th' opprefibrs rod ? 
 
 Their rock, and fortrefs ? He begirts my fide 
 
 With flrength ; 'tis he, who doc: my conducl guide. 
 
 He wings my feet, or like the hinds to fly, 
 
 And bounding fccur the plain, or climb on high 
 
 O'er craggy fleeps : with warlike ardour warm, 
 
 A bow of fteel is broken by mine arm, 
 
 From him inftrucled : fafe I take my Hand, 
 
 Screen'd by his ftiield, fuftain'd by his right-hand, 
 
 Amidfl th' embattled ranks ; his wonted grace 
 
 Drives the confounded foes before my face. 
 
 m 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 4* 
 He does enlarge my fteps, and fmooth the way, 
 As they o'er rocks, and devious paffes ftray j 
 Truiling to flight precipitate in vain, 
 Quickly they fall ; purfued, o'ertaken, flain. 
 Heaps upon heaps, befmear'd in their own gore, 
 They lie beneath my feet, to rife no more. 
 He arms me with his ftrength, the hoftile bands, 
 Give me their necks, fubmit to my commands, 
 Or meet thro' favage hate my fmiting hands. 
 They call for fuccours, ev'n to God they cry, 
 If he will fave them, but no God is nigh. 
 Then did I crufh their few remains behind, 
 Small as the duft before the driving wind : 
 Abject they lie, as refufe of the llreet, 
 Like fordid dirt, beneath the trampling feet. 
 The people ftrive, but God maintains my fway, 
 The heathen fhall reluctant tribute pay, 
 And unknown nations my dread laws obey. 
 Thefe fhall revere me at the voice of fame, 
 And thofe u pretend their homage to my name. 
 The lurking aliens, from each clofer fort, 
 Shall fly to me, and trembling make their court. 
 
 The 
 
 1. e. Difguife the real fentiments of their hearts, 
 profefs a moil profound refpeft and fubmiffion, tho' 
 at the fame time within they retain their enmity. 
 
 MUDGE. 
 
4* The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 The Lord for ever lives, exalt his praife, 
 My blefled rock, and guardian of my ways. 
 Vengeance is his, 'tis he promotes my caufe, 
 'Tis hefubjecls the people to my laws : 
 From fraud or violence defends me ftill, 
 Who now fupports my throne, and ever will. 
 Therefore his name I always will adore, 
 Among the nations praife him more and more. 
 Thus aggrandiz'd, beneath his fhadowing wing, 
 Stands his anointed; from whofe loins fhall fpring 
 An everblefTed * feed, and never-failing king. 
 
 ! 
 
 w Heb. U-lezar-chno. and to his feed. This 
 may be referrM to our Lord Chrift, the great kivg y 
 whofe kingdom fhall have no end. Patrick. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 43 
 
 PSALM XIX. 
 
 To the chief Mufician. A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Author in this Pfalm, as in many other Places , 
 confidcrs the Works of Nature, and the Word of 
 Revelation, as both of them Laws in the fame 
 Hand, and Jlanding firm by the fame Authority j 
 both highly perfecl in their Kind, and containing great 
 Matter of Injlrucfion ; one for the whole World - y 
 the other for his favoured People, and himfelf parti- 
 cularly. Mudge. 
 
 ' l ^ H E heavens declare their Maker s glorious praife, 
 
 Th' expanded firmament his works difplays : 
 From night fucceeding day, and day the night, 
 Inflxuctive darknefs flows, and reafoning light ; 
 Tho' mute and fpeechlefs is each mining fphere» 
 All take their lore without th' imbibing ear : 
 To earth's extremes their x line and dictates run, 
 In them its gorgeous tent he gave the fun : 
 
 Which 
 
 * Heb. Kav-vam. their line, rule, or delineation ; 
 which is a mean to teach the rude and fimple ; as Ifaiah 
 xxviii. 10. He confiders the fun, and o'aier luminaries, 
 as letters, or characters, placed in the excanded volumn 
 
 of 
 
44 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Which comes, as from his * chamber, richly gay, 
 The bridegroom, darting forth the golden day : • - 
 His wonted race he rolls with rapid force, 
 Exulting, as a champion, in his courfe : 
 Where'er from eaft to well his circuit bends, 
 His beaming heat enlivening fuccour fends. 
 Jehovah's laws, with wifdom's beams refm'd, 
 Shine forth like lelfons, and renew the mind : 
 Sure Hands that faith, which on his word relies, 
 Jehovah's word, which makes the fimple wife : 
 Right are his precepts ; with heart-chearing rays 
 His pure commandments light their darkfome ways : 
 No impious rites, no fuperftitions vain, 
 Pollute his fervice with their horrid ftain, 
 Unrnix'd and changelefs, as its ever due : 
 Jehovah 's judgments all are juft and true : 
 The folid gold proves not fuch precious ftorc ; 
 Whole freights of gold, refin'd from Cphir's ore : 
 Not the bee's pains, the fiowYs innoxious wafte, 
 So pleafe with drops from fweet-cell'd combs the tafle. 
 
 They 
 
 of the Irai'snr, to be read by all the world. Mudge, 
 
 AlNSWORTH. 
 
 * The marriage folemnities in betrothing amongft the 
 Jenxs were perform^ by the man and woman under a 
 tent cr canopy, made for that purpofe, call'd in their 
 language Cluppa, a tabernacle, or tent: to this the 
 Pfalmtft here alludes. Godwin's Mofes and Aaron. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 45 
 They warn my foul, and all its motions guard, 
 Whilit from their practice follows great reward* 
 The number of his v errors who can find ? 
 O ! cleanfe thou, from its fecret faults, my mind. 
 Keep me, thy fervant, from all grofTer flains, 
 Where luft abounds, and fin prefumptuous reigns ; 
 With fhamelefs guilt no favour can difpenfe ; 
 Keep me, O keep me, from the great offence. 
 Let all my ways be pleating in thy fight, 
 And all my thoughts intent on what is right. 
 Preferve me thus from each malicious ill, 
 O Lord, my rock, and my redeemer ftill. 
 
 t Heb. Sheghi-oth. Errors. Ignorant faults; 
 unwitting and inconfiderate fins. Ains worth. 
 
 PSALM 
 
46 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 ■ fc— ^— I— — — — — — ■— — A— ^WE—— — — M^— t> 
 
 PSALM XX. 
 
 To the chief Mufkian. A Pfalm of David, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Herein the People pray for their Kings good Suceefs in 
 his IVars^ mojl probably thofe he was engaged in 
 againfl the Ammonites. (2 Sam. vi. 8.) / con- 
 ceive it to be a Song, written in Amoebaeick verfe 9 
 wherein David and his People anfwer each other *. 
 Nichols, Scaliger, Bythner. 
 
 People. 
 
 TEHOVAII hear thee in the troublous day, 
 *^ And be the name of Jacob's God thy ftay. 
 Let him fupport thee from his holy place, 
 And fend, from Sions mount, his aiding grace : 
 
 Note 
 
 2 'Tis othcrwife conjeclurM, that the three firft verfe3 
 of this Pfalm (bible tranilation) are fpoken by thepnefs^ 
 upon the king's coming to offer facrijice, before he fet 
 out upon fome expedition : the five next by the high- 
 prieji, upon feeing the facrifice promife well, by being 
 happily confumed to afhes, join'd perhaps with the 
 other fignals of favour, which makes him break out 
 afrefh in the fixth verfe, Now I know*, ts'c. The laft 
 again by the people, or priefls, as a chorus. Mudge. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 47 
 
 Note all thy a gifts, and thy b burnt -offerings own, 
 
 In flames afcendcd, funk in aJJ.es down. 
 
 Selah. 
 
 May he with prudent fkill thy thought infpire, 
 
 Fulfil thy mind, and grant thy heart's defire : 
 
 If he will fave, who mall our holts annoy ? 
 
 We'll raife our banners with loud-fhoutingjoy : 
 
 May thine oraifons needful fuccours bring ; 
 
 Save thou, O Lord, our heaven-anointed king. 
 
 David. 
 
 The Lord will fave me, now I furely know, 
 From holy heav'n his gracious ear will 
 His flrong right hand mall lay the tyrants 
 
 People. 
 
 In chariots they, or foaming Heads, confide, 
 
 BuC we have on Jehovah's name rely'd : 
 
 Vain 
 
 * Heb. Min-cha, 'tis generally a gift, or prefent, 
 carried to any, Pfalm xlv. 1 2. and in fpecial a gift, or 
 oblation, prefented to God ; molt fpecially the oblation 
 of corn, or flour, call'd the meat-offering, Lev. ii. ap- 
 pointed under the law to be burnt on the altar unto God, 
 with oil and incenfe, for a memorial. Ainsworth. 
 
 b Heb. Vechno-la-theca Jedhash-shene, and 
 thy burnt-offering turn to ajbes. The original word 
 Ghnolah, render'd burnt -facrijice, fignifies an a fcenfion, 
 as it went up to heaven in fire and fmoke, being as to 
 its fubilance entirely confum'd ; and it was efleem'd a 
 token of God's acceptance, when it was reduc'd to 
 afies, by a defcending fire; which is the meaning of 
 this prayer. Ainsworth. 
 
 know, "^ 
 
 . bow, S 
 
 ants low. J 
 
48 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 Vain are their foaming deeds, their chariots all, 
 Plung'd headlong in the fordid dull they fall : 
 But, whilft our foes fink in each routed band, 
 We rife, and in our ranks erected Hand. 
 
 All. 
 
 Save us, Jehovah; heavenly Sovereign, hear, 
 When in thine houfe we afk thy favouring ear. 
 
 PSALM XXL 
 
 To the chief Mufician. A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 // may be calPd an Hymn of Triumph after the Ficlories, 
 which David got over his Enemies, prafd againjl in 
 the foregoing Pfalm \ which were a Type of ChrifVs 
 Victory over Death, and the Triumph, which en- 
 fued. Many of the Hebrews themfelves apply it to 
 the Mefliah. Patrick. 
 
 ^TpRIUMPHANT in thy ftrength, O Lord, the king 
 
 With vehement joy fhall thy falvation fing : 
 For thou his heart's defire haft kindly heard, 
 Nor fcorn'd the fuit, his pleading lips preferr'd. 
 
 Selah. 
 Nay more, thy goodnefs did prevent his vows, 
 And with a crown imperial deck'd his brows : 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 49 
 
 He afked life, thou gavefl life indeed, 
 
 And to a boundlefs date prolong'd his c feed : 
 
 Great is his triumph, by thy conduct led, 
 
 Mcijeflic glory beams around his head. 
 
 For why ? Thy countenance's rays divine 
 
 Shall glad his heart, and ever blefs his line : 
 
 His throne, Jehovah, fhall no period fee, 
 
 For its fure bafis is his truft on thee. 
 
 Thy fearching hand th' o'ertaken foe fhall rout, 
 
 And thy right hand fhall find thine haters out : 
 
 For them thy furnace mail intenfely glow, 
 
 To them thy face fhall all its terrors mow j 
 
 On them thy hottefi indignation pour ; 
 
 Thy wrath fhall feize them, Lord, thy flames devour 3 
 
 Shall blotthHr titles, and their names deface, 
 
 And ftrike their feed from Adam's living race. 
 
 With plotted mifchief againft thee they rofe, 
 
 Tho' vain thofe fchemes, which did thine arm oppofe: 
 
 Strain the drawn bows with full collected pow'r, 
 
 Make them the d butts to face the winged fhow'r. 
 
 £ Exalt 
 
 c This, according to the argument, mure be referr'd to 
 Chrif, who being railed from the dead \ dieth no more: But 
 behold, he is alive for evermore. Amen. Rev. i. 18. 
 
 AlNSWORTH. 
 
 d Heb. She-chem, sl Butt, viz. to moot at. Aixs- 
 Worth. O.hers render t: e word ftoutder, which. 
 makes the feme, Thou fhall urn their Jboulder, or back 9 
 to their purfuers. Ta«.glm, SavemtYj Bytknsa, 
 
5 o TJje PSALMS of DAVID. 
 Exalt thyfelf, O Lord, thy prowefs prove, 
 Then will we praife thy might in fongs of love. 
 
 PSALM XXII. 
 
 To the chief Mufician upon Aijcleth Shahar, (the 
 Hind of the Morning.) A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Under his own Perfcn (who was perfecuted as a Hfnd 
 is by the Hunters early in the Morning) he makes a 
 large Defcripiion of the Sufferings of Chrift ; and 
 in Conclufion^ of his Exaltation, and the Propagation 
 of his Kingdom to the utmojl Ends <f the Earth. 
 Some of which Things are deliver *d in fuch Expref- 
 fions, that they are more literally fulfilled in our Sa- 
 viour then ever they were in David ; to whom they 
 belong but in a ?netaphorical Senfe. Patrick. 
 
 T\ /T Y God, e my God, why doll thou alien'd fly ? 
 "** And why forfake me, as I roaring lye ? 
 
 Why mull I make this unavailing moan, 
 From thy kind care a very out-call grown ? 
 
 Each 
 
 c Keb. Eli, Eli, Lamah Ghnaeabtani, which 
 Words cur Lord utter'd on the crofs, Matth. xxvii. 46. 
 fave for the latter he us'd the Syriac, Sabacbtani, of the 
 fame fignincalion. At which the prophane Jews 
 mocked, faying that he called for E/ias, Maitb. xxvii, 
 47, 49.— My &°d, my God, wherefore baft thon forfahe^ 
 me ? or why lea^eji thou me f 
 
the PSALMS of DAVID. ^j 
 Each morn, my God, attefts a fruitless cry, 
 Each night my plaints in vain a/fault the iky : 
 Yet thou art holy, thou art gracious Hill, 
 And Ifrael's f chorus thy jufi praifes fill. 
 Our fathers firmly fix'd their tiuft on thee, 
 They fix'd their truft, and thou didft fet them free : 
 Didft eafe their yoke, when they invok'd thy name, 
 Nor was their hope difgrae'd with final fhame. 
 But what am I ? a meer degenerate worm, 
 A refufe vile, of man's creeled form : 
 Reproach'd by all ; infulted by the great. 
 And fcorn'd by thofe of an inferior ftate : 
 They pout the lip, and jeer my abject cafe. 
 They make the head, and mock me to my face ; 
 Is this God's chofen ? This his heart's delight ? 
 Now let him own th' exalted favourite. 
 When in the womb an embrio, wrapp'd Hiy, 
 He fpread me into form ; he made the way 
 From the dark chambers there ; enrich'd the breail; 
 And at the milky fountain bade me feaft. 
 'Twas he fufcain'd me thro' my infant Hate, 
 My guard, when little ; my fupport, when great. 
 With thy protection ftill foreftal my fear, 
 And be thou, like my troubles, always near. 
 
 E 2 My 
 
 f And IfraePs chorus, viz. in the tabernacle. See biihop 
 Hare upon the place. 
 
52 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 My foes in number, as in pow'r, abound, 
 Strong bulls of Bafhan compafs me around; 
 As famihYd lions, ramping in the way, 
 With open mouths they roar in queft of prey. 
 My limbs relax'd, like wavy water, quake, 
 Luxt is each bone, and all my fibres ake : 
 My heart, as melting wax, diffolves away, 
 And my lank bowels feel a dark decay: 
 My juicelefs trunk is like apotflierd dry'd, 
 To its furr'd roof my fault'ring tongue is ty'd : 
 By thee reduced, I fcarce can draw my breath, 
 And amjufr. finking to the duft of death. 
 h As a prefs'd ' hir.d, an execrable band 
 Of thirfling blccd-houndsall around me ftand ; 
 They pierce my feet, and bore each nervous hand. 
 
 \ 
 
 The 
 
 ? Heb. Ab-bi-re Bha-SHAN, flrong bulls of "Bajkan. 
 Here, bulls, is fupply'd from the connection : Bn/ban 
 was a fertile country, good to feed cattle, and fuch, as 
 there fed, were fat and ftrong. With refpect to the 
 MeJJiah, the Jews, viz. the High Priejis, Scribes, and 
 Pharifees, who fet themfelves againft Chrift, were the 
 lulls of Bojhcui, as the prophets foretold, Dcut. xxxii. 14. 
 , f mos iv. 1. Hof. iv. 16. The Chaldee expoundeth the 
 fiions here concerning people, like pujbing bulls. 
 
 AlNSVS ORTH, LOWTH. 
 
 h This expreflion is here inferted from the title: the 
 whole paflage is applied to our Lord's crucifixion in the 
 xixth of St. John. But 'tis bbferv'd, that there is no- 
 thing like this in the hiilory of David; of whom it can 
 be 01 iy fpoken poetically by an Hyperbole. See bifhop 
 Patrick's paraphr 16. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 53 
 The numb'ring eyes my bones uncover'd meet, 
 They flaring look on my pierc'd hands and feet : 
 My parted garments they their prizes make, 
 And caft their lots, who mall my veflure take. 
 Yet Hill, eternal Lord, be thou but near, 
 Thy preferi c aid will banifh every fear : 
 From the deftroying fword my foul defend, 
 Quell the j dog's rage, which would my darling rend : 
 Let me not feel the lion's grafping claws, 
 But fave me from the roaring tyrant's jaws: 
 Tho' pufh'd with armed fronts of unicorns, 
 Yet thou hail heard me from amidil their horns. 
 Thy might amongrt my brethen 111 proclaim, 
 And in thy courts will magnify thy name : 
 By Jacob's feed thro' every age ador'd, 
 May all, who truly fear him, praiie the Lord : 
 And let thy fens, O Ifrael, chaunt his praife, 
 And with due reverence tune the joyful lays : 
 He fpurn'd not at th' afRicled's piteous cafe, 
 Nor heard his cry with an averted face. 
 
 E 3 Therefore 
 
 5 The dog's rage means the rrncorous difpofition of 
 bafe and vile peribns : the lion's jaws y the violent and 
 ferce difpofition of tyrannical governors ; fuch as were 
 the rukrs oi Ifrael: and the horns of the unicorns (crea- 
 tures, ftrong and not to be tamed) principalities, powers, 
 princes of the darknefs of this world : all of which were 
 combined againil the Mejjias, fo, as that this paflage was 
 more literally fulfilled in him, than in David. 
 
54 Thi P S AL M S o/ DAVID. 
 
 Therefore I'll laud him on the folemn day, 
 
 ;omis'd offering at his altar pay : 
 With grateful hecatombs difcharge my vows. 
 Summon the tribes, and fill \az facred houfe. 
 The n leek mall feaft around the chearful board ; 
 And they, that feck him, mall confefs the Lord : 
 
 feed on choice repafb, which cannot cloy, 
 And fill the foul with never-dying joy. 
 Not k only Jewry, earth's remote!! bounds 
 Shall hear with rapture the converting founds : 
 His mercies, thro' the jull reports of fame, 
 Shall teach the nations to adore his name. 
 Thy fovercign rule extends o'er land and fea, 
 All earthly pow'rs, O Lord, mud iloop to thee : 
 With thee {hall feafi: the l fat of every land, 
 The poor in dufl fhall own thy dread command . 
 In thee both high, and low, all live and move, 
 Dependent obje&s of thy general love : 
 
 The: 
 
 fc A ' in of the i 
 
 preaching of th 
 
 1 That i?, all t it are rich- and powerful, mail 
 
 partake cf his ajtar, and humbl ; him that 
 
 bellows inch benefits upon them. And fo mall the poor 
 and miferable alio think themfelves happy in I 
 
 conuder this paflage, as prophetical of the 
 . thefe lines may be apprehended to p< . 
 
 . !u. ii.- &£. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 55 
 Their progeny fhall learn the v jnderous fong, 
 And their's the thankful homage mall prolong : 
 Age after age th' important bleflings own, 
 And hand them to fucceeding nations down. 
 
 PSALM XXIII. 
 A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Itfeems to have been compos' VZ, after God had brought him 
 out of that great Dijirefs, of which he complained in 
 the foregoing^ and fettled him in a projperous Con- 
 dition^ wherein he was confident God would continue 
 him. Patrick. 
 
 j 
 
 EHO VAH tends me with a fhepherd's care, 
 What prefiing wants, what evil can I fear ? 
 At reft he in the verdant pafture lays, 
 Or guides me, where the quiet current ftrays : 
 Whene'er I'm loft, his watchful eyes behold 
 My wand'rings, he reftores me to the fold : 
 For his name's fake (left I mould tread amifs) 
 lie points the path, which leads to vi^uous blifs. 
 
 E 4 U 
 
56 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 If bound to traverfe o'er m der.th's dreary vale, 
 Thine aid forbids my dreadlefs heart to fail : 
 Thy rod and ftaff fupporting comfort yield, 
 And prop me onward thro 1 the dLmal field. 
 My foes obferve me, and repining fland, 
 Feaft on the choicefl bounties of thine hand : 
 Thy iacred n oyl makes glad my chearful face, 
 My cup is crown'd with thine o'erflowing grace. 
 Thus, whilft thy love fhall blefs my lateft days, 
 In Sion's courts I'll fing Jehovah's praife. 
 
 m Keb. Beghe Tsal-ma-veth, in the valley of tht 
 Jhadonv of death. This fpeech denoteth imminent danger, 
 as in ficknefs, or the field of battle, Jer. ii. 6. fear 
 and terror. Job. xxiv. 17. and dreadful darknefs, Job. X. 
 21, 22. AlNSWORTH. 
 
 n In thofe countries they us'd to welcome and chear 
 their guelts by pouring out fweet oil, or balfam, upop 
 their heads. Ainsworth. 
 
 PSALM, 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 57 
 
 PSALM XXIV. 
 A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It ivas compos 'd, as 'tis thought, when the Ark was 
 brought from the Houfe o/'Obed Edom, and fettled 
 in the Houfe which he had prepared for it in Mount 
 Sion i and as that was a Type of Chrift's Afcen- 
 fion into Heaven, fo is this Pfalm a Prophecy of that 
 Exaltation. — In the Celebration of the Fad of this 
 Pfalm, the People are fuppos'd to be af ending to the 
 Tabernacle, as the Romans did to the Capitol, and 
 there placing in it the Ark in great Pomp. The 
 remaining Vcrfes from the Seventh demand an 
 Anfwer alternately. Thofe without demand the 
 Gates to be opened, and thofe within afk, who it is, &c. 
 Patrick, Nichols, Hare,Mudge,Lowth. 
 
 T^ ARTH's choiceft produce, every treafur'd mine, 
 "^"^ And all the kingdoms of the world are thine ; 
 Tis thou, O Lord, who fix'd its folid ground, 
 The river's channels, and the ocean's bound. 
 Who fhall afcend thy mount with profperous vows ? 
 Who Hand, Jehovah, in thy facred houfe ? 
 That man, whofe hands are clean from guilty flains, 
 'Jn whofe pure heart no fm triumphant reigns ; 
 
 Whofe 
 
58 Tlie PSALMS of DAVID, 
 Whofe foul's defires no ° vanity purfue, 
 And, if he fwears, is obftinately true : 
 He may for blefiings in Jehovah truft, 
 V/hilfl Godsfahvation ranks him with the juft : 
 Such is their {lamp, who court thy heavenly grace ; 
 Such their's, O Jacob, who fhall feek thy face. 
 Ye cverlafting doors, p each ready gate, 
 Lift up your pompous heads ; in royal Hate 
 The king of glory comes ; his folemn entrance wait. 
 Who is this king of glory ? 'Tis the Lord, 
 In battle fcrcng, and mighty is his fword. 
 
 * Yc 
 
 ° Some underhand this of irregular worldly defires ; 
 fomc of {wearing falfely by a man's own iouI ; others 
 of taking the name of God in vain ; others of idolatry : 
 under that notion it may figniiy the ihunningof that kind 
 of idolatry, which conftfts mfwearing by an idol, which 
 is a diftindl fenfe from the following cf not deceiving our 
 neighbour by a falfe oath. Diodate, Patrick, 
 NrciioLs, Hare, Mudge. 
 
 p Heb. Se-u ShA-ghnarim Ra-she-chem, lift 
 up your beads, O ye gates. Some commentators hold this 
 to be a phrafe, referring to triumphal arches, or great 
 porticoes, fet up, or beautify'd and acom'd for the 
 coming of great and victorious captains : but others 
 apprehend it as an image iuited to a portcullis, the head 
 of which, as it is lifted, rifes confpicuous above the gate. 
 Diodate, Nichols, Mudge. 
 
 4 Heb, 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 q Ye everlafting doors, each ready gate, 
 
 Lift up your pompous heads ; in royal Hate 
 
 The king of glory comes; his folemn entrance wait. 
 
 Who's he, this king of glory ? 'Tis the Lord, 
 
 The Lord of hofts, which all obey his word, 
 
 He is the glorious king, by heaven and earth ador'd. 
 
 •i Heb. Pith-khe Ghno-lam. Ostia Seculi, 
 ye e<verlajiing doors. This above is an elegant apoftrophe 
 to the gates of the caftle ofSion, that they mould throw 
 themfelves wide open to receive the ark, in'which God 
 refidcd : and there vverlajting fignifies durable: but 
 here, if we fuppofe the expreffion repeated to refer to 
 our Lord's entrance into heaven at his afcenfion, ac- 
 cording to the argument, then we are to underftand by 
 everlafling doors, the doors of the heavenly /ancillary , which 
 never fhall decay. And we may be induc'd fo to 
 apprehend it, fince in the repeated paffage, at the begin- 
 ning of the tenth verfe, the queftion is put with greater 
 emphafis ; Who is he, this king of glory ? And in the latter 
 end, the words, Mighty in battle, are omitted, becaufe 
 in the days of the Mejfiah, as Aben E/ra himfelf gives 
 the account, men are to turn their /words into plough- 
 Jhares, &c. Biihops Hare, Patrick. 
 
 PSALM, 
 
So ne PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 P S A L M XXV. 
 A Pfalm of David. 
 
 A R G U M E N T. 
 
 Itfeems to have been pcnrtd after the Commijjion offome 
 great Sins (v. n.J and feme great Dijirefs^ where- 
 into he was fallen, (v. 15. 16. J probably after the 
 Matter of Urijah, and when Abfalom rcbeWd 
 Ggainfl him r . 
 
 "!& /T Y foul, Jehovah, to thy throne mall flee ; 
 O.T-*. Thou art my God, I put my truft in thee : 
 May no ccn.ufion ftain my bluming face, 
 No hoftile triumphs bar thy wonted grace. 
 Let noiie, that honour thee, e'er fuffer fhame, 
 33ut thofe, who break their faith, or {light thy name. 
 Make me thy bleffedways, Jehovah, know, 
 And in thy facred paths unerring go. 
 
 Nor 
 
 : This Pfalm is compos'd for the moll: part after the 
 order of the Hebrew letters, or v» fiich care may 
 
 denote the weight and excelle :epts. The 
 
 lame is to be obferv'd of fome other PfaJms 9 a.s the xxxiv. 
 xxxvii. cxi. cxii. cxix. and cxlv. and they might be 
 i'o laid out to help the memory of children and others, 
 who were to learn them. Ainsworth, Mudge, 
 Low -:ii. 
 
the PSALMS of DAVID. 6j 
 
 Nor let me from thy truth, my Saviour, ftray; 
 
 Teach me, O Lord j I wait thee all the day : 
 
 As once our fires, deign thou their fons to lead, 
 
 And movv'r thine ancient bleflings on their head. 
 
 Blot out th' offences of my thoughtlefs age, 
 
 In my lull's empire, and my pafiions rage : 
 
 Under thy kind and gracious notice take, 
 
 O Lord, thy fervant, for thy goodnefs fake : 
 
 Tender, and righteous, is our heavenly Lord, 
 
 He guides th' unjuft with his inftru&ive word : 
 
 The humble he mall make his laws obey, 
 
 Hell teach the humble his delightful way : 
 
 Them in his paths mall truth and mercy crown, 
 
 Who keep his cov'nant, and his fervice own. 
 
 For thy name's fake, O Lord, regard my cry, 
 
 And fpare me, for my fin's of 3 crimfon dye : 
 
 Who fears the Lord, fhall follow wifdom's ways, 
 
 Then welcome peace of foul, and plenteous days : 
 
 His feed fhall take the blefling from his hand, 
 
 Prolong his merits, and poflefs the land. 
 
 A faithful God the juft fhall ever find, 
 
 His l fecret wlfdom will inftruft their mind. 
 
 Mine eyes are evertow'rds thy mercy feat, 
 
 For thou muft free from toils my tangled icot. 
 
 Be 
 
 s This probably may refer (according to the argument) 
 to his 
 
 1 i. e. His good fug .. lions to .heir fouls. 
 
62 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 Be gracious to me; turn thy face at laft; 
 Beliold me, penfive thro' my forrows part. 
 My Rraits of heart more and more preffing grow, 
 Have mercy on me, and enlarge them now. 
 Oh ! look upon mine agonizing pain, 
 Forgive my fins, and blot their fcarlet ftain. 
 With caufelefs hate purfu'd by numerous bands, 
 Preferve my foul, and fnatch me from their hands : 
 Reach out deliverance, difconcert their aim, 
 And, as my trull's in thee, prevent my fhame : 
 Be confeious righteoufnefs my bofom-guard ; 
 Longing I wait from thee its hop'd reward. 
 From troublous evils, thro' diftrefsful foes, 
 Redeem thine Ifrael, Lord, and end his woes. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID., 53 
 
 * 
 
 PSALM. XXVI. 
 
 A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It feems to relate to former Timis, when he two 
 perfecutecl by Saul, and looked upon as a publick 
 Enemy, (1 Sam. xxiv. 9. J and contains an Appeal 
 io God, as the Judge of his Sincerity, who was privy 
 to his mojlfecret Intentions. P a t R 1 c j: . 
 
 TUDGE me, O Lord, pafs fentence on my foul, 
 
 ^ If my perfidious fchemes thy laws controul : 
 
 On thee I trull, as my fupport, and guide, 
 
 On thee, O Lord ; let not my footfteps Aide : 
 
 Search, Lord, if I project a faithful part, 
 
 Examine thou my reins, and try my heart j 
 
 Thy loving kindnefs is before mine eyes, 
 
 I've copied truth from thee, and hated lies : 
 
 I've never herded with the falfe and vain, 
 
 Nor been retain'd in the diiTembling train : 
 
 Who aft in virtue's, and in faith's, defpight, 
 
 With them mine honour never could unite : 
 
 In innocence I'll warn each fpotlefs hand, 
 
 And thus prepaid will v round thine altar Hand : 
 
 Will 
 
 • The Heb. expre.Tion from Sa-bhabh rendered, / 
 •will compafs, or com: round, is probably taken from 
 the cuftom of forming a ring round the altar at the time 
 of worship, Mud eg. 
 
64 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Will publifh there the voice of thanks and praife, 
 And celebrate with joy thy wondrous ways : 
 I've lovM that beauteous dwelling, which is thine, 
 And where thy glorious prefence deigns to fhine : 
 Oh ! then confound me not, nor mix my foul 
 With theirs, thro' blood, and bafe pollutions, foul ; 
 Mine hands let no corrupting purpofe ftain, 
 Like theirs, denTd with bribes, and guilty gain : 
 I'll walk fincerely in a perfect way, 
 Redeem thou me, and be my gracious flay : 
 My w foot Hands on a fure, and even place ; 
 I'll join the facred choir, and fing thine heavenly grace. 
 
 w This anfwers to the vcrfe at the beginning, in 
 which he faid, Let me not Jlide: here he fays, Mj 
 
 foot Jtands on a fure and even place. Mudge. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 65 
 
 PSALM, XXVII. 
 A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It is fuppos'd to be written in his old Age^ and therein 
 he recounts the many Dangers God had delivered him 
 from. Some do not improbably think it was composed 
 when he had like to have hen kiWd in Battle ^ and 
 the People took an Oath he Jhould go no more with 
 them into the Fields 2 S^m, xxi. 17, Patrick, 
 Nichols. 
 
 ' I "* H E Lord's my fafeguard, and condu&ing light, 
 "*• Whatpow'r mall damp me?andwhat dreads affright? 
 He is my ftrength, when hoftile danger's near, 
 Why mould I droop, betray 'd by treach'rous fear ? 
 When wicked foes advanc'd my x flefh to eat, 
 They fell, and groveling lay before my feet ; 
 
 F I'll 
 
 x Eat myfcjb. This exprefTes the Utmoft rancour, or 
 envy. There is the fame phrafe in Ecclef. iv. 5. where 
 (as it mould be tranflated) the fool is faidtout lazily with 
 folded arms, and out of envy to eat the ftejh of his 
 diligent neighbour, whom he lees to thrive. Mudce. 
 But there is a nearer parallel in that expreffion, Pfalm 
 
 Xiv, 4. O-CHELE 6HNAM-MI A-CHELU LE-HHEM, 
 
 eating up my people, as if they would eat bread; which 
 denotes the tyrannical, cruel, difpofoion, and the 
 devouring rage and fury of the oppreiicrs, 
 
66 ?V PSALMS of DAVlC. 
 
 Til banifh fear, though hofts inveft me round, 
 
 Though war mould rife, I'll dauntlefs keep my ground. 
 
 One thing, Jehovah, grant my longing will, 
 
 This my repeated pray'r at length fulfill ; 
 
 Within thine houfe to fit, with daily care 
 
 To wait thy voice, and fee thy beauty there : 
 
 In this afylum, 'midit. war's dire alarm, 
 
 Thou'It hide me, fcreen'd by thine almighty arm : 
 
 This is my lov'd pavilion, and my reck, 
 
 Here I'm fuperior to each battering ihock: 
 
 And now the troops ihall fall, around me fpread^ 
 
 Above my foes thou wilt exalt mine head. 
 
 With facrifice triumphant ihouts I'll raife, 
 
 In Sion tune, and fmg Jehovah's praife. 
 
 Hear me, O God, regard me, when I cry, 
 
 Have mercy on me, and my wants fupply : 
 
 "Tis thy command, and word,—- Seek yetnf face i 
 
 Thy face I feek, and thy command embrace ; 
 
 Oh ! turn it not away, but fmooth thy brow, 
 
 And, as before, ?ny Saviour, keep me now : 
 
 Should ev'n my parents guardian kindnefs end, 
 
 The Lord would take me up, my needs attend : 
 
 Teach me thy ways, O Lord, my paths prepare, 
 
 And guard me from the foe's deceitful fnare : 
 
 My life they threaten, and my name blafpheme, 
 
 up, and frultrate each malicious fcheme : 
 
 M/ 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 6f 
 My fainting foul had been redue'd to daft, 
 Cut that Jehovah's goodnefs was my truft: 
 Let not thy heart yield to defponding fear ; 
 Wait on the Lord ; wait, 'till Jehovah hear. 
 
 PSALM XXVIII, 
 
 ' A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It waz probably written about the fame time with the 
 former ■, towards the latter End of his Reign ; when 
 his Wars were well nigh fimflied. But he had fame 
 domeflic Faclion, which flill gave him Trouble^ 
 pojftbly that ^Sheba, 2 Sam. xx. which might give 
 Occafion to the writing of this Pfalm, Nl c H o L s . 
 
 /~\ Lord, my rock, to thee my cries 1 fend, 
 Then be not filent, but my call attend : 
 If thou art filent, who my foul mall fave, 
 When 'tis juft hov'ring o'er the gaping grave ? 
 Hear, when with hands up-rajs'd I fue for grace* 
 Before thine 7 oracle, and holy place : 
 
 F 2 Let 
 
 y When the High Priejl prefented himfelf with the 
 Vrim and Thummim on exaclly over-againft the mercy feat, 
 where the di<vine prifence refted, God from thence an, 
 fvver'd him with an audible voice. For this reafon it is, 
 that the holy of holies, the place where the ark, and the 
 mercy feat Hood, is fo often in fcripture, as here, call'd 
 the oracle. Pride aux's Connection. 
 
63 fie PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Let me not marc the wicked z workers fmart, 
 
 Who fpeak fair peace, when mifchlef fills their heart. 
 
 Give them the fcourges to their malice due, 
 
 Let equal Itrokes their evil deeds purfue : 
 
 Give them their handy-work's deferv'd reward* 
 
 To their demerit mew its meet regard. 
 
 Becaufe they weigh not, nor will wifely fee 
 
 The wonders, which Jehovah wrought for me ; 
 
 Which his hands wrought with an almighty pow'r, 
 
 Hell break them down, nor will rebuild them more* 
 
 Tor grace I fu'd ; O blefTed be the Lord, 
 
 Who did with grace his" kindly ear afford. 
 
 Jehovah is my Strength, my faithful fhield, 
 
 He was my truft, he did his fuccour yield. 
 
 V/ith joyful heart Til feek the facred quire, 
 
 And his juft praifes mail my fengs infpire. 
 
 The Lord's their ftrength, who give the king fupporf,, 
 
 hlc's his anointed's ftrong and faving fort. 
 
 O fave thy people ; blefs thine heritage ; 
 
 Feed, and exak thy flock from age to age. 
 
 *= Po-GHNALE A-VEN, workers of 'iniquity, or of z!ye r 
 
 which latter is often (as noted on Ffa/m v.) underftood 
 
 -/ > ; hence lbme have apprehended this, defigned 
 
 . fome heathen enemy, who had acted treacherously 
 
 and in breach of faith. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 69 
 
 * 
 
 PSALM XXIX. 
 A Pfalra of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It fe ems to have been compos f d after form extraordinary 
 Thunder 1 Lightnings and Rain ; whereby 'tis proba- 
 ble God hadfo difcomfitted his Enemies, that he eafily 
 got the Victory. JVhereupon, he exhorts them in 
 this Pfalm to fubmit to that Glorious Majejly 7 from 
 whom the Thunder came. Patrick, 
 
 £~** I V E ftrength, give glory, and your tribute bring, 
 
 ^^ Ye earthly princes, to th 1 eternal king : 
 
 O give the glory due, his name implore, 
 
 And in his beauteous courts the Lord adore : 
 
 The God of glory thunder'd from on high, 
 
 Jehovah's voice alarm'd the dreaming fky; 
 
 At his repeated voice the ocean raves, 
 
 And owns Jehovah with its numerous waves : 
 
 Pow'rful the l'ound, majeftic is the tone, 
 
 By which the dread Jehovah's voice isknq 
 
 Aw'd Lebanon , and its tall cedars, fhake, 
 
 Riv'd with Jehovah's voice the cedars quake : 
 
 Si-ion and Lebanon with roots up -torn 
 
 Skip, like a calf, or the young unicorn : 
 
 F 3 As 
 
7 o T!?e PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 As from the clouds the voice tremendous flies, 
 
 The darting flames cut the divided fides : 
 
 The Lord Jehovah makes the defert wafle, 
 
 The wafle of Kades makes with furious bla.fl : 
 
 His voice re-foundeth, and the a fhudd'ring Does 
 
 Sink in their flight, and heave with labouring throw? . 
 
 As o'er the forreft leafy fpoils are made, 
 
 The beafls uncover'd fcour the dreary glade : 
 
 In his b high palace chaunt the angelic train, 
 
 Glory to God, with one harmonious flrain. t 
 
 He fate, as judge, when earth was c delug'd o'er, 
 
 The Lord fliall fit as king for evermore : 
 
 Jehovah will his people's ftrength encreafe, 
 
 Jehovah will his people blefs with peace. 
 
 a Heb. Aj-ja-loth, Hinds, Docs. They, of all other 
 creatures, bring forth with great trouble, bowing them- 
 fehves, bruijing their youngs and cafling out their forroivs. 
 "Job xxxix. 4, 6. Bythner, Ainsworth. Mr. 
 Lowth interprets this word, concerning oaks flruck 
 with lightning, as being more agreeable to the context. 
 
 b Heb. Be -he -c Halo, in bis temple, or palace. We 
 
 may underfland here God's heavenly temple, or fanduary, 
 and not the temple of Jerusalem, of which opinion are 
 Le Clerc, Hare, C h ai.de e. The latter explains 
 this place thus, And in the temple of the houfe of his fane - 
 tuary, which is above, all his minijlers do fay his glory. 
 Ainsworth. 
 
 c Seme comments underfland this of Noah's food, 
 others of the tempeft above defcrib'd. Ainsworth, 
 
 jHaRE, MlJDCE, 6v. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 71 
 
 PSALM XXX. 
 
 A Pfalm, being a Song at the Dedication of David's 
 Houfe. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Occafion of it was the Dedication ofhisHsufe (by 
 Thanhfgiving to God, and Feajiing his Friends, as 
 the Marnier zuas at coming to dwell in a new-built 
 Houfe, Dent, xx. 5. J when he returned to it again* 
 after the Rebellion <?/*Abfalom, who had defitd it' 
 Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 T"X RAWN d from the ds&p, I will exalt thje Lord, 
 
 From dread of a triumphant foe reftojr'd : 
 My God, Jehovah,' did my cries implore, 
 Soon his all-healing hand reliev'd my fore : 
 My foul hung o'er the pit, and deadly grave, 
 Jehovah's arm was ready (till to fave : 
 Ye faints, affemble, grateful tribute pay, 
 Record his goodnefs in the facred lay : 
 His wrath but for moment will endure, 
 Who finds his favour, keeps his foul fecure 2 
 
 • F 4 TW 
 
 d Heb. Dhil-li-tka-ni,/,^^ drawn me up, i. e. 
 as out of a pit of waters ; for this word is us'd for drawin 
 cf waters, Exodus ii. 16. 17. waters fignifying troubles. 
 AiNSWORTH. 
 
72 rioe PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Tho' difmal forrow faddens all the night, 
 
 Yet fhouting joy comes with the morning light. 
 
 I faid, repos'd thro' his almighty hand, 
 
 Strong is my mountain, and unmov'd fhall Hand : 
 
 When lo ! he did but hide his chearing face, 
 
 My joy was woe, mine honour was difgrace : 
 
 'Twas then I fu'd the Lord with bended knees, 
 
 And to Jehovah cry'd in {trains like thefe : 
 
 What profits with my blood to lofe my breath ? 
 
 How fliall I praife thee in the duft of death ? 
 
 My mould'ring bones when putrid worms fhall bare, 
 
 How in the grave mail I thy truth declare ? 
 
 Have mercy on me, Lord, my wailings hear, 
 
 Help mc, Jehovah, to difpel my fear : 
 
 *Twas done ; the mournful tears forgot to Row, 
 
 And to a mirthful dance he turn'd my woe : 
 
 He bade me throw the fordid c fackcloth by, 
 
 And f gird me round with glad fefllvity : 
 
 Hence- 
 
 e Keb. Sak-ki, my lack, or fackcloth, worn in the 
 time of forrow, Ejlker'w. i. Jenssu\.6. 'Tis remark- 
 able of this word fak, that it is lb univerfal, as to be 
 common to various language's, which argues the unaf- 
 fected temper of real forrow, naturally inducing men to 
 neglect their outward grace?, and not to delight in 
 their own perfons, in that the feveral nations apprehend 
 this exprefiion of it by the fame difmal garb, and a 
 word of the fame found to denote it. 
 
 f As fackcloth was to be taken off, gladnefs, to carry 
 CD the metaphor, muft mean the garment of gladnefs, 
 
 which 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 73 
 Henceforth my God, Jehovah, fhal! employ 
 My glorying tongue with endlefs thanks and joy. 
 
 PSALM XXXI. 
 To the chief Miifician. A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Herein he dcfcribes his Confidence in God, notwithstanding 
 a grievous Strait wherein he was - 3 when (as I wider- 
 Jiand it) after his EJcape from Keilah, Saul with 
 three Bataliicns (as we now /peak,) purfued hi?nfi 
 clofe in the IVildernefs of Maori, that without an 
 extraordinary Providence of God over him^ he bacf 
 certainly fallen into his Hands. Patrick. 
 
 T Truft, Jehovah, in thy pow'rful name, 
 
 In juitice fave me, and prevent my mame y 
 
 Bow down thine ear, and fpeedy fuccour give, 
 
 Let me, my fortrefs, in thy fafmefs live : 
 
 No fort can keep me, if forfook by thee, 
 
 Thou art my rock, to thy firm ftrength 1 files: 
 
 Then for thine honour lead, and guide my feet, 
 
 Guard them from nets, conceal'd with dark deceit. 
 
 Thou, my firm ftrength, canft every foe controul; 
 
 Into thine hand I recommend my foul: 
 
 OLorf, 
 
 which was to be girded on, whereas the habit of 
 mourning was fufter'd to hang rent and loofe. Mudge. 
 
74. Wk PSALMS of DAVID. 
 O Lord, thou God of truth, be this thy will, 
 As in paft dangers, to redeem me flill. 
 Ye, who to 8 lying vanities incline, 
 Avaunt, I'll feek no oracle but thine, 
 Jehovah 5 in thy mercy I'll rejoice, 
 Since in my trouble thou hall heard my voice, 
 Haft known my foul in each diflrefsful ftate, 
 And freed my feet from every hoftile ftrait. 
 Still in diflrefs, fend me, O Lord, relief, 
 My finking eye is gnawn with preying grief: 
 My burden'd foul defponding faints away, 
 And my ftarv'd bowels pine into decay : 
 In difmal forrow my fad life is fpent, 
 And all my years, to give my %hing vent : 
 Mine able ftrength finks underloads of fin, 
 The bone 1 : neath my ficfhlcfs fkin : 
 
 My foes triumphant mock my truft in thee ; 
 The neighbours fharpen fcandal's fling for me j 
 And friends my dreaded falutation flee. 
 As a deceafed man, Vm no one's care, 
 Or like a broken veffel, paft repair. 
 
 s 
 
 I felt 
 
 8 Heb. Kabh-le, lying vanities, The word (Hebel) 
 here us'd, befides vain, <u .»-, fignifies in fpecial 
 
 idolatry ; for idols are ofbn call'd vanities, as being 
 light, vile, and things of nought, Dent, xxxii. 21. 
 1 Kings xv\i. 15, and many other places. Ainsworth. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 75 
 I felt the lam of many a fland'rotw tongue, 
 Fear was all round, whilft men devis'd my wrong, 
 Whilft they took counfel with infidious itrife, 
 And bafely fought to take away my life. 
 Yet deprecating, Lord, this hoflile rod, 
 Trufting in thee, I faid, thou art my God ; 
 My h times are not in theirs, but in thine hand, 
 Then fave me from this perfecuting band : 
 Cloud not thy face, forth let its beamings break, 
 And fave thy fervant for thy mercy's fake. 
 On them, not me, bid all the fliame redound, 
 Thee I invoke, the wicked's plots confound : 
 May their falfe mouths, which at the pious rave, 
 Be ftopp'd with clay, and filcnc'd in the grave : 
 Seal up their lying lips, and tie their tongues, 
 Fraught with difdain, defpight, and ' l lafting wrongs. 
 What numerous blerhngs doit thou keep in ftore, 
 For thofe, who fear thee, and thine help implore ? 
 
 Thofe, 
 
 h Heb. Ghnit-to-thai, my times, i. e. his many and 
 fundry events, troubles, deliverances, profperities, adverfties, 
 life, and death, (for all things have their appointed time, 
 Ecclef iii. 12. ) are in the hand and dlfpofition of God. 
 Ainsworth. 
 
 1 Heb. Ghna-thak, durance , hardnefs, and iniquity : 
 it refpecls things of long datepaft, or lafting and durable 
 for thne to come, Prov. viii. 18. If a. xxiii. 18. In 
 fpeeches 'tis put for an oldfavj, taken up, and applied 
 to one's reproach, and fo during long, and generally for 
 any hard or f out fpeech, 1 Sam, ii. 3. Pfalm xciv. 4. 
 Ainsworth. 
 
76 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Thofe, who before the Tons of men confefs 
 Thy name, mall thy difUnguifh'd favour blefs : 
 Shall hide them in the iecret of thy face, 
 In fecret hide them in thine holy place : 
 There the k rough pride of man thou malt prevent, 
 From wounding tongues ihalt fcreen them in thy tent. 
 All praifeto God, who fenthis wond'rous aid, 
 When a ftrcng fort would have my force betray'd : 
 'Twas then, when flying, that I faid in : hafle, 
 I'm loll, and from before thine eyes am caft : 
 Then was I heard ; then, at mine inftant crie.% 
 To my quick refcue did Jehovah rife. 
 Love him, ye gracious faints, who will regard 
 The juft, and gives the proud their full reward : 
 Be ftrong ; Jehovah flill Ihall ilrength impart 
 To thofe, who feek him in their faithful hear;. 
 
 k Heb. Racas, rcngh pride. It figni 
 
 with knotty Exod. xxviii. 28. from which a word 
 is derived, Ija. xl. 4. fignifying knobby, rough pikers, 
 oppos'd to fmootbj or plain. Hereby Do-jid ufes it 
 figuratively for rough affections, or o.Ftlons of men, mean- 
 ing their pride, as in our bible, verfe 21. or con/piracies, 
 and;;:: . fo the Seventy read, from the troubles of 
 
 men. A ins worth. 
 
 1 Heb. Behho^h le. This word is 
 
 us'd to expreis David's freed and confternation in his 
 Misfit from Kc'do.h, and no where elfe in any other part 
 of David's hiltory : from whence it is probable, that 
 rhis P'alm, fince the word occurs iU'ie., hath refpeclto 
 that occafiou. Tat rick. 
 
 PSAL M 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM XXXII. 
 A Pfalm of David. m Mafchil 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The above Title fignifies David's Inftrudtion. TJ?s 
 Seventy call it, David's Synefis, or his Return to 
 a right Underftandino; of himfelf. Both Titles 
 have regard to the deep Repentance, exprefs'd in this 
 Pfalm, for the great complicated Sin committed by 
 him in the Matter of\Jri)dh ; being awakened to a 
 frejh Senfe of his Crime by the Affliclion which befel 
 him in his Son Abfalom's Rebellion againjl him. 
 It was adapted to a public Ufe afterwards by the 
 Jewifh Church, and was folemnly repeated on the 
 Day of Expiation. Nichols. 
 
 T) LESSINGS for him in heav'n are laid in ftore, 
 Whofe fault's forgiv'n, whofe crime is cover 'd o'er: 
 Bleflings await that man the Lord mall clear 
 From fin, whofe foul is guilelefs and fincere. 
 
 Thro 1 
 
 ™ Maschil is by fome conjeclur'd to denote a fa- 
 mous tune, to which a fong beginning with this word, 
 gave the denomination. 
 
TIT The PSALMS of DAVID 
 Thro 1 filcnt guilt, I, moaning with decay, 
 Roar'd, like a n wounded lion, all the day : 
 Then day and night beneath thine heavy hand, 
 My juicelefs trunk was like the thirfly land, 
 Scorch'd with the fummer fun's continual rage, 
 When no cool ihowcrs its fultry heat aflwage. 
 
 Selah. 
 'Twas then at length, I fought God's » pardoning grace, 
 And (pre ad my fecret fins before his face : 
 Open'd each fore, no darling fault conceal'd ; 
 When he beheld, forgave, — ajid I was heal'd. 
 
 Selah. 
 'Tis thus the juft difclcfe each finful wound, 
 In timely prayer, when God is to be found i 
 They feck their fafeguard, e'er that fearch is vain, 
 Before the threat'ned p deluge drowns the plain. 
 
 When 
 
 n til c a wounded lion. This is an infertion into the 
 text, to illuftrate the word roaring, which from the pro- 
 per fenfe cf it in the Hebrew mull include this idea. See 
 Patrick's paraphrafe. 
 
 ° See Pialm li. correfponding to the argument of 
 this. 
 
 P Heb. Leshe-teph, in the great water-foods. 
 The meaning of the place is, This is the way of pre- 
 venting thole great calamities, which otherwife may 
 overtake men, when the Lord fends a deluge of miferies 
 (as he did in the days of Noah) upon tjic world of the 
 ungodlv. Patrick. 
 
the PSALMS of DAVID. 79 
 When quick mine anguifh, my diftrefs is great, 
 Thou art mine hiding-place, my fure retreat : 
 Thine aids mall furnifh out the facred lays, 
 And compafs me about with fongs of praife. 
 
 Selah. 
 Hear, and a faithful monitor attend, 
 Who points the pleafant way, thy courfe mould bend ; 
 Will watch thy goings with a careful eye, 
 And keep thy feet, left they mould tread awry. 
 Submit yourfelf to rcafcn's fovereign rule, 
 Not like th' unbitted horfe, th' unbridled mule, 
 Which void of knowledge, and the guiding rein, 
 Pvange without conduct o'er the pathlefs plain. 
 Great are their pains, who fwerve from godly fear, 
 But grace furrounds them, who the Lord revere. 
 Be glad x ye juft, and in the Lord rejoice, 
 And mout, ye righteous, with exalted voice. 
 
 PSALM 
 
So The PSALMS of DAVIE); 
 
 ■ « -! ■.,■ . . .. ■ 
 
 PSALM XXXIII. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Tim there is no Title to this Pfalm, the Stile and De- 
 votion therein afcribe it to David : compos 1 d it might 
 be upon fame fpecial Benefit, received from God, 
 which makes him call it, A new Song, ver. iii. 
 In the Courfe of it, he argues from God's IVifdom 
 in the Creation, and the various Difpenfations of his 
 Providence, that all Men ought to put their Truji 
 in him. Patrick* Nichols. 
 
 "^7E faints, who in Jehovah put your trull, 
 
 Shout forth his praife : his praife becomes the jnfl : 
 May the foft lutes attend the vocal quire, 
 The ten-firing 1 d inrtruments, and feitive lyre. 
 To praife the lord: let the loud -founding notes 
 Swell from vour feillful hands, and warbling throats. 
 For the grand mufic a new fong indite ; 
 Iehovah's word is true, his works are right. 
 His love tojufticc (nines in each command, 
 His goodnefs in each creature of his hand. 
 Jriiov <ui\s word form'd heaven above, beneath 
 lr< hofts were made from his creating breath. 
 'Twas he amafVd the briny feas in heaps, 
 And. as lb (lore houfes, referv'd the deeps : 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 3i 
 
 Fear, all ye lands, Jehovah, and let all 
 
 Be aw'd by him, who tread this earthly ball : 
 
 He fpake, and it was done : its bafe was laid : 
 
 'Twas he commanded, —and the world was made. 
 
 Jehovah turns to nought the heathen fchemes, 
 
 They're but vain projects, and delufive dreams ; 
 
 The counfel of the Lord Hands ever fure, 
 
 His liable thoughts from age to age endure. 
 
 Happy's that nation where Jehovah's known, 
 
 Thrice happy that, he chufes for his own. 
 
 The Lord fupreme looks down from heav'n on high> 
 
 On all the fons of Adam calls his eye ; 
 
 He from his bright domains this globe furveys, 
 
 Difcerns mens hearts alike, and fcans their ways. 
 
 No king can fland, unlefs he deigns to fave, 
 
 Nor might, nor numbers, can avail the brave : 
 
 An horfe is vain, ihould he enrag'd purfue, 
 
 Nor flrength, nor fpeed, can 'fcape the vengeance due. 
 
 Who fear the Lord, and on his truth rely, 
 
 He mall regard them with a watchful eye : 
 
 Shall keep their fouls, when plagues infefl the earth, 
 
 And fave them from the pinching jaws of dearth. 
 
 Our hearts intently on Jehovah wait, 
 
 Who is our help, and fhield, in every ftrait ; 
 
 G Nothing 
 
82 tf>e PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Nothing can fink their joy, or damp their flame, 
 Since we have truited in his holy name. 
 On us, Jehovah, let thy mercy be 
 As conftant, as we fix our hope in thee. 
 
 PSALM XXXIV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 A Pfahn of David, ivhen he changed his Behaviour, 
 (i. e. pretended to be befide him/elf) before Abime- 
 lech ; (i. e. Achifh, Abimelech being the common 
 Title of the Kings of Gath, fgnifying my Father 
 the King) who drove him away, and he departed* 
 Hebrew Infcription. 
 
 TEHOVA H's praife fhall dwell upon my tongue, 
 
 ** My mouth fhall never quit the pleafmg fong : 
 
 My foul her boaft fhall in Jehovah make, 
 
 The meek with joy the glorious record take. 
 
 Give greatnefs to the Lord, together join, 
 
 T'exalt his name, let all our powers combine : 
 
 I fought the Lord,-— -he kindly deign'd to hear; 
 
 And foon he freed me from mine anxious fear : 
 
 q Then pour 1 d the jufl to meet his fun-fhine ray, 
 
 Which from their face chae'd cloudy fhame away : 
 
 At 
 
 i The IIeb. text is here conjectural by bifhop Hare 
 to be maimed, v* hich he confirms from Metrical reafons : 
 
 Ainsworrh, 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 83 
 
 At me they point,— that was the wretch diftrefs'dj 
 Who, flying to the Lord, is greatly blefs'd. 
 The truly good need dread no treacherous wound, 
 Whom guardian angels pitch their camp around* 
 O tafte, and fee, how gracious is the Lord, 
 He's fully blefs'd, that trufleth in his word. 
 Fear him, ye faints, and banifh deep defpair \ 
 No wants can fruilrate his fupporting care. 
 The ravenous lion fufTers hunger's pains, 
 Sometimes doth lack this tyrant of the plains ; 
 But thofe, who feek the Lord, fhall furely find 
 All needful goods, with a contented mind. 
 Ye pupils, who enlift in wifdom's fchools, 
 Attend to me, and hear thofe wholefome rules. 
 Which fear religious dictates : where's the man 
 Would fee good days, and lengthen out his fpan ? 
 From flanderous folly keep thy bridled tongue, 
 Thy lips from guile, and the deceitful wrong j 
 Learn to do well, from every evil ceafe, 
 Seek, and purfue, the pleafant paths of peace. 
 
 G 2 The 
 
 Ainsworth, without any fuch remark, has tranflated 
 the verfe ( 5 ) They looked upon him, and flowed, and their 
 faces he not ajhamed -, but our bible tranjlation, inftead of 
 flowed, (Neharu) renders it were lightned, according to 
 the Seventy, agreeing with the Chaldee. We have in 
 the above tranilation amVd to comprife thefe various 
 fenfes. 
 
84 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 The truly good engage th' Almighty's eye, 
 Engage his ear, which liftens to their cry. 
 Againft th' unjuft he fets his dreadful face, 
 And bids oblivion blot the fhort-liv'd race. 
 The Lord will hearken, when the righteous call, 
 Will footh their cares, and calm their troubles all : 
 The Lord is nigh unto the broken heart, 
 Will fave the contrite foul, and eafe his fmart : 
 Tho' many forrows on the righteous wait, 
 The Lord at length reftores their happy Hate ; 
 When threat'ning arms are rais'd, the danger knows, 
 Keeps all their bones, and wards the crufning blows. 
 But fudden vengeance mail the wicked flay, 
 Malicious men Hill perilh in their way : 
 Jehovah's fervants fhall be guiltlefs found, 
 And to the faithful mercy fhall abound. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 85 
 
 PSALM XXXV. 
 
 A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It was compos' 'd, during his Perfection wider Saul ; 
 and is particularly levelled againjl the Informers in 
 Saul's Courts of whom he much complains , begging 
 Gods Affijlance to defeat their wicked Defigns againjl 
 him. Nichols. 
 
 T) LEAD thou my caufe, in the dire conteft join, 
 
 And brand mine enemies, O Lord, for thine : 
 Be thou my champion, take the dreadful field, 
 AfTume the flaming fword, and guardian fhield ; 
 Draw forth the fpear, flop, flop, th' embattled way, 
 And whifper to my foul 5 — I am thy flay. 
 May r fhame and horror round their banners rife, 
 Rout them, who mifchief to my foul devife : 
 
 G 3 Let, 
 
 r When fuch paffages as thefe are render'd in the 
 form of a prayer, as in our bible tranflation, they feem 
 fuch horrid imprecations, as do not fuit the mouth of a 
 good man. But they mull be confidered as an appeal 
 to God in a particular cafe for juflice againft thofe, 
 whom no court on earth could or would punifh. 
 Which made it fit, the author thought, to defire the 
 divine majefly to execute the judgment he had enacted 
 in his law againfl incurable offenders ; who elfe would 
 
 efcape 
 
86 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Let, wHLfl they fly, like cliafF before the wind, 
 
 Jehovah's angel drive the ftorm behind : 
 
 Let, as they rufh o'er dark and flippery coafts, 
 
 Jehovah's #;/§■£/ ftill purfue their holls : 
 
 For me, without a caufe, their fnares were fet, 
 
 Without a caufe was fpread the treacherous net ; 
 
 Digg'd was the pit : the pit fhall catch the man, 
 
 Who thought my feet to take, my foul trepan : 
 
 Ruin fhall from his own projected fnare, 
 
 Tumultuous ruin, fcize him not aware. 
 
 Then thy falvation, Lord, fhall raife my voice, 
 
 An a in thy prowefs fhall my foul rejoice. 
 
 My members found, and each unbroken bone, 
 
 O Lord, fhall thy preferving goodnefs own. 
 
 In this praife- offering all my pow'rs fhall join ; 
 
 What mighty God may be compar'd with mine ? 
 
 Who from the violent man preferves the meek, 
 
 And from the ftrong and mighty faves the weak. 
 
 Falfe witnefles arofe, a perjur'd crew, 
 
 With crimes they charg'd me, which I never knew : 
 
 For good recelv'd, they with malicious flrife 
 
 Return'd me ill, and ev'n attack'd my life. 
 
 And 
 
 efcape the hand of juftice, whereby alio others would 
 be hardned in their wicKedne{'s.---Befides, the text 
 may be render'd, not as a prayer, but as a prediction, 
 but theyJhaUbe\ as we have 
 done in moil of the Like paifages, Patrick, Delany. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. $ 7 
 
 And yet, when erft their fprightly health was gone, 
 'Twas then I put the difmal fackcloth on : 
 Humbled my foul, obferv'd the mournful faft, 
 When on myfelf ■ my pray'r return'd at lad. 
 Not greater grief had feiz'd me for my friend, 
 Should death have threatn'd his approaching end : 
 Or had I follow'd mine own mother's bier, 
 Not filial love could call a truer tear. 
 Yet at mine halting they enjoy'd my fall, 
 And flew together at th' inhuman call : 
 To me unknown, vile abjects croud along 1 , 
 And fmiting wound me with incefTant tongue : 
 The fordid tribe of parafites at feafts 
 Make me the fubjecl; of their venal jells , 
 Gnafhing their teeth : How long wilt thou Hand by, 
 O Lord, and fee me thus infulted lie ? 
 Reftore my foul from the devourer's paws, 
 And fave my darling from the lion's jaws. 
 Then in thy courts I'll join the thankful fong 9 
 And praife thy name amidil th' pious throng, 
 Let not my foes rejoice with wrongful cry, 
 Nor caufelefs mock me with the winking eye ; 
 
 G 4 Who 
 
 « Meaning, they will receive no benefit from my 
 prayer, but my requefl to God, on their behalf, fhal! 
 iscure a blefTmg for myfelf from him. Nichols. 
 
88 57* PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Who peaceful language do not friendly fpeak, 
 Eut utter treach'rous words againft the meek. 
 They faid, with open mouths, and grinning fpight, 
 Aha, Aha, our eyes atteft the fight. 
 Thou too haft feen, O Lord ; confound their tongues : 
 Why art thou deaf? be near to purge my wrongs : 
 Stir up thy felf ; to judgment, Lord, awake ; 
 My injur'd fide, O God, propitious, take: 
 Judge me, O Lord, declare my righteous caufe, 
 Nor let them triumph o'er thy flighted laws : 
 Cry, Ah ! within their heart, with joyous flout, 
 And fay, 'Tis done, we've feen the vagrant out. 
 Difgrace mall feize them, and abaming mame, 
 Who'd build their triumphs on my ruin'd fame : 
 Shame and dilhonour mail begird them all, 
 Who'd proudly boaft themfelves upon my fall. 
 Eut let them fhout with loud tumultuous praife, 
 Who look with favour on my righteous ways : 
 Yea, let them ever found— The Lord is great, 
 Whofe pleafure's in his fervant's profperous Hate : 
 So too my tongue thy juftice mall difplay, 
 And publifh forth thy lauds from day to day. 
 
 PSALM 
 
the PSALMS of DAVID. 89 
 
 PSALM XXXVI. 
 
 To the chief Mufician. A Pfalm of David, the 
 Servant of the Lord, 
 
 ARGUMENT, 
 
 It was composed, as the Arabic and Syriac Verfions 
 inform us, during fome Time of his Perfecution 
 under Saul : and probably towards the beginning 
 thereof when Saul carried it tolerably fair towards 
 him, tho" he fecretly contrived his Ruin. Nichols. 
 
 / "T A H E wicked's trefpafs fhews thro' all difguife, 
 
 That there's no fear of God before his eyes : 
 
 Thus fpeaks my heart : though, wife in his own fight, 
 
 He hides the hateful ill, 'twill come to light. 
 
 With treacherous grace he fets off glofling lies, 
 
 But ceafes to do well, and to be wife. 
 
 In bed he mufes o'er the cruel cheat, 
 
 And then purfues the way of curs'd deceit : 
 
 To no good aims his wily projects tend, 
 
 He waves no evil arts to work mine end. 
 
 But, Lord, thy truth and mercy, heaven-like high, 
 
 Fill all the earth, and reach beyond the fky : 
 
 Thy 
 
oo The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Thyjuftice, like * thy mountains, fix'd and fteep, 
 Thy judgment's like th' unfathomable deep : 
 All men, O Lord,, thy bounteous bleffings fhare, 
 And beads unthinking feel thy guardian care. 
 How precious is thy grace ! what joys it brings 
 Much more to thofe, who feek thy a Ihadowing wings, 
 The fons of men ! What facred, rich repafls, 
 What ftreams of pleafures, fhall regale their taftes 
 Within thy courts ? where fprings life's fource, whofe ray 
 Fours to our fight a flood of joyful day. 
 On them, Jehovah, let it ever flow, 
 Continu'd, who thy loving kindnefs know : 
 For ever, thro 1 thy righteoufnefs, impart 
 Thy gracious favour to th 1 upright in heart : 
 Let not the foot of pride triumphant Hand, 
 Which ftrikes at me ; the wicked's threat'ning hand 
 
 Enfeeble : 
 
 * Thy mountains. Heb. The mountains of God. That 
 is, high, mighty, or eminent mountains. The Hebrew 
 ufeth to note things eminent by adding the name of God; 
 as cedars of God, mount of God, river of God, &c. Ains- 
 worth. 
 
 11 Thy Jhadonxing wings. This is a common figure 
 in the Pfalms, more immediately taken from the wings 
 of the Cherubim, fhadowing the mercy-feat over the ark : 
 but more remotely from birds, which fcreen their young 
 from the folar rays with the fhadowing of their wings. 
 Ffalm xvii. ver. 8. lvii. ii. lxix. v. &c. Hare. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 91 
 
 Enfeeble :— w There each evil worker lies, 
 Difarm'd, and fall'n, and never more to rife. 
 
 PSALM XXXVII. 
 
 A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 // was probably written in view of the Times under 
 Saul's Reign. The Defign of it is to perfuade Men 
 to a Submijfion to Providence, tho 9 it may permit 
 good Men for a Time to lie under preffures and 
 bardjhips, and bad Ones to enjoy a State of Profpe- 
 rity. For that their Profperity jhall be but Jhort, 
 and the fujl Jhall in God's good Time have their 
 Reward. — It is an Alphabetical Pfalm in alternate 
 Verfe. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 T^RET not, if evil doers live in ftate, 
 
 And be not envious at the wicked great : 
 Cut down, like grafs, they foon Jhall pafs away, 
 And fade, as herbs, fcorch'd with the folar ray : 
 Truft in the Lord, and have a liberal hand, 
 Plenty (hall wait thee in the promis'd land : 
 
 Delight 
 
 w Heb. Sham. There. It reprefents ftrongly before 
 the eyes the downfal of the wicked. Upon the very 
 fpot, where they praftifc their treachery, they receive 
 their downfal, Mudce. 
 
92 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Delight in him, in every ftate refign'd, 
 
 And he fhall hear thee, and fulfil thy mind : 
 
 Submit thine own to providence his ways, 
 
 And he mail lead thee thro' life's puzzling maze ; 
 
 Plain as the fun, fhall prove thy practice right, 
 
 And clear thy juilice, as the noon-tide light. 
 
 Let no repinings rack thine anxious breaft, 
 
 But wait with patience, on Jehovah reft; 
 
 Fret not thyfelf, if fometimes he connives 
 
 At bafe defigns, or if the worldling thrives : 
 
 Be not enrag'd, but ftill th' event attend, 
 
 Nor let fell envy, tempt thee to offend : 
 
 For evil doers fhall not always ftand, 
 
 At length the juft mall enter on the land. 
 
 Obferve but for a little while, and fee, 
 
 The wicked's gone, his place has ceas'd to be : 
 
 Yet fhall the meek the deftin'd earth poffefs, 
 
 And peace abundant fhall their borders blefs : 
 
 The wicked plots to change this happy fcene, 
 
 Gnaming his teeth, and threatVmg with his mien : 
 
 The Lord fupreme mocks at his envious ftrife, 
 
 And foon he blafts his projects with his life. 
 
 Th' unjuft have drawn their fword, and bent their bow 
 
 To wound the poor, and lay the needy low : 
 
 To 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 93 
 
 To harrafs thofe, who aft an upright part ; 
 
 But their own fword (hall pierce their faithlefs heart: 
 
 Their bows fhall into fplinter'd fhivers fly, 
 
 Their nerves relax'd, or broke, fhall ufelefs lie. 
 
 A little pittance in a righteous hand, 
 
 Does more, than all the wicked can command : 
 
 For God will crufh the wicked in their pride, 
 
 But turns his favours on the righteous fide : 
 
 Th' upright he tendeth with his daily care, 
 
 Their children's children fhall his blefTings fhare : 
 
 Not funk with fhame, in evil times they'll Hand, 
 
 And thrive, when famine waftes the guilty land : 
 
 His foes fhall fall, and thofe who go aftray, 
 
 As fat of rams, which on the altar lay, 
 
 They fhall confume, like fmoke confume away. 
 
 The wicked borrow, but their friend deceive, 
 
 The jufl are merciful, and freely give : 
 
 To thefe God's graces with his blefTmgs go, 
 
 And Canaan's milk and honey ever flow : 
 
 But thofe fhall of th' enriching profpeft fail, 
 
 His curfe will bar them of the fair entail : 
 
 The good-man's goings are the Lord's delight, 
 
 His Heps he orders, and condufts him right; * 
 
 His 
 
94 The PSALMS cf DAVID. 
 
 His hand, when finking, will his weight fuftain, 
 Or if he falls, 'tis but to rife again. 
 I ne'er beheld thro' life's proceeding ftage, 
 Or in my rifing, or declining age, 
 The good forfaken, with a beggar'd feed, 
 In breadlefs plight, or in penurious need* 
 He lends, and acts the charitable friend, 
 Whilft numerous blefTings to his heirs defcend. 
 Depart from evil, and employ thy ftore 
 In doing good, and dwell for evermore. 
 The Lord in juflice will his love bellow, 
 And ever guard his gracious faints below ; 
 But for a little time th' unjufl: remain, 
 Then perifh in their offspring o"er again : 
 Whilft he, who mall in righteoufnefs excel, 
 In Canaan's blefs'd abodes will ever dwell. 
 The words of wifdom grace his fluent tongue, 
 His mouth's eftrang'd from injudicious wrong : 
 The laws divine within his heart refide, 
 His well-diretted footfteps cannot Aide : 
 Blood-thirfty men would fnare him in his way, 
 But God will fave him in the folemn day, 
 Tho' erring judgment mould his caufe betray. 
 Wait, on the Lord, and keep the law divine, 
 And Canaan s ftores exalting flia.ll be thine ; 
 
 ! 
 
 Wfafl 
 
the PSALMS of DAVID. 95 
 
 When abject men, who feiz'd the glorious prize, 
 
 Shall be depriv'd, and fall before thine eyes. 
 
 The wicked have I feen in powerful place, 
 
 High in his rank, and fair in outward grace, 
 
 Luxuriant, as the x forrefFs native tree, 
 
 He pafs'd away, and lo ! he ceas'd to be : 
 
 With care I fought him, fought in vain around, 
 
 The mighty man was no where to be found. 
 
 Obferve the jufl, his evils quickly ceafe, 
 
 Behold the man upright, his end is peace : 
 
 But the tranfgrefibrs mail together fall, 
 
 Their end is, that fure ruin fweeps them all. 
 
 The Lord will guard the righteous in diftrefs, 
 
 And aid them, when their troubles afk redrefs : 
 
 The Lord mall fhield them, mield them from th' unjuic, 
 
 And fave them-, fince in him they fix their truft. . 
 
 x Heb. Keez-rah, As a native tree , i.e. fuch an 
 one as was never tranfplanted, but grows in its natural 
 place. Bifhop Hare is of opinion, that it is to be 
 underflood of fome particular fpecies, and accordingly 
 the Greeks tranflate it, as the cedars of Lebanon, being 
 felf-growing, fpreacling, and lofty trees. Pag n in us 
 renders it the Laurel; but Bythner fays, he is at a lofs 
 for the rcafon. 
 
 PSALM 
 
96 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM XXXVIII. 
 
 A Pfalm of David, to bring to Remembrance. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 'Tis fuppofed to be penned whilfl he laboured under fome 
 painful^ and yioifome Difemper, being at the fame 
 "Time harrafs'd by fo?ne grievous Pcrfecutions ; or to 
 put himfelf in Re?ne?nbrance of the Moan he made, 
 when in that fad Condition - 3 and how earnefi he zvas 
 with God to remember him, to pardon the Sins 
 which had brought him into it, and to releafe him out 
 of it. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 "V\ E B U K E not, when thy boiling rage is great, 
 
 • Neither chaftife me in thy wrathful heat. 
 Thine y arrows, Lord, inflict a various wound, 
 Thine heavy hand doth crufh me to the ground. 
 My flefh is all unfound, all-harrow'd o'er, 
 Becaufe thine anger chafes the confluent fore. 
 Tis fin, 'tis fin, which does my fabric make, 
 And makes my tortur'd bones inceffant ake. 
 
 Dark 
 
 y Arrows are Jicknefes and plagues of body or mind, 
 Pfalms xviii. xv. xci. v. So Job faith, The arrows of 
 the almighty are in me, the venom whereof drinkt'th up my 
 J]:rit, vi. 4. AlNS WORTH. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 97 
 Dark clouds, from part offences, round me fpread, 
 With heavy torrents deluge o'er mine head : 
 As with a pond'rous burden downwards bow'd, 
 I faint beneath th' intolerable load : 
 My wounds are noifome, and mine ulcers fwell, 
 The direful caufe my guilty z follies tell : 
 Troubled, I creep along, ftoop'd down with woe, 
 And all the day my trickling tears overflow : 
 My loins are fill'd with blains (loathfome difeafe !) 
 Defacing blotches all my carcafe feize : 
 Feeble, and broke in each diforder'd part, 
 I've roar'd thro' anguifh of my groaning heart. 
 But why this long detail of wretched woes 
 To thee, O Lord, who knew them, as they rofe ? 
 Lo ! mine heart pants, my ftrength is worn away, 
 Mine eyes have loft their luftre thro' decay : 
 Thro' my fad ftroke, thus I deferted lie, 
 No lover dear, no foothing friend is nigh : 
 My bufy adverfaries all prepare, 
 With fuhtle fecrefy, the deadly fnare : 
 Whilft ready mifchief dwells upon their tongue^ 
 Their heart is ever meditating wrong: 
 
 H In 
 
 x Heb. Jv-val-ti, my foolijhnefs. In fcripture 
 language, foolijhnefs ufually means wicioufnefs , ox fin, and 
 is fo expre r s'd by the Greeks, Prov. xiii. 16, xv. z. 
 xxvi. 1 1 . and our Saviour nxxmhtxtth. foolijhnefs amongH 
 other evils which defile a man. Ai n s w o r t h . 
 
9 B The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 In vain they rail ; nor am I bound to hear j 
 
 Their flanderous taunts wound not my carelefs ear : 
 
 As if 'twas faftcn'd to its vaulted roof, 
 
 My tongue, unmov'd, retorted no reproof. 
 
 My hope, my foul, is fix'd on thee, O Lord, 
 
 Thou, God, wilt hear, and with my vows accord : 
 
 'Twas thus I fpakc, left they with vaunting pride, 
 
 Should triumph in my flips, my fall deride: 
 
 My feet begin to fail ; before mine eyes 
 
 The threafning woes in conflant profpe&s rife : 
 
 Then let me not conceal mine hated fin, 
 
 Or flop thofe tears, which may thy favour win ; 
 
 Since yet furvive my caufelefs, rancorous, foes, 
 
 Mighty and many, who againft me rofe ; 
 
 Who for my kindnefs perfecute me flill, 
 
 And for the good I feek, entreat me ill. 
 
 Forfake me not, O Lord, but eafe my grief, 
 
 Be near, my Saviour, hafte to my relief. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 99 
 
 PSALM XXXIX. 
 
 To the chief Mufician, to Jeduthun. A Pfalm of 
 David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It was composed under a fever e Fit of Sicknefs, asfome 
 think ; or a great Degree of Trouble^ as others. The 
 Subjecl of it is not very different from the xxxvii. 
 and lxxiii. viz. Tloe Scandal^ which good Men take 9 
 whiljl they are under Affliction^ at the Profperity of 
 the Wicked : to which is annexed a Reflexion on the 
 Vanity of worldly Things^ as a proper Argument ta 
 cure fuch an Impatience. Nichols. 
 
 A Cautious guard I vow'd mould watch my tongue^ 
 Left it fhould rafhly utter fmful wrong : 
 My mouth I'll keep with wifdom's guiding rein, 
 Before th' unjuft, in fight of the prophane. 
 In illence dumb, from * good I held my peace, 
 Whilfl: my pent paffions did my griefs encreafe : 
 
 H 2 My 
 
 a From good, i. e. from good things, as fays the Greek, 
 the words of the law, as fays the Chaldee, religious dif- 
 courfe, the vindication of himfelf againft hisunjuft accu[ers> 
 the acknowledgment of God's greatnefs, jufiice, and goodnefs y 
 in his own troubles ; left he mould be guilty of intem- 
 perate ipseches againft his adverfaries, or provoke them 
 to infult, or blafphemy, Ainswqrth, Patrick, 
 Nichols, Mudge. 
 
ioo The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 My heart was hot, and b kindled to a flame, 
 When from the dined fire thefe accents came. 
 Teach me, eternal God of heav'n, to know, 
 c What a fhort time to man thou do<l bellow -, 
 1 To weigh the fcanty portion of my days, 
 1 How frail I am, and what are human ways. 
 { What a fmall fpace concludes our worldly flrife, 
 1 See an hand's breadth, the meafure of my life ! 
 1 Mine age is nothing, if compar'd with thee, 
 1 Each mortal is at beft but vanity. 
 
 Selah. 
 1 Mas walks a ftiadow, makes a bufy (how, 
 f And refllefs toils in vain for {lores below j 
 
 • He heaps up wealth ; and what's the fum of all ? 
 f He knows not where the deilin'd hoards fhall fall. 
 ' Then what remains, O Lord, where fhall I flee ? 
 
 c Where place my hope ? I'll place my hope in thee. 
 
 • Loofe me from fin, nor let me fti.ll complain, 
 ' The feoff of fools, and jeftof the prophane. 
 
 ' With my clos'd mouth did I corrected Hand,, 
 1 Bore all from thee, and blefs'd thy fmiting hand : 
 
 " Sufpend 
 
 b Kindled to aflame, orig. the fire burned. With this 
 fpeech we may compare that of Jer. xx. 9, And I [aid y 
 1 nuill not mention him, nor [peak any more in bis name : tut 
 it ftvas in my heart as a burning fire Jhut up in my bones, 
 and I <was weary with forbearing, and could no longer, 
 
 AlNSWORTH. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 101 
 
 «* Sufpend thy lafh at length, and eafe my woes, 
 
 " Or I fhall fall thro' thy repeated blows. 
 
 " As when the fecret moth purloins away 
 
 •* The garment's beauty, fuch is man's decay, 
 
 " When thy rebukes for fin exact its pain ; 
 
 " Such, fuch is man, fo tranfient, and fo vain ! 
 
 Selah. 
 * To thefe my moving plaints bend down thine ear, 
 " Anfwer, O Lord, to every pleading tear : 
 " Regard my Hate, who, as my fathers were, 
 " Am a meer ftranger, and a pilgrim here. 
 " O ! fpare me for the little time in flore, 
 " And Hill renew me, 'till my journey's o'er." 
 
 PSALM XL. 
 
 To the chief Mufician. A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It contains a Rehearfal and Acknowledgment of God's 
 former Favours manifejled to him, with a Prayer 
 for future Blejfmgs. Here is likewife a prophetical 
 
 Reprefentation of the Meffias, and of the Gofpel 
 
 Difpenfation. Nichols. 
 
 "pOR God I waited with a patient mind, 
 And he at length his gracious ear inclin'd : 
 
 H 3 Stunn'd 
 
J02 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 Stunn'd in an c horror-founding pit I lay, 
 Sunk deep in mire, and clung around with clay ; 
 Whence on a rock his providential hand 
 Gave me to fix my feet, and firmly Hand. 
 'Tis this infpires me in a joyful ftrain 
 To tune new fongs of praife to God again : 
 Many fhall fee the goodnefs they record, 
 And fear, and put their trufl in God, the Lord. 
 Bleflings are theirs, who thus in God confide, 
 Defying the ftout-hearted fons of pride, 
 Nor turn to lying vanities afide. 
 What gracious wonders hath Jehovah wrought ? 
 What Hill for us referv'd in pregnant thought ? 
 Vaft is the total, infinite th" amount, 
 Numbers would fail to tell the grand account. 
 Burnt-facrifice, and offerings of peace, 
 Thou doft remit ; let then oblations ceafe : 
 Lo ! I'm thy fervant, thou mine d ears haft bor'd, 
 No more with offerings be thine altar flor'd : 
 
 Then 
 
 c Heb. Mibbor Shaon, &c. from the horror -founding) 
 or frightful pit, and dirty mire, a familiar metaphor, 
 fignifying deep afflictions, and of difficult efcape. Ains- 
 
 WORTH-. 
 
 (1 Thou mine ears haft lord, meaning, as the Chaldee, 
 Thou hajl digged open mine ears to hearken to thy command- 
 vients : or, mine cars haft thou bord as thy [errant for ever, 
 according to the law, Exod. xxi. 6. The Greek fays, 
 
 But 
 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 103 
 Then 'twas I faid, Behold, O God, I come, 
 See it is written in the facred tome : 
 To do thy will is my delightful part ; 
 Thy law is grav'd upon mine inmoft heart. 
 Hence have I preach'd, with an applauding tongue, 
 Thy righteous acts amidfl the pious throng : 
 Lo ! I could ne'er my grateful lips refrain, 
 And thou, O Lord, art confcious of my {train. 
 Thy grace mine heart o'erflowing ne'er could hide, 
 Thy faithful goodnefs is proclaimed wide : 
 Thy loving-kindnefs have I ne'er conceal'd, 
 Thy truth have in thy facred church reveal'd. 
 O ! may thy tender mercies fcreen me Hill, 
 Thy grace and truth preferve my foul from ill. 
 For numerous evils compafs me around, 
 My follies feize, and weigh me to the ground : 
 Prone is mine afpecl, downcaft is mine eye, 
 My fight no chearing object can defcry : 
 My fins alas ! out-number all mine hairs, 
 And iink my fpirits with defponding cares : 
 Vouchfafe, O Lord, to make my troubles ceafe, 
 Haften, Jehovah, to my quick releafe : 
 
 H 4 Difgrace 
 
 But a body hafl thou fated me, pointino- to our Lord's, 
 which was ordain'd and fitted to be a facrifice for the 
 fins of the world, when the legal facrifces were refus'd 
 as unprofitable. Ains worth. 
 
104 &' PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Difgrace fhall feize 'em all, and coward flight, 
 Who hunt my foul, and in mine hurt delight : 
 Sad defolation fhame my taunting foes, 
 Who fay, Aha ! and mock me in my woes : 
 Let thofe, who feek thee, and on thee depend, 
 Shout and rejoice in an almighty friend : 
 Let thofe, who love thy fervants happy ftate, 
 Say, with continual praife, The Lord is great. 
 Tho" poor, and low, he tends me, as my flay, 
 Thou art mine help, O God, make no delay. 
 
 P S A L M XLI. 
 
 To the chief Mufician. A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT, 
 
 The Author , labouring under feme Illnefs, complains here 
 of the Infult and Treachery of his Enemies, (probably 
 thofe of Abfalom's Party) and of one in particular. 
 He prays to be relieved, and accordingly is relieved. 
 This Mercy of God to him he fecms to attribute in the 
 three firjl Verfes to his own Compajfionfor the Jjfli fled* 
 
 MUDGE, &C. 
 
 H 
 
 E, who fhall c tend the poor with prudent care, 
 Frombounteousheav'nwillnum'rousblemngsfhare: 
 
 The 
 
 e Keb. Mas-kil El Dal. The expreflion implieth 
 both a Jkillful minding, and judging, and a carriage ac- 
 cording 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 105 
 The Lord will keep him in the evil day ; 
 Jehovah mall his prudent care repay : 
 He mall be blefs'd on earth with profperous ways, 
 No foes their triumph on his ruin raife : 
 When ficknefs reigns, and when difeafe is rife, 
 Jehovah will preferve th' important life: 
 For mould diftemper, with its languid pain, 
 On forrow's bed his weak'ned limbs detain, 
 Thou, Lord, malt raife him, thou his bed fnalt ftrew 3 
 And mew him mercy, who did mercy fhew. 
 Be gracious Lord,— that was mine inftant pray'r, 
 O ! heal my foul, a contrite fmner fpare : 
 My foes with words malicious wound my fame, 
 When mall he die, with his detefted name ? 
 They pay their vifits, feem to footh my fmart, 
 But the kind mouth belies the treacherous heart ; 
 This gathers mifchief, whilfl that fpeaks me fair : 
 They go, and give th 1 improv'd reflection air : 
 Then bring the fpreading ilander from the ftreet, 
 Which ferves the private whifper, when they meet : 
 With fecret hatred they devife my wrong, 
 And thus give loofe to their pernicious tongue : 
 
 " Pour'd 
 
 cording in word and deed : the Chaldee therefore thus 
 paraphrafeth, attendeth to the affair i of the pcsr to have 
 pit j on him . A i n s w o r t h . 
 
 
io6 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 " f Pour'd in him is his fin, his plague is fore, 
 " And now he lieth, he fhall rife no more." 
 Yea ev'n my neareft e friend, who eat my bread, 
 Who had mine heart, and at my table fed ; 
 He, who with me partook each dainty good, 
 Kicks at the hand which gave the wonted food. 
 But hear me, Lord, at length my throne reitore, 
 And let due vengeance be delay'dno more. 
 Thou art my friend by this I furely know, 
 Elfe I mould fuffer a triumphant foe : 
 Mine is the triumph, thine th' upholding grace, 
 Which ever fets my caufe before thy face. 
 Bleffings, and grateful thanks to God, the Lord, 
 To Ifrael's God, prefent with one accord j 
 Blemngs a,nd lauds, let all the kingdoms round, 
 
 c 
 
 To Ifrael's God, from age to age, refound. 
 
 Amen, Amen. 
 
 The End of the Firft BOOK. 
 
 The 
 
 f Heb. Iat -tsuk, Jhall be fajiened, or poured into him % 
 The word Signifies both, and may denote the greatnefs 
 and fart-cleaving of his fin, and likewife of his punifh- 
 ment ; fox plagues we faid to be poured cut, Rev. xvi. 2, 
 Ainsworth. 
 
 s Here probably is meant Acbitophcl. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 107 
 
 The Second BOOK of P SALM 
 
 PSALM. XLII. 
 
 To the chief Mufician. Mafchil, for the Sons of 
 Korah. i. e. to be Set or Su;:g by them, under the 
 chief Mafter of Mufick in the Tabernacle, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Jt was probably composed by David, as the Seventy 
 exprejly attribute it to him, upon Occafion of his being 
 debarr } d from the Houfe of God, during his Exile in 
 the Rebellion ^Abfalom. Patrick. 
 
 A S when the bounding b hart in thirfi extream 
 "^ With breath fublime pants for the cooling ftream; 
 So pants my foul, fo thirfts for thee, my God, 
 The living God, and for thy blefs'd abode : 
 O ! when fhall I before thy face appear ? 
 When from my cheek wipe the defcending tear ? 
 Which in a never-ceafing current flows, 
 By day my \ food, by night my chief repofe. 
 
 Whilft 
 
 h Hart, or hind. A beaft thirfty by nature, but whofe 
 thirftis encreas'd, when me is hunted. Ainsworth, 
 
 1 Orig. my tears ha<ve been my meat, &c. i. e. inltead of 
 my daily food, my only fatisfaction is in tears, to winch 
 \ have wholly abandon'd xnyfelf. Patrick, 
 
108 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Whilft vile upbraiders fharpen ftill thy rod 
 
 With this continual taunt,---Where's now thy God ? 
 
 O ! once indeed thy glorious ark I fought, 
 
 (My foul diflblv'd yields to the melting thought ) 
 
 When rapturous trains of faints flew crouding there, 
 
 As feflive fhoutings rent the gladfome air. 
 
 Why makes my finking foul fuch piteous moan ? 
 
 Why are thy forrows (o tumultuous grown ? 
 
 Hope thou in God,— for I will yet proclaim, 
 
 What chears my face, my God, and Saviour's name. 
 
 My foul cafl down with heart-corroding grief, 
 
 Where k Jordan flows, would feek in vain relief; 
 
 As I on l Hermon, and low Mitzar flray, 
 
 But that thy dear remembrance is my flay. 
 
 ™ Deep calls to deep, from clouds, around me fpread, 
 
 The gufhing fpouts of water plunge mine head j 
 
 TofsM 
 
 k Jordan, which lies eafhvard of Jerufalem. 
 
 1 Heb. Hermonim, i. e. the inhabitants, or moun- 
 tains of Herman, which was an high mount in the north 
 parts of the land, perhaps of numerous tops, of which 
 the following Mitzar might be a lefler one, as it fignifies 
 the leffer mount, fo is the Greek; elfe it may be a proper 
 name, and mean the fouthern mountains, which were 
 fmall in refpecl of Her?non, and which, with the other 
 places above, to his great grief was far diftant from the 
 tabernacle. Ainsworth, Mudge. 
 
 m Deep calls to deep, Sec. The fenfe is, I'm fallen 
 into a bottomlefs depth of miferies, which follow one 
 upon another, as if the former invited the next to fucceed 
 
 it j 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 109 
 Tofs'd to and fro with their outrageous waves, 
 I'm loft,— unlefs thy gracious mercy faves : 
 Yet it will fave : whilft day and night fhall rife 
 My fongs, and pray'rs, o'er billows, clouds, and flues. 
 To thee I'll vent my woes, O God moft high, 
 My rock, O ! why doft thou forget me, why ? 
 In mournful guife why do I fadly go ? 
 Why moan I thus thro' mine oppremve foe ? 
 What ftabs my heart, and gives its grievous load, 
 Is that continual taunt,— Where's now thy God ? 
 Why makes my finking foul fuch piteous moan ? 
 Why are thy forrows fo tumultuous grown ? 
 Hope thou in God,— for I will yet proclaim, 
 What chears my face, my God, and Saviour's name. 
 
 PSALM XLIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Pfalm, like the former , is afcriFdby the Seventy to 
 David, and is prefum'd to have been composed upon 
 the fame Occafion^ viz* the Rebellion of Abfalom. 
 Patrick. 
 
 JUDGE me, O God, in truth, and plead my plea 
 
 ** Againft a nation, which regards not thee ; 
 
 Save 
 
 it : they gufh in upon me with fuch a violence by thy ap- 
 pointment, as fpouts of water do out ofa cloud. Patrick. 
 
no The PSALMS of DAVID 
 Save me from thofe, who would my foul trepan, 
 Both from th' unjuft, and the deceitful man. 
 Thou, O my God, thou art my ftrength and (lay, 
 What moves to thruft thy fervant thus away ? 
 Thro' mine oppreffive foe an out-caft grown, 
 Why does my foul make this mediant moan ? 
 O ! fend thy light, conduct me with thy grace, 
 To Zion's hill, thy facred dwelling place : 
 Then Til approach with the rejoicing lay, 
 My gladfome vows will at thine altar pay : 
 Then to the pleafant harp my voice I'll raife, 
 To fing, O God, my God, thy glorious praife. 
 Why makes my finking foul fuch piteous moan ? 
 Why are thy forrows fo tumultuous grown ? 
 Hope thou in God,-— for I will yet proclaim, 
 What chears my face, my God, and Saviour's name. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID, m 
 
 PSALM XLIV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It appears to have been composed at a Time, when the 
 Jewifh State fuffer'd greivoujly from its Enemies-, 
 and many were carried into Captivity ; thai' the State 
 itfelf fill fubftfled, and the publick Worjhip of God 
 was maintained. The Author, 'tis not unlikely, as 
 Bijhop Patrick thinks, was Hezekiah ; and that 
 perhaps, (by ver, 15, 16.J foon after the blaf- 
 phemous MeJJage of Rabfhakeh. Mudge. 
 
 y^VUR ears have heard, O God, thy works of old, 
 
 ^"^ Which grace our patriarch records truly told : 
 
 How thou didft drive the heathen with thine hand, 
 
 And plant thy people in the promisM land : 
 
 How plague on plague was felt thro' Pharoah's reign, 
 
 To free thy people from their flavifh chain . 
 
 Not thro' their arm, their own wide -wafting fword, 
 
 But thro' thy pow'rful hand, thine arm, O Lord ; 
 
 Chear'd with the rays of thy refulgent face, 
 
 They gain'd their conquefls by thy favouring grace. 
 
 Exert the majefty of Jacob's God, 
 
 Command falvation, break oppreffion's rod, 
 
 Gave 
 
ii2 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Save thou ; and thro 1 thy name, (thy name is great) 
 Our n horn mall pufh them, trample them our feet : 
 On thee I truft, not in my nervous bow, 
 'Tis not my fvvord mall quell the dreadful foe : 
 'Tis thou didft fight our battles, fpread our fame, 
 And put our haters to diftrefsful fhame. 
 On God, the Lord, our daily boaft we raife, 
 For this we own eternal debts of praife. 
 
 Selah, 
 Now thruft away with fhame, thy favour loft, 
 No more thy conduct leads our conquering holt ; 
 Whilft turn'd to flight by thee, too weak to ftrive, 
 Behind us the malignant fpoilers drive : 
 Like fheep we're butchered with relentlefs hands, 
 Or elfe arc fcatter'd thro' the heathen lands : 
 Thy captiv'd people, at ° low prices bought, 
 Avail p not thee, and fell almoft for nought : 
 
 Our 
 
 n Orig. pufh with the horn. An exprefiion taken from 
 Mofes, Deut. xxxiii. 17. and meaneth to <vanquifb> of 
 fubdue. Ainsworth. 
 
 Orig. thou felleft thy penple for no wealth, i. e. for a 
 low price, without gain. God is faid to fell his people, 
 when he delivereth them into their enemies hands, as 
 out of his own poiTefTion, Drut. xxxii. 30. Likewife 
 Jfa. Ill . 3. The Lord faith, Ye have been fold for nought* 
 Ainsworth. 
 
 p Avail not thee. Orig. thou increafefl not, i. 9. 
 
 gaineft not by the prices of them, takeft no other 
 
 people in their itead, or highteneil not their price. 
 A \a 5 worth. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 113 
 
 Our neighbours triumph, as we hide our face, 
 
 Laugh us to fcorn, and mock our abjecl: cafe : 
 
 We're a meer jell to idolizing throngs, 
 
 Who make their heads, and loll their fleering tongues. 
 
 My down-cad eyes own daily my disgrace, 
 
 And fhameful blufhing covers o'er my face : 
 
 Whilfl the 1 blafpheming taunter wounds mine ear, 
 
 And infults in each vengeful lock appear : 
 
 Yet, tho' before their holtile face we flee, 
 
 We keep thy covenant, and forget not thee : 
 
 Our heart is not perverfely turn'd away, 
 
 Nor p-o our footlteps from thy paths aflray : 
 
 Tho 1 crufh'd into the r dragon's dreadful place, 
 
 And fhadcwing death prefents his baleful face : 
 
 If yet, O Lord, we have forgot thy name, 
 
 If with our hands made alien altars flame, 
 
 Shall God the guilty fecret feek in vain, 
 
 Who knows the heart, and tries the inmoft rein ? 
 
 See day by day the numerous wretches flay'd, 
 
 Kill'd for thy fake, as fheep on fhambles laid ? 
 
 I Awake, 
 
 i Here may be meant Rabfbakeh. 
 
 r Orig. thou haft crufdus donvn Into the place of fer- 
 fents, i. e. under the earth-, exprcfs'd afterwards by the 
 Jhadonjo of death: it is explain'd by verfe the twenty-fifth, 
 where there is the fame image of ferpents, Our foul is 
 funk down into the duft, oar belly ckaweth to the ground* 
 
 MUDGE, 
 
ii 4 n * PSALMS of DAVID. 
 Awake, O Lord, our God, why wilt thou fleep ? 
 Why o'er us inexhaufted vengeance heap ? 
 Why hide thy face ? Why turn thy chearing eyes- ? 
 Slight our afflictions, and our chains defpife ? 
 Down to the fordid dull our foul is bound, 
 And our prone belly cleaves unto the ground : 
 At length, O Lord, to our deliverance wake, 
 Arife, redeem us for thy mercy's fake. 
 
 PSALM XLV. 
 
 To the chief Mufician upon Shf/jannim (fix-flring'd 
 Inftruments, or the Flowers , fome noted Tune,) 
 for the Sons ofKorah, Mafchil. A Song of Loves, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Moft Interpreters conclude it to have been composed on the 
 Marriage of Solomon with Pharoah's Daughter , 
 who it is probable was a Profelyte to the Jewifh 
 Religion ; tho' at the fame Time it carries its view to 
 the Lord Chrift. Accordingly -, the Chaldee Para- 
 phrafe, Abenezra, and Solomon Jarchi, affirm-, 
 that it was a Prophecy of the Meilias. And then 
 it is of the fame Nature with the Book of Canticles, 
 defcribing the Union zvith Chiift, wider the Figure 
 of a Nuptial Solemnity. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 T\ /T Y s fervent heart revolves a joyful theme ; 
 
 As from the pen defcends the ready flrcam, 
 
 So 
 
 s The Hebrew exprefiion here is literally render'd by 
 Ainsworth, Ms heart boiletb a good word, i. e. hath 
 
 prepared 
 
Th PSALMS of DAVID. 115 
 
 80 flows my tongue with what it aims to fing, 
 
 And tells the myflic glories of the king. 
 
 Beyond the Tons of men with beauty ftor'd, 
 
 Abundant grace into thy lips is pour'd, 
 
 O prince fuperior : therefore God mail deign 
 
 To blefs for ever thy triumphant reign. 
 
 Gird thou thy flaming fword upon thy thigh, 
 
 All deck'd with glory, and with majefty; 
 
 With glory deck'd, ride forth in profperous might, 
 
 To teach, to fpare, and to diftribute right ; 
 
 Whilll dreadful tokens wait on thy right arm, 
 
 Thy kingly terrors fhall thy foes alarm : 
 
 Thy l pointed darts fhall fell their inmofl bands, 
 
 And ftrew beneath thy feet the hoftile lands. 
 
 I 2 Ever, 
 
 prepared it by fervent meditations ; a fimilitude taken 
 from the mincah, or meat-offering, in the /avj, which was 
 drefs'd in the frying-pan, Lev. vii. 9. and there boil'd 
 in oil, being made of fine flour, unleaven'd, mingled 
 with oil, Lev. ii. 5. and after was prefented by the 
 prieft, verfe 8. Ainsworth. 
 
 t That is,-— his fharp -pointed arrows fhould reach 
 his enemies, they fhould drop under them where they 
 flood, ev'n in the centre of their forces. Mudge. 
 But Bifhop Hare has given another fenfe to this paf 
 fage, by fuppofmg Be/eh, C5V. in the heaj-t, or the miJji of 
 the kings enemies, to be detach'd from the former period 
 to the following, as thus, In the midft of the king's ene- 
 mies hath God ejiablifi'd thy throne for ever, &c. 
 
n6 The PSALMS of DAVID, 
 
 Ever, O u God, and over's fix'd thy throne, 
 
 Thy fcepter's a right fcepter ; thine alone 
 
 Unerring fways : 'tis thy fnpreme delight, 
 
 Who hatefl wickednefs, and lovcfi right. 
 
 Hence God, thy God, thro' gracious goodnefs lead, 
 
 With oil of gladnefs did anoint thine head, 
 
 Which brings from heaven fuperior honours down. 
 
 And renders fubjecl every fellow-crown. 
 
 Lo ! Ifrael's king a glorious figure (lands, 
 
 His robes emit of fweet Arabia's lands 
 
 The fpicy fmells ; myrrhe, aloes, caffia, pour 
 
 From w ivory palaces their gladfome ftore : 
 
 Around him trains of princely maids are feen, 
 
 On his right-hand, to fill the charming fcene, 
 
 In gold of Ophir Hands the beauteous queen. 
 
 With nVd attention, royal daughter, hear, 
 
 Confider duly, and incline thine ear : 
 
 Foriake thy nation now, imperial fpoufe, 
 
 Forget its idols, and thy father's houfe : 
 
 Cleave to thy king ; then raptur'd with defire, 
 
 Thy charms fhall hold him, whom thy beauties fire : 
 
 Illuftrious 
 
 « Whofoever confiders the manner o r cxpre{Eon here 
 us\l, muft conclude, that a greater t 1 n is pointed 
 
 to therein, and accordingly St. Paul has applied this 
 place to the Ikb. i. S. But unto the fin, he faith , 
 
 Thy throve, O God, I , 
 
 w See i Kings xxii. 39. 
 
 i 
 
Tm PSALMS of DAVID. 117 
 Illuflrious fair-one, here fubjeclion pay, 
 He h thy Lord j here honour and obey. 
 Behold from wealthy * Tyre a fplendid train 
 Approach with curious gifts to grace thy reign ; 
 The pompous lords of the mercantile ifles 
 Haften to feek thy face, and court thy fmiles : 
 Within the fair is grac'd with charms untold, 
 Her clothing is of purled works of gold : 
 In garments by the flowering needle wrought, 
 She'll to her monarch's longing arms be brought : 
 Attended by her virgin choirs of flate, 
 She fhall be brought to her majeftic mate : 
 Whilft feftive fhouts fhall rend the ecchoino- air, 
 His royal palace fhall receive the fair : 
 Lo ! in thy father's {lead, thy numerous fons 
 Shall rule the nations, and adorn their thrones : 
 Thro' every age my fong fhall keep thy fame, 
 And men for ever fhall exalt thy name. 
 
 x Orig. the daughter of Tyre, i. e. the people ef Tyre, 
 as daughter ofSicn, Pfalm ix. 15. This one "city Tyre, is 
 here nam'd inftead of other nations, becaufe it was the 
 chief city of traffic in the world, being in an ifle of 
 the fea, whofe merchandize arid magnificence the 
 prophet largely defcribeth, Ezek. xxvii, Her merchants 
 were princes, her chapmen the nobles of the world, Ifa. 
 xxiii. 8. She heaped up fihver, as duft, and fine gold, as the 
 ?nire of the fireets, Zech. ix. 3. Ains worth. 
 
 I 3 PSALM 
 
n8 Tbt PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM XL VI. 
 
 To the chief Mufician, for the Sons* of Korah. A 
 Song upon Alamoth, i. e. the Virgin's Tune, or 
 Injiruments. 
 
 ARGUMENT, 
 
 // is not improbable , that it was written upon David's 
 Conqueji over the Philiftines and Moabites, 2 Sam, 
 viii. and fo is a pious Triumph in God thereupon* 
 Others conceive it of much later Date, -and refer it 
 to the Dejiruclion of the Army of Sennacherib. 
 Patrick, Mudge. 
 
 f^ OD is our fhelt'ring ftrength, whate'er befalls, 
 ^~^ A prefent help, when urgent trouble calls ; 
 Firm will our mind remain, by God approv'd, 
 Although the folid earth mould be removed ; 
 And tho 1 the torrent of the roaring fea 
 Into its heart the mountains fweeps away j 
 Tho' the loud furges with their caverns /hake, 
 Or thro' their fwell the trembling mountains quake. 
 
 Selah. 
 Serenely calm that pleafing rivulet glides, J 
 
 Which glads the city, where thine houfe abides, S 
 
 Jjyhcfe the moll high in holy Hate refides. 3 
 
 Unfhock'df 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 119 
 
 Unfhock'd, {lie meets thine aids without delay, 
 Soon as the morning moots its golden ray : 
 The rifing nations, mov'd with headftrong rage, 
 The furious kingdoms haft'ned to engage : 
 The Lord fupreme but utter'd forth his voice, 
 A darted flame the melted earth deftroys. 
 The Lord of armies guards our facred fort, 
 The God of Jacob is our high refort. 
 
 Selah. 
 See, ye diftruftful, what the Lord hath done, 
 The wafted fields, and towns, for Ifrael won. 
 He bids the brazen din of battle ceafe, 
 And lulls the nations into plenteous peace : 
 He breaks the bow, and cuts the piercing fpear, 
 He to the fire condemns the rattling car. 
 Hear the commanding voice from heav'n— -Be flill ! 
 'Tis I am God, your's to obey my will. 
 The heathen their exalted voice mall raife, 
 And earth to me mail give exalted praife : 
 The Lord of armies guards our facred fort, 
 The God of Jacob is our high refort. 
 
 Selah. 
 
 I 4 PSALM 
 
120 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM XLVII. 
 
 To the chief Mufician. A Pfalm for the Sons of 
 Korah, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Some are of Opinion this Pfalm was composed by David, 
 upon the Tranjlation of the Ark in his Time to Mount 
 Sion ; others think it written in the Time of Solomon, 
 when the Ark was brought into the Temple. A third 
 Conjeclure is y that it was made after feme great 
 Victory ; and fung^ as they follow *d the Ark back to 
 its Dwelling-place , from whence it had been carried 
 before them to Battle. The ancient Fathers expound 
 it in a myflical Senfe concerning our Lord's Triumph 
 over Death, and his Afceniion into Heaven, 
 Patrick, Nichols, Mudge. 
 
 /\H ! let a general plaudit loudly ring, 
 
 Shout forth, ye tribes, your JhriUing triumphs fing, 
 The Lord moil 'high, and dreadful, governs all, 
 He is the king, which rules this earthly ball : 
 'Tis he difmays them, when our armies meet, 
 The nations lays beneath our trampling feet : 
 
 He 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID, ^fr 
 
 He mark'd our land for his lov'd Jacob's race, 
 3 Twas here his y glorious Ughnefs fix'd his place. 
 
 Selah. 
 God is gone up with a loud-mouting noife, 
 The Lord is ufher'd with the trumpet's voice : 
 Sing praife unto our God, your praifes fing, 
 Sing praife, fing praifes to our heavenly king. 
 God is the king, his empire's not confin'd, 
 Sing praifes with a well-inftrudled mind. 
 God makes his fway amongft the heathen known, 
 God fits in glory on his holy throne. 
 Met are the bounteous princes of the tribes, 
 Each tribe, which pow'r to Abraham's God afcribes ; 
 The z fnields of th' earth he taketh, as his right, 
 Highly exalted for his faving might. 
 
 y Meaning the kingdom, priefihood, temple, &c. Ains- 
 worth. 
 
 2 Orig. to God the Jhields of the earth. He is the great 
 conqueror, and protector of all, Gen. xv. I. Shields 
 alio are magiilrates and governors, that protect the 
 common-weals, Hof. iv. 18. Pfal. lxxxix. 19. fo the 
 Greek here hath the itrong men of the earth. 
 
 PSALM 
 
fcft The PSALMS of DAVID,, 
 
 — — —— mmmmm ■■■ i I i ■ ■ ■ i — — — » 
 
 PSALM XLVIII. 
 
 A Song and Pfalm for the Sons of Korah. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It was written on the Occafion of a Confederacy of 
 Kings, who came up againjt Jerufalem, but made 
 no attempt upon it \ and may refer to the Time, when 
 Moab and Ammon, and they of Mount Seir, 
 afjembled againfl it, hut were fuddenly difpers'd 9 
 2 Chron. xx. or when Rezin, King of Syria, 
 and Pekah, King of Ifrae], join" d their Forces for 
 that End, but could not fight againfl it ; as is ex- 
 prejs'd in the Original Patrick, Mudge. 
 
 g~^ RE AT is the Lord, his praife in Salem's great, 
 ^^ In his blefs'd city, in his holy feat ; 
 Of beauteous fight, the joy of diflant lands, 
 Is Zion's mount : northwards afpiring {lands 
 That city the great king yclepes his own, 
 God's in her palace an high refuge known. 
 Confederate kings pafs'd by in brave array, 
 They faw it, marvell'd, fear'd, and fled away: 
 A iudden dread ran o'er th' embattled plain, 
 As when a woman's feiz'd with child-birth pain : 
 
 Or 
 
Th$ PS'ALMS of DAVID. ra 3 
 
 Or as the darning fhips of precious load 
 
 Groan thro' thine eaftern blaits in Tarfhifh road : 
 
 As we have heard of old with pious boafts, 
 
 So in the city of the Lord of hofts, 
 
 In the fair city of our glorious God, 
 
 Our ftrength refls ever on his gracious nod. 
 
 Selah. 
 Thine aid we in thine inmoft temple fought, 
 Thy loving kindnefs there engag'd our thought. 
 Aw'd with the dreadful import of thy name, 
 The earth, O Lord of hofts, fhall fpread thy fame : 
 Thy righteous judgments to our vaunting foes 
 With equal ballance thy right-hand beflows. 
 For this tranfported Zion (hall rejoice, 
 And Juda's daughters fweetly tune their voice : 
 Walk about Zion, view the refcu'd town; 
 Count, if a beauteous tow'r is batter'd down, 
 See her each palace, and each fort, difplay ; 
 Then let your records note the glorious day. 
 For God is ever, ever is our God, 
 He'll guide us ev'n to quiet death's abode. 
 
 fSALH 
 
124 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM XLIX. 
 
 To the chief Mufician. A Pfalm for the Sons of 
 Korab. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Tjjb Author takes Occafion in this Pfalm from the Eager- 
 nefs of many in amafjing Riches, to Jhcw the Vanity 
 of them ; which Refection, from the unwontednefs of 
 it to iheir Minds, he confders as a Kind of Wifdom, 
 conceal y d from them, and which they were to be taught 
 and injirucled in. Patrick, Mudge. 
 
 T TEAR, and attend to this, ye nations all, 
 
 •*■ Ye Ihort-lived tenants of this earthly ball : 
 
 'Tis your's together, if or mean, or great, 
 
 Or rich, or poor, my numbers to await : 
 
 My mouth before you wifdom's flores fhall lay, 
 
 My heart its prudent counfels fhall difplay : 
 
 Mine harp I will attend, and bend mine ear; 
 
 Myfterious parables my fong fhall clear : 
 
 Why mould I tremble in the evil day ? 
 
 Why a heap up fins to compafs round my way ? 
 
 Mark 
 
 ■* i.e.- in the way of heaping up riches, which can 
 do me no good in a day of evil, but if gotten unjuftly 
 will be the fubjedfc of a thousand fears and embarraf- 
 ments. Mudge, 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 125 
 
 Mark thofe, who truft in their enriching ftore, 
 And vaunting glory in their wealthy pow'r : 
 Not all their wealth can e'er redeem a friend, 
 When fummon'd hence, and polling to his end : 
 That ftay's a ranfom, which can ne'er be bought. 
 In that all earthly treafure is as nought : 
 Not all their ftores the parting foul can fave 
 From the dark confines of the noifome grave. 
 Experience teaches 'em, that all muft dye, 
 The wife and fools in duft promifcuous lye : 
 And when cold death no refpite more affords, 
 To others they muft leave their boafted hoards. 
 Hence confcious of their frail eftate, they aim 
 By fumptuous piles to live in future fame : 
 Name from themfelves their lands, and manfion feat, 
 To tell, that once they were, how proud, and great. 
 And yet fuch great ones foon will pafs away, 
 Juft as the bea-fts in filence ihall decay. 
 Conftant in nothing, but an hope that's vain, 
 Which fools defcendant fofter o'er again. 
 
 Selah. 
 Like flieep, in clofed folds, they flock to reft, 
 And yield to inbred worms a putrid feaft, 
 
 Then 
 
126 The PSALMS of DAVID, 
 Then tho' fo powerful once, fo gay, fo brave, 
 The juft fhall b early triumph o'er their grave : 
 Their lands and beauty gone, all their remains, 
 Lo ! the fcant meafure of a tomb contains. 
 But God fhall with his faving pow'r controul 
 The hand of hell ; he fhall receive my foul. 
 
 Selah. 
 If worldlings thrive, let it not break thy peace, 
 Or if the glory of their houfe increafe. 
 In death their tranfient pomp fhall find its end, 
 Nor fhall their glory to the grave defcend : 
 Tho' they fhould piume themfeives upon their ftate, 
 Tho' men may flatter, and fhould blefs their fate; 
 They'll trace their fathers down to endlefs night, 
 And ne'er review the realms of joyful light. 
 Thus 'tis th' imprudent great will pafs away, 
 Juft as the beafls in filence fhall decay. 
 
 b Orig. the righteous Jhall have dominion o<ver them in 
 the morning, i. e. quickly, fpeedily. This is a difficult 
 pafTage; fome underftand it of the diftin&ion of the 
 righteous from the wicked at the reiurrection ; but it 
 feems rather to be apprehended concerning the advan- 
 tage the juft often have over the opprefibrs in this life, 
 who are fuddenly fwept away by the hand of provi- 
 dence, when their ill-gotten wealth returns into the 
 hands of thofe good men, from whom it had been ex- 
 torted. See upon the place, Estius, Patrick, Hare, 
 Mudce. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 127 
 
 PSALM L. 
 
 A Pfalm of Afaph, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Chaldee Paraphraft interprets this Title, A Pfalm 
 by the Hand of Afaph ; which leaves it uncertain^ 
 whether it was composed by Afaph, or whether , 
 being diretled to him, it was handed by him into 
 the Tabernacle. I Jhould rather think that it was 
 compos' 'd by David, and order' d to be delivered to 
 Afaph, one ' of the Prefecls of his Mufick, mentioned 
 I Chron. xv. 1 6. 7/ contains an excellent Reproof 
 ofthofe, who valued themj elves upon theexadlnefs of 
 their legal Performances under the Neglecl of Moral 
 Duties. Nichols. 
 
 / ■ ^HE God of Gods, Jehovah's orders run 
 
 To where the riling and the fetting fun 
 The earth encircles : Out of Sions mount 
 Our God hath fhin'd, perfection's beauteous fount. 
 Our God fhall come, fha.ll come with language meet. 
 Before him the devouring flames fhall eat : 
 As glows the air, and tempers make the ground, 
 About him whirling florms fhall rage around ; 
 He comes to judgment, and he fummons all, 
 The heavens above and earth fhall hear the calL 
 
 Brine: 
 
128 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Bring ye my gracious faints before mine eyes, 
 
 Who've c {truck my covenant with facrifice : 
 
 Then fhall the heav'ns, fmce God is judge, declare, 
 
 In open form, how juftnis judgments are, 
 
 Selah. 
 
 Hear, O my people, mark this charge of mine, 
 
 *Tis I am God, O Ifrael, I am thine. 
 
 No facrif.ee with -held provokes mine ire, 
 
 For lo ! mine altars blaze with daily fire : 
 
 I'll take no bullocks from the crouded flail, 
 
 No he-goats from the fold: mine are they all: 
 
 Mine is each herd, which the wide forrcft fills, 
 
 Mine are the cattle on a thoufand hills : 
 
 The numerous fowls I on the mountains rear, 
 
 And feed the growling favage in the lair. 
 
 Were I to hunger, what avails thine aid ? 
 
 Mine is the world, and every thing that's made. 
 
 Wilt thou with blood of goats and bullocks feaft 
 
 An all-fufHcient, all-commanding gueft ? 
 
 Offer, whoever at mine altar bows, 
 
 The facrifice of praife, and pay thy vows : 
 
 To 
 
 c Orig. have finicky or cut, that is, have made cove- 
 nant voith me voith facrifice. For at holy covenants the 
 facrifices were cut afunder, and they went between the 
 part, Gen. xv. 10. Jer* xxxiv. u. which action waa 
 a kind of imprecation upon the party, who mould 
 te his oath, as tho" he were 10 become like that 
 .eel be?.it. Ainsworth, Bytunlk.. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 129 
 
 To the moft high thine humble fuit addrefs, 
 
 And he mall fave thee from thy deep diftrefs : 
 
 Save thee, when warm'd with pure devotion's flame^ 
 
 And thou fhalt glorify his holy name. 
 
 But to th' unjuft, faith God, how doll thou dare 
 
 To preach my cov'nant, and my laws declare ? 
 
 Whilft my reforming word thy foul withftands, 
 
 And calls behind thee all my jull commands : 
 
 You with the prowling thief partake the lhame > 
 
 And in your bofom feed the adult'rous flame. 
 
 Your mouth is evil, and your guileful tongue 
 
 Frames lying tales, and wrong conjoins to wrong : 
 
 Thy brother's fame thou doft deride in fport, 
 
 Againfl thy mother's fon fpread ill report. 
 
 This thou haft done, and thought that I, like thee, 
 
 Whilft I kept filence, might with pleafure fee : 
 
 But I'll reprove thee, I'll to judgment rife, 
 
 And fet thy fins in order to thine eyes. 
 
 O ! now confider, pardon humbly crave, 
 
 Ye, that forget him, who your being gave, 
 
 Left I mould tear you, when there's none to fave 
 
 He honours me, who offers thanks and praife ; 
 
 To him,, who liyes aright, I'll (hew falvation's ways. 
 
 K PSALM 
 
 ! 
 
i 3 o The PSALMS tf DAVID. 
 
 PSALM LL 
 
 The Hebrew Infcription. 
 
 To the chief Mufician. A Pfahn of David, when 
 Nathan, the Prophet came unto him (viz, to re- 
 prove him for the complicated Sin of Adultery 
 and Murder) after he had gone in to Bathflieba. 
 
 T) E d gracious to me, O my injur'd God, 
 
 Out of thy tender mercies fpare thy rod ; 
 After thy numerous mercies wipe my ftain, 
 Nor let the fpot of mine offence remain ; 
 O throughly warn me from my grievous fin, 
 And cleanfe me from pollution's filth within. 
 For why ? my trefpafTes are truly known, 
 My foul tranfgreffions I fincerely own : 
 'Twas againft thee, and acted in thy fight, 
 My fin I will difplay in open light, 
 To prove thy juflice pure, who judgefr. right* 
 
 i 
 
 Lo! 
 
 d The Author of Davit?* Life makes this general Re- 
 mark upon this Pfalm. <« The Soul of Shame, of Sor- 
 row, of Remojrfe, of fmcere Repentance, and bitter 
 Anguifh under the Agonies of Guilt, breathes ftrong 
 and fervent thro' every Line of this hallow'd Compo- 
 
 fition ; infomuch that his Fall, and thofe Crimes, 
 
 which wrought his Shame, and Sorrow, and Infamy, 
 have in the Humility, the Piety, the Contrition of con- 
 fefling them (in this and fcveral other Pfalms compos'd 
 upon the fame Cccafion) relcued and ref&rm'd millions. ** 
 
fbe PSALMS of DAVID. 131 
 
 Lo ! when conceiv'd, fin mingled with my frame, 
 
 When from the womb with painful throws I came : 
 
 Lo ! truth rhou feekeft in th 1 internal part i 
 
 Thou giveft wifdom to my fecret heart. 
 
 Purge me with hyiTop, that will cleanfe indeed, 
 
 Walh thou— my whitenefs mall the fnow's exceed. 
 
 Then thou wilt make me hear joy's gladfome voice, 
 
 Wilt make the bones, which thou hafi cruuYd, rejoice : 
 
 From my defiling crimes avert thine eye, 
 
 Blot out my fins, and hide their crimfon dye : 
 
 New frame mine heart, with purity renVd, 
 
 Create within nie, Lord, a liable mind: 
 
 Caft me not off from thy reviving face, 
 
 Nor take from me thy fanctifying grace t 
 
 The joy of thy falvation grant again, • 
 
 With thy free fpirit's aid my foul fuftain: 
 
 Then will I teach them, who forsake thy way, 
 
 And turn the tinners, blindly run aftray. 
 
 O God, the God, who my falvation brings, 
 
 Free me from euiltrul bloodihed's poignant ftinjs. 
 
 Then with loud-founding notes my joyful tongue 
 
 Shall ehaunt thy juitice in the iacred fong ; 
 
 'Tis thou my lips fnalt open, thou malt raife 
 
 My voice, my mouth fhall echo forth thy praife. 
 
 Altars ftiould blaze, and ilreams of incenfe rife, 
 
 If gifts could move die fovVeign of the Ikies : 
 
 K 2 Thefe 
 
1 
 
 i 3 2 The PSALMS of DAVID, 
 
 Thefe cannot move : he doth his grace impart 
 To broken fpirits, and the contrite heart; 
 This facrirke thou wilt not, Lord defpife. 
 Do well to Sion ; Salem's beauty prize ; 
 Let her afpiring walls be pleafing in thine eyes, 
 Then mall th' accepted offerings be made ; 
 The facriiice of juftice fhall be paid ; 
 There burnt oblations, c holocaufts mail lay, 
 There they (hall bullocks on thy altar flay. 
 
 PSALM LII. 
 
 The Hebrew Infcription. 
 
 To the chief Muficlan. Mafchil. A Pfalm of Da- 
 vid, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, 
 and /aid unto hhn, David is come to the Houfe of 
 Ahimelech. See i Sam. xxii. 
 
 ■"ff T J H Y is a lawlefs pow'r thy boaft and joy ? 
 
 Why art thou proud, thou tyrant, to deftroy ? 
 Not fo heaven's king, who bears the general fway, 
 His goodnefs is difplay'd from day to day : 
 
 Pernicious 
 
 e Heb. Ca-i.il. The whole Oblation. A kind of 
 oblation, that was wholly and every whit given up in 
 Fire unto God : and differed from the Ghmlab, or 
 burnt -offerings which was only of bcajh or birds. Lev. i. 
 Whereas the Odd was alfoof/VW, call'd the Meat- 
 offerings but burnt all together, which the common Meat- 
 offerings were not, Lev. vi. 20, 21, 23. Ainswqrth.- 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 133 
 
 Pernicious evil does thy thought devife, 
 Keen, f as a treacherous razor, are thy lies. 
 Not good, but evil, doth delight thy tongue, 
 To right thou haft preferr'd malicious wrong. 
 
 Selah. 
 Thy fubtle, canc'rous words, devouring eat, 
 Thy lips are falfe, thy language is deceit : 
 From thine abiding place for ever rent, 
 Lo ! God fhall ihatch, and caft thee from thy tent : 
 Tear up thy roots, where thou didft whilome ftand, 
 And furious pluck thee from thy native land. 
 
 Selah. 
 The juft fhall fee and fear ; and mail deride 
 Thy fhameful vanity, and humbled pride. 
 Behold the man, who mov'd from God his trull, 
 To golden heaps, and bags of mining duft ! 
 Who fix'd his heart upon an hope that's vain, 
 And plac'd his ftrength in hoards of worldly gain. 
 As olives, all in verdant pomp difplay'd, 
 So flourifh I beneath the kindly Ihade 
 Within thy courts : on thee I will depend, 
 And on thy mercies, which will never end. 
 
 K 3 For 
 
 f Orig. working treacberoujfy, .that is, thy tongue is lih 
 a Jharp razor, that cuts the throat before a man is aware 
 Df it. AlNSWORTH, MuDGE. 
 
i 3 4 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 For this I always will extol thy fame, 
 For this will patiently expect thy name ; 
 Amongft thy faints its mighty influence tell, 
 Who fhall approve my faithful conducl well. 
 
 PSALM LIII. 
 
 To the chief Mufician on Mahalath. (An hollow 
 Inftrument, as the Flute, or Pipe.) Mafchil. 
 A P&ljn of David, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This is very little different from Pfalm the Fourteenth , 
 except in the $th verfc, where there is a corfidcrable 
 /J it trail on, and in that the 6th is wholly omitted, 
 which makes it probable there was fome new Occa- 
 fira for ujing this Hymn again, though much like the 
 former. As that was occafond by AbfalomV Re- 
 volt, this might be fuited to that of Sheba, which 
 was dangerous and gene? -a I, fo that it might come 
 under the ExpreJJion of the Pfalmift, v. 3. Every- 
 one is gone back, Patrick. 
 
 ' I ^ H E gracelefs fool doth in his heart furmife, 
 There is no God, no fovereign of the Ikies j 
 Ail are corrupt, all have perverfely done, 
 None are upright, who practice goodnefs, none, 
 
 God 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 135 
 
 God hath looked down from heav'n on Mam's raoe, 
 If any might be wife, or feek his face : 
 They all are fruitlefs, all have backward gone, 
 There's none doth praclife goodnefs, no not one. 
 Have they no knowledge ? that they eat, like bread, 
 My people up ; by ravenous fury led : 
 On God they call not : 8 there great fear arofe, 
 Where nothing fearful did their arms oppofe. 
 For God their leader's bones hath fcatter'd round, 
 He fpurn'd them off: thou didft their ftrength confound. 
 Oh ! who from Sion mail falvation mow 
 To Ifrael? when the Lord mall reft bellow, 
 ^When to his own he mall redemption bring, 
 Then Jacob fhall rejoice, and Ifrael fing. 
 
 PSALM LIV. 
 
 The Hebrew Infcription. 
 
 To the chief Mufician on Neginotb. Mafchil A 
 Pfalm of David \ when the Zipbltes came and 
 faid to SW, doth not David hide himfelf with 
 us ? 1 Sam. xxiii. 
 
 O A V E me, O God, in thy protecting name, 
 And by thy might my righteous caufe proclaim. 
 
 K 4 OGod, 
 
 1 See the notes on Pfalm XIV. 
 
136 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 O God, mine ardent prayers with favour hear, 
 And let my fuppliant fpeeches reach thine ear : 
 Ev'n ftrangers vex me with malicious ftrife, 
 And daunting tyrants feek mine hunted life ; 
 Tyrants, who fet not God before their eyes ; 
 ho I God, my powerful helper, mail arife. 
 
 Selah. 
 He with his aids their malice will controul, 
 The Lord will join them, who uphold my foul : 
 He on mine en<viers will the mifchief throw, 
 O ! in thy truth reduce, and bring them low. 
 Free gifts I'll offer with a zealous flame, 
 For it is good, O Lord, to praife thy name : 
 He freely rids me out of all diftrefs, 
 And on my foes mine eye hath feen redrefs. 
 
 PSALM 
 
rhe PSALMS of DAVID. 173 
 
 PSALM LV. 
 
 To the chief Mufician on Negimthj Mafchil. A 
 Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 ft was probably composed, when Abfalom'^ Rebellion, 
 broke out) and he was forced to fee fuddenly from 
 Jerufalem ; and as he was going barefoot on Mount 
 Olivet (he and all his company weeping) to encreafe 
 his Sorrovj, met with the News, that Ahitophel alfo 
 was among ft the Confpirators, 2 Sam. xiii. 31. 
 who feems herein to be flrongly defcriFd. Patrick. 
 
 TTEAR, OmyGod, my prayer, which begs thy grace, 
 
 Nor from thy fuppliant fervant hide thy face : 
 Attend, and anfwer, whilfl my mournful tongue 
 With difmal accents doth my moans prolono-. 
 My foul, thro' hoftile lips, the wicked bait 
 With bafe reproaches, and with fpightful hate : 
 Within my breaft tormenting pangs I bear, 
 And death's pale image does my fancy fcare: 
 Amazing fears poflefs my throbbing heart, 
 And dreadful horrors feize each trembling part. 
 
 Ofor 
 
i 
 
 138 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 O for the pinions of the rapid b dove ! 
 Far hence with wandYing flight I'd fwiftly rove ; 
 Would wing the way to fome remote retreat, 
 And in the lonely defert fix my feat. 
 
 Selah. 
 I'd hafte to leave thefe raging florins behind, 
 Which drive me now like the tempefluous wind. 
 Swallow them up, O Lord, divide their tongues, 
 See in the city flrife, and raging wrongs : 
 Wild faction keeps by days the guardian wall, 
 And creeps by nights from forth the clofe cabal ; 
 Whilft mad midline troubles threaten all. 
 The fubtle pefl: fo taints the mingled crowd, 
 Deceit and guile roar in her ftreets aloud, 
 Or brood in fecret :— not an open foe 
 Did on my name thefe vile reproaches throw ; 
 That cou'd I bear : in guiklefs anger's heat 
 Had one with braving infults dafd to treat 
 My fovereign power ; then had I known to ward 
 The flroke, and Hand in fecret on my guard. 
 But it was thou, mine equal, and my guide, 
 Jn facred bands of friendfhip jointly ty'd. 
 
 Together 
 
 h This place is illuftrated by Jer. xlviii. 28. Lea<vt 
 the Cities and dwell in ihe Rock, and he like the Do<ve t 
 that maketh her Neft in the Sides of the Hole's Mouth, 
 Harj. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID, i^ 
 Together we in fweeteft council talk'd, 
 Together in the houfe of God we walk'd. 
 They fhall be quickly feiz'd with fudden death, 
 Snatch'd down alive into the pit beneath : 
 For baleful ill their dwelling place furrounds, 
 And evil in their inmoft part abounds. 
 To God, the Lord, I will direct my pray'r, 
 And he fhall fave me from the treach'rous fnare : 
 At morn, and noon, and eve, my fhrilling cry 
 Shall rife ; and he mail hear me from on high. 
 He hath redeem'd my foul in tranquil peace, 
 And bid the rattling din of battle ceafe : 
 Nor could their troops my numerous force abide, 
 The heavenly hofts were marmall'd on my fide. 
 The Lord fupreme, ancient of days, will hear, 
 And fill their bofoms with afflicting fear, 
 
 Selah, 
 Who fin unchanging, nor his arm revere. 
 Their faithlefs chief let loofe his violent hands, 
 In fpight of peaceful friendfhip's holy bands. 
 Kind was his mouth, than butter fofter far, 
 But in his heart lay fofter'd cruel war : 
 Smoother than oil, flow'd forth his balmy word*,. 
 Yet they are cutting, as the naked fwords. 
 On great Jehovah call thy painful care, 
 He will fuflain thee, and thy burden bear. 
 
 £4 
 
140 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 The j ufl: he will confirm in all his ways, 
 But bloody men mall fee not half their days. 
 Thou, God, fnalt fnatch the falfe to putrid duft: 
 Eut 1 will fix on thee my conftant truft. 
 
 PSALM LVI. 
 
 The Hebrew Infcription. 
 
 To the chief Mifician^ upon Jonath-elem rechokim, 
 (i.e. to the Tune of the fiLnt Dove, by which Bird 
 in the remote Woods his Condition in his Wander- 
 ings might he reprefented.) Michtam of David, 
 when the Philiftines took him in Gath. See I 
 Sam. xxi. 
 
 TQ E gracious, Lord; fince man with daily ftrife 
 
 Would fain devour me, and attempts my life : 
 Mine envious foes diftrefs me all the day, 
 Seek to devour me, and my foul betray : 
 Great are the pow'rs, and numerous are the bands, 
 Which war againft me with puiffant hands. 
 Whene'er diftra&ing fears my bofom rend, 
 Then lhall my certain trull on God depend $ 
 On God : for ever will I praife his word, 
 And put my truft in the almighty Lord: 
 Fearlefs of thofe, who lhall mine hurt purfue, 
 Or what the weakly arm of flefh can do. 
 - - Eaclf 
 
We psalms of David. * 4 * 
 
 Each day they wreft, what's utter'd from my tongue> 
 
 And all their mufings meditate my wrong: 
 
 They draw together at th' inhuman call, 
 
 And hide to mark my {reps, and wait my fall. 
 
 Shall thefe, O God, efcape thy threat'ning frown ? 
 
 In anger caft th' abandon'd wretches down : 
 
 Thou too doit tell my Heps from place to place ; 
 
 y Preferve the tears, whofe ftreams bedew my face : 
 
 Did not thy knowledge note them, as they rofe ? 
 
 Doth not thy regifter record my woes ? 
 
 When for thine aid with fuppliant voice I cxy i 
 
 My foes mall routed from the battle fly : 
 
 This is my truft, and this I furely know, 
 
 My prefent God will ward th' impending blow. 
 
 I'll praife th 1 immutable Jehovah's word, 
 
 By me his truth will always be ador'd : 
 
 In God will I repofe mine hopeful care, 
 
 Then what have I from earthly man to fear ? 
 
 I'll 
 
 y Heb. Si-ma Dmim-chna-thi Bhe-no-dhe-cha, 
 i.e. put my tears into tky bottle. As the the ch 
 things, fuch as wine, or milk, were referv'd in bottlca. 
 This expremon means, that his tears mould not only 
 be noted by God, but be priz'd and let by: tho 1 it 
 Will not bear the transfufion' into other languages ;- 
 wherefore the fe-venty give only the fcnfe in their ver- 
 fion : as, place my tears before thee> or in thy fight: ac- 
 cordingly we have translated it, preferve my tears, 
 
142 the PSALMS 9/ DA V10, 
 
 I'll pay my great preferver what I vow'd, 
 And offer up my grateful thanks aloud : 
 For God my foul hath refcu'd from the grave j 
 Thou didft my finking feet from falling fave ; 
 That in thy paths they might before thee tread, 
 Whilfl vital light exempts me from the dead. 
 
 PSALM LVII. 
 
 The Hebrew Infcriptioh. 
 
 To the chief Mufician Al-tafchith, (probably the Name 
 of feme Tune-, it ftgnifies, deftroy not.) Mich- 
 tain of David ; when be fed from Saul in the Cave. 
 1 Sam. xxiii. andxx'w. Chapters. 
 
 * I "^HY grace, thy grace, O Lord, I humbly crave, 
 
 To thee I fly, 'tis thou my foul mull fave : 
 I'll reft beneath the fhadow of thy wings, 
 Whilft o'er mine head the furious temper! rings: 
 To God, moft high, I'll dart my piercing pray'r, 
 Who will accomplijh his protecting care : 
 His guardian force defcendeth from on high, 
 And heavenly aids falute mc from the fky : 
 With fhame he hath repell'd that tyrant pow'r, 
 Who would with open mouth my foul devour. 
 
 Selah. 
 Thy 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 143 
 Thy truth, O Lord, thy refcuing mercy fend, 
 Or prefling lions will my carcafs rend : 
 Lo ! fiery fons of Adam girt me round, 
 Their tongues, like fwords, their teeth,like arrows wound \ 
 Exalt thy glory o'er the heavenly hofts, 
 O God, and o'er the earth's remoter!: coafts. 
 Lo ! for my feet they fet the wily fnare, 
 And drove my finking foul to fad defpair: 
 For me they fubt'ly dug their pits around, 
 Themfelves were fwallow'd in the treach'rous ground. 
 
 Selah. 
 My heart is fix'd, my heart is fix'd: my tongue 
 Skall chaunt thy praifes in the facred fong : 
 Awake, my glory, lute and harp, awake, 
 Awake, my lays, e'er dawning day mall break: 
 Within thy courts I'll found thy name alone, 
 And tell abroad the wonders thou haft done. 
 Thy mercy reacheth to the clouds on high, 
 Thy boundlefs truth furmounts the vaulted fky : 
 Exalt thy glory o'er thine heavenly hofts, 
 O God, and o'er the earth's remote!! coafts. 
 
 PSALM 
 
144 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM LVIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 To the chief Mufician. Al-tafchith. Mlchtam of 
 David. 
 
 // contains a ?ncmorable Reproof and Prcdittion of the 
 Punifoment of thofe evil Counfellors^ who againfl 
 their Conference had condemned David, meerly to 
 pleafe Saul, and give him a Pretence to defray 
 him. Patrick. 
 
 TPV O IfracPs, courts in Juftice fpeak indeed ? 
 "^■"^ Or judge ye truly what the righteous pleads 
 Ye fons of Adam ? in your inmofl heart 
 Ye work a wicked and deceitful part: 
 judgment, thro' fub'de violence, betray, 
 And caufes with unequal ballance weigh. 
 £v'n from the womb in infant vice ye ftray'd, 
 And early lies in lilping accents made : 
 The juft are with thefe human ferpents ftung, 
 Whilft burning pcifon lurks beneath their tongue : 
 Like adders, deaf to munck's foft alarm, 
 Which ftop their ears, nor hear the magic charm. 
 Cralh thou their ravenous teeth with blood be-gor'd, 
 Burft out thefe lions tufhes, O my Lord. 
 
 As 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 145 
 
 As finking mow, thaw'd with the folar ray, 
 
 Or gliding ftreams, fo fhall they pafs away : 
 
 Break thou their arrows, as they hilling go, 
 
 At me when pointed from the bending bow : 
 
 Like fnails, which melt along their glittering way, 
 
 Or as abortives wafte in dark decay, 
 
 They mail not fpring to light, or know the day. 
 
 k Soon fnatch'd away, as thorns, both green and dry, 
 
 Obey the ftorm, and whirl beneath the iky, 
 
 Before the pots perceive the bramtly fire, 
 
 TV unjuft (hall feel the tempeft of thine ire. 
 
 The juft fhall triumph in the vengeance meet, 
 
 And in thefe abjecls blood will dip their feet. 
 
 Sure to the good a juft reward fhall fall, 
 
 Sure there's a God confefs'd, who judgeth all. 
 
 k This is an obfcure place in the Hebrew text. 
 Estius gives it this Senfe ; Before your Thorns /ball ar- 
 rive to their full growth into aBu/h, the Rage of a Tempeji 
 fall fnatch them away, as it were in the Flower of their 
 dge, and growing to Maturity. But Bifhop Patrick 
 explains it thus in his Paraphrafe, God fall hurry you 
 away fuddenly, as in a furious Tempef, which before your 
 Fief -pots can feel the Thorns, carries them away, both 
 the green Thorns and the dry j under whofe authority we 
 have tranilated it. 
 
 PSALM 
 
146 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM LIX. 
 
 To the chief Mufician. Al-tafchlth. Mkhtam of 
 David ; when Saul fent, and they watched the 
 Houfe to kill him. 
 
 TT^REE me, my God, from mine oppreficr's hands, 
 And keep me from th 1 inverting warriour's bands : 
 Protect me from the wicked and prophane, 
 Save me from them, whom fins of blood diftain. 
 Lo ! Lord, they wait, enrag'd the mighty join 
 To flay me, for no fin, nor crime of mine : 
 Prepar'd they run, urg'd by no fault in me ; 
 Rife to mine aid, Jehovah; rife and fee. 
 Lord Cod of HoJIs, thou God of ' Ifrael, wake, 
 Let Heathen nations at thy judgments quake : 
 O ! favour not the fuperilitious crew, 
 Who vanities with treacherous hearts purfue. 
 
 Selah. 
 At eve the growling hounds refearch their prey, 
 And hem the city round each guarded way : 
 Theirwords are fv/ords, they foam out wounding wrong, 
 Who hears ? they cry ; who liftens to our tongue ? 
 But, Lord, the Heathen, with fuperior fmiles, 
 Thou malt deride, and mock their fruilrate wiles. 
 
 Compared 
 
TJ?e PSALMS of DAVID. 14; 
 
 Compar'd with thine, what, what's the oppofmg pow'r ? 
 Cod's a defence beyond the higheft tow'r. 
 My gracious God fhall all my foes prevent, 
 On them mine eye mail fee his judgments fent. 
 Yet flay them not, fpare the deftroying blow, 
 That their repulfe the mindful tribes may know : 
 Reduce them, Lord, to wander o'er the land, 
 Who ftill doll fhield me with thy faving hand : 
 Their fwelling words fhall to their ruin rife, 
 For pride, for tongues of curfing, and for lies : 
 Confume, confume them with a gradual ftroke, 
 That diftant realms may Jacob's God invoke. 
 
 Selah, 
 Then let thefe growling hounds refearch their prey, 
 At eve the city hem each guarded way : 
 May the rapacious vagrants hunt for food, 
 And grudging, be themfelves, like me, purfu'd : 
 Whilft I fecure will chaunt thy powerful name, 
 And in the morn thy grace aloud proclaim. 
 For thou haft caft my forrows far away, 
 And been my refuge in the troublous day. 
 To God, my God, my ftrength, I'll raptur'd fing, 
 Whofe mercy guards me with his fhadowing wing. 
 
 L 2 PSALM 
 
t4& TJje PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM LX. 
 The Heerew Infcription. 
 
 7~0 the chief Mufician upon Shufhan Eduth (an In- 
 Jirument of fix String:) Michtam of David to teach ; 
 vjhcn he jlrove with Aram-naharaim and Aran- 
 zobah -, (viz. the Syrians, both thofe, which liv'd 
 between the two Rivers, Tigris and Euphrates, 
 caWd Naharaim, and thofe, that adjoined to them, 
 in that Part of Syria, called Zobah) when Joab 
 returned and jniote of Edom in the Valley of Salt 
 tivelve thoujand Men. See 2 Sam. viii. I. 
 
 /"~r^HOU didft reject us, fcatter'd o'er our plains, 
 
 Tho' once difpleas'd, turn to our thin remains : 
 Thou, God, didft rive* and caufe our land to quake, 
 Heal thou thofe breaches, which have made it (hake. 
 Hard lot ! as men with wine befotted grow, 
 Thou mad'ft us giddy with amazing woe. 
 To them thy banner is difplay'd on high, 
 Who on thy truth with filial fear rely. 
 
 Selah. 
 Anfwer, and refcue me with thy right hand, 
 That thy beloved may fecurely ftand. 
 Th 1 orae'lar Cod hath fpoke,— with joy 111 fhout, 
 Amongft my chiefs 111 portion Shechem out ; 
 
 O'er 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 149 
 O'er Succoth's vale will throw the meafuring line j 
 Mine is Manaffah, balmy Gilead's mine ; 
 Ephraim's my guard, and ' Juda gives my taw -, 
 Whilft fervile Moab (hall my water draw ; 
 I'll caft my m fhoe o'er Efau's fubject land ; 
 Lo ! glad Philiftia ftoops to my command : 
 Who into Edom will receive my pow'rs ? 
 Give up its capitol, and fenced tow'rs ? 
 O God, who caft us ofF in time of need, 
 Nor didft, as once, our drooping armies lead ; 
 Give thou, in our diftrefs, the fuccours meet, 
 For man's falvation is but vain deceit. 
 With fure fuccefs God will our valour crown, 
 And tread th' infulting foes with triumph down. 
 
 : According to Interpreters, as being the ret 
 tribe. But Bifhop Hare is of opinion the Heb. Mebo- 
 keki, fignifies rather a thing than a per/on, and conjec- 
 tures it may be tranflated my Spear; as he underfrands, 
 the Strength of mine Head, attributed to Ephraim, to 
 fignify an Helmet, and as the ftigmatizing characteriilick, 
 given to \"oob. is a Wo/b-pot, fo he apprehends it 
 would be more confident, that MebokeB mould be ren- 
 der'd my Spear, co make the fentdments more uniform : 
 which would then Hand thus : Epbraim is mine Helmet, 
 Judah is my Spear, Moab is my WaJb-pQt % See his 
 Note. 
 
 n i. e. I (hall walk through, poflefs, and tread it 
 down. Ainsworth. 
 
 L 3 PSALM 
 
150 The PSALMS of DAVID, 
 
 PSALM LXL 
 
 To the chief Mufician upon Ncginoth. A Pfalm 
 of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It was zuritten by David, mofi probably in the Time of 
 Abfalom'* Rebellion, when he was driven by the 
 prevailing Power of his rebel Son beyond Jordan, to 
 the Extremities of Judaea ; and this is the Ends of 
 the Earth he mentions ~ver, 2. Nichols. 
 
 F 
 
 TEAR thou, O God, my loud complainings hear, 
 And let my pray'rs reach thine attentive ear : 
 From Canaan's plenteous land's mofi diftant ends, 
 My heart b'erwhelm'd its fuppliant moaning fends : 
 Shew me the rock, which doth furpafs mine heio-ht. 
 My truft, my tow'r, where to dirett my flight : 
 Tis thou hafl tum'd my foe's infulting face - t 
 Thy tent fhall ever be mine hiding-place. 
 Mine hope in thee its certain fafety brings, 
 
 Beneath the fecret fhelter of th)" wings. 
 
 Selah. 
 For thou, O God, mine ardent vows hail heard, 
 n To give their lot, who I name rever'd : 
 
 Days 
 
 r Orig. Tbouhnft ' -itance to them, &c. fo the 
 
 Greek alio hath it ; or give me the inheritance of them, 
 i.e. fuch a bleffing as ufually thou beftoweft on thofe 
 who fear diee. /\i n s w o r t h . 
 
ne PSALMS of DAVID. 151 
 
 Days join'd to days fhall wave thy chofen's end, 
 His years thou wilt from age to age extend : 
 His throne fhall in thy fight find no decay ; 
 Prepare thy truth and mercy for his flay : 
 Then on thy name I'll endlefs fongs beftow, 
 And day by day will pay each grateful vow. 
 
 PSALM LXII. 
 
 To the chief Mufician, to Jeduthun. A Pfalm of 
 David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It feems to have been penned, when he had overcome 
 all the Fears, into which the Rebellion of Abfalom 
 at firjl put him ; but yet was not rejlored to bis 
 Kingdom. Unto which when he returned, he com- 
 mitted this Meditation to the Majier of Mufok, to 
 be fung according to the Tune, to which Jeduthun, 
 a famous Artif, had ft the xxxixth Pfalm. Pa- 
 trick. 
 
 T% /TY tranquil foul on God doth furely wait, 
 
 On him, from whom is my reftor'd eflate. 
 God's my fafe rock, mine high, defeniive wall, 
 What, tho' I tremble ? I fhall never fall. 
 How long will ye, athirfl for guiltlefs blood, 
 With force combin'd, pufh to fubvert the good ? 
 
 L 4 You'll 
 
i 5 2 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 c YouTl vll be flain, as walls of moulding (lone, 
 Or, like a totfring fence, at once overthrown. 
 They plot to call him from his royal height, 
 And take, in treach'rous lies, a bale delight : 
 By fli >ceches with their mouths they blefs, 
 
 But curfe within their inmofl heart's recefs. 
 
 Selah. 
 Yet Hill my tranquil r oul on God fhall wait, 
 From whoni's the hope of my fecure eftate : 
 He's my fafc rock, mine high, defenfive wall, 
 What, tho' I tremble ? I mall never fall : 
 God is my fafety, boafl, and rocky fort, 
 God is mine expectation's fure refort. 
 Truft always, O ye people, in his word, 
 Pour out your ftreaming hearts before the Lord : 
 Let the full current of your wifhes tend 
 To him, your hope ; on God you may depend. 
 
 Selah. 
 Surely the fons of men, both great and (mall, 
 Are all a lye, are a vain bubble all. 
 
 How 
 
 H;?re ye /hall be is inferted in the Bible Ycrfion to 
 clear the fenfe: As a bowing WaL be, which 
 
 may exprt s tl snnefs of their deftruclion, \\\.\\ 
 
 to be overthrown; for 
 that this co of a bowing wall, and tottering 
 
 fence, has this force, is evident from tfaiab xxx. 13, 
 Hare. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 153 
 How light is man, when in the balance try'd ? 
 See him mount up, and vanity fubfide. 
 Truft not in lawlefs pow'r, from rapine ceafe, 
 Set not your hearts on riches, which encreafe. 
 Once God hath fpoke, twice have I heard the fame, 
 That pow'r belongs to God Almighty's name : 
 Yet mercy tempers, Lord, thy pow'rful fway, 
 And what man merits, that wilt thou repay. 
 
 PSALM LXII1. 
 
 A Pfalm of David, when he was in the Wildernefs 
 of Judah. 
 
 A R G U M E N T. 
 
 The Hi/lory of his Flight thither under Saul's Perfecu- 
 tion is recorded of him> 1 Sam. xxii. 5. but 'tis 
 more probable y that here is meant the Wildernefs he 
 went through , when he fled from Ablalom (2 Sam. 
 xv ii. 29. J becaufe (ver. 11.) he calls hi mf elf a 
 King. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 (~^\ God, thou art my God, 111 watching pray, 
 
 And leek thy prefence with the morning's ray ; 
 Here barren, droughty lands I traverfe o'er, 
 Where rife no fprings, where falls no moiiVr.ing mow'r. 
 My foul's athirfl for thy faivation's fount, 
 Mv flefh burns after thee on Situs mount : 
 
 There 
 
i 5 4 the PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 There 'tis I long to view thee, as before, 
 
 To fee thy glory, and thy pow'r adore. 
 
 Even life itfelf thy mercies far excell, 
 
 Therefore thy praife my grateful lips mall tell. 
 
 Thee will I biefs, whilft I retain my frame, 
 
 And lift my palms in thine almighty name. 
 
 Thou'lt fill my foul with fat, which ne'er mall cloy, 
 
 My mouth fhall fing with lips of fhrilling joy. 
 
 When on my reftlefs bed I mufing lay, 
 
 And thought, intent on thee, the night away, 
 
 That 'tis thine aid, which my falvation brings, 
 
 I fhouted in the fhadow of thy wings. 
 
 My fcul to thee with ardent longing cleaves, 
 
 My weaknefs thy fupporting hand relieves. 
 
 Who would in troublous ruin fink me low, 
 
 tie to the bowels of the earth mail go : 
 
 The branuifli'd fword fhall draw his ftreaming gore, 
 
 And p ravenous foxes mall his fiefh devour. 
 
 Eut Hill the king fhall in his God rejoice, 
 
 And all fhall triumph with a glorious voice, 
 
 Who fwear by him : whilft filent fliame fhall tie 
 
 The tongues of thole, who fpeak the treach'rous lie. 
 
 PSALM 
 
 f i, e. he fhall be left unburied, fo as to become a 
 prey to the wild beaits. Ainsw orth. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 155 
 
 PSALM LXIV. 
 To the chief 'Mufician. A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 // is prefumd to have been written^ when he was 
 grown into dif grace with Saul, and had departed 
 from his Courts where he was traducd by the 
 Calumnies of fome ill Men^ who were plotting his 
 Downfal. Some of the Jews think it was prophetically 
 written of Daniel, but do not bring fuffcient reafons 
 to fupport that Fancy. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 T% /T Y fuppliant voice, O God, with favour hear, 
 Preferve my life, when foes alarm my fear 5 
 From their dark fecret, me, thy fervant, fcreen, 
 Who plan with giddy rage each wicked fcene : 
 Who whet their tongues, like a (harp-edged fwordj 
 Pointing their arrows, ev'n a 9 bitter word : 
 Whilft at the juft they b^r.d their fecret bow, 
 Not fear to hit him with a fudden blow. 
 Their evil word's an hidden fix'd decree, 
 
 The fnares they order, faying, Who (hall fee \ 
 
 They 
 
 *i As here a hitter mjord is called an arrow, in Jcr. 
 ix, 3. the tongue of the treacherous and wicked is 
 called their bow. Ains w r r h . 
 
156 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 They fearch out wrongs, their fchemes they nicely fcan, 
 
 In the u j . J ;> heart, and in the inrr. oft man : 
 
 But itill their fchemes the fhafts divine have broke ; 
 
 Soon fhall they fall with a furprizincr ftroke. 
 
 When their own venom'd tongues each dares not frand, 
 
 Their confcious friends fhall fly around the land : 
 
 Whilft all with fear Jehovah's work declare, 
 
 And wifely weigh, how juft his judgments are : 
 
 Hoping in him, the righteous fhall rejoice, 
 
 The true of heart (hall join with glorious voice. 
 
 PSALM LXV. 
 
 To the chief Mufician. A Pfalm and Song of 
 David, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It is thought to have been compos* d after fome great 
 Droughty arid doth probably relate to the Three Tears 
 Famine, which follow' 7/ 'feme Time after the Rebellion 
 of Abfalom, recorded (2 Sam. xxi.J which being 
 alleviated by fome plenteous Showers of Rain, the 
 Pfalmift prQifes God for it in this Hymn. Pa-* 
 trick, Nichols. 
 
 t 
 
 HIN E is the praife, tho"" filent be our tongue, 
 To thee, O God, our grateful vows belong 
 
 In 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 157 
 In Smfs courts : thou hearerl pray'r, to thee 
 All flem fhall come, and humbly bend the knee. 
 Our grofs mifdeeds, tho' flagrant in mine eye, 
 Beneath the r covert of thy grace fhall lie. 
 That man in numerous bleffmgs fhall excell, 
 Whom thou fhalt chufe within thy courts to dwell. 
 'Tis he fhall feaf!: upon thine holy hill, 
 Thy choice repafts his raptur'd foul fhall fill. 
 Tremendous things thine oracles reveal, 
 Which from thy righteous arm our foes fhall feel. 
 O God, our faviour, all confide in thee, 
 From th' inmoft countries to the diftant fea : 
 O ! he's with mighty ftrength begirt around, 
 Who flx'd the mountains on the rocky ground : 
 Who, when the fea with ftorms tumultuous raves, 
 Can flill the noife of it's obedient waves; 
 Who when rebellion's tides run high and flrong, 
 Can flop the torrent of the madding throng. 
 
 Thofc 
 
 r Heb. Techap-perem, thou /halt purge them (i.e. 
 ■ our mifdeeds) aruoay, bible verfion ; properly, The 
 mercifully cover them ; frbn 
 fignines to ewer : tl 
 
 Caphoretb, Exod. XXV. > ; - 'n Greek t hilafterion, i. e. the 
 propitiatory or mercy- l at, Heb. ix. 5. which name St. 
 Paul givexh to Cbrifti who was the true propiiia.ionjor our 
 Jins, 1 John ii. 2. Ai.sswqr.th. 
 
158 The PSALMS of DAVID, 
 Thofe, whom the world's remotcft bound confines. 
 With ftrange amaze behold thy wond'rous figns ; 
 When fun and moon begin their fplendid route 
 At morn and eve, with joyful praifes fhout. 
 Thou doll refrefh the land, when parch'd and dry, 
 With moifTning rain from thy rich s itreams on high. 
 And thus prepar'd, thy bounteous heavenly flore 
 O'er the glad earth doth beauteous plenty pour : 
 Thou mak'ft with copious drops its ridges flow, 
 The clods thou fettlefl on the feeds below : 
 Thro' thee 'tis foft with the fucceeding fhow'r, 
 Thoumak'flit fpring with thine all-blemng pow'r : 
 Thou doft the l noted year with goodnefs crown, 
 And thine ethereal H paths drop fatnefs down ; 
 They drop to flake the defart's thirfly ground, 
 
 The hills are girt with gladnefs all around. 
 
 Clad 
 
 s Orig. the rive:- of God. Many interpreters under- 
 ftand this of the clouds, whom we have follow'd : but 
 bifhop Hare, from Simeon de Muis, underftands it 
 of the river, riling from Si/oe, which ran thro' Jerufakm, 
 the city of Cod. Patrick, Nichols, Hare. 
 
 * It was probably that year, which followed the 
 three years of famine after Abjaloms rebellion. See the 
 argument. 
 
 u God is here confidcr'd as in his chariot, driving 
 round the earth, and from the clouds (the paths of his 
 chariot) every where diftUUng fatnefs, viz. plenty i 
 
 MVDGI. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 159 
 
 Clad are the paflures with the fleecy flieep, 
 With the high corn the vales are cover'd deep : 
 The loaded fields a plenteous harveft bring, 
 They Hand fo thick, that they rejoice and fmg. 
 
 PSALM LXVI. 
 
 To the chief Mufician. A Sons; or Pfalm. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Some will have it to be wrote after the Captivity ; but 
 it is moft probable, that it had David for its Au- 
 thor ^ being joind with the Pfalms of bis 9 which 
 lie in this Part of the Book ; efpecially fence the an- 
 tient Colleclors afcribe it to no one elfe. And then it 
 was compos' 'd j hifl after his coming to the Throne^ 
 when the Philiftines had lately, viz. during Saul'j 
 Reign, made mo/i miferable Ravages in his Country, 
 1 Sam. xiv. and xvll. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 QHOUT, all ye lands, aloud th' Almighty's fame* 
 
 And fing with pfalms the glory of his name. 
 With glory give him never-ceafing praife, 
 And fay, how fearful are thy wond'rous ways, 
 Thro 1 all thy works ! to thee thy faithlefs foe, 
 Aw'd by thy mighty ftrength, pretends to bow : 
 
 Let 
 
i6o The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 Let all the people humbly bend the knee, 
 And fing with pfalms unto thy name and thee. 
 
 Selah. 
 Come, and th 1 Almighty's works with wonder (can, 
 Dread and tremendous to the fons of man. 
 He bade the ocean's waves to order fall, 
 We walk'd in triumph by each wat'ry wall : 
 He rules for ever, fees earth's diftant coaite, 
 Then ceafe, ye rebels, your exalted boafls. 
 
 Selah. 
 Ye people, blefs our God with high-ftrain'd notes, 
 Let the loud praife fwell your melodious throats : 
 He in the dangerous times our life fecures, 
 'Tis he confirms our feet, our fteps enfures. 
 Thou, Lord, to prove us madM: thy plagues confpire, 
 As filver's try'd in the refiner's fire. 
 Allow'd by thee, the fnare our feet confines, 
 And the ftrait burden galls our finking loins : 
 Tyrants have rode us, as their abject Haves, 
 We pafs'd through w fire, and through oppofing waves. 
 
 At 
 
 v ' That is, we pnfTed thro' amicYions of fundry forts, 
 Pfal. xxxii. 6. Ezek. xv. 6, 7. Alio in Numb. xxxi. 
 23. Thole things are faid to come into, orpafs thro' 
 the f re, which would abide the fame without being 
 confum'd, as metals. This ieniehath ufe here. Aixs- 
 
 WOKTH. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 161 
 
 At length we're feated, thro' thy favouring grace, 
 In a rcfrefiing, and abundant place. 
 To thee I will difcharge each grateful vow, 
 And with burnt-offerings at thine altar bow : 
 What my mouth promis'd in the troublous day, 
 That with a thankful heart my (lores mall pay; 
 As bulls and goats; the fat of rams mail rife 
 In flames with fpires of incenfe to the fkies. 
 
 Selah. 
 Come, whilft I fpeak, ye, who my God revere, 
 Th 1 Almighty's mercies to his fervant hear : 
 Lo ! with the mouth I call'd in my diltrefs, 
 My tongue extoll'd him with a jufl addrefs. 
 He hears not, but the wicked's fuit denies, 
 Yet he hath heard me, and indulg'd my cries : 
 All praife to God, whofe providential care 
 E.egards my flate, nor will reject my prayer. 
 
 '■ ■ ' ii ■ i i i ii i . v„ > m — ■ ■ ■ - "i ■ » 
 
 PSALM LXVII. 
 
 To the chief Mufician on Neginoth, A Pfalm o~ 
 Song. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Tho* feme think it of later Date, 'tis probable it was 
 
 composedly David, when having brought the Ark to 
 
 Jerufalem, and offend Sacrifices, as he promis'd in 
 
 the Pfalm freeing, Ver. 15. he tie fed the People 
 
 M 
 
ifc2 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 in the Name cf the Lord of Ho/1 : j, (2 Sam. vi. 
 j 7, 18.) ufing the Words of this Pfalm, according 
 to that Fortn of Bleffmg^ which the Priejls were ap- 
 pointed to ufe on folemn Occafions, (Numb. vi. 23, 
 24, 25.) hef etching Gcd to continue the Blejfing of 
 Plenty to tbentf that it might invite the Nations to 
 fubmit themf elves to his Government. Patrick, 
 Nichols. 
 
 TJLefs us, O Gcd, be gracious unto thine, 
 And let thy face upon thy fervants fhine. 
 
 Selah. 
 May round the earth thy glorious way be known, 
 And let the heathen thy falvation own. 
 The people all, O God, fhall thee confefs, 
 Let all confefs thee with a joint addrefs : 
 The nations fhall to thee rejoycing crowd, 
 And fend triumphant fhoutings forth aloud : 
 For to thy fway thou wilt the people draw, 
 And judge the nations by thy righteous law. 
 
 Ian. 
 The people all, O God, fhall thee confefs, 
 Let all confef? thee with a joint addrefs. 
 Our favoured land fhall beauteous plenty crcr 
 God, ev'n our God, fhall fend his bleffings down . 
 God fhall the choiceft of his blefiings fend, 
 irth fhall fear him to each diflant end. 
 
 y s a 1 ■ 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 163 
 
 P S A L M LXVIII. 
 To the chief Mufician. A Pfalm or Song of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This is a Pfalm of Triumph^ when the Ark, after fome 
 great Victory, probably over the Philiftines, was 
 concluded to its proper Place of Refdence, and fet on, 
 Mount Sion. The triumphant Manner ; in which 
 it afccnckd the high and holy Mountain, is appre- 
 hended as an Emblem of the far more glorious Af- 
 cenfion of the Lord Chriit, (after he had overcome 
 Death itfelf, the lafi and greate/i Enemy of Man- 
 kind) into the htghefl Heavens,, Ephef. iv\ 8, 9. 
 Patrick, Mudge. 
 
 T ET x God arife, and break the hoitile ra.ee, 
 
 Let thoie, who hats him, fly before his face: 
 
 So may'ft thou drive their routed hoits behind, 
 
 As fmoke is driv'n before the featuring wind : 
 
 As wax dilfolves before the rapid fire, 
 
 So at thy prefence may th' unjuft expire : 
 
 Eut let before thy fight, with gladfome voice, 
 
 And with exceeding joy, the juft rejoice. 
 
 Sing ye to God, fing pfaims unto his praife, 
 
 Plane the rough defart, fmooth the briery ways : 
 
 M 2 Jah 
 
 * Thefe are the words, which Mojes ufed, when the 
 ark began a proceilion. Numb, x. 25. Hare, 
 
1 64 "The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 J ah is his name, exalt your fhouting tongue, 
 And hail th' eternal, as he rides along. 
 'Tis Ke the orphan, as a father, guides, 
 He, as a judge, the widow's caufe decides; 
 Whofe mansion's holy : 'tis he builds an houfe, 
 To glad the barren, and the lonely fpoufe j 
 Frees the bound captive with his refcuing hand, 
 And leaves the rebels in a thirfty land. 
 O God, thou didft conduct our hofts along, 
 And thro 1 the defart march the wand'ring throng. 
 
 Selah. 
 Earth trembled, and the heavens with fire involv'd, 
 At the Almighty's prefence were diffolv'd : 
 Ev'n Sinai qnak'd, enwrapp'd with flame and fmoke. 
 When God was there, the God of 1/rae/ {poke. 
 He pour'd down viands with a plenteous rain, 
 Which might thy people's fainting fouls fuftain. 
 There did they dwell, thou, Lord, didft then prepare 
 For thy diilrefTed holt the wondVous fare. 
 > The almighty God gave the triumphant word, 
 Great were the mingled bands, which fung the Lord. 
 
 Kings, 
 
 y The fenfe of this pafliige fecms to be, as follows. 
 Under the aid and conduct of God, the great army 
 of the Israelites engaged their enemies, and having 
 vancjuifiYd, and put them to flight, took abundance of 
 rich fpoils, which ikc m .qutaker fix, who could not go 
 forth with the arm)', but ftaid at home, during the 
 buttle, divided with them. Hare. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 165 
 
 Kings, with their armies, foon were fcatter'd wide ; 
 
 Our fair domefticks did the fpoils divide. 
 
 You'll mine, tho' with the z pot's befmearing (lain 
 
 Difgrac'd, ye once in fordid filth have lain, 
 
 Like the dove's wings, o'er each bright feather'd fold 
 
 Bedeck'd with filver, or inflam'd with gold. 
 
 Thro' kings heaven-quell'd, you'll emulate the fnow, 
 
 Which whitens o'er the fhadow'd a Salmon 's brow. 
 
 -See b Bajlans mount, with numerous hillocks crown'd, 
 
 'Tis God's, who cart its large, capacious round. 
 
 Why hop ye fo, ye proud, afpiring hills ? 
 
 c This is Jehovah's ; 'tis Jehovah wills, 
 
 That here his glorious prefence mould abide, 
 
 He chufes here for ever to refide. 
 
 M 3 Ten 
 
 * This blacknefs of the pots intimates a ftate of afflic- 
 tion and tmferyi as, on the contrary, by the. Jhining of the 
 doves wings is meant profperity : and the meaning is, 
 tho' ye have endur'd hardfhips and filthy drudgery, 
 you mall hereafter appear moft beautiful and fplendid, 
 and the wings of your armies mail ihine like thofe of a 
 dove, when they glider, as if they were cover'd with 
 gold and filver. Patrick, Aims worth. 
 
 a Salmon, a mountain of Samaria, fhady with 
 woods, but made lightfome with fnow : fo to be fnow- 
 white in Salmon, means to have light in darknefs, joy 
 in tribulation. The comparifon is of the fame force 
 with that above of the dove's wings. Ainsworth, 
 Hare. 
 
 b Bashan is here call'd the bill of God, i. e. high, 
 large, and full of divine blelungs. 
 
 c Meaning mount Si on. The fenfe is, Bajban is a 
 goodly, large mountain, but Sion doth excel it; for 
 here God dwelleth with his angels, &c. Ainsworth. 
 
1 66 The PSALMS of DAVID, 
 
 Ten thoufand angels, all in royal Hate, 
 
 And twice ten thoufand, on Jehovah wait, 
 
 His flaming d chariots; which he deigns to grace 
 
 Majefuck, as on Siriafs holy place. 
 
 c Thou art, O God, afcended up on high, 
 
 Thou, Lord, haft captive led captivity ; 
 
 On men thy various gifts hail fcatterd round, 
 
 And in thy triumph brought the rebels bound. 
 
 Praife ye the Lord, who fhews falVatibn's fray, 
 
 And loads us with his blefiir.gs day by day, 
 
 Stlah. 
 
 Cur Cod, he is the fovfaur, great and ftrong, 
 
 To him, the Lord, tV events of death belong* 
 
 For furcly God the hairy fcalp will wound, 
 
 The hoftile head, when wicked ills abound. 
 
 Again I'll bring the people in my came, 
 
 As once from Ba/kan they victorious came, 
 
 The Lord hath faid : again their route fhall be, 
 
 As when they march'd triumphant from tht 
 
 Their feet, imbra'd in blood, (hall drip along, 
 
 Their dogs fhall die therein their fcarlet tongue. 
 
 d God is in feveral places of fcripture faid to b 
 ried by angels, as in a vehicle, Pfalm xviii. 10. he rode 
 
 Upon a cherub, & C. 
 
 c This pailage is applied by St. Paul to our Savi- 
 our's a/cenfion, and the miilion of the holy (pirit, by 
 whofe operation, gifts and graces (as was the cuitom of 
 conquerors in their triumphs] were diflributed amongit 
 his tollowers. Eph. iv. S, 9. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 167 
 They faw thy going, faw thine ark appear, 
 They faw thine holy tent with awful fear, 
 When thou, my God, and king, didft enter there. 
 The facred Levites led th' harmonious van, 
 Tun'd their loud voices, and the hymns began : 
 Behind were plac'd the inftrumental bands, 
 Between, the timbrels, beat by virgin hands. 
 Praife God, the Lord, in his own chofen place, 
 All ye, who f fpring from blefTed IfraePs race. 
 There's little Benjamin, the ruler, near, 
 Who doth with Judah, and his courts appear : 
 The diftant Zebulon his princes fends, 
 And bordering Naphthali from far attends. 
 T' improve our ftrength thro' thee our tribes combine, 
 Confirm, O God, that meafure, which is thine. 
 To thee fhall kings their precious offerings make, 
 And vifit Salem for thy temple's fake. 
 Rebuke the foe, in military pride, 
 With numerous fpear-men, glittering fide by fide ; 
 
 M 4 The 
 
 f Heb. Mimmekor. For which Bimop Hare 
 reads Mekor, not from the fountain, but the fountain of 
 Ifrael, which he refers to God, Jer. ii. 13. " what, fays 
 u he, it is to praife God from the fountain of Ifrael, I 
 '.' confefs I don't underftand : I know what turn inter- 
 " prefers have given it, but 'tis fore'd, nor doth fuch a 
 " manner of expreffion any where occur." According 
 to him this verfe mould run thus : 
 
 The Fount, whence bleffings fpring to IfraeTs race. 
 
168 The PSALMS «/ DAVID. 
 The furious leaders, like the bulls, which rage, 
 Th 1 inferior herds, which like the calves, engage ; 
 £ Till each, fubmifs, from hoftilc acts fhall ceafe, 
 And with the tribute -filver fue for peace : 
 Difperfe the people, drive them fcatter'd far, 
 Whofe cruel hearts delight in bloody war. 
 Scon Egypt's chiefs mail come, and hend the knee, 
 And the burnt JEtbiop flretch his hands to thee. 
 Your praife to God, ye earthly kingdoms, fing, 
 O ! fing your praifes to the heav'nly king. 
 
 Selah. 
 To him, who rides on th' heav'n of heav'ns on high, 
 Which were of old ; who utters from the iky 
 His voice, a mighty voice; give flrength and pow r: 
 Kis glory mines, where IfracPs tribes adore : 
 His flrength is in the clouds : fearful, O God, 
 Arc thou, confefs'd from either bright abode. 
 God, I/ratF* God, doth flrength and pow r afford, 
 To guard his people : blelTcd be the Lord. 
 
 PSALM 
 
 t This paflagc is undcrftood by Nichols, as we 
 have translated it. But interpreters give different con- 
 ductions of it, which are almoft compriz'd in Bifhop 
 Patrick's paraphrafe of the whole verfe, *ui«. 30. — 
 " Deftroy that fierce prince, who, like a wild beail out 
 li of the foreil, comes againtt us with a great number of 
 " captains as furious as bulls, and foldiers as infolent 
 " as young heifers ; who prances in arms plated with ftl- 
 " ver, 0V. 1 ' Simeon de Muxs, Patrick, Hare. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 169 
 
 P S A L M. LXIX. 
 
 To the chief Mufician upon Shojhannim* A Pfalnx 
 oi David, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It ivas compos' d in feme Time of great Trouble, proba- 
 bly Abfalom'i Rebellion, and has Relation to bis Ca- 
 lamities at that Time \ but feme Things therein occur 9 
 which have particular Reference to the Suffering of 
 Chrift and his Crucifers. Patrick, Nichols, 
 
 O AVE me, O God, whilft h waters threat'ning roll, 
 
 And, preffing, enter ev'n unto my foul : 
 Plung'd in the gulphy mud, I'm foundered low, 
 The deep receives me, and the ftreams o'erflow : 
 My voice is fpent in moans, my throat is dry, 
 Intent on thee, my God, confumes mine eye : 
 My caufelefs foes are like the hairs, which grow 
 In unknown numbers round my fhaded brow : 
 Mighty they are, tho' with no wrongs aggriev'd, 
 Nay, things I pay'd them, which I ne'er receivM, 
 O God, my follies are to thee reveal'd, 
 From thee my guilty crimes are net conceal'd : 
 
 Let 
 
 h Da<vid, in his troubles, being a figure of ChriJ?, 
 prayeth for deliverance from temptations and perfecu- 
 tjpns, under the funilitude of waters, mud, mire, deeps, 
 flrkams, Sec. The Chaldee expoundeth thefe of armies 
 ofjinws, which befet him like waters . Ai n s w r t h . 
 
i 7 o The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Let not thy faints, who own Jehovah's name, 
 
 Who feek the God of Ifracl, fuffer fhame : 
 
 *Tis for thy fake, that I endure difgrace, 
 
 And fhame abafhing covers o'er my face : 
 
 Thus to my brethren I'm as one unknown, 
 
 And to my mother's fons an alien grown : 
 
 The fludious zeal of thy mofl holy feat, 
 
 Mine heart with love-devouring flames hath eat: 
 
 Whilft the reproaches fell in loads on me, 
 
 With which the mifcreant crew reproached thee. 
 
 I wept, and falling did my foul chaftife, 
 
 Whence they tradue'd me with opprobrious lies: 
 
 ?Ay garb was fackcloth, black with difmal ftains, 
 
 Whilft I became a proverb for my pains. 
 
 The judges in the gates their king defame, 
 
 And drunkard's fongs abufe my injur'd name : 
 
 But let me, Lord, before thy prefence bow, 
 
 And in the time of grace prefent my vow : 
 
 An anfwer in thy bounteous mercy make, 
 
 Both for thy truth's, and thy falvation's fake. 
 
 Snatch me, when finking, from th' abforbing mud, 
 
 From thofe, who hate me, and th' o'erwhelming flood. 
 
 Let not the flreaming waters o'er me flow, 
 
 The gulph, or pit, inclofe my foul below : 
 
 Anfwer 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 171 
 Anfwerme, Lord; good is thy faving grace, 
 Out of thy numerous mercies turn thy face : 
 Hide not, but with thy face thy fervant blefs, 
 Make hafte to anfwer me, in deep diftrefs : 
 Draw near, redeem my foul from preflmg woe?, 
 Ranfom thou me, becaufe of all my foes : 
 Thou haft my fhame, reproach, difhonour, feen, 
 Nought from thy fight can my diftrelTers fcreen : 
 Reproach hath fuTd me with heart-breaking grief, 
 O ! where are thofe, who mould fupply relief? 
 Where kind, officious friends to footh my pain ? 
 For fuch I {a.d\y fought, but fought in vain. 
 When faint, what gave they me ? what cup ? what meat ? 
 'Twas ; vinegar to drink, and gall to eat. 
 Evil mail lurk beneath their dainty fare, 
 And their full tables mail themfelves infnare : 
 Darknefs mail overfpread their fightlefs eye, 
 And their weak loins Ihall make inceiTantly: 
 Pour'd out upon them, thine indignant ire 
 Shall feize them, as a quick, confuming fire: 
 Down (hall their fair, and Irately tow'rs be call, 
 Their populous tents become a defart waile : 
 
 For 
 
 1 That this Pfalm had accomplishment in Chrifi, 
 the Evangelifls fhew in the application of the palTage, 
 Mat. xxvii. 34. 48. and John xix. 29. Ains worth. 
 
172 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 For him they vex, on whom thy ftripes abound, 
 And tell with pleafure each ami&ing wound. 
 Sins, join'd to fins, thy vengeance mail compleat, 
 Nor mall they come before thy mercy-feat : 
 Their Names mall be expung'd, nor find a place, 
 Rank'd in the book of life, with Ifraefs race : 
 But me, thy fervant, funk in forrow's ways, 
 O ! gracious God, fhall thy falvation raife : 
 I'll chaunt thy praifes with a grateful tongue, 
 And own thee with a magnifying fong : 
 This offering will the great Jehovah prize, 
 More than an horn'd, and hoof-cleav'd facrifice : 
 The meek fhall fee it, and with joy revive, 
 And thofe, who feek the Lord, their hearts fhall live. 
 For good Jehovah aids the needy's pains, 
 Nor flights his fervants, tho' in captive chains : 
 Praife him, ye heav'ns, and earth, and watery deeps, 
 With every thing, which thro 1 their regions creeps : 
 For Judas land, and Sion, God will care, 
 His tribe fhall dwell, and mall inherit there : 
 His fervant's feed, thofe, who his name will blefs, 
 Shall there inherit, and the land poffefs. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. iJ2 
 
 PSALM LXX. 
 
 To the chief Mufician. A Pfalm of David, to call 
 to remembrance. See the Title of Pfalm xxxviii. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Tins Pfalm is the fame, with a few Alterations, as the 
 latter end of the Fortieth -, the Author earnejlly im- 
 plores in it the Succour of God againjl his Enemies^ 
 
 MUDGE. 
 
 X TOuchfafe, O God, to make my troubles ceafe, 
 
 Marten, Jehovah, to my quick releafe : 
 Difgrace fhall fhame them all, and coward flight, 
 Who hunt my foul, and in- mine hurt delight : 
 The blufhing face (hall brand my taunting foes, 
 Who fay aha ! and mock me in my woes: 
 Let thofe, who feek thee, and on thee depend, 
 Shout, and rejoice, in an almighty friend : 
 Let thofe, who love thy fervant's happy ftate, 
 Say, with continual praife, the Lord is great. 
 Hafte to me, poor, and low, O God, my ftay, 
 Help me; and make, Jehovah, no delay. 
 
 PSALM 
 
174 » PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM* LXXI. 
 A R G U M E N T. 
 
 Iho this Pfalm hath no Infcription^ it is prefwrtd 
 that it uas compos 'd by David, during Abfalom'* 
 unnatural Rebellion^ fince it zuas written in his old 
 Age^ Ver. 9. and therefore cannot be referred U 
 the Tune of Saul. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 T Trufl for fafety in Jehovah's name, 
 
 Let me not ever ftand abahVd with fhame : 
 Redeem me in thy juftice from diftrefs, 
 Incline thine ear, and give me quick redrefs : 
 Be thou my rock, mine houfe of fure recourfe, 
 To keep me fafe againft all threatning force : 
 Thou dofc command ; dofl (land my guardian wall ; 
 Screen me, O God, from thofe who feck my fall : 
 Screen me from wicked tyrants cruel hands, 
 And from the bloody, and infidious bands. 
 "Tis thou haft been my hope in every ftrait, 
 O Lord, Jehovah, from my youthful Hate: 
 Thou from the womb didft my weak limbs fuftain, 
 Whilft yet my mother groan'd with child-birth pain : 
 Thee will I praifj : on thee mine hope relies, 
 Tho' Pm a raring-flock to vulgar eyes : 
 
 C? 
 
Tne PSALMS of DAVID. 175 
 O ! let my mouth prolong the grateful lay, 
 And may thy glory fill it all the dap. 
 When, weak with age, my tott'ring members make, 
 Reject not, nor thy needy charge forfake : 
 My foes confult, and barbarous flanders raife, 
 Whilft waiting for my foul, they watch my ways 
 His God, they fay, hath left him, poor and low, 
 Purfue and take him j where's his refcue now r 
 Be thou my refcue, be not far away, 
 Be thou at hand, my God, make no delay. 
 Reproach and death fhall feize th' abandon'd crew, 
 Who with malicious aims mine hurt purfue : 
 Shame mail o'ertake them, who with envious Unfe, 
 Project with evil arts to take my life. 
 Whilft I on thee my conftant hopes will raife, 
 And add, and ftill will add, to all thy praife ; 
 All day thy juftice I'll commit to fame ; 
 And Hill to-morrow fhall repeat the fame, 
 I'll dwell upon thy mercies vaft amount, 
 And ever tell, what I can never count : 
 I'll fing thy powers, O Jehovah, Lord, 
 Thy juftice, and thine only, Til record. 
 Thou gav'ft, O God, mine infant-mind to know 
 Thy laws, and thence my words thy wonders mow. 
 Then ceafe not, O my God, thy guardian care, 
 When age has frofted o'er my falling hair : 
 
 That 
 
176 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 That I may now difplay in diftant climes, 
 And hand thy prowefs down to future times. 
 O God, thy juftice, which all bounds exceeds, 
 Is magnify'd in all its mighty deeds : 
 O ! glorious God, who may contend with thee ? 
 That bad me dire and numerous evils fee ; 
 But ftill thou ihalt relieve my deadly pain, 
 And bring me from the earthly deeps again : 
 Thou {halt my growing greatnefs ftill increafe, 
 And comfort me on every fide with peace. 
 With the foft lute thy truth I'll gladly own, 
 With pfalms, and harp, O IfraeVs holy one : 
 The fhouted pfalms my lips mall fpread around, 
 My foul, redeem'd by thee, fhall fill the found : 
 Alfo my tongue thy juftice fhall difplay, 
 And talk thereof with pleafure all the day. 
 For thofe, who cruel mifchief fubt'ly frame 
 Againft my foul, are all abaAYd with iliame. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID, iff 
 
 PSALM LXXII. 
 
 A Pfalm for Solomon. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 We may be faiisfy* d from the Conclufion^ that this Pfalm, 
 which is an Inauguration-Hymn, was indited by 
 David, andfent to Solomon ; wherein he firjl re- 
 commends him to the divine Benediclion ; and then 
 inftrucls him how to make his People happy ', by de- 
 Jcribing the Qualities of a good King, and the prof 
 perous State of the Kingdom under his Government, 
 St. Jerom, confidering Solomon only as the Shadow 
 and Image of the Truth y holds it more perfeclly ful- 
 fil' d in our Lord and Saviour. And accordingly the 
 Rabbins under/land it of the King Meflias. Pa- 
 trick, Nichols. 
 
 /~\ GOD, thy judgments to the k king beftow ; 
 Let the king's fon the rules of juftice know : 
 With juftice may he try thy people's caufe, 
 And judge th' afflicted by thy righteous laws : 
 The mountains to the tribes mall bring forth peace, 
 The hills thro' righteoufnefs fhall yield increafe. 
 
 N He'll 
 
 k The King, and the Kings Son, are the fame per- 
 son ; a character that belongs to none fo properly, as 
 to Solomon, who was the firft prince, that was at the 
 fame time King, and Son of a King. M u d g e . 
 
x-B The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 He'll judge the meek, the needy's caufe reftore, 
 And break the rod of Hern oppreffive pow'r : 
 Whilfl the felf-radiant fun, and moon, mall mine, 
 P'rom age, to age, their fervice fhall be thine : 
 He'll come with gentle condefcenfion down, 
 As latter rain upon the herbage mown : 
 Or as the copious drops, which fall around, 
 Difperfing moifhirc o'er the thirfty ground : 
 The juil mail flourifli in his days fecure, 
 And peace abundant, whilft the moon fhall dure. 
 He fnall from ] fea to fea have wide command, 
 And from the river to th* extreme!! land : 
 The m favage herds (hall kneel with homage juft, 
 His foes mall proftrate low, and lick the dull. 
 The fea-givt ifles, and ocean-bordering king, 
 From Yhar/hijh fhall their precious prefents bring ; 
 The king's of , and of Sebas lands, 
 
 Shall wait with fragrant gifts his wife commands: 
 
 lay 
 
 1 From the Red Sea all along, as far as the eaft-end 
 of the Mediterranean extends from South to North, and 
 from the Euphrates Wefiwerd, as far as the land reaches. 
 
 MUDGE. 
 
 "' The Heb. Tsijim, fignifies here, and in Pfalm 
 lxxiv. 14. people that dwell in dry laces: fome- 
 
 timesiti ufed for nuild beafls, which haunt iuch <; ; 
 
 XXXiv. 14. AlNSWORTH. 
 
 ,. of Ethiopia, and Arabia, far fouthern coun- 
 
 | .. the poitcrity or Sbeba and ! r, 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 179 
 
 Nay, numerous princes fhall his name adore, 
 
 And diftant nations fhall confefs his pow'r. 
 
 For he mall fave the needy, when they cry, 
 
 On him the poor and helplefs fhall rely : 
 
 The poor and helplefs he fhall kindly fpare, 
 
 And fave the fouls of thofe opprefs'd with care. 
 
 Shall fave their foul 3, their wrongs redrefs with right. 
 
 Nor fhall their blood be worthlefs in his fight, 
 
 He fhall in long-continu'd glory live, 
 
 Her tribute gold fhall rich Arabia give : 
 
 For him the people fhall incefTant pray, 
 
 For him mail call down bleffmgs all the day ; 
 
 From grain, ° but thinly fown, fhall plenteous crops. 
 
 Chequer the land, and crown the mountain's tops : 
 
 Their fruit, like waving Lebanon, fhall make, 
 
 Whilft thofe, who beauteous Salem's dwellings take, 
 
 Shall flourifh, like the grafs, thro' heavenly dew, 
 
 Or as the planted flowers of various hue : 
 
 His name for ever, like the beaming fun, 
 
 Shall laft, whilft he his circling courfe fhall run. 
 
 N 2 From 
 
 the nephew and fon of Cujh, the fon of Cham, the foil 
 of Noah, Gen. x. 7. Ainsworth. 
 
 Heb. Phis-sath, from Phis-sa, a fmall particle , 
 or parcel of any thing : alfo a piece of chequer dor patch- 
 work, Gen. xxxvii. 3. 2. Sam. xiii. 18. we have 
 endeavour'd to comprize thefe fenfes ; and fo appre- 
 hended, the place gives a beautiful image of a plain, 
 chequer'd with fquares of corn. Buxtorff, Aims- 
 worth, Bythnbr, Mudce. 
 
180 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 From him all nations blefling mall receive, 
 
 To him all nations mail the bleffing give. 
 
 To God, the God of Ifrael, praifes fing, 
 
 The Lord, who doth alone each wond'rous thing ; 
 
 His glory with perpetual hymns proclaim, 
 
 For ever bleffed be his gracious name ; 
 
 Let earth, where e'er the human eye can ken, 
 
 Be with his glory nll'd. Amen, Amen. 
 
 Yhe Prayers of David, the Son of JefTe, are ended. 
 The End of the Second BOOK, 
 
 The 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 181 
 
 The Third B O O K of PSALMS. 
 PSALM LXXIII. 
 
 A Pfalm of Afaph. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Who the Author of this Pfabn (Afaph) was, is not cer- 
 tain, but probably 'twas Afaph the Seer, who liv'd 
 in Hezekiah'j Time ; and 'tis mofl likely it was com- 
 posed, when Senachenb made that miferable Ra- 
 vage in Judaea, and was crozvnd with fuch Victories 
 and Succejfes as we read, 2 Chro. xxxii. I. Pa- 
 trick, Nichols. 
 
 TTET truly God to I/raePs race is kind, 
 
 To fuch as keep an unpolluted mind : 
 But as for me, my feet began to Aide, 
 Mine erring fteps had almoft turn'd afide : 
 For lo ! when I beheld the wicked great, 
 Mine envy kindled at their profperous ftate. 
 In vigorous health they draw their vital breath, 
 Neither do captive bands difgrace their death. 
 They fhare not with the vulgar equal cares, 
 Nor are their trials fo fevere as theirs. 
 Hence pride, like an encircling chain, hath bound, 
 And violence, as a robe, begirts them round. 
 Their eyes are bulg'd with fatnefs, and proclaim 
 Their lot, above ev'n what their hearts could frame. 
 
 N 3 Corrupt 
 
i8z The PSALMS of DAVID, 
 
 Corrupt tyrannick thoughts their words declare, 
 And threats they utter with a lofty air. 
 The heavenly majefly their fpeeches wrong, 
 And thro' the earth doth range their venom'd tongue. 
 They, when thy people in their fight appears, 
 As waters from full cups, exhauft the tears, p 
 Who fay, dcth God attend thefe earthly things ? 
 Pertains fuch knowledge to the king of kings ? 
 Lo ! thefe tW ungodly are, in worldly peace 
 Who highly profper, and whofe goods increafe. 
 Then furely have I clean s'd mine heart in vain, 
 And purg'd mine hands from each polluting flain j 
 In vain all day with care my ftrength is worn, 
 And torments come with each returning morn : 
 Yet thus to {peak would be unjuft indeed, 
 And wrong thy dealings with the faithful ked. 
 To fathom this my thought did fearching try, 
 But 'twas too painful for my ftinted eye. 
 Till in thy facred houfe I fought to thee, 
 And there had learn'd, what their laft end would be. 
 
 How 
 
 v As bifhop Hare, and all the other interpreters, 
 whom we have confulted, are at a like uncertainty con- 
 cerning this paffage, we have clos'd in with the late 
 tranflation of Mr. Mudge, who renders the verfe 
 (10) thus. Therefore let his people come before them , and 
 ivaters in full meafure would be <wrwig out of them: i. e. 
 fays he, Jhould Gods people fall into their hands, they 
 ivould fqueexe them to the full, wing out all the juice of 
 thir bodies i viz. thro' grief and tears. Mudge. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 183 
 
 How thou doil place them on a flippery ground, 
 And fpread about them deflation's round. 
 How do they in a tranfient moment all 
 To flrangeand wondrous defolation fall ? 
 What are they gone ? fo quickly funk away, 
 As in a dream, with troublefome difmay ? 
 "When thou doll rife thy judgment to difpence, 
 Soon wilt thou 1 chafe their fleeting fhadows hence. 
 Surely my reins were prick'd, funk was mine heart, 
 
 Dull, as a brute, tow'rds thee mine inward part; 
 
 Yet was I never from thy prefence cad, 
 
 Thou my right hand haft ever holden fair. 
 
 Here with thy counfel thou wilt guide me right, 
 
 Then take me to the glorious realms of light. 
 
 Whom have I in thine heav'ns fupreme domains. 
 
 Or whom, which this inferior earth contains, 
 
 That may contend for equal majeity, 
 
 An equal good, to be defir'd. with thee ? 
 
 My heart-firings crack, years on my vitals prey, 
 
 But God's my flrength, mine endlefs lot and flay. 
 
 Lo ! thofe fnall fall, from thee who wand'ring rove, 
 
 Shall fall, deferted for their alien'd love. 
 
 But as for me, 'tis good that I draw near, 
 
 That I before my gracious God appear : 
 
 Hoping 
 c - Original. Thou Jhalt defpife their image, or their 
 Jhado-<: : i.e. deftroy their tranfitory eflate ; for man 
 walketh in an image, Pfalmxxxix. 7. Ainsworth. 
 
184. The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Hoping for fafety in Jehovah's name, 
 
 I'll tell thy wonders thro' this earthly frame. 
 
 PSALM LXXIV. 
 
 Mafcbil of Afaph. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 The Author of this Pfalm was probably feme pious 
 Man of thePoflerity of Afaph, who was fujfer'd to 
 remain in the Land with the Chaldaeans, after the 
 Defolation of Jerufalem, and the Temple, as well 
 as the reft of the Country ', made by Nebuchadnez- 
 zar, King of Babylon, which was the fadOccafion 
 of this Pfalm. Patrick. 
 
 TT7HY yet doth Gcd vvith-hold his guardian care ? 
 What, mall his fheep no more his pafture mare ? 
 Why fmokes, O God, thy wrath againft thy fold ? 
 Think on the tribes, by thee redeem'd of old -, 
 The meted land, purchas'd for IfraeTs race, 
 And Sions mount, thine ancient dwelling-place. 
 Fly to it, and its lafting waftes repair, 
 Vifit each crying defolation theie. 
 The courts, where once thy praife was wont to found, 
 With roaring blafphcmies re-bellow round : 
 Here heathen banners formidably fland, 
 In fign of triumph o'er thy chofen land. 
 
 With 
 
77* PSALMS of DAVID. 185 
 
 ' With tools aloft men hew the facred wood, 
 As when it once in the thick foreft flood ; 
 Ev'n, thro' the axe and hammer's wafteful force, 
 The beauteous fculpture falls without remorfe. 
 They in thy temple rais'd th' unhallow'd flame, 
 Sunk is the place, where dwelt thine holy name. 
 Their hearts devis'd to fpread the ruins round, 
 Eachhoufe of God with afhes ftrews the ground. 
 We fee no figns, heaven doth no Prcphst fend, 
 Who may foretel whenthefe our woes fhall end. 
 How long, O God, fhall thy reproachers rage ? 
 And fhall the foe blafpheme from age to age ? 
 Thine hand why doll thou, thy right hand, reftrain 
 Within thy bofom ? draw it forth again ; 
 Make a full end : for God's of old my king, 
 His wond'rous works on earth falvation bring. 
 Thou didfi afide the pamve ocean fweep, 
 Then cruih the human dragons in the deep j 
 
 Crufh 
 
 r This is deem'd fo obfcure a paffage as it now Hands 
 in the original, that bifhop Hare thinks not only the 
 word Jivuadachn, be was famous-, is corrupt, in 
 which he is favour'd by the- greek tranflation ; but he 
 fufpecls the two verfes (5 and 6) to be tranfpos'd, other- 
 wife he holds the devaluation here defcrib'd would not 
 rife, as it ought to do, in the narration. We have en- 
 deavour'd to come up to his fenfc, retaining the pre- 
 fent pofition of the verfes, 
 
i86 77* PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Crufh into pieces, whelm'd beneath the main, 
 
 The land-leviathan, and all his train : 
 
 Then bade the waves their carkafTes reftore, 
 
 That favage herds might feaft upon the more. 
 
 Thou mad'fl the rock fcream o'er the thirfty fund, 
 
 Dry'dfl mighty rivers into pervious land. 
 
 Thine is the day, the night is alfo thine, 
 
 Thou didft command the beaming fun to mine. 
 
 Thou didft diftinguifh all the earthly climes, 
 
 To thee the fcafons owe their ftated times : 
 
 Jehovah, Lord of all this glorious frame, 
 
 Think how the fools flight and blafphemc thy name. 
 
 To deadly fnares let not thy turtle ftray, 
 
 Nor to the wicked many fall a prey. 
 
 O let thy famim'd flock be now reflor'd, 
 
 Do not forget thy covenanted word : 
 
 Thro" Canaan's land each dark, and difmal cell, 
 
 Is but an haunt, where cruel tyrants dwell : 
 
 O let not the diftrefs'd return with fhame, 
 
 But let the poor and needy praife thy name, 
 
 Arife, O God, and vindicate thy way, 
 
 Think, how the fools blafpheme thee day by day. 
 
 Remember the diftrefler's impious voice, 
 
 Which meets thee daily with tumultuous noife. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 187 
 
 PSALM LXXV. 
 
 To the chief Muficlan. Altafchlth. A Pfalm, or 
 - Song, of Ajaph. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 There are different Opinions concerning the Author and 
 Occafion of this Pfalm :fome hold it written by Afaph, 
 the famous Mufician in Davids Time, upon fame of 
 the greatVi dories, which he gained over the neighbour- 
 ing Countries : but Bijhop Patrick prefumes it 
 to be composed by Afaph the Seer, after the great De- 
 liverance, which by theflrange Dejlruclion of Sena- 
 cherib'j Army, God gave the good King Hezekiah. 
 Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 /^UR thanks we pay, O God, to thee alone, 
 Our thanks we pay, and thy falvation own. 
 Invok'd on each event, near is thy name, 
 And that thy wond'rous works aloud proclaim* 
 When in thy courts s I fhall again prefide, 
 I'll deal forth right, and by thy truth abide. 
 
 Our 
 
 s Interpreters hold this Pfalm to be written in the 
 form of a dialogue ; fome prefuming it to be between 
 God and the people, others between the king and peo- 
 ple ; we have in the tranflation gone upon the latter 
 fuppofition. Patrick, Nichols, Le Clerc, 
 Hare. 
 
x 88 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Our focial band's difolv'd thro' hoflile hate, 
 Tis I fupport the pillars of the ftate. 
 
 Selah. 
 I faid, ye fools, ceafe from each rafh offence, 
 And ftrike the horn of haughty infolence. 
 Ye wicked, lift not up your horn on high, 
 Nor with your ftubborn necks the Lord defy : 
 Our refcue comes not from the eaft, or weft, 
 Nor yet the fouth, but Hands in God confefl. 
 He is the judge, 'tis he alone can know, 
 To raife tli' abas'd, and lay th' exalted low : 
 There is a f cup in God Almighty's hand, 
 Red is the wine, end deftin'd for our land; 
 'Tis ready mix'd, he poureth from the fame, 
 The deadly draughts the wicked will inflame ; 
 'Tis they mufl tafte the execrable lees, 
 And the drain'd drops fhall from the bottom fqueeze. 
 With ceafelefs praife I will proclaim abroad 
 Thy matchlefs pow'r, and worfhip Jacob's God. 
 
 Whilft 
 
 * Heb. Cos. A cup. This in the prophets is a 
 very common image of the divine wrath, Ifa. li. 17, 
 22 ; Jer. xxv. 15. And here interpreters grosfly dif- 
 tinguifh between the wine and the dregs, as tho' God 
 fhould in kindnefs pour out the clearer and more delight- 
 fuli '*wine for b\s friends, but compel his enemies to drink 
 the drugs ; whereas the whole pajfage relates to his ene- 
 mies, who were wholly to exhauft this cup of his fury. 
 SeeTfa. andyW\ above quoted. Hare. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 189 
 
 Whilft all the righteous fhall exalt their horn, 
 Th' unjufVs fhall from their wicked heads be torn. 
 
 PSALM LXXVI. 
 
 To the chief Mufician on Neginoth. A Pfalm or 
 Song of Jfaph, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It was written probably by that Afaph, who bears the 
 Name of the Seer, 2 Cron. xxix. 30. and feems 
 to be a Song for public k Rejoicing after the Dejlruc- 
 tion ef Senacherib's Army. To confirm which 'tis 
 cbferved, that Theodoretfays, he found in fame Copies 
 this Infcription, which accords with Apollinarius'^, 
 An Ode againft the AlTyrian. Patrick, Ni- 
 chols. 
 
 f 1 ^H ' almighty God is in Judaea known, 
 
 His great and faving name muft Ifrael own. 
 His fair pavilion doth our Salem grace, 
 On Sion's mountain Hands his dwelling-place. 
 'Twas there he broke the u flaming Ihafts and bow, 
 The fword and fhield, and laid the warriour low. 
 
 How 
 
 11 Heb. Rish-phe. Flaming Jhafts. It is proper- 
 ly burning coals, Sol. Song, viii. 6. figuratively here 
 the gliflering brafs-headed arrows ; elfewhere the fiery 
 thunderbolts, Pfalm lxxviii. 48. burning plague, Deut. 
 xxxii. 24. likened to arrows, Pfalm xix. 5. Ains- 
 worth. 
 
i 9 o The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 How doll thou far mrpafs the w mounts of prey, 
 O Sion ! far more excellent than they ! 
 Meet for the fpoil became the mighty bands. 
 They ilept their fleep ; nor found the ftrong their hands 
 When Jacob's God his dire rebukes expreft, 
 Drivers and fteeds were funk to endlefs reft. 
 Thou art tremendous, thou, O Lord of might, 
 When thou art angry, who can bear thy fight ? 
 Thou didft from heaven in judgments fpeak thy will, 
 The heathen at thy voice were aw'd, and full, 
 When God omnipotent in judgment rofe, 
 
 To fave the meek of Canaan from their foes. 
 
 Selah. 
 Tyrants mail own thee, and no more dcftroy, 
 The remnant of their rage thou'lt gird with joy : 
 To God, the Lord, your choiceft offerings vow, 
 Then to difcharge them at his altar bow. 
 Let all, who round his glorious houfe appGar, 
 Brino- o-ifts to him, who reigns the nations fear. 
 'Tis he, who x lops the fpirit of kings away, 
 
 And earthly princes dread his fovereign fwav. 
 
 PSALM 
 
 w Mounts of prey. i. e. fuch as are harbours of beajis 
 cf prey. Our Iiturgy~<ver/ton renders the exprefiion the 
 hills of the robbers-, meaning, the enemies, who fkulk 
 there to make a prey of God's people. Ains worth, 
 Bythi.tr. 
 
 x Heb. Jibh-tsor. Lops, or cuts off. 'Tis a fi- 
 militude from grape -gathers, which cut off cluiters of 
 
 the 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 191 
 
 PSALM LXXVIL 
 
 To the chief Mufician, to Jeduthun. A Pfalm of 
 Jfapk. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 // was composed by one of the Houfe of Afaph, who 
 liv'd during the Time of the Captivity, the Miferies 
 and Length of which he here bemoans, Ni- 
 chols. 
 
 T* Call'd to God with a loud plaintive cry, 
 
 I call'd to God, who heard me from on high. 
 The Lord I fought in the diitrefsful day, 
 With dropping hands wip'd ceafelefs tears away. 
 Each night my foul refus'd fweet comfort's voice, 
 I thought on God, and made a troublous noife : 
 As in my mind thy favours paft were view'd, 
 My.fpirit funk, my heart was quite fubdu'd. 
 
 Selah. 
 Thro' thee no (lumbers could mine eyelids clofe, 
 My reftlefs grief to dumb amazement rofe : 
 Well I revolv'd th' important days of old, 
 The gracious wonders which our fires have told. 
 
 At 
 
 the vines ; apply 'd here to the cutting off the lives of 
 ir.en. Ainswqrth, Bythner. 
 
192 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 At midnight I awak'd the founding lyre, 
 Re-tun'd the fongs, which once thou didft infpire : 
 I commun'd with mine heart, and fearched deep 
 The living tables, which thy mercies keep. 
 Is the Lord's goodnefs then entirely o'er r 
 Will he accept his people never more ? 
 Is mercy's fount exhaufted ? is his word 
 Wax'd old ? can that no further aids afford ? 
 Hath God forgotten all his wonted grace ? 
 His tender kindnefs can his wrath erafe ? 
 
 Selah, 
 'Twas then, Iiaid, what anguiih 'tis to try 
 The change of the right hand of God mofl high ? 
 I'll yet review the wonders of the Lord, 
 Yes, I'll review thy favours on record : 
 1*11 meditate thy works with conftant thought, 
 And talk of all the marvels thou haft wrought. 
 y Thy way is veiled with the things ador'd ; 
 Who is fo great a God, as God our Lord ? 
 'Twas he, who fhew'd the figns of ages gone, 
 He made his flrength amongfl the people known, 
 
 His 
 
 y Orig, Thy way is in fanSity, or in the fan£htarj\ 
 
 according to the Greek in the hofy place ; meaning, it is 
 lecret and hidden from the eyes of the world, as bofy 
 were hid en in the/andhtary, efpeckdly the ark and 
 cberubims, where God fate . Ai n s w o r t h . 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 193 
 -His arm redecm'd the people in their need, 
 Ev'n his lov'd Jacob, and his Jofeph's feed. 
 
 Selah, 
 The waters faw thee, Lord, in wild affright, 
 The waters faw thee, trembling at the fight : 
 The confeious deeps were ftirr'd ; the ftreaming clouds 
 Pour'd down in torrents on th' audacious crouds. 
 From heav'n the rattling menace iifu'd out, 
 And thy fulphureous arrows rang'd about. 
 Th' ethereal voice fent forth a rolling found, 
 The lightningftream^andcarthquakesrock'd the ground. 
 Thy way thro' feas, thy paths in th' ocean lie, 
 Nor are thy footfteps known to mortal eye. 
 Thy people thou didft lead from JEgjpt\ land, 
 Like fheep, by M»fes, and by Aaron* hand. 
 
 O PSALM 
 
i 9 4 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM LXXVIII. 
 Mafchil of Afaph. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Pfalm was indited, according to TheSfloret'i 
 Words, by the prophetical Grace, that the Ifraelites, 
 and all their Pojierity, might preserve in Mind the 
 wonderful Works of God. An Epitome of which, 
 for the Help of their Memory, Afaph, who was 
 probably the Prefect of Mufich in David'* Time, here 
 prefents them withal, from the Time of their coming 
 out ofJEgypt, 'till David's Promotion to the Throne. 
 Patrick. 
 
 TJOW down your ear, ye people, to my law, 
 Your ear let mine important accents draw, 
 My mouth mall weighty parables unfold, 
 My tongue mall utter hidden things of old, 
 That we from juft memoirs have heard and known, 
 And which our patriarch rolls have handed down. 
 Let fon to (on Jehovah's praife declare, 
 And tell his pow'r, and what his marvels are. 
 J low once he gave a cov'nant, grav'd on Hones, 
 A law for Jacobus and for IfraePs foils, 
 Which fhould thro' his commands their fires en^a^e. 
 To teach their children down thro' every age : 
 
 That 
 
TJje PSALMS of DAVID. 195 
 That thofe unborn might learn them in his name, 
 And their defcendants might tranfmit the fame. 
 That they might trufl in God's all-powerful hands, 
 Remember all his acls, and dread commands. 
 Not like their fathers, an untoward race, 
 With hearts perverfe, and destitute of grace, 
 Always a fhibborn, and rebellious crew, 
 Of fpirit faithlefs, and to God untrue. 
 The fons of ' Ephraim, noted for the bow, 
 In battle turn'd their backs upon the foe : 
 His folemn cov'nant bafely they deny'd, 
 And from his facred law they walk'd afide ; 
 Forgat his actions, which their fires had view'd, 
 And all the marvels, which th' Almighty fhew'd. 
 A work he wrought, when he his arm reveal'd, 
 In jEgypfs land, and z Zoans famous field: 
 He made the waves Hand on a wond'rous heap, 
 And bade them pa(s thro' the divided deep. 
 A cloudy pillar led their tribes by day ; 
 By night an heavenly fire fecur'd their way. 
 
 O 2 He 
 
 z The field ofZoan, i. e. the country and territories 
 about Zoan or Tanis, as the Greek, and Chaldee, calleth 
 U; which was a chief city in jEgjpt, and the king's 
 court, *or palace, being a place of great antiquity. 
 Ainsworth. 
 
196 Tki PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 He clave the rock, when from th 1 amazing chink, 
 
 As from the ocean, flow'd the needful drink : 
 
 He bade thro' rocks the water find its way, 
 
 And itreams defcending, like the rivers, flray. 
 
 Yet in the defart, lately parch'd and dry, 
 
 They fmn'd Hill more, and tempted the moft high: 
 
 They bitterly provok'd with murmuring flrife, 
 
 And afk'd for meat, in deep defpair of life. 
 
 'Twas then they fpake, againft their God they faid, 
 
 Shall he a table in the defart fpread ? 
 
 He fmote the ftony rock indeed ; and lo ! 
 
 Out gum the waters, and the Itreams o'erflow. 
 
 But can he life-fupporting bread prepare ? 
 
 Can he with nefh provide his people fare ? 
 
 Therefore Jehovah heard in burning ire > 
 
 Then againfr. Jacob rofe the kindled fire : 
 
 Then againft Ifrael furious anger came ; 
 
 Since Gcd they own'd not, nor his faving name : 
 
 Tho 1 he commanded the furrcunding fey, 
 
 And bade the heavenly portals open fly ; 
 
 For them delicious tnarnta rain'd to eat, 
 
 And gave them in their need celeftial wheat. 
 
 Thus mortals feafted on angelick bread, 
 
 Jn barren defarts ev'n to fulnefs fed. 
 
 He 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 197 
 He caus'd fierce wind to rufh from eaftward out, 
 Then turn'd it fouthward by his ilrength about, 
 Whence rain with flefh, as dull, befpread the land, 
 And feather'd fowl, as numerous as tjie fand, 
 Which fell amidfl their camp, and hid the ground 
 With wond'rous heaps their dwelling places round. 
 They fatten'd thus, fill'd with abundant itore, 
 Nor calPd their tafte, or fated lulls, for more. 
 But whilft their mouths yet chew'd th' amazing meat, 
 Againft their tribes arofe God's wrathful heat ; 
 Which Mailed Ifrael's flower, the hale and young, 
 Andfmotethe choicefl of the wand'ring throng. 
 In vain his works their force convincing join, 
 Faithlefs, they fmn'd in fpight of every lign. 
 Therefore they fpent their days in fruitlefs flrife, 
 And various plagues confum'd their weary life : 
 Reduc'd, they courted then his gracious nod, 
 And turning, early they encuir'd for God : 
 'Twas then they would on God, their rock, rely, 
 On their benign redeemer, God moll high. 
 Yet flill they but with ilatt'ring lies allure, 
 Still failing, when they deemM their ilate fecure : 
 Then was their treach'rous heart upright no more, 
 They broke his cov'nant, which they broke beforS : 
 
 O 3 But 
 
198 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 But he in pity veil'd their Iapfes round, 
 
 Nor would that fell perdition fhould abound ; 
 
 Oft will'd He, mercy mould his ire aflwnge, 
 
 Nor let his wrath exert its utmoft rage. 
 
 For he was mindful they were fiefli, and vain, 
 
 A wind that goes, and ne'er returns again. 
 
 How did they tempt, and grieve him day by day, 
 
 Thro 1 the lone wilds, and defart's fandy way ? 
 
 They turn'd, and tempted God, and dar'd difown 
 
 The boundlefs pow'r of IfraeTs holy one. 
 
 For they remember'd not his refcuing hand, 
 
 The day he led them from the tyrant's land : 
 
 When figns in JEgypt to their aid he brought, 
 
 And in the Held of 7can marvels wrought. 
 
 He chang'd their rivers into tides of blood, 
 
 Nor could they ufe for drink the purple flood : 
 
 He fent promifcuous vermin to deftroy, 
 
 And croaking frogs, which might their fouls annoy ; 
 
 He gave their fruit, rais'd by their labouring hands, 
 
 To canker-worms, and to the locuft-bands: 
 
 To blaft their vines, mix'd hail and lightning pour, 
 
 On the wild fig-trees dafh'd the flony fhow'r; 
 
 He gave the rattling balls their flocks to beat, 
 
 He gave their cattle to the lightning's heat: 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 199 
 
 His burning anger, thro' th' jEgyptian plains, 
 His indignation, and diitrefsful pains, 
 The fearful meafures of his wrath to fill, 
 He fent with the dread meffengers of ill. 
 'Twas thus his furious vengeance forc'd its way, 
 Whilil on their fouls the fwift difeafes prey ; 
 On beafb and herds their rage deftroying broke, 
 Snatch'd by a fudden peftilential ftroke. 
 JEgypfs firft-born down to the dull were fent, 
 All the chief ftrength of Ham in every tent. 
 Thro' lonely wilds, and over barren fand, 
 He brought his flock with his conducting hand ; 
 He led them on, devoid of faithlefs fear, 
 The feas abforb'd their foes behind their rear. 
 He brought them forward to the bordering ground. 
 Where holy Sion rears its beauteous round, 
 His favourite mountain, refcu'd by his might ; 
 And thence expell'd the heathen from their fight. 
 Where'er th' allotting line of meafure fell, 
 Were pitch'd the tents for IfraeFs tribes to dwell : 
 But tempting God, his covenant flill they broke, 
 And the moft high with bitter hearts provoke : 
 TurnM, in their faithlefs fathers fteps they go, 
 Afide they turned, like a warping bow : 
 
 P 4 The 
 
200 the PSALMS of DAVID. 
 Their idols, and high places of the grove, 
 Then his fierce wrath, and jealous fury move : 
 Exceeding was the fury of the Lord, 
 Who heard, and Ifrael vehemently abhorrd : 
 
 : >cred tent in Sbih he forfook, 
 Which once he for his earthly dwelling took : 
 lie gave his captive a ftrength to foreign lands, 
 His beauteous b glory into hoilile hands. 
 The fire conlum'd their youths, the brave, and lbon" 
 Their virgin's praife infpir'd no nuptial fong : 
 Smote with the fword, their priefts refignM their breath, 
 Nor wept their widows to bemoan their death. 
 Then God, as one awak'd from fleep, arofe, 
 As from the wine an hero ihouting goes, 
 Who ftruck with fore difeafe their parts behind, 
 And to perpetual fhame the fees confign'd. 
 Then he refus'd his favoured Jofepbh tent, 
 Nor his dread ark to Epbraim's canton fent : 
 But the diftinguifh'd ibe appro vM, 
 
 ountain, which he greatly lov'd : 
 
 There 
 
 ' His ftrength, i. e. the ark of his covenant, called the 
 gth, Pial. exxxii. S. it was captiv'd by 
 the Pbiliflines, i Sam. iv. n. Ainsworth. 
 
 b His glory, hlsfairnt/s, pr >», meaning the 
 
 ark forementioned, as Pbinebas's wife fa id, The glory is 
 departed from Ifrael, for the ark of God is taken, i Sam. 
 iv. 20. 22. Ainsworth. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 201 
 
 There his high facred palace deign'd to found, 
 With bafe, as ftablifh'd, as the folid ground. 
 Wonted to tend the fheep, and hold the crook, 
 He from the folds his fervant Da<vid took : 
 He took him from the teeming ewes, to feed 
 Jacob his people, and his Ifrael's feed : 
 Who gave with upright heart his flock their fill, 
 And led them by his hand with prudent fkilL 
 
 PSALM LXXIX. 
 
 A Fh\m of Jfapb. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Author was pr oh ably the fame Afaph, who compos d 
 the lxxivth Pfalm 9 which is upon the fame Subjecl^ 
 viz. the Defruclion of Jerufalem by Nebuchad- 
 nezzar. The Sixth and Seventh Verfes may be 
 found Jer. x. 25. which is an Indication^ that they 
 both belong to the fame Matter ; but whether] eremiah 
 took them from Afaph, or Afaph from him 9 is -not 
 certainly determined. Patrick, Nichols, 
 Mudge. 
 
 jT^\ God, a ftrange and numerous heathen band 
 
 Have made their inroads o'er thy chofen land : 
 Thy facred palace bafely have defil'd, 
 And into ruin'd heaps thy Salem pil'd : 
 
 Thine 
 
202 The PSALMS of DAVID, 
 Thine holy fervants flefli have giv'n to feaft 
 Th' aerial fowl, and earthy favage beaft ; 
 Their blood, like water, pour'd the city round, 
 Whilft their unburied corfes taint the ground : 
 Severe reproaches aggravate our fate, ' 
 The jeft and fcorn of every c neighbouring ftate : 
 Still wilt thou, Lord, retain thy dreadful ire ? 
 And mall thy jealous fury burn like fire ? 
 On heathen kingdoms pour the raging flame, 
 Who know not thee, nor own thy pow'rful name. 
 For they have eaten up thy Jacob's race, 
 And made his tents a fad and defart place. 
 Forget, O God, forget our former crimes, 
 Hafte thy kind refcue in thefe troublous times. 
 Mzy for thine honour we thine aid partake ; 
 Our fins hide freely for thine honour's fake. 
 Why mould fuch bitter taunts thy name defy ? 
 Where is their God ? why mould the heathen cry ? 
 Now make it flagrant thro' their bloody holt, 
 That vengeance waits them for thy fervants loft. 
 Hear thou the figh3, which the poor captives breath, 
 And fave, thro 1 thy ftrong arm, the/?#j of death. 
 
 Give 
 
 c This probably "refpefts the Edomitts chiefly. Sec 
 Pfalm exxxvii. Patrick, Mudge. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 203 
 Give back, OLord, our neighbours fcornful jefts, 
 Render them fevenfold lhame into their breafb. 
 Then we, thy people, from our thraldom freed, 
 Thy fheep, which in thy verdant paflures feed, 
 Ever and ever will confefs thy name, 
 And thro' each age will blazon forth thy fame. 
 
 PSALM LXXX. 
 
 To the chief Mufician, upon Shojhannim Eduth 
 (the fix-ilring'd Inftrument of the Sancluary.} 
 APfalmof^?^. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 So?ne refer it to the Captivity of Judah and Benjamin 
 by Nebuchadnezzar, others to that of the Ten Tribes 
 by SalmanalTar ; but Bijhop Patrick thinks it 
 penned in the Time ^Hezekiah, with regard to the 
 Invafion of the Land by Sennacherib. However 
 Interpreters agree in the general Subjecl ofit, that it 
 fets forth the Miferies and Hardjhips of the People of 
 Ifrael under the Aflyrian Tyrants, And to this 
 accords the Greek Infcription, A Pfalm concerning 
 the Aflyrian. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 TTE AR, O thou fhepherd, who doll Ifrael feed, 
 
 And, as a tended flock, thy Jofeph lead ; 
 
 Beam from thy prefence in the glorious blaze 
 
 Between the cherubim thine healing rays ; 
 
 Come 
 
204 27^ PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Come to our aid : d ftir up thy wond rous might 
 
 In Benjamins, Manafeh's, Ephraims fight. 
 
 Turn us again, O God, and caufe thy face 
 
 To fhine ; and we mail own thy faving grace. 
 
 O Lord of hofls, ftill fhall thine anger flame 
 
 Againft thy tribes, whilfl they invoke thy name ? 
 
 The bread of tears thou doft for food bellow, 
 
 And for our drink the copious tears overflow : 
 
 We (land the prize of each furrounding hoit, 
 
 VvjLcfe cruel mirth delights them at our colt: 
 
 Turn us again ; caufe, God of hofb, thy face 
 
 To mine ; and we mall own thy faving grace. 
 
 c A vine thou didft from JEgypfs foil remove, 
 
 And plant it there, whence Canaan 's holls were drove ; 
 
 Thou mad'ir. its way with thy preparing hand, 
 
 Andfpread'ft its roots, which ran luxuriant o'er the land. 
 
 Its fliadow cover'd round the mountain's brows, 
 
 As the tall cedar' a were its waving boughs, 
 
 Its 
 
 d Thefe tribes are hce join'd together, rather than 
 any other, becaufe they were the three (as we read in 
 the zd of Numb.) who, when they were in the Wilder- 
 nefs, always march'd behind the tabernacle, when it 
 moved ; and had that part, where the propitiatory was, 
 from whence God fent his oracles, and the tokens of 
 his power, juft before them. Patrick. 
 
 e Orio;. Thou remtmedft a vine, i.e. a church, the 
 commonwealth o/Ilracl : as it is written, The vine -yard of 
 the Lord of hojfs is the houfe o/~Iirael, and the men of 
 Judah are his f leaf ant plant, Jer. v. 7. Ainswort 11. 
 
Trc PSALMS of DAVID, io% 
 Its branches to the midland Tea were fent, 
 And to the f river's banks its fuckers bent ; 
 Why hail thou giv'n ils /hues to decay, 
 That thofe, who pafs, may pluck her grapes away ? 
 Beafls from the field deflroy her racy flore, 
 Her roots are ravag'd by the E woodland boar. 
 Turn, Lord of hofls : O ! now thine eyes incline, 
 Behold from heaven, and viiit this thy vine : 
 The Hock, which thy right-hand did plant, and chufe, 
 The facred branch, made mighty for thy ufe : 
 Cut are its moots, and burn'd in numbers down, 
 Blafled they fall at thy rebuking frown. 
 O ! guard the man, whom thou didfl raife and chufe, 
 The fon of man, made mighty for thy ufe : 
 Then we, O God, from thee will never fall, 
 But on thy quick'ning name for ever call : 
 Turn us, Lord God of hofls, and caufe thy face 
 To mine ; and we mail own thy faving grace. 
 
 f That is, to the banks of Euphrates. 
 
 B This may be understood of the AJJyrian king with. 
 his barbarous foldicrs, who like a wild boar, and as {o 
 many fa<vage beafts •, which break into a vine-yard y trod 
 down all under foot, feeking to root up this vine which 
 the Lord had planted. Patrick. 
 
 PSALM 
 
206 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM LXXXI. 
 
 To the chief Mufician, upon Gittith. A Pfalm of 
 Jfaph. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Hymn was probably compos'd by Afaph in David'.? 
 Time ; for the Ufe of the Congregation upon the Feaft 
 of Trumpets ; to which the Blowing Trumpets, 
 ver. 3. does refer. The New- Moon in the Month 
 of Tifri, when this Feaft zuas celebrated, was the firjl 
 Day of the Jewifh Tear, in which Time the IVorld 
 was fuppcs'd to be created, the Fruits being then 
 Ripe, and the Harvfl to be gathered in ; which 
 made it the moft joyful and glorious Fejlival of all the 
 Tear. Nichols. 
 
 QHOUT forth to God, our ftrength, the joyful lays, 
 
 Shout forth to Jacob's God triumphant praife : 
 
 Join with the Pfalm the timbrel to the quire, 
 
 The lute foft-founding, and the pleafant lyre , 
 
 When the new moon marks with its folemn ray 
 
 The time appointed, and the feftal day, 
 
 Blow up the h trumpets : be this rite maintain'd 
 
 By Ifracl, as by Jacob's God ordain'd. 
 
 This 
 
 h Of what this Mowing trumpets is a memorial, 'tis not 
 eafy to refoive; -Biihop Patrick fuppofes it to refer 
 
 to 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 20/ 
 This was to JofepVs feed his ftrift command, 
 When he went out to vifit Pharaoh's land. 
 When the flrange language, burfting forth aloud, 
 Was heard with terror from the v/ond'rous cloud. 
 No more the brick-kiln clay your moulders flrain'd, 
 No more your hands the fordid tafks diftain'd. 
 When call'd, I fav'd you from the tyrant's face, 
 I anfwer'd from the thunder's fecret place : 
 When ye at MaraFs bitter waters ftrove, 
 Then I your faith, you did my prowefs prove. 
 
 Selah* 
 Hear, O my people, O mine Ifrael, hear, 
 Attend my cov'nant with a careful ear : 
 Ye fhall from foreign lands no god receive, 
 To a flrange god nor bow, nor worfhip give : 
 I am Jehovah, I am Ifraets God, 
 Which thro' the feas from JEgypt mark'd the road : 
 Should your defires gape for my bounties ftill, 
 Your open mouth mine ample flores fhall fill. 
 Yet did my people more and more refufe 
 To hear my voice, nor would my conducl chufe. 
 
 Then 
 
 to the found of the trumpet exceeding loud and pro- 
 longed, when God himfelf appear'd on the top of 
 mount Shim. For the adjuftment of the time to this 
 corijefture, fee his argument of this Pfalnu 
 
208 TJje PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Then left I them to aft an headflrong part, 
 
 To take the counfels of their ftubborn heart : 
 
 O ! had ye known, my people, to obey ! 
 
 O ! would mine Ifrael but have kept my way ! 
 
 Socn had I then reduc'd each haughty foe, 
 
 Soon mould mine arm have laid their haters low : 
 
 Thcfe mould have feign'd to own my fovereign fway, 
 
 And IfraePs feed have flourinVd time away : 
 
 The fineft wheat fhould have encreas'd their flock, 
 
 And honey fill'd them from the dropping rock. 
 
 PSALM LXXXIL 
 A Pfalm of Afapb. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 From a Reformation of fever al Auufes, crept into the 
 Court of Judicature in King Jehofaphat'i Ttme 9 
 Matters were in the Reign <?/*Hezekiah grown into 
 Dif order again , as Ifaiah complains II, 12. And 
 it is upon this Occajion, that Afaph, the Seer, wrote 
 this Pfalm, Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 L 
 
 O ! God is prefent to that aweful feat, 
 Where the ' vicegerent gods in judgment meet : 
 
 How 
 
 1 As the judges of the highefl court are (Jer. xxvi. 
 o. 11.) called princes, with refpeft to their fuperiority 
 
 ovor 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 209 
 
 How long will ye pervert his righteous laws, 
 Accept the perfon, tho' unjufl the caufe ? 
 
 Sekh, 
 Deal to the orphan, and the infant, right, 
 Screen the poor weakling from opprefiive might ; 
 From wicked, and tyrannick hands, fecure 
 The drooping wretch, and the defencelefs poor: 
 Nor know, nor learn they ; but with blinded heart 
 Led on, thy fundamental laws fubvert, 
 Gods are ye call'd, and fons of the moil high, 
 But fall as princes, and like men fhall die. 
 Arife, O God, judge and redrefs our wrongs, 
 Since all the fubjecl earth to thee belongs. 
 
 over the people, fo here they are called Elohim, gods, 
 in refpett to the fountain of their power, which was from 
 the mojlhigk', who honour'd them with his own name, 
 Patrick. 
 
 PSALM 
 
2io The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 P S A L M LXXXIII. 
 A Song or Pfalm of Afaph. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It is the common Opinion, that the Combination of 
 powerful Enemies, againft whom the divine Affiflance 
 is in this Pfalm implor'd, was that mentioned in 
 2 Chron. xx. in the Days of Jehofaphat ; and 
 that the Author was one of the Pofterity of Afaph 
 in his Time. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 T TEAR us, O God, nor let thy fovereign will 
 
 Keep thee in filence, and remifsly Hill. 
 For lo ! thy foes in tumults loud unite, 
 Thine haters tofs their heads in wild defpight. 
 In fecret counfel they with craft agreed, 
 Againft thy people, and thy facred feed : 
 Come, faid they, let us with concerted aim 
 Cut ofF their nation, blot out Ifrael's name : 
 Their hearts devife with impious amity, 
 To ftrike a folemn league, oppos'd to thee. 
 Edam and IJhmacl from their tents combine, 
 Mcab, and thofe ofHagars warlike line : 
 
 So 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 211 
 
 So k Gebal, Amnion, Amalek, confpire ; 
 Pbilijlia's pow'rs with thofe who dwell at Tyre : 
 AJfyria too pours forth its armed bands, 
 And gives the l fons of Lot its helping hands. 
 
 Selah. 
 Make them as Midian, m Jabin, n Si/era, 
 Whofe flain the ancient Kijbon fwept away : 
 Whofe coarfes ftrew'd the field of Endor round, 
 Where their corrupted carnage dung'd the ground : 
 Sink thou their chiefs to ° Zeb\ and OreFs ftate, 
 Sink all to p Zebas and Zabnutmas fate : 
 Who thought, like thefe, to take that pleafant land, 
 Where thou didft chufe thy facred houfe fhould Hand, 
 Juft as a whirling wheel on ground inclin'd, 
 Siet them, O God ; as chaff before the wind. 
 Swift, as a flame devours the forefl's leaves, 
 Or mountains of their rufTet grafs bereaves -, 
 
 P 2 So 
 
 k Gebal, that is, the Gebalites, or Giblites, Jof. xiii.5, 
 
 1 The fons of Lot, viz. the Moabites and Ammonites. 
 
 m Jabin a king of Midi an, flain by the Ifraelites 
 Judg. iv. 24. 
 
 n Si/era, Jabin s captain-general, deftroy'd by the 
 hand of a woman, Judg. iv. 21. 
 
 o Zeb and Oreb, two princes of the Midianites, taken 
 by Gideon, Judg. vii. 25. 
 
 p Zeha and Zalmunna, two of their kings, who un- 
 derwent the fame fate, Judg. viii. 12. 
 
212 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 So let thy fudden florms their holts o'ertake, 
 So let thy tempefts make their chieftains quake* 
 Cover their faces with abafhing fhame, 
 That they may fcek, O Lord, thy dreadful name. 
 Let them, for ever queird, confounded lye, 
 Let them fupprefs'd with fhameful horror die : 
 That men may know, Jehovah is thy name, 
 The fole fupreme, who rules this earthly frame. 
 
 PSALM LXXXIV. 
 
 To'the chief Mufician, upon Gittith. A Pfalm for 
 the Sons of Korah. 
 
 \RGUMENT. 
 
 Interpreters are of Opinion^ that this Pfalm was com- 
 pos' d upon the Jame Occafon as the xlii. and xliii. 
 n David fed before the Face of his Son Abfalom; 
 but Bljhop Patrick prefumes it might be written 
 by feme pious Levite in the Country, when Sennache- 
 rib'* Army had block' d up the 'way to Jerufalem, and 
 kinder 9 d them from waiting upon the Set-vice Gf God at 
 ' the Temple. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 TTOW graceful are thy tents ! how franVd to move, 
 
 O Lord of hods, our ardent, rapturous love .' 
 My foul pants for the joys thy courts afford, 
 hiy heart and Mem cry for the living Lord. 
 
 And 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 213 
 
 And yet the fparrow finds an houfe to reft, 
 
 And the domeftick fwallow builds its neft, 
 
 To furnifh for if s young a fafe abode, 
 
 Ev'n round thine altars, Lord, my king, and God. 
 
 Bleffings are theirs, who in thy temple dwell, 
 
 Who with continual voice thy praifes tell. 
 
 Selah. 
 Bleffings are theirs, who make the Lord their flay, 
 Whofe hearts are hVd upon his facred way : 
 Who going thro' the thirfty <i Baca's vale, 
 Have him their fountain, which can never fail : 
 His bleffing will fupply the copious rain, 
 Whilft kindly fhow'rs mall cover o'er the plain: 
 Till gaining ftrength from ftrength, they all refort 
 To meet his prefence in lov'd Sion's court : 
 My pray'rs, O God of hofts, Jehovah, hear, 
 O God of Jacobs lend thy gracious ear. 
 
 Selah. 
 Look down, O God, our lhield, with favouring grace, 
 Look down from heav'n on thine anointed's face j 
 
 P 3 One 
 
 «J The vale of Baca, i. e. of Mulberry '-trees, which 
 ufe to grow in dry places. This valley was near Je- 
 rufalem, as may be gatherM from 2 Sam, v. 22. 23. 
 and thro' want of water might be very grievous to tra- 
 vellers. AlNS WORTH. 
 
il\ The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 One day within thofe courts where God appears ; 
 
 Is better than elfewhere a thoufand years, 
 
 To keep thy doors in fome near humble cell, 
 
 Better than in the wicked's tents to dwell. 
 
 For God, Jehovah, is a fun, and fhield, 
 
 i 
 His grace, and glory, will Jehovah yield, 
 
 To them hath every folid good confign'd, 
 
 Who walk before him with a perfeft mind. 
 
 Jehovah, Lord of hofls, O ! blefs'd is he, 
 
 Who puts his never-ceafing trufl in thee. 
 
 PSALM LXXXV. 
 
 To the chief Mufician. A Pfalm for the Sons of 
 Korah. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Amongft various Opinions concerning the Occafion of 
 this Pfalniy it fee?ns mojl probable, that it was com- 
 posed by Efdr 'as , or fame ether infpirdPerfon, upon 
 andfocn after the Refioration of the Jews, from the 
 Babylonifh Captivity. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 A T length 1 , O Lord, our land hath felt thy grace, 
 Who hall: return'd thy captiv'd Jacob's race : 
 Thcu had remitted all thy people's crimes, 
 And hid the fins of pa£, revolting times. 
 
 At 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 215 
 At laft thou doft thy wrathfull heat alTwa^e, 
 And mitigate the fiercenefs of thy rage ; 
 Turn us, O God, ftill thy falvation Tend, 
 And bring thine anger to a final end. 
 Ah ! mall we dread again thy furious frown ? 
 Wilt thou for ever pour thine anger down ? 
 Nor keep us yet from fad relapfes free, 
 That all thy people may rejoice in thee ? 
 Shew us thy mercy, O Jehovah, Lord, 
 And thy falvation to each age afford. 
 What God, the Lord, will fpeak, in awful fear 
 Will I with reverence and fubmimon hear : 
 For he will fpeak to his lov'd people peace, 
 And to his faints ; if they from folly ceafe. 
 Sure nigh the righteous is his faving hand, 
 To give its ancient r glory to our land. 
 Mercy and truth here find a meeting place, 
 Joftice and peace have kifs'd in clofe embrace. 
 s Truth from the earth mall with new beauty fpring, 
 And righteoufnefs from heav'n its influence bring : 
 
 P 4 Yea, 
 
 r That is, we may hope once again to fee glorious 
 days in our land, or perhaps the glory, the Sbecbinab, 
 the divine prefence refident amongftus. Mudge. 
 
 5 Orig. Truth Jh all fpring, or bud forth from the earth, 
 i. e. the divine truth and faithfulnefs mall be man:- 
 
 felled 
 
216 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 Yea, various good our gracious Lord (hall yield, 
 And rich encreafe fhall crown each verdant field : 
 Before him t righteoufnefs (hall pave the way, 
 And from his paths our feet fhall never ftray. 
 
 PSALM LXXXVI. 
 A Prayer of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT 
 
 This Pfalm co.me not into the Hands of the firjl Col- 
 letter of thofe of David ; but being fund by him, 
 who codec led the Afaphian Pfahns, and ethers of 
 fame famous Auilnrs^ is here pladd. It is prejuni d 
 to have hern composed, during Lis Jffiiclion under 
 Saul or Abialom : And that Hezekiah ufed it by 
 ■way of A:cv7imodation to that fore Difrcfe, 
 which he f '! upon the A (Tynan htvafian. Patrick, 
 Nichols. 
 
 b 
 
 OW down, Jehovah, thy regardful ear, 
 Thy needy, and airlifted fervant, hear ; 
 
 Preferve 
 
 felled by the fulfilling of God's promife of plenl 
 profperity to his people upon their obedience. Ains- 
 
 W ORTH, MUDGE. 
 
 c This place is varioufiy interpreted. One fenfe, 
 given of it, is, He will can fe juflice t ; %o before hh 
 will him/elf follow her font 'ftf.s. To this accord Ains- 
 v/orth, and bifhop Hare. But our translators ren- 
 der the latter claufe, and fall ft us in the way of his 
 
 i. e. He /hall go in the way of rigbtet 
 we Jhall tread in his jkps. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 217 
 
 Preferve my foul, O God, preferve the juft, 
 And fave me, fince in thee I put my trull : 
 O ! let thy mercies, Lord, defcend on me, 
 For day by day I cry aloud to thee. 
 O Lord, my God, mine anxious foul rejoice? 
 For unto thee it lifts its mournful voice : 
 Thou, Lord, art good to pardon, art to all 
 Plenteous in mercy, who for mercy call : 
 Hear, when in prayV, O Lord, I feek thy face, 
 Attend me, when I fupplicate for grace : 
 'Tis thou wilt anfwer, when in faith I pray, 
 Opprefs'd with grief, in the diftrefsful day : 
 What God with thee can equal glory fhare ? 
 And what amazing works with thine compare ? 
 All nations, thro 1 this heav'n-wrought worldly frame, 
 Shall bow to thee, and glorify thy name : 
 Thine were the marvels of all ages gone, 
 Tis thou art God thyfelf, and God alone : 
 Teach me to tread thy paths with heart fincere, 
 And awe my fcul, O Lord, with filial fear : 
 Thy lore confefs'd fhall all my mind engage, 
 I'll glorify thy name from age to age : 
 What language can thy numerous mercies tell ? 
 Thou haft preferved me from the loweft hell. 
 The proud, O God, have join'd with envious ilrife, 
 And tyrant bands confpire to take my life; 
 
 With 
 
218 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 With cruel purpofe they prefumptuous rife, 
 Nor have they fet thee, Lord, before their eyes ; 
 Thee, who art kind, whofe truth, and mercy's fure, 
 Art good to pardon much, and much endur e. 
 O ! turn, and let thy gracious work go on, 
 Strengthen thy fervant, and thine handmaid's fon. 
 Some kindly token of thy favour mow, 
 Whence all my foes may blufhing fee, and know, 
 That 'tis thine arm, which is mine help, O Lord* 
 And that 'tis thou my comfort doft afford. 
 
 PSALM LXXXVIL 
 A PTalm or Song, for the Sons of Korah, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 'Tis prefum'd, that it was written by one of the Korites 
 in conunendation of Jerufalem, fituate in the holy 
 Mountains of Sion (where David built his Palace^ 
 and afterward fettled the Ark) and of Mori ah, 
 where Solomon built the Temple. Its beginning is 
 very abrupt, but it expreffes the greater Rapture of 
 joyful Admiration, wherein the Pfalmifl was. Pa - 
 trick, Nichols. 
 
 )/-r-\\VAS on thefe folid mounts, this facred place, 
 
 ■*■ He caft his beauteous dwelling's Lifting bafe ; 
 
 Tho'y^'s tents Jehovah may approve, 
 
 Yet Sions gates are his peculiar love ; 
 
 What 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 2*9 
 
 What glorious things did former times unfold ? 
 What of his favourite city now are told ? 
 
 Selah. 
 My focial tongue the ancient rolls mall trace 
 Of Babylon, and Egypt's fwarthy race ; 
 Tell from Fhiliftia's, Tyre's, Arabia's times, 
 This man was the great produce of their climes ; 
 But muft confpicuous Sion far prefer, 
 For thofe illufhious worthies born in her : 
 Since thefe the higheft, by his nurturing care, 
 Himfelf fhall with his houfe eftahlifh there. 
 The Lord fhall find in his enroll'd account 
 The u man, whofe name will every name furmount. 
 
 Selah. 
 Whilfl vocal quires, and joyful mufick bands, 
 Here all have rife, as fprings from watsr'd lands. 
 
 u The manner of exprefhon in the orig. viz. this 
 man 'was bom there, denotes that fome moil important 
 perfon is here pointed out ; and Weils, in his comment, 
 holds, that it evidently points at the Mejpah, obierving 
 with admiration, that other interpreters had not made 
 this remark. Bifhop Hare thinks it an inauguration 
 ode, and that this exprefhon refers to the then reigning 
 prince. 
 
 PSALM 
 
220 "Tie PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 P S A L M, LXXXVIII. 
 
 A Song or Pfalm for the Sons of Korah, to the 
 chief Mufician upon Mahalath Leannoth (a hol- 
 low wind Inftrument, like the Flute, proper for 
 mournful Songs). Mafchiloi Heman, the Ezrabite. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Heman in the Title cannot be the famous Singer in 
 David'* Time, but was one of later date, defcended 
 from Zcrah of the Sous of Judah, i Chron. ii. 6. 
 hence called an Ezrahite. Kimchi fays, it was 
 written in the Name of the Jewifh People during 
 the Captivity, in the Language of a poor Slave un- 
 der his Chains, Nichols. 
 
 (~^\ Lord, my faviour, from the morning's light. 
 
 To thee I cry down thro' the darkfome night : 
 Before thee let ray piercing pray'r afccnd, 
 And may thine ear my mrilling voice attend : 
 My foul's o'ercharg'd with heavy loads of woe, 
 And I'm juft finking to the pit below : 
 Thro' weaknefs faint, mine able flrength is fled, 
 And thus I pafs, as number'd with the dead : 
 Free, undiftinguiih'd, as the breathlefs brave, 
 When flain, and mingled in one common grave : 
 "Whom thou no more beholdeft from on high, 
 SnatchM from thine hand they difregarded lie. 
 
 Laid 
 
TJ?e PSALMS of DAVID. 221 
 Laid in a dungeon low I'm left to weep, 
 In difmal darknefs, and the horrid deep : 
 Thy lafling wrath excludes me from relief, 
 O'erwhelm'd with thine afflicting floods of grief. 
 
 Selah. 
 Pent from my friends, too loathfome for their fight, 
 I'm clofe confin'd, and banifh'd from the light : 
 Mine eyes ceafe not to mourn from day to day ; 
 To thee, O Lord, with ftretch'd out hands I pray. 
 What ! wilt thou to the dead thy wonders (hew ? 
 Shall the dead rife and praife thee from below ? 
 
 Selah. 
 Shall then thy favours in the grave appear ? 
 Wilt thou thy truth in dark deftruftion clear ? 
 Shall in that night thy wonders meet our eyes ? 
 Thy juftice there, where all forgotten lies ? 
 But unto thee my cry, O Lord, was fent, 
 My pray'r the early day-fpring mail prevent : 
 Why doft thou, Lord, mine anxious foul defert ? 
 Why from my woeful ftate thy face avert ? 
 From rifing youth I've fuffer'd ev'n to death, 
 Scarce kept my fenfes, whilfl I drew my breath. 
 O'er me thy furious ftorms of anger ran, 
 Thy difmal terrors have reduc'd my fpan : 
 Crouds upon crouds, as circling waves, abound, 
 And all together daily clofe me round. 
 
 To 
 
222 77* PSALMS of DAVID. 
 To me,, by thee bereft of neighbours, friends, 
 Each focial tie here in this darknefs ends. 
 
 PSALM LXXXIX. 
 
 Mafchil of Ethan the Ezrahite. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Author ■, it is probable, like Heman, was ofihe 
 Family of Zerah, and wrote it during the Captivity > 
 mojl likely in the Time of Jehoiakim, whofe Misfor- 
 tunes he feems here to defcribe, almojl in a Fit of 
 Diffidence, notwithflanding the Promifes of God made 
 to David. Nichols. 
 
 fpHY mercies, Lord, fhall be mine endlefs fong, 
 
 ■^ Thy truth be ever publinYd with my tongue : 
 Still, faid I, fhall thy mercy Hand fecure, 
 Fix'd, as the firmament, thy truths endure. 
 My chofen has my covenanted word, 
 My fervant David took the fworn record ; 
 Th' almighty faid, Thy feed, till time is done, 
 Shall iaft i for ever will I build thy throne. 
 
 Selah. 
 
 The heavens, O Lord, fhall fing thy wond'rous ways, 
 
 Thy faithfulnefs the faints affembled praife. 
 
 What mighty powers may with Jehovah vie > 
 
 Who of th 1 illuftrious tenants of the fky ? 
 
 God is tremendous in his holy feat, 
 
 Where proflrate legions tremble round his feet. 
 
Toe PSALMS of DAVID. 223 
 
 Who is, O Lord ? who may, like thee, be found ? 
 
 The mighty Jab, with truth enrob'd around* 
 
 He awes the fwelling feas : if he but fay, 
 
 Be ftill, the loud, tumultuous, waves obey. 
 
 He, like a wounded man, fell'd Egypt low, 
 
 And his Itrong arm difpers'd the fhatter'd foe. 
 
 Thine, Lord, are heav'n and earth, thine to command, 
 
 The world, and all its flores, are from thine hand. 
 
 The North, and South, thou didit, creating, frame, 
 
 Tabor fhall fhout, and Hermon, in thy name : 
 
 Thy mighty arm can every pow'r defy, 
 
 Strong is thine hand, and thy right hand is high : 
 
 Juflice and judgment round thy throne have place, 
 
 Mercy and truth mall go before thy face. 
 
 Bleflings are theirs, who know the joyful * found, 
 
 They in thy face's light fhall walk around ; 
 
 Shall in thy name, triumphant all the day, 
 
 Walk, where thy juflice points th' exalted way. 
 
 Thus on thy ftrength their Glory muft be born, 
 
 And 'tis thy favour fhall exalt our horn : 
 
 For from Jehovah 'tis ourfuccours fpring, 
 
 The Holy One of Ifrael is our King. 
 
 Thea 
 
 * Viz. The found of the trumpet, which fignifie* 
 the royal prefence of thy majelty among them, and calls 
 them to attend upon thee, Numb. x. 10. 
 
224 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Then didft thou make thy gracious will appear, 
 
 And fpeak in vifion to thine Holy Seer: 
 
 One have I chofen from the field to crown, 
 
 Endow'd with might, of valiant, high renown ; 
 
 My fervant David deign'd I to appoint, 
 
 And with my confecrated oil anoint : 
 
 H* mall be ftay'd with my fupporting hand, 
 
 And thro' mine arm mall every pow'r withftand : 
 
 No craft againfl him fhall advantage gain, 
 
 No fons of malice give him lafting pain : 
 
 Before his face I'll crufh his open foes, 
 
 And thofe, who hate him, with my plagues oppofe : 
 
 My truth and grace mail raife his pious aim, 
 
 His horn fhall be exalted in my name : 
 
 Far, as the fea, his hand mall conquering go, 
 
 And his right hand, where th' eaftern rivers flow ; 
 
 Thou art my God, my Father, he fhall cry, 
 
 The rock of my falvation, O moft high : 
 
 Him will I place my firft-born in the throne, 
 
 His fovereign pow'r all earthy kings fhall own : 
 
 To him no limits fhall my mercy bound, 
 
 My word fhall fland thro' time's perpetual round : 
 
 His feed thro' me fhall never find decay, 
 
 His throne fhall laft, like hcav'n's eternal day. 
 
 But 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 22$ 
 
 But If his children mould forfake my law, 
 
 And from my judgments fnould their Heps withdraw^ 
 
 If breaking with an high prefumptuous hand 
 
 My ftatutes, they contemn my drend command ; 
 
 Then their vile fins, and their perverfe neglect, 
 
 My rod ihall vifit, and my plagues correct . 
 
 Yet will I make my mercy ftill prevail, 
 
 Nor fuffer utterly my truth to fail. 
 
 What my mouth promis'd will I not forfake, 
 
 My covenanted word will never break. 
 
 Once have I fworn, and by my fanclity, 
 
 To David will I not myfelf deny : 
 
 His feed and throne lhall never pafs away, 
 
 Long as the fun mall moot the beaming ray j 
 
 Or whilft the moon, true to its heavenly place, 
 
 A faithful witnefs, runs its monthly race. 
 
 Selah. 
 But now thou haft rejected and abhorr'd, 
 Thou haft been wroth with our anointed Lord : 
 Haft made thy cov'nant void ; thy ferv ant's crown 
 Thou to the earth haft call prophaned down : 
 Haft raz'd thofe walls, which fenc'd thy city roun 1, 
 And his ftrong holds haftlevell'd with the ground. 
 He's turn'd his neighbour's fcorn, an open prey 
 To all, who pafs the defolated way. 
 
 (^ Thou 
 
226 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Thou armedft the right hand of all his foes, 
 
 Thou mad'ft them all triumphant in his woes : 
 
 His fword has blunted in his bloodlefs hand, 
 
 Nor gave him in th 1 embattled field to ftand : 
 
 Thro 1 thee we now lament his glory gone, 
 
 Thou to the ground haft caft his fhatter'd throne : 
 
 His youthful days haft fhortned, funk his name, 
 
 And cloathed him around with fudden fhame. 
 
 Selah. 
 Thy face, Jehovah, wilt thou never turn ? 
 
 And mall, like fire, thy flaming fury burn ? 
 
 Think on my time, my fhort-liv'd fabrick fcan, 
 
 didfi thou make fo frail the fons of man ? 
 
 What mighty man can ward the ftroke of de;:th ? 
 
 Or from the hand of hell preferve his breath ? 
 
 Selah. 
 
 When mail we, Lord, thy former mercies fhare, 
 
 Which in thy truth thou didft to David fwear ? 
 
 Think, Lord, on the reproach ; think on the fmart, 
 
 With which the clamorous many wound our heart ; 
 
 The foes, who vile reproach, Jehovah, raife, 
 
 -K.ch on thine, and thine anointed's ways. 
 
 [fed for ever be th' eternal king, 
 
 For evermore Jehovah's Llcflings fing. 
 
 Amen, and Amen. 
 
 The End of the Third BOOK. 
 
 The 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 227 
 
 The Fourth BOOK of PSALMS. 
 
 PSALM XC. 
 
 A Prayer of Mofes the Man of God. 
 A Pv G U M E N T. 
 
 // was a Meditation of the Author's, when the People 
 offended fo highly againjl God in the JVildernefs^ 
 that he Jhortned their Lives to Seventy or Eighty 
 Tears at the mo/?, andfufferd them not to arrive at 
 the Age of their Ancefors, or of Mofes, Caleb, and 
 Jofhua ; whofe Lives he prolong d to an Hundred 
 and Twenty Tears, The Chaldee Paraphrafe, 
 Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 / I v HOU, Lord, fmce time began his circling race, 
 
 From age to age haft been our dwelling place ; 
 Before the mountains birth, or earth had frame, 
 Thou art for ever God, th' eternal fame. 
 Thou doit, reduce the duft-fprung mortals fpan, 
 If thou but fay, — w Return ye fons of man. 
 A thoufand years to thee, when pafs'd away, 
 Seem but as one irrevocable day, 
 
 Q^z Or 
 
 w This manifestly refers to the fentence fais'd upon 
 mankind, Gen. iii. 19. Hare, 
 
228 The PSALMS of DAVID 
 
 Or as a watch, when tranfient night is o'er ; 
 Man, on whofe eyes thou balmy x deep doft pour, 
 Rifts, as grafs frefh with the dewy fhow'r j 
 Which in the morn with fmiling verdure blooms, 
 In evening cut, it withers and confumes. 
 Thus we confume, when we thine anger meet, 
 When on a fudden blafts thy wrathful heat. 
 For thou haft fnatch'd our dark mifdeeds to liorht, 
 Our fecret fins fet in thine open fight. 
 Our days, whene'er thy fury rages, fail, 
 They all are gone, juft as a finifh'd tale. 
 At threcfcore years and ten life's bound appears, 
 Or if our ftrength extends to fourfcore years, 
 All is but pain, our ftrength is but decay, 
 'Tis cut off quickly, and we fly a\ , 
 
 i 
 
 Eut 
 
 * Ilcb. Zeramtam Senah, &c. Then poureft Jieep 
 
 upon them, or moijienefl them with jle.pp (he, nvith, being 
 
 undcrftood before Senah J according to bifhop Hare ; 
 
 who fays from Le Clerc, that interpreters, following 
 
 the Ma foretic pointing, have by a comma at Zeramtam, 
 
 rent it from Senah, and fo render'd it, Thou dri*ueft them 
 
 . as a flood-, whereas Senah, Jlcep, mould be joinM 
 
 to it, and the place render'd, Thou doji irrigate (?noijien) 
 
 ■ and arc in the morning, as the grafs , 
 
 ngs up. So that the Pfafmift compares man, 
 
 riling from the refrefhment of flecp, to grafs, moiltcn'd 
 
 by. the nightly dew, which in the morning wears a 
 
 I bloom, but in the evening is cut down and 
 
 lvither'd. Hare. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 229 
 But who doth weigh the fiercenefs of thy rage ? 
 Or with proportion^ y fear thy wrath affwage ? 
 So teach us, Lord, to eftimate our days, 
 That we may fix our hearts on wifdom'-S ways. 
 Return, and ceafe from wrath ; thy grace reftore ; 
 Thy fuffering fervants, Lord, chaftife no more : 
 Beam forth thy comfort, like the morning ray, 
 That we may fhout, triumphant, day by day. 
 Long, as our forrows, caufe our joys to laft, 
 May they compenfate for our evils pail : 
 Thus to thy fervants let thy work be mown, 
 And make thy glory to their children known : 
 To us, O God, thy kindly looks afford, 
 Unveil thy beauty, O Jehovah Lord. 
 Render the conquefls of our hands fecure, 
 Yea our hands conqueils render firmly fure. 
 
 y Orig. even according to thy fear, fo is thy vurafh. 
 The Heb. expreffion is fhort, and obfeure. The fenfe 
 according to bifhop Hare is, As is the reverence, with 
 which thou art to be regarded, fo great is thy indignation 
 toivards thofe, <who fin again/? thee, and injure thy divine 
 majefly : both which are fuperlatively great. See his 
 note. 
 
 &j PSALM 
 
230 The PSALMS cf DAVID. 
 
 PSALM XCI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 f The Occafim of it feems to have been feme great 
 Peftilence ; and none fo likely, as that in the latter 
 eni 0/* David* j Reign, when he number d the People, 
 for which God fent his dcjlroying Angel amongjl 
 them ; in which grievous Circumftances, 'tis probable 
 the Prophet, caWd Davids Seer, might teach him 
 to recommend himfelf to the divine Protection in the 
 J I "ords of this Pfalm. Patrick. 
 
 Tt7HO in the fecret place of God, moll high, 
 
 Shall dwell, will fafe beneath his fhadow lie ; 
 Th' Almighty's fhadow : there I'll fearlefs f y, 
 O Lord, thou art my God, my rock, my flay. 
 Thee mail he keep with his protecting care, 
 From the rank plague, as from the fowler's fnare : 
 Shelter his wings, his feathers fafe ty yield, 
 His truth fhail be thy buckler, and thy fhield. 
 Thou malt not moan the night for fear away, 
 Nor for the fecret z fhaft, which flies by day : 
 
 Not 
 
 1 Shaft, To the pejfilence is called, Deut. xxxii. Ezd.v. 
 i A . The CbaJdee calleth it the arrow of the angel 
 of death* 
 
The PSALMS cf DAVID. 231 
 
 Not for the peft, which in the darknefs (trays, 
 Or a havock, raging with the noon-tide rays. 
 A thoufand, and ten thoufand, 0!i each hand, 
 Shall fall, whilit thou, untouch'd, fhall dauntlefs Hand. 
 Only thine eye the difmal fcene fhr.ll view, 
 The fad reward, which to th' unjuft is due. 
 Becaufe thou doft to God for refuge fly, 
 And make thine habitation the moll high, 
 No ill mall thee befal, no blafting pain, 
 Thy facred tent no noifome plague prophane. 
 Commimorfd angels fhall their care bellow, 
 To watch thy footfieps, wherefoe'er they go : 
 Up they mall bear thee, their entrufted one, 
 Left thou fhouldit dafh thy foot againft a (tone : 
 Vipers and afps thy bruifing heel fhall meet, 
 b Serpents and dragons feel thy trampling feet. 
 With help will I requite his zealous flame, 
 Said God, and raife him, who hath own'd my name : 
 Q^4 When 
 
 a Heb. Jasud, havock, efeftruSlim. For this the 
 Greeks read <vafed, and render the following word 
 Zohraim, meridian, which together fignify the meridian 
 damon. And upon this, the Greek fables are built 
 concerning noon-tide damans. Bythner, Hare. 
 
 A lie ItlllC, clS WCH ..15 L11C U1U UcUlllctUUIlS, .gll 
 
 U„ *~ *.i.:^t. ^1 r^t- :_: ., 
 
 The fenfe, as well as the old tranflations, .give 
 reafon to think the names of the pernicious creatures, 
 here occurring, are all to be underltood of ferfepits l 
 different from our bible verfan. B c h a r t , Pa r r i c k, 
 
 MUDGE. 
 
232 The PSALMS of DAVIDL 
 When he (hall call, I'll anfwer to his cries, 
 And be his aid ; who fliall but fall to rife : 
 Mine arm fliall fave him, till thro' flow decays, 
 He (hall depart, refign'd, and full of days. 
 
 PSALM XCII. 
 
 A Pfalm or Song for the Sabbath-Day. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Some of the Jews have a Notion, that this Pfalm was 
 t os'd by Adam jufl after his Creation -, but this is 
 only a Rabbinical Fancy. For no one can think, that 
 Adam in Paradife Jhould ?nake mention of Mufical 
 Inflruments, of Enemies, and of Mount Liba- 
 nus (as ver. 7. 11.) Whofoever was the Author, 
 whether Mofes, as fame conjetfure, or David, as 
 others, it is an excellent Defcriptiou of the different 
 Conditions ofpio us and irrcligio us Men . Patrick, 
 Nichols. 
 
 J'^TTMS good to blefs the Lord with joyful praife, 
 
 To ring thy name, moft high, in thankful lays, 
 To fhew thy goodnefs at the morning light, 
 
 tell thy truth and juftice every night : 
 Whilft ten-ilring'd inilruments the voices join, 
 And lute and harp their folemn notes combine : 
 With joy thy wonders fill my ravinYd thought, 
 I'll triumph in the wcrks thine hands have wrought. 
 
 How 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 233 
 
 How wifely, Lord, are thy great works defign'd ! 
 
 And how profound the counfels of thy mind ! 
 
 To brutifh men this is untafted blifs, 
 
 Neither do thoughtlefs fools acknowledge this. 
 
 Tho' when they fee the wicked fpring, as grafs, 
 
 And blooming fmners vulgar growths furpafs, 
 
 'Tis but to aggravate their quick decay, 
 
 Whofe early bloom for ever fades away* 
 
 But thou, O Lord, enthron'd above the Iky, 
 
 To everlafHng ages art moft high. 
 
 For lo ! thy foes, O Lord, thy foes mall fall, 
 
 Th' unjuft fhall be difpers'd, and perifh all : 
 
 High, as the unicorn's, mine c horn mall grow, 
 
 d Refrefhing oil fhall chear mine aged brow. 
 
 Mine eyes mail fee mine haters end appear, 
 
 The wicked's fall fhall gratify mine ear : 
 
 Thejuft, like towering e palms, mall raife their head, 
 
 In Lebanon as lofty cedars fpread. 
 
 Thofe 
 
 c That is, to fmite mine enemies, Deut. xxxiii. 17. 
 The horn fignifies kingdom, and ilrength and glory. 
 And the Chaldee here tranflateth it Ilrength. Ains- 
 worth. 
 
 d Meaning, that Ilrength. and chearfulnefs mould 
 crown his old age. 
 
 c The quality of the Palm-tree is well known, which 
 flouriihes under prefTures, andfo figures the flourifhing 
 eftate of the godly always, as this place fhews, with 
 
 Ezek. 
 
,234 The PSALMS cf DAVID. 
 
 Thofe in Jehovah's courts, when planted there, 
 Shall from God's culture conftant verdure wear : 
 Fat mail they grow, Hill with new vigour fpring, 
 And in their age a kinder produce bring ; 
 To mew the Lord is jufl : my rock he Hands, 
 And there is no injuftice in his hands. 
 
 psalm xcrn. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Some have coryeftur'd this Pfahn to be David';, tho 
 there is no HebrewTitle to afcribe it to him, from the 
 Infcription of fane Greek Copies. Gaon, Jarchi, 
 Kimchi, and mojl of the Jews, interpret it of the 
 Mefliah ; and indeed feveral of them acknowledge, 
 that he is prophefed of not only in this, but in all the 
 Pfalms, which follow unto the Hundredth. Pa- 
 trick, Nichols. 
 
 '" I MiE Lord, the Lord Jehovah, reigns on high, 
 
 Array'd with might, array 'd with majefty; 
 He's girt with ftrength ; the world obeys his will, 
 Its bafe to 'ftablifh, its commotions mil : 
 Of old is fx'd thine everlafting throne, 
 Thou art the boundlefs, and eternal one: 
 
 The 
 
 xl. 16. cfV. hence branches of it, worn in gar- 
 lands, or carried in the hands, were figns of vidory; 
 . - vii. 9. AlNS WORTH. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 235 
 
 The floods have raisM, the floods have rais'd their voice, 
 
 The floods have rais'd, O Lord, a troubled noife : 
 
 The Lord fuprcme is with puiffance ftrong, 
 
 To calm the rolling crouds, and raging throng ; 
 
 Tho' tempefts roar aloud, and ocean rave?, 
 
 Yet he is mighter than its mighty waves : 
 
 f Sure, Lord, is what thy voice orac'lar fays, 
 
 And truth becomes thine houfe to length of days. 
 
 PSALM XCIV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. , 
 
 There is no Hebrew Infcription to this Pfalm, but the 
 later Greeks entitle it, A Pfalm of David for the 
 fourth Day of the Week, and iff, it reprehends 
 the Corruption of the Magifiracy in Saul'j Reign ; 
 but Kimchi and Jarchi think it written during the 
 Captivity, when the Heathen Magiftrates and People 
 did extraordinarily opprefs the Jews. Patrick, 
 Nichols. 
 
 "T 7Engeance, O God, vengeance, O God, is thine ; 
 Shine forth, O Lord, with beams of glory mine: 
 Afcend, thou general judge, thine awful feat, 
 And pafs upon the proud the fentence meet : 
 
 How 
 
 f That is, fure, Lord, are thy foederal promifes ; 
 for it becomes not thee to depart from thy word, deli- 
 vered to us by thine Oracle ; but it is thy glory to ob- 
 serve it facredly for ever. Patrick. 
 
236 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 How long, Jehovah, fliall the wicked fland ? 
 
 How long triumphant profper in the land ? 
 
 How long mail evil workers, proudly vain, 
 
 Foam out their fwelling words of high difdain ? 
 
 Thy people, Lord, with maturing flrokes they bruife, 
 
 With rigorous hands thine heritage abufe : 
 
 The widow, and the ftranger, treacherous flay, 
 
 And fnatch the helplefs orphan's life away : 
 
 I ah mall not fee, fays their blafpheming tongue, 
 
 And Jacob's God mail not perceive the wrong : 
 
 But ceafe, ye brutes, fuch falfhoods to devife ; 
 
 Ye fools unconjiant y when will ye be wife ? 
 
 Who planted firft the curious fpiral ear, 
 
 Shall He, the wife artificer^ not hear ? 
 
 Who form'd the texture of the chryftal eye, 
 
 Your thoughts and actions mall He not defcry ? 
 
 The Lord, who doth the Heathen's ways controul, 
 
 Shall he not punifh the tranfgrefling foul ? 
 
 Who, rich in knowledge, doth its depths explain, 
 
 He knows the thoughts of man, that they are vain. 
 
 EleiTings are his, whom thy juft judgments awe, 
 
 He, whom, O Lord, thou teacher! in thy law : 
 
 To give him quiet from all anxious care, 
 
 Whilft for th' unjuft their crimes the pit prepare. 
 
 Whom once Jehovah did his chofen make, 
 
 He calls not off, nor will his own forfake : 
 
 Still 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 237 
 
 Still juftice fhall its equal hand difplay, 
 
 Th' upright fhn.ll gladly fee, and keep its way. 
 
 Who fhall rife with me ? who (hall take my part 
 
 Againft the wicked, and the falfe in heart ? 
 
 Had not Jehovah lent his kindly aid, 
 
 My foul had now in folemn filence laid : 
 
 When, Lord, I faid, my foot will Aide away 
 
 From off its bafe ; thy mercy was my flay. 
 
 When in my breaft fad thoughts perplexing roll, 
 
 Thine healing confolations eafe my foul. 
 
 2 Shall thofe on judgment's throne meet in thy name, 
 
 Who cruel wrongs by legal procefs frame ? 
 
 They run by troops to facrifi ce the good, 
 
 As guilty to condemn the guiltlefs blood. 
 
 But God, Jehovah's my defenfive height, 
 
 My rock, my hope ; lie will their wrongs requi 
 
 He to deftroy them will his power employ, 
 
 Them in their wicked craft will God deftroy. 
 
 psa: .;: 
 
 8 The meaning is, wilt thou own for thy vicegerent 
 in the government of the world the prince, d 
 in barbarities and oppreiiions (like P&aroa 
 creating pain and vexation to thy fervants, as k 
 by law and fclernn decrees? Patrick, Hare, 
 Mudge, 
 

 238 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM XCV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It was composed for publick Ufe in the Service of the 
 Jewifh Church, and, according to the Greek Infcrip- 
 tion, by David. Some think it relates to the Tran- 
 Jlation of the Ark, 2 Sam. vi. I. but Grotius is of 
 Opinion it zuas composed to be ufed in the Fealr. of 
 Tabernacles, when they ajfembled to praij'e the Lord 
 their God, and hear Injlrufiions out of the Law ; 
 and is therefore us'd by our Church in the Entrance 
 of our Morning Service for the fame Reafons. Pa- 
 trick, Nichols. 
 
 /^OME, to Jehovah raife th 1 exulting voice, 
 ^^^ In God, our faving rock, aloud rejoice : 
 Let us his prefence meet with thankful lays, 
 Shout forth in tuneful pfalms triumphant praife. 
 Jehovah's God, the great Almighty one, 
 All gods muft bow before his regal throne. 
 The earthly deeps confefs his fovereign fway, 
 As the high mountains his commands obey : 
 He pour'd the fea from his creating hand, 
 And he prepaid the dry, divided land : 
 O come, let us adore the Lord, and bow 
 With knees before our maker bended low. 
 
 He 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 239 
 
 He is our God, and we his people are, 
 His hand-led fheep, which his green paftures mare* 
 Now hear his gracious voice without delay, 
 Nor fteel your hearts, as in the noted day, 
 When ye at h Merlbah did Mofes try, 
 Or when at Mafjah, tempted the moft high : 
 There did your fires my pow'r provoking prove, 
 And faw my work, when they contending flrovs : 
 This people griev'd me forty twelve -months long, 
 As thro' the defart march'd the wand'ring throng : 
 'Twas then I faid, Thro' error's various maze 
 They ftray with blinded hearts, nor know my ways : 
 To whom I fwore, with furious wrath pofTeft, 
 They mail not enter mine appointed reft.' 
 
 h At Merlbah, that is, in the contention , or pro-vocation, 
 as the Greek termeth it, the name of a place in the 
 Wildernefs, where Ifrael contended with Mofes, and 
 tempted the Lord, faying, Is the Lord among us, or no ? 
 becaufe there was no water for the people to drink. 
 Therefore he called the place Meribah (contention) and 
 Maffah (temptation), Exod, xvii. 1, 2, 7. Ains- 
 WORTH. 
 
 PSAL M 
 
240 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM XCVI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 // is infcrib'd in the Greek Copies, An Ode of Da- 
 vid, being composed upon the Tranjlation of the Ark<> 
 and is extant in the I Chron. xvi. only differing 
 in form few Particulars ; which Additions are Jup- 
 pos'd to be made by the Prophet Efdras, upon the 
 Je wifh Reft y oration after the Captivity, Nichols, 
 
 £< ING a new pfalm to God, th' eternal king, 
 Let all the earth to God, Jehovah, fing ; 
 Sing to Jehovah's name the thankful lay, 
 Shew his falvation forth from day to day: 
 Among the heathen fpread his glorious fame, 
 Among the lands his wond'rous works proclaim : 
 Great is Jehovah, great mould be his praife, 
 No other God your aweful fear mould raife : 
 The heathen gods are vain, are idols all, 
 He call the heavens around this earthy ball; 
 Honour and glory mine before his face, 
 And ftrength and beauty in his holy place : 
 Give, all ye people, to the Lord mod high, 
 Give to Jehovah, pow'r and majefty : 
 Give to Jehovah's name the praifes due, 
 Approach his courts, your precious gifts renew : 
 
 Bow 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 241 
 Bow in his beauteous houfe, with reverence meet, 
 Let all the people tremble at his feet : 
 Publifh the truth, amongft the nations fay, 
 That great Jehovah bears the fovereign fway. 
 He bids the 'ftablifrTd earth in quiet lye, 
 He will with righteoufnefs the people try. 
 Let heaven be glad, and let the earth rejoice, 
 Let the fea roar, and ifles exalt their voice : 
 Ye fruitful fields, your joyous cloathing wear, 
 With dancing boughs, ye woods, attune the air ; 
 Before Jehovah found th' alarming call ; 
 k He comes, he comes to judge ; and fummons all ; 
 To his juft judgment all the world mutt Hand, 
 Which truth mall ballance with an equal hand. 
 
 k This feems to be fpoken in view of fome remark- 
 able manifestation of divine providence, juft then be- 
 ginning to be exercis'd in doing juftice to the deferv- 
 ings of mankind ; fome victory probably given to ths 
 Jewilh nation, as in the 98th. Mudge, 
 
 R PSALM 
 
24.2 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM XCVII. 
 
 ARGUMENT, 
 
 The Septuagint Verfion entitles this, A Pfalm of 
 David, when his Country was reftor'd to him ; 
 which fome un.i •ftandcfhh I ft "oration after Abfa- 
 lom'i Rebellion , But that is not probable , becaufe of 
 the Mentio ■ of Jdolat jrs and their Gods, ver. 7. It 
 [com rather to refer to that Time, when he was made 
 Mafler of all theje Countries^ which God anciently 
 dcfigrfd to be the Inheritance of Ifrael. It is alfo 
 taken to be a direft Prophecy of the Kingdom of the 
 Meffias. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 T" ET earth be glad, the Lord, Jehovah, reigns, 
 *"* Take up, ye numerous ifles, your joyful flrains; 
 Around him dark, and gloomy clouds are rolPd,- 
 Juftice and righteoufnefs his throne uphold : 
 A fire from his dread prefence inVd out, 
 The flames confum'd his haters round about: 
 His lightening's blaze illumin'd o'er the plains, 
 Earth fhiv'ring faw, as one in child-birth pains : 
 The mounts before JehoVAh melt away, 
 Like wax, before his face's beaming ray : 
 Who reigns the Lord : his juftice heaven unfolds, 
 And every land his glorious works beholds. 
 
 AbafiYd 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 243 
 
 Abafh'd be they, who boaft themfelves, and own 
 
 A graven image, and a god of ftone : 
 
 Who vainly to unfeeing idols bow : 
 
 O ! all ye ' Gods, before him proftratelow. 
 
 Sion with joy Jehovah's judgments hears, 
 
 And Judah\ daughters lend their gladfome ears : 
 
 Above the earth, fupreme in majefty, 
 
 Above all gods, thou art exalted high. 
 
 Ye, who the good Jehovah truly love, 
 
 By hating evil works your faith approve : 
 
 To fave his faints, he will their champion ftand, 
 
 And keep them from the wicked's treach rous hand : 
 
 The m light, now fown, mail future harvefts bring, 
 
 Whence for the juft in heart fhall gladnefs fpring. 
 
 Ye righteous, ferve the Lord with joyful praife, 
 
 Record in grateful fongs his holy ways. 
 
 1 Heb. Elo-him. All ye Gods, i. e. as the Greek 
 faith, all ye his angels ; fee Pfalm viii. 6. Unto this the 
 apoitlefeems to have reference, faying, When he bringeth 
 his jirft begotten into the world, he faith, let all the angels 
 of Godworjbip him. Feb. i. 6. Ainsworth. 
 
 m Light is fo-u:n. That is, comfort and joy is refernfd 
 after trouble: Efth. viii. 16. which, tho 1 it mould be 
 hidden for the prefent, as feed in the ground, fhall as 
 certainly arile to the righteous, as corn at laft fprings up, 
 after it hath lain all winter in the earth. Ainsworth. 
 Patrick. 
 
 R 2 PSALM 
 
244 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM XCVIII. 
 
 A Psalm. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 •Sreek CopiQS attribute it to David, frcm ivhence 
 ''tis apprehended to have Relation to fame of his Con- 
 quejis ; if not, it might be composed in Irritation of 
 him by Jorne Holy Man upon any remarkable Delhc- 
 rance^ which God had newly granted to Ifrael. But 
 it is moji probable, as the learned of the Jcwifh a?id 
 Chriflian Writers think, that it is a prophetical Ex- 
 ultation for the Converfion of the Gentiles. Pa- 
 
 .ick, Nichols. 
 
 PING blclTings new in ftrains of recent thought, 
 
 Sing to Jehovah, who hath wonders wrought ; 
 He with his holy arm, and ftrong right hand, 
 Hath gain'd the viclory for his IfracFs land : 
 The Lord hath made his great falvation known, 
 To heathen lands his avveful judgments mown, 
 His truth to Ifrael, and his love of right ; 
 Earth's diflant ends have feen his faving might : 
 Shout to Jehovah with triumphant noife, 
 Shout forth, O earth, fmg praifes, and rejoice : 
 Sing to Jehovah with the pleafant lyre, 
 Vvhilll tuneful pfalms their vocal notes confpire; 
 
 With 
 
TJje PSALMS of DAVID. 245 
 With trumpets and the cornet's louder found, 
 Shout forth the King Jehova around; 
 
 Let the fea rear, and join ye iflands ajl, 
 The world, and ^ty who tread this earthy ball : 
 With dafliing waves, ye dreams, the concert fill, 
 Anfwer their joyful voice each ecchoing hill : 
 Before the Lord found forth th' alarming call, 
 He comes to judge the earth ; and furnmens all : 
 To his juft judgment all the world rnufc Hand, 
 He deals forth right with an impartial hand. 
 
 PSAL M XCIX. 
 
 A R G U M E N T. 
 
 Jofs Pfalm, which is attributed to David, by the 
 Greeks, is defigned io celebrate toe Greainefs of G:d 9 
 and bis Right to the Hoiaage of all the World from 
 his Power, ver. 1, 2. from his Righteoufnefs^ ver* 
 
 4. and from the actual Exercife of his Cover , 
 
 his Favour to his faithful Servant:, and his P. 
 ment to the Rebellious 3 ver. 6, 7, 8. MuDGE. 
 
 ' 9 % HE Lord, Jehovah, reigns,-- with aweful fear 
 Let the mov'd world his (overeign fway revere - } 
 Between the Cherubim he holds his place, 
 Though earth in uproars tremble on its bafe r 
 
 Pv 3 Sion 
 
246 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Sion hath his tranfcendent greatnefs known, 
 
 And his fupremacy the nations own : 
 
 Let them confefs Jehovah's glorious name, 
 
 Holy, and great, and of tremendous fame. 
 
 jfuftice and Mercy are the king's delight, 
 
 For thefe in Jacob he exerts his might : 
 
 The Lord is holy ; praife him more and more ; 
 
 And at his footftool worfhip, and adore. 
 
 Mofes and Aaron thus were wont to join, 
 
 And Samuel, feparate by a voice divine, 
 
 With prieftly facrifice to gain his ear, 
 
 They call'd upon the Lord, who deign'd to hear. 
 
 » When from the ruddy, vocal, cloud he fpake, 
 
 They kept his words, nor would his flatutes break : 
 
 Them thou didfl anfwer with forgiving grace, 
 
 O Lord, our God, who humbly fought thy face : 
 
 But thofe, who murmuring dar'd to difobey, 
 
 Thro' vengeance perinYd in their wicked way : 
 
 The Lord is holy : praife him more and more ; 
 
 In holy Sion, God, our Lord, adore. 
 
 * Exod. xxxiii. ver. 9, 10. Numb. xii. 5. C5; 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID, 247 
 
 PSALM C. 
 
 A Pfalm of Praife. 
 
 A R G U M E N T. 
 
 The Hebrew Infcription of this PJalm 3 which is at- 
 tributed by the Greeks to David, is peculiar to its 
 felf alone. And 'tis therefore entitled^ A Pfalm of 
 Praife, becaufe it is a Form of Thankfgiving, ufed 
 at the Peace-offering, mentioned Lev. vii, 12, 
 as the Chaldee Paraphrafe obferves. Patric:;, 
 Nichols. 
 
 T7E nations, with melodious fhouts rejoice, 
 
 Shout to Jehovah with triumphant noife ; 
 With gladncfs ferve him in afcmbled throngs, 
 And come before his prefence with your fongs : 
 God is Jehovah, know the mighty name ; 
 Not we our felves, he plann'd, and rais'd our frame : 
 We are his people, and bis tended fheep, 
 Whofe eyes his flock in verdant paftures keep. 
 
 Enter 
 
 c Oar bible verfion has for the generality conform'd 
 to the Jpiui/b fuperitition of converting the divine 
 name, Jehovah, into the title of Lcrd; but 'tis very 
 evident, that the whole beauty of this pfalm, which is 
 addrefs'd to the nations, entirely depends upon the ufe 
 of this name of the God of Jfrael, inoppofition to thoie 
 R 4 of 
 
248 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Enter his gates with thanks, his courts with praife, 
 O ! bleis his name, your grateful voices raife : 
 Jehovah's good, his truth is ever fure, 
 His mercy mall from age to age endure. 
 
 PSALM CI. 
 A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 h feems to have been compos' 'd, when David fiiji came 
 to the Kingdom, whiljl he reigned In Hebron, 2 Sam, 
 ii. I. before he came to the entire P off ejfion of the 
 Monarchy. Herein he lays down feme very wife and 
 pious Ref rations, which he prefcribed to himfelf in 
 the Adminijiration of his Government. Patrick, 
 Nichols. 
 
 Tt IT Y tongue (hall royal grace, and judgment fing, 
 
 111 tune to thee my pfalm, eternal king. 
 
 My courfe I'll keep in wifdom's perfect way, 
 
 When wilt thou come ? and when thy grace difplay I 
 
 Then in mine houfe, to all thy laws refign'd, 
 
 I'll walk before thee with a fpotlefs mind. 
 
 Nothing of Belurf mall my fight o fiend, 
 
 Kate (hall th' apoftate from my bofom rcr.d : 
 
 The 
 
 of the heathen Gods ; fuch as Baal, which fignifies, 
 Lord. And the fame remark will hold of feveral paf- 
 t^roughoutthe pklms. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 245 
 The wicked profligate, the foul unjuft, 
 Shall fly my prefence, baniAYd from my truft ; 
 I'll caft the fecret flanderer from mine ear, 
 Nor the high look, or fwelling ilomach, bear. 
 The faithful man, whofe paths to virtue tend, 
 Shall wait mine eyes, and be mine inmate friend. 
 No fycophants mail in mine houfe refide, 
 No liars fhall before my face abide. 
 Soon will I fweep the wicked from the land, 
 That in thy city they may ceafe to fland. 
 
 PSALM CII. 
 
 A Prayer of the Afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, 
 and poureth out his Complaint before the Lord. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Chaldee Paraphrafe, and Kimchi, will have it to 
 be compos* d in the Name of the Jewifh Nation, dur- 
 ing the Captivity, which is a very probable Conjecture. 
 Mo ft certainly it was anciently ufed by the Jews, as 
 a proper Form of Devotion at a Time of Humilia- 
 tion , and hence likewife it was adapted to the fame 
 Ufe by Chrijlians, this being one of the f even Peniten- 
 tial Pfalms. Nichols. 
 
 D 
 
 O not, O Lord, mine humble pray'r deny, 
 But liften to my lamentable cry. 
 
 Hide 
 
2 5 © "The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Hide not thy face in the diftrefsful day, 
 Nor from thy fervant turn thine ear away ; 
 But when I call, when in the time of need, 
 Then anfwer me with acceptable fpeed : 
 My years confum'd, like fmoky vapours, fly, 
 And, as an hearth, my bones are burnt and dry : 
 As blafted herbs, mine hearty bloom is fled, 
 And I forget to eat my daily bread. 
 Mine utter'd groanings tell the grief within, 
 My flefhlefs bones cleave to the fhriveird fkin. 
 In defarts fo the P Pelican alone, 
 Or Bittern, makes its folitary moan : 
 Thro 1 grief I watch, from others Hand aloof, 
 Juft as a fparrow on the topmoft roof: 
 Againft me are my raging haters fworn, 
 Who treat me as their conftant jeft and fcorn : 
 My bread's with afhes ftain'd, the trickling tear 
 Streams in my cup, andfadly mingles there: 
 Becaufe, O God, of thine indignant frown, 
 For thou haft lift me up, to call: me down. 
 Like fhadows are my days, which quickly pafs, 
 Drooping I languiih, like the wither'd grafs : 
 
 But 
 
 p The Heb. words, here tranflated Tclican and Bit- 
 tern, are varioufly apprehended by interpreters-^ but the 
 idea of the pfalmift is fufriciently conveyed by thofe 
 lonefome fowls. 
 
We PSALMS of DAVID. 251 
 
 But thou, O Lord, for ever fhalt endure, 
 
 Thro' every age ftands thy mgmorial fure. 
 
 Arife, reverfe thy Sion\ wretched doom, 
 
 The time of favour, yea, the time is come. 
 
 It grieves thy fervants to behold around 
 
 Her pleafmg ftones, fpread o'er the dufty ground : 
 
 The heathen fhall, O Lord, thy name revere, 
 
 And every earthly king thy glory fear : 
 
 When thou rebuilded Sion ihalt reftore, 
 
 Then fhall appear thy majefty and powV. 
 
 Him, who in captive bands diftrefsful cries, 
 
 Thou fhalt regard, nor his addrefs defpife : 
 
 This future times fhall find upon record, 
 
 And people, yet unborn, fhall praife the Lord. 
 
 Jehovah from his holy place on high 
 
 Look'd down, and cafl on earth his fearching eye ; 
 
 He faw ; and heard the prifoner's dying groans, 
 
 And caus'd to ceafe the defperate's grievous moans : 
 
 That Sions choirs may magnify thy ways, 
 
 And Salem's joyful tribes declare thy praife ; 
 
 When all the people fhall with one accord, 
 
 And all the kingdoms join to ferve the Lord. 
 
 Me hath he weak'ned by a quick decay, 
 
 Shortened my days, and flopp'd me in the way : 
 
 'Twas 
 
252 The PSALMS cf DAVID 
 
 'Twas then I faid, thine heavy hand forbear, 
 
 O Lord, my God, thy differing fervant fpare ; 
 
 Do not before the time diilblve my frame : 
 
 Thou art thro' every age th 1 eternal fame : 
 
 Of old thou mad'ft this globe of fea and land, 
 
 The heaven's too are the fabrick of thine hand. 
 
 They all lhall perifh, thou ihalt ne'er decay, 
 
 As a chaiig'd garment they mail change away ; 
 
 Like a call garb, which eating time fhall rend ; 
 
 Thou art the fame, thy years mall never end. 
 
 Yet fhall our favour'd fons enjoy the light, 
 
 Their feed fhall be eftablihYd in thy fight. 
 
 ■ ' ■ . » ■ ■ ..... ., i ..I ■ n 
 
 psalm era. 
 
 A Pfalm of David, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The thirds fourth , and fifth Verfcs faiisfy us, that the 
 
 Author compos 'd it after his Recovery from a danger- 
 
 • ous Sicknefs to a vigorous State of Health, Pa TRICK, 
 
 •""V Blefs Jehovah, blefs his holy name, 
 
 My foul, and all that acluates my frame : 
 Blefs thou Jehovah ; Omy foul, regard, 
 In conflant thought his manifold reward : 
 
 Who 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 253 
 
 Who for thy various fins his pardon feals, 
 
 And all thy pains in gracious kindnefs heals. 
 
 Thy life who refcues from the pit below, 
 
 And with his tender mercies crowns thy brow. 
 
 Who for thy food abundant plenty pours, 
 
 Thine, as the new-plumM Eagle's youth, 4 reftores* 
 
 Righteous in judgment is th' eternal God 
 
 To thofe, who fuffer from oppression's rod. 
 
 For this he fhew'd each mighty, wond'rous, deed 
 
 To Mofes, and his works to Ifrael's feed : 
 
 The Lord is gracious, and of mercy fure, 
 
 And good to pardon much, and much endure : 
 
 He doth not always for our frailties chide, 
 
 Nor wills for ever that his wrath abide : 
 
 Oft he his threat'ned punifhment revokes, 
 
 Nor equals to our fins his vengeful flrokes. 
 
 As heaven capacious to this earthly frame, 
 
 Such is his love to thofe, who fear his name : 
 
 He fets the fins from the remorfeful breafl 
 
 As far as eaft is diftant from the weft : 
 
 Juft 
 
 1 Orig. Thy youth is renewed like the Eaglets, which 
 cafteth its feathers yearly, according to Ainsworth, 
 but as Bythner fays, once in ten years ; when being 
 clad with new plumage, it feemeth frefh and young, 
 flyethhigh, and liveth long, fo Ifai. xl. 31. But they, 
 
 that 
 
a 5 4 <&" PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Juft as a father to his Ton is kind, 
 
 Such is Jehovah to the pious mind: 
 
 To our weak frame his thought 's benignly juft, 
 
 For he remembers, that we are but duft. 
 
 For men, their days are as the withering grafs, 
 
 As flowers which bloom, and then their beauties pafs : 
 
 The blafting wind juft fkims them fmiling o'er, 
 
 They're gone ; ~ and grace their native place no more. 
 
 Still to the juft his ccafclefs goods defcend, 
 
 To blefs their children s children without end ; 
 
 Who will not from his gracious word depart, 
 
 And keep his precepts in their confcious heart. 
 
 Enthron'd on high Jehovah governs all, 
 
 The heavens above, and earth's encompafs'd ball : 
 
 All ye his angels, blefs th' eternal Lord, 
 
 Be fwift to hear, prompt to perform his word : 
 
 O blefs the Lord, ye hofts, who wait his will 
 
 Around his throne, and his commands fulfill : 
 
 Blefs, all his works, th' artificer divine, 
 
 To blefs the Lord, my foul, the general concert join. 
 
 that nvnit upon the Lord, Jhall renew their Jlrength, they 
 jhall Mount up with wings as Eagles, Ainsworth. 
 Bythner. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 255 
 
 PSALM CIV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Th Greeks infcribe it, A Pfalm of David on the 
 Creation of the World ; and they are hemn followed 
 by the Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic 
 Verfions. To confirm it for DavidV, Aben Ezra 
 obferves, that it begins, jujl as the foregoing Pfalm> 
 which is afcriVd to him, ends ; and it celebrates 
 the mighty Power andGoodnefs of God in the Fabrick 
 of the World-, as the former doth his Benefits to him- 
 felf, and the rejl of the Children of Men. Pa- 
 trick, Nichols. 
 
 "]* It AKE, O my foul, Jehovah's praife thy theme 5 
 
 O Lord, my God, above all things fupreme, 
 Bedeck'd with majeily, with glory bright, 
 Thou art, as with a robe, array'd in light. 
 'Twas he, who fpread the curtain of the iky, 
 Th' extended heav'ns, a mining canopy. 
 He floor'd his chambers with th' ethereal floods, . 
 And for his chariot rang'd the paffive clouds. 
 He walks upon the wings of rapid wind, 
 His angels fly in fiery flames behind, 
 Attendant fpirits : 'twas he laid the bafe 
 Of earth, and fix'd its ever-'itablim'd place. 
 
 The 
 
256 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 The waters, as a garment, wrapp'd it round, 
 And Hood above the mountains rifing ground : 
 When thy moil dread rebuke forbade their ftay 
 In thunder's voice, — they fled in hafte away ; 
 Rufh'd up the r mounts, down to the vallies flow'd, 
 To take the place thy planning wifdom mow'd. 
 When thou didft fix their everlafting bound, 
 And fweep their covering from the verdant ground : 
 Didft fend their fprings amidft the floping hills, 
 Which run along the dales in winding rills. 
 There the wild affes quench their thirfty heat, 
 Beafts of the field their cooling draughts repeat : 
 Birds of the air in neighbouring bufhes dwell, 
 And from their boughs thy praife their voices tell. 
 He wat'reth from his ftores the mountain tops, 
 The teeming earth is fill'd with wond'rous crops 
 And, thus refrefrYd, grafs for the cattle fprings ; 
 His rain for man the various herbage brings j 
 
 This 
 
 r It fuits bell with the connexion of this place, to 
 underftand it concerning the tempeftuous driving of the 
 watery element, when it cover'd the terreftrial parts of 
 the world, by the divine power, into its prepar'd recep- 
 tacles. And accordingly Mr. Mudge notes, that a no- 
 ble image is here loft by our translators, who feem not 
 to apprehend, that the Pjuhnift here describes the mo- 
 tion of the waters along the mountains and vallies, 
 when at God's command they hurried away from the 
 furfuce of the earth into the places afMgn'd for them. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 257 
 This gives the food the hufky grains inclofe ; 
 Hence wine to glad the foul its joy bellows -, 
 Oil doth to man the chearful face impart, 
 And bread enlivens, and fupports his heart. 
 The s trees are fap-full, planted by thine hand, 
 Which in thy Lebanon, Jehovah, Hand : 
 To nurfe the birds their rocking boughs combine ; 
 The ftorks for reft fear to the lofty pine : 
 The untam'd goats their high-huTd refuge know, 
 The conies fkulk in cavern'd rocks below : 
 To point the feafons the pale moon attends, 
 The fun performs his courfe, and then defcends : 
 'Tis thou doll: fpread the fable fhades of night, 
 Which to their food the forreft's beafts invite : 
 The young and ramping lions roar for prey, 
 And take their meat from God before the day ; 
 The fun arifeth, and they feek around 
 Their dens obfeure, and couchant prefs the ground. 
 Man in the morn to daily labour goes, 
 And tir'd, returns to take the night's repofe. 
 What works thy pow'r and wifdom, Lord, afford I 
 All earth is with thy living wonders ftor'd. 
 
 S Kinds 
 
 8 Orig. the trees of Jehovah. This is after ex- 
 pounded, which he planted. And they mean trees of 
 original growth, never tranfplanted, fuch as the Ihtely 
 and luxuriant cedars cf Liha?ius. So the Chaldee tranf- 
 lateth, Trees, which the Lord created, Ainsworth. 
 
25B rbt PSALMS uf DAVID 
 
 Kinds great and fmall crowd the capacious deep, 
 Rum thro' its waves, or on the bottom creep : 
 There go the mips ; there 'midft its boifterous ways, 
 1 Leviathan, thy creature, fportive plays. 
 Thefe wait on thee, thefe all on thee rely, 
 Who in due feafon may'ft their meat fupply : 
 They reap the fruit of thy difpenfing care, 
 The goods, thy bounteous hand bellows, they mare. 
 Thou doll but hide the beamings of thy face, 
 And they with drooping heads decline apace ; 
 Thou fayft, Be flopp'd their breath,— with inftant pain, 
 They die ; and to the dull return again. 
 Thou fendefl forth thy fpiiit, then they live, 
 Nature looks gay, and all things round revive. 
 The glory of the Lord mail ever laft, 
 Thofe works fhall pleafe him, which his hand has caft. 
 Earth confeious trembles at his aweful look, 
 He doth but touch the mountains, and they fmoke. 
 I'll fing my God with mine extrcrneft breath, 
 I'll praifc Jehovah 'till the ftroke of death. 
 Sweet meditation fhall my mind employ, 
 The Lord mall glad my thoughts with heav'nly joy : 
 
 Hence, 
 
 * Leviathan. The whale, or fea dragon, according 
 to the Seventy, and Pfal. lxxiv. 14. Job. xl. 20. 
 
 AlNSWORTH, BVTHNER. 
 
The PSALMS */ DAVID. 259 
 
 Hence, ye prophane, ye execrable band, 
 God will confume, and fweep you from the land. 
 But thou, my foul, in bleffing Arams adore 
 The Lord, eternal, all-creative pow'r. 
 
 P S A L M CV, 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Pfahn to ver. 1 5. is afcrib'd to David, 1 Chron. 
 xvi. // was afterwards alter* a td what it Jiands 
 here ; but whether that was done by David '5 oivn, 
 or fome mere modern Hand, is not Jo certain. It 
 contains an Hijiory of God's various Providences to 
 the jews. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 g^\ ALL on Jehovah's name, confefs the Lord, 
 
 Put his flupendous actions on record : 
 Sing, fing your pfalms, the rififig numbers fwell, 
 And let your talk his various wonders tell : 
 Boalt in his holy name with glorious voice, 
 Let them; who feek the Lord, in heart rejoice. 
 Seek ye the Lord, and his protecting pow'r^ 
 ! feek his beaming prefence evermore. 
 Think on the works, the marvels he hath done, 
 The judgments pafs'd from his tremendous throne*, 
 O ye, his faithful fervant Abrahams race, 
 Ye fons of Jacob) chofe in Efatts place 1 
 
 S 2 H« 
 
260 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 He is Jehovah, he is IfraeTs God, 
 Who awes the earth with his judicial rod : 
 He bears his promife ever in his mind, 
 His facred word can never ceafe to bind : 
 Who gave to Abraham nrft his plighted troth, 
 Then made to Ifaac his repeated oath : 
 To Jacob, and to Ifrael, the decree 
 Stood for a u covnant of eternity. 
 Saying, I give you Canaan 's plenteous land, 
 Each tribe its part from mine allotting hand. 
 Then were our fires but few, few and unknown, 
 Inhabiting a country, not their own : 
 To this, and to that kingdom, forc'd to go, 
 Strangers in all, they wander'd to and fro. 
 But yet the wand'rers did his care partake, 
 Yea mighty kings reprov'd he for their fake : 
 Touch ye not mine anointed ; hold your arm, 
 And, to my facred prophets, do no harm. 
 A dearth enfu'd, foon as the word he fpoke, 
 And in their land the w ft off of life was broke. 
 
 Then 
 
 ■ Heb. Bherith Ghnolam : which is renderM by 
 Aihsworth, a covenant of eternity, meaning a cove- 
 nant not to be revok'd. 
 
 •' Orig. The ftaff of bread, in that it fupports life. 
 civ. 15. (o bread is calTd Lev. xxvi. 26. EzeL 
 iv. 16. Ainsworth, 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 261 
 Then was the princely Jofeph fent a flave, 
 Redeem'd from death the Patriarch race to fave : 
 Around his feet the cramping fetters clung, 
 His grieved foul the galling irons wrung : 
 The time approach'd for his foretold releafe, 
 Jehovah's word mull Hand ; his trials ceafe : 
 The ruler of the people fet him free, 
 The king reftor'd him glorious liberty : 
 The fovereign in the prifoner now confides ; 
 Lord of his houfe, he o'er the realm prefides : 
 That to his mind his princes he might draw, 
 And teach his elders wifdom's facred law : 
 'Twas then to fertile Egypt Ifrael came, 
 And Jacob fojourn'd in the land of Ham : 
 Thro' great increafe his people's number rofe, 
 Which made them flronger than the native foes : 
 To deadly hate heturn'd th' Egyptians hearts, 
 Who vex'd his fervants with enfnaring arts : 
 He chofe out Mofes, to fulfill his mind, 
 And Aaron, for the facred charge defign'd. 
 Who brought on Egypt plagues, divinely fent, 
 And fundry flrokes of wond'rous punifhment. 
 ho ! Mofes fpread, thro' God's exprefs command, 
 Blacknefs of darknefs o'er th' Egyptian land. 
 
 S 3 The 
 
262 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 The Nile's converted into ftreaming gore, 
 And fhoais of putrid fifh infect the (hore : 
 Millions of frogs leap croaking all abroad, 
 And makeev'n rooms of date their ftrange abode. 
 He fpake, and clouds of flies their coafts alarm ; 
 Then filthy lice around their borders fwarm : 
 Inftead of gentle and refrefliing fhow'rs,' 
 The Lord a railing peal of hailftones pours : 
 Amaz'd they fee the lightnings downward trail, 
 And lick the reikis of the pelting hail : 
 Down grapes and figs in wild ccnfufion fpread, 
 Mix with the vines and trees, thro 1 blafting dead ; 
 He fpake, and canker-worms, and locuft bands, 
 With flying troops, advance to fpoil their lands : 
 The winged pefl confumes the herbage round, 
 Devours the grafs, and fruit of all the ground : ' 
 At length the fuffering land bereav'd bewails 
 The prime of all their ftrength, the firft-born males. 
 With precious loads enrich'd, the wand'ring throng, 
 Without one feeble perfon, rnarch'd along : 
 Their exit gave the trembling inmates joy, 
 For fear new plagues mould their remains deftroy f 
 A cloudy pillar fkreen'd them thro' the day, 
 By night an heav'nly fire illum'd the way : 
 
 Thc-j 
 
77;* PSALMS of DAVID. 263 
 They afk'd, and were with fhow'rs of dainties fed, 
 With quails delicious, and with heavenly bread. 
 He fmote the rock ; obedient to his hand, 
 The ftreams, like rivers, wafh'd the thirfly land ; 
 To Abraham he had pafs'd his facred word, 
 And he was mindful of the fure record : 
 From Egypt's coafts he led his chofen out 
 With joy, his tribes with a triumphant fhout. 
 Then gave he them the heathens fertile plains, 
 Who feiz'd the fruit of their manuring pains : 
 That they might own his laws, and keep his ways ; 
 O ye, his people, give Jehovah praife, 
 
 PSALM 
 
264 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM CVL 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Dr. Hammond, and Bijhop Patrick, are of 
 Opinion, that this is one of the Pfalms which David 
 delivered to Afaph and his Brethren, I Chron. xvi.7. 
 and that it refers to thofe taken Prifoners by the 
 Philiftines in the Days of Sa.\i\. But Dr. Nichols 
 thinks it to have been composed during the Captivity ; 
 itfeeming to have been us'das a Porta of Prayer, when 
 the Jews, under that great Ajfliclion, thought fit to 
 acknowledge their National Sins, which had brought 
 down thofe heavy Judgments of God upon them. 
 Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 T) RAISE ye, andblefs, the good Jehovah's name, 
 
 His mercy lafts for evermore the fame : 
 What language can Jehovah's ads rehearfe ? 
 Or who can fmg His praife in equal verfe ? 
 Bleffings are theirs, who all his laws obferve, 
 Who never from his righteous judgments fwerve. 
 As on our fires thou didft thy grace bellow, 
 O ! vifit me with thy falvation now ; 
 That I may fee the joys, conferr'd on thine, -\ 
 
 Feel the bright beams, which on thy nation mine, > 
 That all their happinefs may ] :.:ne. J 
 
 Yet 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 265 
 
 Yet we, as heedlefs of thy promis'd blifs, 
 Have finn'd againft thee, and have done amifs ; 
 Thy works in jEgypt our weak fires forgot, 
 Thy numerous mercies they remembred not. 
 The fea, ev'n the Red-tea, but fhew'd its waves, 
 When from their Saviour turn'd the refcu'd ilaves : 
 Yet for his glory's fake he fav'd them Hill, 
 To prove what mighty pow'r attends his will : 
 The fea with his rebuke he deign'd to fweep, 
 And led them thro 1 the wild, as thro' the deep : 
 Sav'd them in the purfuit from Pbaroah's land, 
 And Hill redeem'd them from his hoftile hand : 
 On either fide rufh'd down the watery wall , 
 No foe was left, the floods o'erwhelm'd 'em all : 
 Then they believ'd his covenanted word, 
 And fang the praifes of th' almighty Lord. 
 But quickly they forgot his wond'rous might, 
 Dar'd wave his conduft, and his counfel flight. 
 They cry'd for more, mindlefs of favours paft, 
 And tempted God along the defart watte : 
 He nave them flefh, nor would their lulls controul, 
 Which turn'd to leanefs in their ftubborn foul : 
 To Mcfes did they grudge the chief command, 
 And Aaron) dread Jehovah's prieft, withftand : 
 
 The 
 
266 The PSALMS of DAVID r 
 
 The earth then opening, cover'd Datban o'er, 
 
 And fwallow'd up Abirams impious pow'r ; 
 
 An heav'nly fire, ranging their camp about, 
 
 Burnt up the bands of Koratis wicked rout : 
 
 At Herd's mount they call a molten brute, 
 
 Made to a golden calf religious fuit : 
 
 Thus took they for the radiant x Shechinah 
 
 The likenefs of an ox, that eateth hay. 
 
 Thus early they forgot their Saviour God, 
 
 Who fcourg'd th'JEgfptians with his wond'rous rod : 
 
 Who wrought fuch mighty deeds on Pharoah's coafls, 
 
 And pour'd his itorming terrors on his hofts. 
 
 Then did he fpeak enrag'd, his J thunder reach ; 
 
 But Mofes Hood before him in the breach j 
 
 His chofen flood, his anger to afTwage, 
 
 Left he fliculd flay them in his furious rage. 
 
 Yea, they defpis'd, tho 1 IfraeTs promis'd heirs, 
 
 The voice, which made that pleafant country theirs : 
 
 They murmur'd in their tents, refus'd his word, 
 
 Nor heard the orders of th 1 almighty Lord. 
 
 Then 
 
 x Heb. Keeho-dham. Their glory, viz. the Sbe- 
 thinaby or glorious prefence of the majefty of God, 
 (Exod. xxiv. 1 6, and 17 J which, appearing in the 
 cloud, had done many wonders for them. Patrick. 
 
 v See verfe 27, Therefore he lifted up Us band a? tank 
 
 them, &c. . * J 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 267 
 Then did he with a folemn oath prepare 
 To execute his wrath, his arm to bare : 
 Them and their feed to punifh with his hand, 
 And fcatter them thro' every heathen land. 
 Thro' ftrange conjunction to z Bel-phegor led, 
 They bow'd, and ate the offerings of the dead : 
 Their vain inventions did his rage provoke, 
 When thro' their camp a dire contagion broke : 
 The fmners zealous Bhinehas flew, and prayM, 
 And then the crime was purgM, the plague was ftay'd: 
 Which acl: for judice fignaliz'd his name, 
 Thro' all the records of religious fame. 
 At Meribah they ftrife incenfing make, 
 Where Mofes fufFer'd for the people's fake : 
 The meekeft foul, with fell refentment ftung, 
 Burfl unadvifed fpeeches from his tongue. 
 They did not, as enjoin'd, the nations flay, 
 But with the heathen mix'd, and learn'd their way : 
 They ferv'd their gods, which prov'd their dreadful fnare, 
 And dar'd, to devils facred, altars rear : 
 
 Their 
 
 z Heb. Baal-peor, Greek, Bel-phegor, the idol 
 of the Moabites, and Midianites. Baal is by interpreta- 
 tion, a lord, or patron ; by which name it is probable, 
 that the heathens call'd the fun, or fame Jiar, as noted 
 On Lev. xviii. 21. Pcor, or Phegor, was the name of 
 a mountain, Numb % xxm. 28. and of the idol there wor- 
 ^kipp'dj Numb. xxv. 17. Ainsworth. 
 
268 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 Their fons and daughters crown'd the horrid piles, 
 Their fons and daughters blood the ftones defiles ; 
 To Cowan's gods is pour'd the ftreaming gore, 
 And all the land's with blood polluted o'er. 
 Thus did their wicked works their fouls diftain, 
 Who went a whoring with inventions vain. 
 Then rofe the kindled anger of the Lord, 
 And he his chofen heritage abhorr'd; 
 Sent them to hated heathen ruler's lands, 
 Their foes opprefs'd them, humbled to their hands : 
 Often he fav'd them, yet their froward will 
 Provok'd his rage, and he reduc'd them flill : 
 But when he heard their lamentable cry, 
 Then he look'd down with pity from on high ; 
 Deign'd, mindful of his cov'nant, to relent, 
 And, after his abundant grace, repent ; 
 When captiv'd, and of neighbouring holts the prize, 
 He gave them favour in their conquerors eyes. 
 Save, Lord, and bring us from the lands, to praife 
 Thine holy name, and triumph in thy ways : 
 To IfraePs God, the everlafting king, 
 Jehovah, never-ceafmg praifes fing : 
 Thefe let his tuneful choirs with joy record ; 
 Say, all ye tribes, Amen — praife ye the Lord. 
 
 The End of the Fourth BOOK. 
 
 The 
 
27;* PSALMS of DAVID. 269 
 
 The Fifth BOOK of PSALMS. 
 PSALM CVII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 If we may conjeclure from the Connexion cf this with 
 the foregoing Pfahns, it was composed by David, who 
 having in the 105th put the Jews in Mind of tht 
 Promifes, made to the Patriarchs, and of the Blef- 
 fings be/low* d on their Pofterity; and in the 106th 
 ef their Ingratitude for them, and its confequential 
 Punijhments ; declares in this Pfalm the wonderful 
 Kindnefs of God in their Freedom from Slavery, and 
 in his careful Providence over all Mankind, Ac- 
 cording to Dr. Nichols, it cominemorates their 
 Deliverance from Captivity ; and then it mufl have 
 an Author after that Time, Patrick, Ni- 
 chols. 
 
 ^^OOD is Jehovah, blefs his holy name, 
 ^^ His mercy lafts for evermore the fame : 
 This let the Lord's redeemed exulting fay, 
 Whom he redeem'd, when they in durance lay ; 
 And brought them, to their land reflor'd, and free, 
 From eaft and weft, from north, and from the fea : 
 Thro' wilds by none of human kind pofTeft, 
 Wand'ring, they found no city, where to reft. 
 
 With 
 
z-jo The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 With fpirits fpent thro' thirft and hunger's pain, 
 They cry'd unto the Lord, nor cry'd in vain : 
 He heard their moans, and led the dang'rous way 
 To chofen Salem for their fettled itay. 
 Oh ! did men own Jehovah's wond'rous grace, 
 And tell his marvels, fhewn to Jda/ns race ? 
 For he with bounteous hand diffus'd his good^ 
 Drink to the thirfty, to the hungry food. 
 
 Who fat in darknefs, and death's baleful made, 
 In forrow bound, and iron fetters laid : 
 Since they turn'd rebels, and forgat the Lord, 
 Refus'd his cbuhfel, arid defpis'd his word ; 
 Their heart he humbled with afrii&ing grief, 
 They fell ; — and there was none to give relief. 
 Then cry'd they to the Lord, nor cry'd in vain, 
 He kindly fav'd them from their anxious pain : 
 From darknefs, and death's baleful made, his hands 
 Redeem'd their fouls, and brake their captive bands, 
 Oh ! did men own Jehovah's wond'rous grace, 
 And tell his marvels, fhewn to Adams race ! 
 The iron bars burfl at his pow'rful nroke, 
 His mighty arm the brafen portals broke. 
 
 The men, whom folly's out -fide charms allure,- 
 
 Anguifh for vice, and grief for fin endure : 
 
 They loath their food, in torment draw their breatK, 
 
 Reduced tolanguifli at the gates of death : 
 
 * . Thcri 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 271 
 
 Then cry they to the Lord, nor cry in vain, 
 He kindly faves them from their anxious pain : 
 He fends his balmy word, their wounds reftores, 
 And heals them of their putrifying fores. 
 Oh ! did men own Jehovah's wond'rous grace, 
 And tell his marvels, fliewn to Adam's race I 
 Oh ! let them facrifice with thankful praife, 
 With mouts triumphant celebrate his ways. 
 
 Thofe, who endure the ocean's toil for gain ; 
 Who plough in freighted fhips th' unconftant main j 
 Jehovah's wonders in the deep defcry, 
 And fee his works with an aftonifli'd eye 1 
 For a he but fpeaks -- the flormy winds arifc, 
 And lift the fwelling billows to the fkies : 
 They mount, as if their fails the heavens would fwce-p, 
 Then down they fall, and flopeinto the deep : 
 Their fouls diflblv'd at the dread mocks receiv'd, 
 They reel, like drunkards, of their wits bereav'd 
 
 Then 
 
 a How much more comfortable, as well as rational, 
 is this fyftem of the Pfalmifl, than the Pagan fcheme in 
 Virgil, and other poets, where one deity is reprefented 
 as raifing a ftorm, and another as laying it ! Were we 
 only to confider the fublime in this piece of poetry, 
 What can be nobler than the idea it gives us of the fu- 
 preme being thus raifing a tumult among the elements, 
 and recovering them out of their confufion, thus trou- 
 bling and becalming nature ? The Spectator. N°, 485. 
 
272 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Then cry they to the Lord, nor cry in vain, 
 Ke kindly faves them from their anxious pain. 
 He fays, Be calm,-— the fea obeys his will, 
 The florm is filent, and the waves are flill : 
 At length, no more the fport of raging wind, 
 He brings them fhouting to the port defign'd. 
 Oh ! did men own Jehovah's wondVous grace, 
 And tell his marvels, ihewn to ddamh race I 
 Let his redeem'd extol his faving hand, 
 Where in his courts the blefs'd aflemblies Hand j 
 To tell his deeds their joyful voices raife, 
 Amidfl the elders, and refound his praife. 
 He turns the moiften'd meads to thirity fands, 
 And water-fprings to dry and barren lands. 
 A fruitful foil he makes a defart ground, 
 Urg 7 d by the fins of thofe who dwell around ; 
 Again he turns the wilds to {landing pools, 
 Whilft fun-burnt climes the heavenly water cools ; 
 There dwell the Hungry thro 1 his guardian care, 
 There raife they walls, and fenced towns prepare : 
 They plant the vineyard, and they fow the field, 
 Which generous wines, and golden harvefts, yield : 
 The people he encreafes with their ftocks, 
 And gives the numerous owners numerous flocks 
 Again reduc'd for fin, he mars their joys, 
 The famine, tyrant or the plague deuroys : 
 
 He 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 273 
 
 He wrefts the fceptre from the prince away, 
 And makes him in the pathlcfs defart ftray : 
 He deigns the poor, when rais'd on high, to keep, 
 And gives him houfhoids, like a flock of fheep. 
 The righteous fhall behold it, and rejoice, 
 And wickednefs fhall fall her boafling voice. 
 The wife in heart fhall ponder o'er and o'er 
 Jehovah's mercies, and defpond no more. 
 
 - * - . 
 
 PSALM CVIII. 
 A Song or Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 7/ is compiled cut of the W\\th, and the latter Part of 
 the \xth, and was -placed here probably becaufe 
 David was now in a hopeful JVay to perfeel fame 
 Viclories, which he had began to win, whereby 
 fomeofthofe Captives , mentioned ver. 2d. and 3d. of 
 the foregoing Pfalm, were refcucd and fet at Li- 
 berty. JVhat thefe Nations were, over whom he was 
 about to triumph, fee in the Title of Pfalm Ix. 
 
 PATR.ICK. 
 
 TV /TY heart, O God, is fix'd ; my glorying tongue 
 
 Shall chaunt thy praifes in the facred fong. 
 Let the foft-founding lute, and harp awake, 
 Awake my lays, e're dawning day fhall breaV. : 
 
 T Within 
 
274 SP^ PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Within thy courts I'll found thy name alone, 
 And tell abroad the wonders thou haft done. 
 Thy mercy reacheth to the clouds on high, 
 Thy boundlefs truth furmounts the vaulted Iky ; 
 Exalt thy glory o'er thine heavenly hofts, 
 O God, and o'er the earth's remoteft coafls. 
 Anfwer, andrefcue me, with thy right hand, 
 That thy beloved may fecurely Hand. 
 b Th' orae'lar God hath fpoke, with joy I'll fliout, 
 Amongft my chiefs I'll portion Shecbem out : 
 O'er Succoth^s vale will throw the meafuring line, 
 Mine is Manaffeb, balmy GileacTs mine : 
 Epbraims my guard, and Juda gives my law ; 
 Whilft fervile Moab mall my water draw ; 
 I'll caft my (hoe o'er Efaus fubject land^ 
 I.o ! glad Pbilijiia ftoops to my command : 
 Who into EJom will receive my povv'rs, 
 Give up its capital, and fenced tow'rs ? 
 O God, who caft us off in time of need, 
 Nor didft, as once, our drooping armies lead; 
 Give thou in our diftrefs the fuccours meet, 
 For man's falvation is but vain deceit : 
 With furefuccefs God will our valour crown, 
 And tread th' infulting foe with triumph down. 
 
 * Sec the notes on pfalm lx. 
 
 P S A I M 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 275 
 
 P S A L M CIX. 
 
 To the chief Mufician. A Pfalm of DaSid, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 // is prefum'd to be an Invecl'rue againjl Doeg the 
 Edomite, who did fo much Mi/chief to David and 
 his Friends under the Countenance of Saul : It alfo 
 points to Judas, the wicked Betrayer of our Lord y 
 to whom it is accommodated by St. Peter, Acts i. 16. 
 For as David was a Type of our Saviour, fo the Be- 
 trayer of David was pre-ordained to figure out the 
 Betrayer of Chrift . Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 T TO L D not thy peace, O God, whom I adore, 
 
 Sincewide-mouth'd (lander baits me more and more . 
 The wicked wound with daring tongues my name, 
 With fecret lies the whifperer blafts my fame ; 
 They circumvent me with malicious words, 
 And unprovok'd, draw forth their hoftile fwords> 
 Ungrateful man (but yet mine hope's above) 
 Returns me ill for good, and hate for love : 
 e His j udge fhall an infulting tyrant be, 
 At his right hand (hall Satan prompt the plea. 2 
 
 T 2 When 
 
 c Concerning fuch imprecations, as we here meet 
 withal, according to our Bible vernon, fee the Note 
 on pialm xxxv. 
 
276 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 When he is try'd, in judgment fnall he fall, 
 His pray'r for mercy mail but vengeance call ; 
 His days mail be but few, deprived of grace, 
 And one more worthy mall fupply his place : 
 His orphan children mail untutord live, 
 His wife a widow in diftrefs furvive : 
 His vagrant feed, by pinching hunger led, 
 From defolated cells mall beg their bread : 
 Whilft biting creditors his treafures drain, 
 A ftranger mall pofiefs his ill -got gain. 
 To his remains no mercy mall extend, 
 Nor mall his orphans find a pitying friend : 
 His fhort-liv'd ifTue ilin.ll be foon forgot, 
 His mem'ry fpung'd with an eternal blot : 
 The Lord mall ne'er forget his father's crime, 
 Nor fhall his mother's fin be raz'd by time. 
 Before the Lord they fhall remain the fame, 
 Who may from earth for ever flrike his name : 
 Since gracious mercy he forgot to mow, 
 Would flay the meek, and lay the needy low. 
 Curfmg he lov'd, and fhall have curfes ftore, 
 Pic lov'd not blefftng, and fhall reap no more : 
 Bcfpread around, he caft his curfings out, 
 As with a mantle, compafs'd all about; 
 Which thro' his bowels, as the chryflal drink, 
 Or to hi> bone?, as foking oil, fhall fink : 
 
 Shall 
 
rht PSALMS of DAVID. 277 
 Shall gird him, as his inmoft veil, around, 
 Or as the zone, with which he's always bound. 
 This from Jehovah to my foes belongs, 
 Who would deftroy me with their evil tongues. 
 Let me, O Lord, thy guardian care partake, 
 Both for thy name, and thy good mercy's fake : 
 For I am needy, anxious is mine heart, 
 Which forrow pierces, as a wounding dart. 
 Like fhadows, when the Sun declines, I go, 
 Driv'n, as the nejilefs d lccufl, to and fro : 
 My feeble knees confcfs my ilrength's decay, 
 For want of food my flefli confumes away : 
 They fcorn my perfon, when it meets their fight, 
 And fhake their heads with a contemptuous fpight. 
 O ! with thine aids, my God, their pow'rs controul, 
 Out of thy tender mercy keep my foul : 
 That they may know my faviour in my need, 
 Th' almighty Lord, who wrought the wond'rous deed. 
 Tho' they may curfe, blefs thou : when they arife, 
 To fhame them, give me favour in thine eyes. 
 Let fad confufion cloath mine envious foes, 
 May fname the wretches, as a mantle, clofe : 
 
 T 3 111 
 
 d Bochartus obferves of the Locitft, that, having no 
 neft, it leaps or flies from hedge to hedge, as David 
 did from place to place. Patrick. 
 
278 The PSALMS %f DAVID 
 I'll praife Jehovah with the vocal lays, 
 Him with the numerous faints I'll greatly praife : 
 For he, to favethe poor, will plead his caufe, 
 And ward the ftroke of the perverted laws. 
 
 PSALM CX. 
 
 A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 77V the Jews have taken a great deal of Pains to wrejt 
 this Pfalm to another Senfe, yet fever al of the Rab- 
 bins have been forcd to acknowledge it belongs to 
 Chrift. Accordingly our Lord applies it to bimfeJf, 
 Matt. xxii. 24, &c. And fo St. Paul, Heb. 
 i. 13. and x. 3. It contains a plain Prediction of 
 his Divinity, his Royal Dignity, his Pricjlhood, his 
 Victories, and his Triumphs ; and conffls of a 
 Speech, which God the Father, the firjl Perfon of 
 the Trinity, is inirodudd fpeaking to the Meflias, 
 the fecond Perfon. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 rpHE Lord, Jehovah, fpake th' eftablinYd word, 
 
 lie f^ake, and faid to mine anointed Lord, 
 
 Sit thou tn my right hand, till every foe, 
 
 Thro 1 me, mail for thy feotftool prcftrate low. 
 
 Thy ruling c fceptre mall Jehovah fend 
 
 From Sim. v,hich o'er all thv foes extend. 
 
 The 
 
 e Thy rod, or fceptre ; this denotes the Regal Office 
 of Chrift. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 279 
 
 r The willing people in thy powerful day, 
 Their facred beauties where thy courts difplay , 
 Shall, at thy rife, to thee in crouds accrue, 
 As the morn's womb brings forth the drops of dew. 
 8 The Lord hath fworn, nor will his oath difclaim. 
 Thou art a Prieji of an eternal name ; 
 Thine order's changelefs, as in things divine 
 Mekhifedeck 's ; thyfelf an endlefs line. 
 h The Lord at thy right hand (hall ftates alarm, 
 And ftrike thro' kings with his avenging arm : 
 Shall fit as judge in heavVs prevailing caufe, 
 And try the heathen by his righteous laws : 
 Shall flrew with carkaffes the countries round, 
 And give their fovereign chiefs a mortal wound. 
 5 Shall drink of th 1 obvious brook in humble guife, 
 And then exalt his head above the fkies. 
 
 f The coming of the Gentiles into the church of 
 Chriji, thro' the Preachers of the Go/pel in all parts of the 
 world, is here foretold. 
 
 s This paflage relates to the McJJlah's unchangeable 
 and eternal Priefthuod. 
 
 h Here is foretold the reduction of the Gentile Po- 
 tentates, and Countries, to the Sceptre of Cbrift. So in 
 Pfalm the 2d. 
 
 1 The firft line of this couplet refers to the MeJJiah\ 
 Humiliation, the other to his Exaltation ; and it means, 
 that he fhall greatly fuffer, and be put tofuch itraits, as 
 a foldier on his march, who is forced to drink at the 
 next ftream, and after be excited to the moft tranfeen- 
 dent degree of glory. Phil. ii. 9. Nichols. 
 
 T 4 PSALM 
 
i8o The PSALMS.*/ DAVID. 
 
 PSALM CXI. 
 
 Hallelujah ! i, e. Praife the Lord. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This is an alphabetical Pfalm, confijling of Jhort religi- 
 ons Maxims, thrown into ten Vcrfes, according to the 
 Number of the Commandments, It relates the gene- 
 ral and fpecial Benefits of God's Providence to the 
 whole World, particularly to the Jewifh Nation* 
 Patrick, Nichols, Mubge. 
 
 r 1 "^O praife Jehovah, all my pow'rs, confpire, 
 
 •^ In his full courts, or where the jufi: retire : 
 Great are Jehovah's works, with wonder fought 
 By thofe, who dwell on the delightful thought : 
 His glorious atts no circling years ebfeure, 
 His rio-hteoufnefs for ever mail endure : 
 
 o 
 
 He gave memorials to preferve their fame ; 
 Good is Jehovah-, gracious is his name. 
 He font the k food to our dependent fires; 
 His cov'naht never in his mind expires. 
 He fheVd his tribes the wonders of his hands, 
 That he might give them Canaan's fertile lands : 
 
 His 
 
 k Heb. Te-REPH, properly, the prey ; here it 
 figmfies food; fuch as was fent them by God in a won- 
 derous manner. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 281 
 
 His works are right, his word's in truth fecure, 
 On a fix'd bafe reft his commandments fure : 
 Which mult remain, muft evermore prevail, 
 Till the almighty's truth and juflice fail. 
 With glorious acts he hath redeem'd his own, 
 Then his firm cov'nant he transmitted down ; 
 Thus aggrandiz'd with awe, his holy name 
 Is great, and reverend, and of dreadful fame. 
 He proves his wifdom, who his maker fears, 
 Difcretion from this happy fource appears : 
 Sound are their minds, who know to keep his ways, 
 Forever, and for ever lafts his praife. 
 
 PSALM CX1I. 
 Hallelujah ! 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Tbis Pfalm is modelled, like the former^ into feveral 
 Dimeters^ or Jhort Verfes, each beginning with the 
 Letters of the Alphabet, It contains a Defcription of 
 a pious Perfon, whofe good Aclions render him ac- 
 ceptable both to God and Man, Patrick, Ni- 
 chols. 
 
 b 
 
 LESSINGS await the man who fears the Lord, 
 Who feels exalted pleafures in his word ; 
 
 His 
 
282 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 His thriving feed mall rife to powerful place, 
 
 The juft again fhall profper in his race : 
 
 Ne'er from his houfe mail wealth and honour ceafe. 
 
 His juftice fown fhall bring his heirs encreafe. 
 
 To him in darknefs fprings the chearful light, 
 
 For he is gracious, good, and loveth right. 
 
 He kindly lends, and yet ' improves the more, 
 
 With prudent counfel, his well-order'd ftore : 
 
 No force can move him, whilft he fojoums here ; 
 
 His memory fhall be held for ever dear : 
 
 No evil Tidings can his heart difmay, 
 
 Or wreft it, on Jehovah fix'd, away : 
 
 Fix'd is his heart ; in him no terrors rife, 
 
 Who fees in hope his conquer'd enemies. 
 
 He hath difpcrs'd, and patroniz'd the poor, 
 
 His righteous goodnefs ever will endure ; 
 
 With lafting prajfe he fhall exalt his horn, 
 
 Th' unjufl fhall fee it with repining fcorn; 
 
 Shall gnam his foaming teeth, and melt away, 
 
 Whilfl his defire fhall with himfelf decay. 
 
 1 According to our liturgy verfion ; And will guide his 
 v.'oyds with Ji/cretion. Our bible tranflation hath it ; 
 And nxjili guide his affairs *with difcrction. The connexion 
 feems to point out this meaning ; that notwithftand- 
 }r,g he fhall be ready to do good offices for others with 
 his fubftance, yet he will not impair, but rather main- 
 tain the good eitate of his own family. Patrick . 
 
 PSALM 
 
Tbt PSALMS of DAVID. 283 
 
 PSALM CXIII. 
 Hallelujah! 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Tb'iSy with the five next Pfalms, the Hebrews call by 
 the Name of Hallel, or Hymn : It fets forth 9 in 
 J "ever 'al particulars , the admirable Pr evidence of 'God ; 
 and was one of the Liturgical Pfalms, fung at the 
 New- Moons, and Pajfover. Patrick, Ni- 
 chols. 
 
 /"AH! ye, his fervants, give Jehovah praife, 
 
 ^~^ To praife his name your grateful voices raife : 
 
 With blefling great Jehovah's name adore, 
 
 Blefs him from this time forth for evermore. 
 
 From the fun's rife be prais'd th' eternal's name, 
 
 To where it, fetting, hides its globous flame. 
 
 Above all lands, Jehovah is fupreme, 
 
 Beyond the heavenly orbs his glories beam. 
 
 Who, like our God, Jehovah, dwells fo high ? 
 
 Yet cafts on heaven beneath his humble eye, 
 
 Or things, which in this earth inferior lye. 
 
 He raifes from the duft the worthy poor, 
 
 And from the dunghill lifts the good obfeure : 
 
 Then renders him with royal Honours great, 
 
 And fets him o'er the princes of the ftat« : 
 
 He 
 
284 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 He from a lonely makes a numerous houfe, 
 And a glad mother of the barren fpoufe. 
 
 Hallelujah ! 
 
 PSALM CXIV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It is ajhort hijl or ical Relation of the Exit of the Children 
 of Ifrael out of iEgypt, and their PaJJage into 
 Canaan, exprefs'd in poetical Figures with a mojl 
 charming Elegance* 
 
 TT7HEN Ifrael went from JEgypt's barbarous land, 
 And Jacob's houfe from their ftrange tyrant's hand; 
 The princely Juda was m his holy place, 
 And his dominion was his IfraePs race. 
 The Erythraean fea beheld,-— and fled, 
 And Jordan s waters refluent fought their head. 
 
 Like 
 
 01 There is a. peculiar beauty in the conduct of this 
 pfalm, in that the author utterly conceals the prefence 
 of God in the beginning of it ; and rather lets a 
 poflefiive pronoun (i. e. His) go without a Subftantive, 
 than he will fo much as mention any thing of divinity 
 there ; becaufe if God had appear'd before, there could 
 be no wonder, why the mountains fhould leap and the 
 fea retire ; therefore, that this convulfion of nature may 
 be brought in with due furprize, his name is not men- 
 tion'd 'till afterward, and then with a very agreeable 
 ♦urn of thought, God is introdue'd at once with all hit 
 inajefty. Spectator, vol. vi. N°. 461, 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 285 
 Like Jkipping rams, the mountains danc'd, and rocks ; 
 The little hills, like younglings ofthefiocks. 
 What ail'd the fea, that, as rebuk'd, it fled ? 
 Or, Jordan's waves, which refluent fought their head ? 
 Why dane'd, like flapping rams, the mounts and rocks ? 
 The little hills, like younglings of the flocks ? 
 O earth, be confeious, tremble on thy bafe, 
 Before great Jacob's God, Jehovah's face : 
 Who from the rock the Handing lakes could bring, 
 And chang'd the flint into a water fpring. 
 
 PSALM CXV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Hebrew and Chaldee make this a diftincl Pfalrn ; 
 but the Septuagint, and vulgar Latin, have joined 
 it to the former ; and accordingly , like that of the 
 former^ its Author is uncertain. It contains an 
 Exhortation to trujl in the True God for AJftftance y 
 and not to rely either upon Heathen Idols, or Mens 
 own Defgns. Nichols. 
 
 jA-t-MS not, it is not ours ; the glory take, 
 
 **' O Lord, both for thy truth and mercies fake : 
 Why fliould this bitter taunt thy name defy ? 
 Where's now their God ? why fhould the heathen cry ? 
 
 Oar 
 
286 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Our God doth heav'n's imperial kingdom fill j 
 
 He does on earth, what fuits his fovereign will. 
 
 The idol gods, for which their altars flame, 
 
 Are gold and filver, wrought by man to frame. 
 
 Mouths have they, fuch as never filence broke, 
 
 And eyes, which ne'er on proftrate mortals look : 
 
 Ears, which ne'er heard the praife their vot'ries tell, 
 
 And nofes, which could never incenfe fmell : 
 
 Hands too they have, but yet they handle not, 
 
 Nor move their feet, nor draws their breathlefs throat. 
 
 They're blind alike, the makers, and the made, 
 
 And thofe, who at their fhrines their fuit have paid. 
 
 O ! n Ifrael, in th* eternal Lord confide, 
 
 He is their help, he will their fhield abide. 
 
 O ! houfe of Aaron, in Jehovah truft, 
 
 He is their help, and he will Ihieldthe juft. 
 
 All ye, that fear him, in the Lord confide, 
 
 He is their help, and will their fhield abide. 
 
 Our mindful Lord will crown us with fuccefs, 
 
 And JfraePs houfe, the houfe of Aaron, blefs : 
 
 Who 
 
 n Ifrael. The church is here diftinguifli'd into three 
 parts, i . Ifrael, or the body of the commonwealth, 
 Z.Aaron's houfe, or the priejlhood, 3. The fearers of 
 Jehovah, i.e. ftrangers, converts of all nations, Atli 
 u. 5. and x. 35. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 287 
 Who with an humble mind Jehovah fear, 
 They fhall, both fmall, and great, his bleflmgs fhare. 
 The Lord fhall give you more and more encreafe, 
 Yours and your childrens goods fhall never ceafe ; 
 Ye have the favours of his bounteous hand, 
 Who made, and doth the heaven and earth commando 
 In heav'n, the Lord in heav'n fupremely reigns, 
 He gave to man th 1 inferior earth's domains. 
 What honours can the dead Jehovah fhew ? 
 What praifes from the filent grave accrue ? 
 But we our animated voice will raife, 
 And ever blefs him.— Give Jehovah praife. 
 
 PSALM 
 
288 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM CXVI. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Some attribute this Pfalm to David upon his Flight 
 from Abfalom, or his bringing the Ark to Mount 
 Sion ; others to Efdras at the Return from the Cap- 
 tivity ; which Opinion is favoured by fome Chaldaick 
 ExpreJJions therein, and then the whole Nation of 
 the Jews is reprefented in the Name of a fingle 
 Per/on. But it may be confider'd as a Pfalm of 
 Thankfgiving to God for Re /l oration to Health after 
 a dangerous Illnefs, in which the Author had been 
 reduced to the lafl Degree of Defparation. And in 
 this View it befl fuits the Accommodation of it in our 
 Liturgy to ^Churching of Women. Patrick, 
 Nichols, Mudge. 
 
 T Love the Lord, who deignM my voice to hear, 
 
 Who to my cry inclin'd his gracious ear : 
 Therefore with thanks I'll call upon his name, 
 Long as my foul informs this vital frame. 
 Thro' pains almoft reduc'd to yield my breath, 
 Juft ready for the grafping hand of death, 
 Thus callM I, whilft my heart did forely grieve, 
 " Jlhovah, hear my pray'r, my foul relieve. " 
 The Lord is gracious, and his word is true. 
 His mercy fpares us, when his rod is due. 
 
 The 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 289 
 The Lord the plain and fimple man will blefs> 
 For me he fuccour'd, when in deep diftrefs. 
 Be every fad, tumultuous, thought at peace, 
 My foul ; the Lord hath giv'n thee copious eafe -; 
 For thou haft kept my life, 'midft deadly fears, 
 My feet from falling, and mine eyes from tears. 
 And thus prolong'd, I'll dedicate my days, 
 Which thou haft giv'n, to thy moft bounden praife, 
 Still was my truft in thee, which I declar'd, 
 When forrowing, and in hoftile ftraits enfaar'd : 
 I faid in hafte, that men, both fmall and great, 
 Are liars all, their help but vain deceit : 
 Jehovah's kindnefs how fhall I regard ? 
 What give for his conferr'd, immenfe, reward ? 
 I'll fill the ° cup of grace, to bear around 
 Jehovah's name, and dwell upon the found, 
 p Owning its goodnefs in the facred lay, 
 My vows I'll in the full afiemblies pay ; 
 
 U His 
 
 The cup of grace p , orig. the cup of fal-jations. The 
 Ifraelites us'd to offer peace (or thank) offerings for mer- 
 cies receiv'd, whereof they did ear, and rejoice before 
 the Lord ; and at their banquets took up the cup of 
 wine in their hands, and blefled God ; call'd thereupon 
 the cup of bleffng, 1 Cor. x. 16. So our Lord at the 
 feaft of the paflbver took the cup and ga<ve thanks, Luke 
 xxii. 17. Ainsworth, Patrick. 
 
 p Four verfes in the bible tranflation, which are con- 
 tained in the four following couplets, are left out for 
 
 the 
 
2 9 o The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 "His gracious faints doth good Jehovah prize, 
 And hence their death is precious in his eyes : 
 Sure I'm thy fervant, and thine handmaid's Ton, 
 Thou kindly haft my forrow's bands undone. 
 I'll offer up the facrifke of praife, 
 And in Jehovah's name my voice will raifc. 
 Owning its gocdnefs in the facred lay, 
 My vows I'll in the full affcmblics pay ; 
 There, where thy prefence doth its joys afford, 
 Within thy courts, O Salem. Praife the Lord, 
 
 PSALM CXVII. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Pfalm is a prophetical Exultation upon the Call 
 of the Gentiles. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 ^^Onfefs Jehovah, all ye nations round; 
 
 His praife, ye people, let your fongs refound : 
 His 'ftablifiYd mercy will to all extend, 
 Jehovah's truth muft laft, when time fhall end. 
 
 Hallelujah I 
 
 the accommodation of this pfalm to the churching of 
 women in our publickfirince. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 291 
 
 PSALM CXVIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Pfalm feems to have been fung in Parts upon a 
 ProceJJion up to Mount Sion by David, the pre- 
 fum'd Author , the People, and the Priejis. The 
 Parts are varioufly affignd by Interpreters, which I 
 /hall therefore leave to the Judgment of the Reader, 
 It is an Hymn of Triumph 5 and that there are 
 fome prophetical ExpreJJions in it, which relate to the 
 Mefliah, not only the Writers of the New Tefta- 
 ment, but, as St, Jerom fays, ?nany of the ancient 
 Rabbies affirm. Patrick, Nichols, Mudge. 
 
 y^OOD is Jehovah, blefs his glorious name, 
 His mercy lafts, for evermore the fame, 
 
 Say, chofen 1 Ifrael, in his love fecure, 
 His mercy will for evermore endure. 
 
 And let the houfe of Aaron now proclaim^ 
 His mercy lafts for evermore the fame. 
 
 Say, all, who fear him, in his love fecure, 
 His mercy will for evermore endure. 
 
 When prefs'd in ftraits, I fought Jehovah's face 
 He fet me in a free and open place : 
 Jehovah is my good and great ally, 
 Why mould I not poor, earthy, man dafy ? 
 
 U 2 Since 
 
 * See note on Pfalm cxv. 
 
2 9 2 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Since heaven doth its auxiliar fuccours fend, 
 What foes fhall frufrrate my defired end ? 
 He, who Jehovah his fole hope hath made, 
 Depends more furcly than on human aid : 
 Hope in Jehovah furer fafety brings, 
 Than all the bounties, and the pow'r? of kings. 
 The Gentile troops, encircling, round me came, 
 But I deftroy'd them in Jehovah'? name : 
 They hemm'd me in, hemm'd me on every fide ; 
 Their force I in Jehovah's name defy'd : 
 They fvvarm'd, like bees j quench d as the thorny flame. 
 They were extinguiih'd in Jehovah's name; 
 Cut off by me : with thy depremng hand 
 When r thou did ft thruit,--- Jehovah made me ftand. 
 Jehovah is my ftrength, he fills my fongs, 
 'Tis his to fave. to him the right belongs. 
 •\midfl their tents the juil in triumph tell 
 By his right hand what mighty numbers fell. 
 Thro' his right hand the vvarriour"s plan fucceeds, 
 'Tis his right hand performs the valiant deeds. 
 Yet fhall I live, nor in the battle fall, 
 But in my praife Jehovah's works recall. 
 The Lord chaftis'd me ev'n to parting breath, 
 Wt fnatch'd me from th' approaching arms of death. 
 
 Open, 
 
 r Here is an apoftrophc to the foe. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 293 
 Open, ye doors, and clear the facred way, 
 Let me my thanks to great Jehovah pay, 
 This is the gate of his delightful court. 
 Where the juft ent'ring make their blefs'd refort. 
 Thee will I praife, for thou haft heard my cry, . 
 And made me triumph in thy victory. 
 5 This, by the builders long-neglected grown, 
 Is now become the Head and Comer-Stone : 
 This is Jehovah's work, with dread furprize 
 Beheld, and marvellous to human eyes : 
 This is the day th' eternal Lord hath made, 
 Let us rejoice therein, devoutly glad. 
 Now to thy fervants thy falvation mow, 
 
 ! do thou profper us, Jehovah, now. 
 Blejfed is be, tk? anointed of the Lord, 
 
 Who comes ; he's blefTed, fays th' Oracular word. 
 God is Jehovah, light-bellowing, kind, 
 To th' altar's horns the feftal victim bind : 
 Thou art my God, to thee my voice I'll raife, 
 
 1 will confefs thee with exalted praife. 
 Good is Jehovah, blefs his glorious name, 
 His mercy lails for evermore the fame, 
 
 s This paffage is accommodated to the MeJJiab by St, 
 Peter, Acts iv. 11, 
 
 U3 PSALM 
 
294 7&' PSALMS of DAVID; 
 
 PSALM CXIX. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Tins Pfalm, prcfum'd to be David'* by feme, but by 
 Bifhcp Hare to be of later Date, confifls of 
 Twenty -two 0£ofticks, or Staves of Eight Verfes, 
 in the Original ; each of which begins in every Verfe 
 of it with the fame Letter of the Hebrew Alphabet ; 
 from whence it is denominated. It is further re- 
 markable, that in every one of thefe Verfes, the 
 Number of which amounts to One Hundred and 
 Seventy-fix, there is feme Word, or other, which 
 fgnifies the Law of God, excepting only the One 
 Hundred and Twenty-Second. The Pfalm, which is 
 not fo adorn 'd and elegant ; as feme others, confifls 
 cf many excellent and pious Reflexions and Rules, 
 without any great Connexion or Dependence on each 
 other ; which was probably the Reafen, why it was 
 wrote in this Alphabetical Method, that the Initial 
 Letters might be an help to the Memory of thefe, ivho 
 were to learn it in the Original, Patrick, 
 Nichols, Hare, Mudge. 
 
 A L E P H. 
 
 Tf> LESSINGS await the pure in virtue's way, 
 Who walk not from Jehovah's laws aftray : 
 Bleffings are theirs, who keep his fed'ral word, 
 And feek with all their heart the living Lord ; 
 
 Thofe 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 29.5 
 Thofe upright men, who do no flagrant ill, 
 But tread his paths, and profecute them ftill. 
 Thou doll command, that we our pow'rs prepare, 
 To keep thy precepts with an anxious care ; 
 O did my ways mark fo direct a line ! 
 That they might follow every rule of thine : 
 Then mould I never fufFer grievous fhame, 
 When I refpert each law, which bears thy name : 
 Then will I praife thee with an upright heart, 
 When thou thy righteous judgments (halt impart : 
 Thy flatutes I will keep with cautious heed, 
 Do not too far defert me in my need. 
 
 BETH. 
 
 How fhall a youth efcape the paths impure ? 
 
 By heeding, that thy word his fleps fecure : 
 
 In fearch of thee my pow'rs united join, 
 
 Let not my will feduce me, Lord, from thine : 
 
 Thy fayings have been treafur'd in my foul, 
 
 That rebel fin might not its force controul : 
 
 BlefTed art thou, the great Jehovah, Lord, 
 
 Learn me the ftatutes of thine holy word : 
 
 By thee infpir'd, my joyful mouth hath told 
 
 The judgments, which thine aweful lips unfold : 
 
 The pleafure of thy facred ways I know, 
 
 Not the world's ftores can equal joys beflow : 
 
 U 4 I will 
 
296 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 I will riigcfl thy meditated law, 
 
 And view thy ways with a refpettful awe : 
 
 I'll center in thy flatutes my delight, 
 
 And keep thy words for ever in my fight. 
 
 G I M E L. 
 
 With bounteous grace reward thy fervant, Lord, 
 Then fhall I live, and keep thine holy word : 
 Remove thofe films, which veil around mine eye, 
 Bid it the wonders of thy law defcry : 
 No where on earth my certain dwelling {lands, 
 Shew me, a flranger here, thy wife commands : 
 As flill my foul doth to thy judgments tend, 
 My fwelling heart the flruggling paflions rend : 
 The curfed proud thou haft rebuk'd, who ftray 
 Frcm thy fecure commandment's bleiTed way : 
 On me may no reproachful fhame abide, 
 For thy fure teflimonies are my guide : 
 The Princes fat, on me their cenfure fell, 
 But I, thy fervant, on thy ftatutes dwell : 
 Thy teflimonies are my fole delight, 
 They are my council, to conduct me right. 
 
 D A L E T II. 
 
 My foul's jufl cleaving to its native dull, 
 Quicken thou me, whilflin thy word I trull ; 
 
 To 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 297 
 
 To thee, attentive, I my paths have told, 
 To me thy facing ftatutes, Lord, unfold : 
 Make me to know thine heav'nly precepts way, 
 Then will I fcan thy wonders day by day : 
 My heavy foul diffolves with melting grief, 
 To raife me, fend thy promised, kind, relief: 
 Take from me every lying, treacherous art. 
 And grave thy gracious ftatutes on mine heart: 
 The way of truth I have fmcerely choie, 
 And thy commands to all mine aims propofe : 
 My foul thy cov'nant grafps with ftrong embrace, 
 Leave not thy fervant, Lord, to foul difgrace : 
 With zeal I'll fly to execute thy will, 
 When thou with joy mine heart enlarg'd (halt fill. 
 
 H E. 
 
 Teach me, O Lord, thy ftatutes righteous way, 
 And I will keep it to my lateft day ; 
 Give me to fee the wiidom of thy law, 
 And I will dwell thereon with cordial awe ;_ 
 Lead thou, and make me form my paths aright ; 
 Whilft thy commands are my fincere delight : 
 Unto thy cov'nant mine whole heart incline, 
 And let it not to lull the reins refign ; 
 
 Fron, 
 
29$ The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 From vain allurements turn away mine eye, 
 Quicken mine heart, left I mould tread awry : 
 'Stablifli to me thy word ; whofe filial fear 
 Awes me to dread thee,- and thy truth revere : 
 Avert from me the captive's direful fhame ; 
 For judgment good, and gracious, is thy name; 
 To all thy laws I've ftiewn an ardent zeal, 
 Grant, that I may thy quick'ning goodnefs kch 
 
 V A U. 
 
 On me thy gracious mercy, Lord, bellow, 
 As promis'd, thy benign falvation mow : 
 Then will I prove my foe's reproach unjufl, 
 Since in thy word I have repos'd my trull : 
 O ! take not from my mouth thy truth away, 
 Becaufe thy judgments are mine hopeful Hay ; 
 I'll keep the law, enforc'd with thy dread name, 
 Long as my foul informs this mortal frame : 
 Free fhall I walk, at large, and unconfin'd, 
 Since on thy precepts I have fix'd my mind : 
 To purpled kings I'll tell thy binding law, 
 And not be filent, thro' a vicious awe ; 
 'Tis that my joy, my fole delight, fhall prove, 
 And 'tis on that, which I have plac'd my love : 
 To that, which I havelov'd, I'll lift mine hands, 
 And meditate on all thy juft commands. 
 
 Z A I N. 
 
The PSALMS rf DAVID. 299 
 
 Z A I N. 
 
 Think on thy promife to dependant me, 
 Relying on thine aweful truth, and thee : 
 When grief my drooping foul of peace deprives, 
 Thy word my joy reftores, mine heart revives : 
 The proud have mock'd me with a fcornful mind, 
 Yet have I never from thy law declin'd : 
 Still I recall thy judgments to my breaft, 
 And then on thee, mine hopes, Jehovah, reft: 
 When prefs'd by thofe, who from thy law depart, 
 Sometimes hath burning horror feiz'd mine heart : 
 Yet did I ne'er in exile fojourn long, 
 But there thy ftatutes were my darling fong : 
 Thro' wakeful nights thy name employ'd my thought, 
 And thy juft law to my remembrance brought : 
 My foul this comfort in my troubles knew, 
 Becaufe 'twas ever to thy precepts true* 
 
 C H E T H. 
 
 Yet is the Lord my blefled portion left, 
 I'll keep thy words, of all things elfe bereft : 
 With earneft heart have I befought thy face, 
 Therefore behold me with thy promis'd grace : 
 I thought upon my ways with cautions meet, 
 And to thy teftimonies turn'd my feet : 
 
 Wkh 
 
300 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 With hafte I ruftYd thro' each obftru&ing (lay, 
 
 And thy commandments kept without delay : 
 
 The wicked bands have robb'd, and ftripp'd me bare, 
 
 But ftill thy law remains my conftant care : 
 
 This breaks, and this compensates, my repofe, 
 
 For this to praiie thee, have I nightly rofe : 
 
 Thofe I defire, with thofe in converfe join, 
 
 Who fear the Lord, and keep the law divine : 
 
 The earth thy mercies, OJehovah, fill; 
 
 Give me to underftand thine heav'nly will. 
 
 T E T H . 
 
 Thou haft diflinguinYd me with kind regard, 
 After thy word, O Lord, is my reward : 
 I know thy laws from wifdom's fountain flow, 
 Teach me to tafte, and pra&ice what I know ; 
 Before I felt thy rod, I went aftray, 
 But now my feet purfue thy ftated way -. 
 'Tis thou art good ; with good thine hand doth ftore 
 The world ; thy ftatutes teach me more and more : 
 The proud have palm'd on me a treacherous part, 
 But I obey thee with a perfect heart : 
 Their heart is fat, whilft plenty crowns their boards, 
 But 'tis thy law my fole delight affords : 
 Thefe benefits from mine afflictions rife, 
 That I might learn thy ftatutes, and be wife : 
 
 Thy 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 301 
 
 Thy word is dearer, and of nobler ufe, 
 Than all the treafures Ophir's miiies produce, 
 
 J O D. 
 
 Since I'm the work of thy creating hand, 
 Give me thy laws to learn, and underftand : 
 They, who retere thy name, may raptur'd fee, 
 Me, and my hope, reft on thy word, and thee. 
 Juft are thy judgments, I ftncerely own, 
 Thy truth is, Lord, in mine affliction ihown : 
 O ! let thy grace thy fervant's moaning Hill, 
 Grant me thy comfort, and thy word fulfill : 
 In tender love revive me with relief, 
 Whilft thy tranfporting law difpels my grief. 
 Confound the proud, on treacherous falfehood bent, 
 Whilft on thy precepts are my thoughts intent : 
 Let thofe, who fear thee, and have known thy laws, 
 Take to my part, and vindicate my caufe : 
 Still in thy ftatutes make mine heart ilncere, 
 That I mar never mame abafhing fear. 
 
 C A P H. 
 
 My foul faints for thy word with ftrong defire, 
 Mine eager hope doth thy falvation fire : 
 Mine eyes, with earneft looking long intent, 
 
 Languim, till thy confoling aids be fent : 
 
 I'm 
 
3 02 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 I'm worn, like bottles, dry'd thro' fmoky wind, 
 Yet ftill thy llatutes fhall employ my mind : 
 How many are thy fervant's woeful days ? 
 Why meets thy judgment on my foes delays ? 
 The proud into corruption's pit would draw 
 My feet, whilil they defy thine upright law : 
 Thy precepts teach me to be juft and true , 
 Then fnatch me from this cruel, treacherous, crew: 
 Who ftrove, on earth confum'd, to lay me low ; 
 But I thy precepts never would forego : 
 To me thy mercy's quickening aid afford, 
 Then fhall I keep thy covenanted word. 
 
 LAMED. 
 
 Thy word, Jehovah, Hands forever known. 
 So fure, and ftedfaft, as thy heavenly throne : 
 Ages it lafts, commenfurate to all, 
 Fix'd as thy bafis of this earthy ball : 
 All things obey thy ltated laws, and ftill 
 Move in obedience to their fovereign's will : 
 I mull have perifh'd thro' my forrow's fmart, 
 Unlefs thy law had rais'd my drooping heart : 
 Thy precepts ever will I bear in mind, 
 For 'tis in them thy quickening pow'r I find : 
 O ! fave thou me ; for I am wholly thine ; 
 And to thy precepts all my thoughts incline: 
 
 The 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 303 
 The wicked wait, and would my foul deftroy, 
 But Hill thy teftimonies are my joy : 
 However perfett, human fchemes will fail ; 
 Thy boundlefs ftatutes evermuft prevail. 
 
 MEM. 
 
 Oh ! how I love thy law ! its gracious fway 
 Employs my meditation day by day : 
 My foes can ne'er o'er-reach me with furprize, 
 Since thy commands are ever in mine eyes : 
 I thofe excell, by whom I once was taught, 
 Becaufe thy cov'nant is my conftant thought ; 
 From wifdom's feeds maturer fruits I reap, 
 Than th' ancient fage, fince I thy precepts keep \ 
 To evil paths my feet mall never fwerve, 
 That I thy word inceflant may obferve : 
 I from thy judgments never would depart, 
 Since thou didft write them on my confcious heart : 
 How fweet thy words ! which cannot be furpaft, 
 Yea fweeter far than honey to my tafle : 
 Tis thro' thy precepts I my mind improve, 
 Therefore my ioul no treacherous ways can love. 
 
 NUN. 
 
 Thy word mines, like a lamp, with heavenly rays, 
 
 To guide my feet, and light my darkfcme ways : 
 
 I've 
 
3 04 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 I've fworn, nor e'er the folemn bond will break, 
 Thy righteous judgments never to forfake : 
 Strong pangs of forrow rend my bread, O Lord, 
 Quicken thou me, according to thy word : 
 Accept my vows from a free, chearful, will, 
 Thy judgments, Lord, into my mindinftill : 
 My foul doth nigh deflru&ion daily draw, 
 Yet do I not forget thy gracious law : 
 The wicked plot to fnare me in my way, 
 Yet from thy precepts would I never ftray : 
 Thy laws, my portion, ever I'll pofTefs, 
 For they with joy mine heart enraptur'd blefs : 
 Therefore my foul's defires, concenter'd, tend 
 To keep thy ftatutes, ev'n unto the end. 
 
 S A M E C H. 
 
 No falfe device mine upright foul approves, 
 But what thy law enjoins it truly loves : 
 Thou art mine hiding-place, my guardian fhield, 
 And 'tis thy word my certain hope doth yield : 
 Depart from me ; avaunt, ye wicked bands, 
 For I will keep my fovereign God's commands : 
 After thy word, fupport mine hunted life, 
 Nor fink mine hope in fhame thro' envious ftrife : 
 Safe mail I be, if thou my foul fuftain, 
 Nor fhall I in thy ftatutes joy in vain; 
 
 Thofe, 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 305 
 
 Thofe, who forfake them, fall beneath thy feet, 
 And are impos'd on by their own deceit : 
 Like drofs, the wicked thou doll call away, 
 Thence is thy tellimonies love my flay : 
 My trembling flefh doth own thy dreaded nam?, 
 And thy jufl judgments awe my ihivering frame. 
 
 A I N. 
 
 Judgment and juflice reign within my breaft, 
 Let me not fall in virtue's caufe opprefl : 
 Be thou thy fervant's furety, thou his friend, 
 Nor let proud tyrants triumph in mine end : 
 Mine eyes have fail'd, whilfl I thine aids await, 
 And thy fure promife to reflore my Hate : 
 Let me, thy fervant, thy companion find, 
 Unfold thy flatutes to my longing mind : 
 Thee, I revere, on me thy light bellow, 
 Give me thy cov'nant to difcern, and know : 
 'Tis time, O Lord, that thou exert thine hands, 
 For wicked men have fpurn'd thy dread commands : 
 Which to my love are deem'd more precious flore 
 Than gold $ than gold refiiTd from Ophir's ore : 
 Hence I, as right, thy precepts highly rate, 
 And all deluding, falfe, devices hate. 
 
3 o6 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 P E. 
 
 With wonder I perufe thy facred law, 
 Its wifdom doth my foul's attention draw : 
 Thine opening word fends forth celeftial light, 
 The fimple gives to knew, and think aright : 
 With open mouth, as pants my throbbing tongue, 
 For thy belov'd commands, I thirlling long : 
 To me, as to thy favourites, turn thy face, 
 Give, as to thofe, who love thy name, thy grace : 
 Confirm my footileps in thy righteous ways, 
 And o'er me let no fin its empire raife : 
 Snatch me from tyrant and opprefiive man, 
 And then obfervant I'll thy precepts fcan : 
 On me, thy fervant, make thy face to mine, 
 And from thy flatutes beam thy rays divine : 
 Rivers of tears flream from my mournful eyes, 
 Bccaufe degenerate men thy law defpife. 
 
 T S A D D I. 
 
 Thou, Lord, art jufl thy judgments to fulfill, 
 And right determines thine imperial will : 
 Thy laws attefted claim our flrict regard, 
 Righteous to punifli* faithful to reward: 
 
 Mine 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 307 
 
 Mine heart confumes, with zeal indignant hot, 
 Becaufe my foes thy ftatutes have forgot ; 
 Thy word is fin'd from all impure alloy, 
 Thence 'tis thy fervant's reigning love, and joy ; 
 Tho' mean I am, thro' pride and fcorn oppreft, 
 Stamp'd are thy precepts on my mindful breaft : 
 Thy juftice thro' all ages mall endure, 
 Thy law ftands on truth's ftable bafis fure : 
 Diflrefs and anguifh have my bofom found, 
 But flill frefh joys from thy commands abound : 
 Thy teftimonies ever juft remain, 
 
 ! give me wifdom, and my life fuftain. 
 
 K O P H. 
 
 With mine whole heart I cry'd ; Jehovah, hear 5 
 And I thine aweful flatutes will revere : 
 Save me, was my repeated, fuppliant, cry, 
 And I thy cov'nant never will deny : 
 
 1 cry'd, and did prevent the dawning day, 
 And, refting in thy facred promife, pray : 
 Before the evening watch, and midnight hours, 
 My foul to thee its holy mufing pours ; 
 
 After thy mercy, hear, O Lord, my voice, 
 According to thy will, my foul rejoice : 
 
 X 2 Tvranfs, 
 
3 o8 Toe PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Tyrants, who follow mifchief, nigh me draw, 
 But keep far diftant from thy righteous law : 
 Thou too art nigh, O Lord, whilft they purfue, 
 And thy commands with promife all are true : 
 I've known of old, thy cov'nant thou didfl found, 
 To (land for ever thro 1 duration's round. 
 
 R E S H. 
 
 Ponder my woes, and with thy fuccour hade, 
 Thy law is never from my mind eras'd, 
 Plead thou my caufe, fave and reflore me, Lord, 
 And quicken me, according to thy word : 
 Not to th' unjuft is thy falvation near, 
 Who will not to thy dread commands adhere : 
 How boundlefs is thy tender mercies {tore ! 
 As thou art wont, revive me flill with more : 
 Strong are my foes, num'rous the tyrant race, 
 Yet I thy teflimonies flill embrace : 
 The falfe tranfgreftbrs I condoling faw, 
 Since they regard not thine ora'clar law : 
 Think how, O Lord, thy precepts I efleem, 
 After thy loving grace, my foul redeem : 
 True is thy word, from the beginning fure, 
 All thy j oft judgments ever will endure. 
 
 S C H I K 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 309 
 
 S C H I N. 
 
 To vex me, guiltltfs, tyrant pow'rs accord, 
 But yet my heart regards thine aweful word : 
 Thine aweful word with joy mine heart repays, 
 As numerous fpoils the victor's toilfome days: 
 Falfehood I hate, deteiKng treacherous lies, 
 And ftill thy truth with loving ardor prize : 
 Sev'n times a day do I refound thy praife, 
 Becaufe of all thy judgment's righteous ways : 
 Great peace the lovers of thy law attends, 
 And nought their heav'n -directed feet offends : 
 O Lord, my hope on thy falvation ftands, 
 And I have practis'd thy rever'd commands. 
 Thy teflimonies are my bofom care, 
 My love beyond all earthly things they {hare : 
 Ne'er did I from thy law and cov'nant fwerve, 
 For all my paths thy piercing eyes obferve. 
 
 Let my loud crying reach thy throne, O Lord, 
 And make me wife, according to thy word : 
 Before thee, let my fupplication rife, 
 And fend thy promis'd fuccour from the fkies : 
 
 X 3 To 
 
jio The PSALMS of DAVID, 
 To thee my lips fliall chaunt the grateful fong, 
 When with thy word thou hall infpir'd my tongue : 
 My mouth thy truth in pleafing {trains fliall tell, 
 Since all thy laws in righteoufnefs excell : 
 Lend me the ftrength of thine aflifting hands, 
 Who feek the guidance of thy fure commands : 
 My longing mind doth thy falvation draw, 
 And my delight is in thine heav'nly law : 
 To praife thee, let my foul redeemed live, 
 Their help thine executed judgments give : 
 Like a loft fheep, thy wand'ring fervant ftrays, 
 ReRore me, mindful of thy precepts ways. 
 
 P S A L M 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 311 
 
 PSALM CXX. 
 
 A Song of Degrees. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Fourteen following pfalms have the fame Title ; 
 fome think becaufe they were Sung by the Levites, as 
 they went up the Steps of the Temple ; or as they 
 went up to their own Country again from their Cap- 
 tivity. Others think, that it refers to fome gradual 
 Rife of the Voice in Singing. This Pfalm ferns to 
 have been compos 'd by David, upon the Information 
 of Doeg, I Sam. xxii. but was made life of by the 
 Jews afterwards, in remembrance of the Captivity. 
 Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 TT Cry'd unto the Lord in deep diftrefs, 
 
 Who kindly anfwer'd in my woes redrefs : 
 Still guard my foul, O Lord, from guileful wrong, 
 From lying lips, and a deceitful tongue. 
 What, O thou falfe diflembler, is thy due ? 
 What from thy fecret {lander fhall accrue ? 
 Sharp arrows of th' almighty ; torturing fire 
 Of * juniper, unwilling to expire. 
 
 X 4 A 
 
 * Heb. Coals of Juniper. Which wood in burning 
 fmelleth fweet, but the coals thereof burn extremely, 
 
 and 
 
2ii The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 A wretch, and exiPd u long to IJhmaeTs Race, 
 
 I feek in w Kedars tents a dwelling-place : 
 
 In diftant parts my converfe is confin'd 
 
 To people of a rude and barbarous mind ; 
 
 And whilft I move my caufe with peaceful words, 
 
 They ftand to arms, and draw their hoftile fwords. 
 
 and laft long. So that under the afhes, (as fome write; 
 the glowing coals may be kept a year. Ains- 
 
 WORTH. 
 
 u Heb. Me-shech. It may fignify a People 9 the 
 poflerity of Mefiech. Gen. x. z. It denotes alfo 
 length or protraction, and fo may be here taken for no 
 proper name, but Ifojournfo long. And thus the fe-ven- 
 ty turn it, my peregrination is prolonged. Which we have 
 
 follow'd. AlNSWORTH. 
 
 w Kedar. The fon of Iftmael, Gen. xxv. 13. whofe 
 children dwelt in Arabia Petraa. Ains worth, 
 Bythner. 
 
 P S A L M 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 313 
 
 PSALM CXXI. 
 
 A Song of Degrees, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It is thought to be written by David, whiljl he was in 
 the Field with his Army, during the Rebellion of 
 Abfalom. And the Phrafe, according to Kimchi, 
 feems to be Military p , reprefenting a General^ ear- 
 nejlly looking out for the Succours he expecls. Pa- 
 trick, Nichols. 
 
 O ! to the hills I lift my watchful eyes, 
 From whence proceed mine help and fure fupplies : 
 From great Jehovah comes my certain aid, 
 Who heaven and earth in wond'rous wifdom made. 
 'Tis he, who x keeps thee, and thy path enfures, 
 He will not flumber, who thy feet fecures : 
 Lo ! he, whofe eyes the paftur'd 7//Wi<?^, 
 Will never flumber, he will never fleep : 
 Jehovah keeps thee ; where his conduct leads, 
 On high a y fhadowing cloud Jehovah fpreads; 
 
 Which 
 
 x The fajloral word, keep, is here repeated, juft in 
 the fame manner, as in the original. 
 
 y This hath reference to God's protection of Ifrael 
 in the wildernefs. Exod. xiii. 21. I/a. iv. 5. Ains- 
 v/orth. 
 
314 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Which fcrecns thee from thefolar heat by day, 
 
 By night from damps, which wait the lunar ray : 
 
 Kept by the Lord, no terrors fhall annoy, 
 
 No hoftile evil mail thy foul deftroy : 
 
 When ifiuing forth, and when returning home, 
 
 He now fhall keep thee, and in time to come. 
 
 PSALM CXXII. 
 A Song of Degrees of David, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It was probably written by him, when, after having 
 fettled the Ark on Mount Sion, he being in the Coun- 
 try^ heard the People fpeak of going to worjlnp God at 
 Jerufalem, on one of the three folemn Feaj'ts. The 
 firjl Verfe exprejfes his Pleafure upon this Oceafion ; 
 in ibefecond, they are fuppos'd to be jujl arrived 
 there ; the 3d, 4th, 5th, are a Description of it upon 
 the Sight thereof; the four lajl are JVifhes fir its 
 Profperity. Patrick, Nichols, Mudge. 
 
 \T7"H AT joyful raptures did my bofom feel ? 
 
 To hear the tribes exclaim with pious zeal ; 
 '•' O ! let us dread Jehovah's houfe attend, 
 " O ! let our feet to Salem's gates afcend." 
 Lo ! Salem's walls difplay a beauteous place, 
 Join'd, like its people, with united grace; 
 
 There 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 315 
 There go the tribes, the people of the Lord, 
 z To own his cov'nant, and his praife record : 
 There (land the thrones, for awful judgment meet, 
 And there the houfe of Davids regal feat. 
 O pray for favour'd Salem's good fuccefs, 
 Who blemngs call on her, themfelves mall blefs. 
 May gentle peace thy walls encircle round, 
 And plenty in thy palaces abound : 
 Here will I hope, that peace her feat may take, 
 Both for my brethren, and companion's fake ; 
 'Tis here Jehovah's facred houfe hath flood, 
 And, therefore, Salem, I will feek thy good. 
 
 z Orig. To the teftimony, i. e. the ark, in which were 
 the tables of the covenant ■, or teftimony, and from whence 
 God teftified his prefence by oracle. Exod. xxv. 21. 
 22. By the teftimony to Ifrael may alfo be meant, ac- 
 cording to the charge given for their coming thither, Deut. 
 XVi. l6. 17. AlNSWORTH. 
 
 PSALM 
 
316 T7j* PSALMS of DAVID 
 
 PSALM CXXIII. 
 A Song of Degrees, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It is conjeclurd to have been wrote by fome pious Per/on* 
 (pojjibly Ifaiah) when the King of A&yrizfent Rab- 
 fhakeh, to befiege Jerufalem, who poured mofl 
 contemptuous and blafphemous Words again/} God and 
 his People^ 2 Kings xviii. 19. But other Opinions 
 hold it to be of later Date> and that it was compos' 'd 
 towards the Exp iration of the Captivity. Patrick, 
 Nichols. 
 
 /"\ Thou, who a art enthron'd in heav'n on high, 
 
 To thee I turn mine elevated eye. 
 As fervants watch, who dread their Lords commands, 
 Or maidens eyes await their miftrefs hands i 
 Oar eyes To itedfaft on Jehovah wait, 
 Till he in pity fhall reftore our {late. 
 
 Lord, thy mercy, let thy mercy flow 
 On us, poor abjeeb, in furpafiing woe ; 
 Our foul in woe furpafiing groans aloud, 
 Thro' tyrants fcorn, and the dcfpightful proud. 
 
 - Orig. Sittejl, that is, reignefl, gevernefl, and judg- 
 efl % for heaven is God's throne, Ifa. lxvi. 1. Aims- 
 
 I H. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 317 
 
 PSAL M CXXIV. 
 
 A Son£ of Decrees of David, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 *Tke Occafion of this Pfalm feems to ha-je been the Deli- 
 verance of David from the Rebellion of Abfalom ; 
 but it was made ufe of aftervuards by the Jews, as a 
 devotionalForm of Tlmnkfgiving for their Return from 
 the Captivity. Nichols. 
 
 T TNLESS thro' great Jehovah's pow'rful aid, 
 ^ (By Ifrael be this vocal tribute paid) 
 Unlefs thro' great Jehovah's aid beftow'd, 
 When foes affair d us in a numerous croud ; 
 We mult have perifh'd, fwallow'd quick, and whole, 
 When fury kindled in their raging foul : 
 Then had the threat'ning deluge drown'd our coaft, 
 Our lives had in th* o'erwhelming ftreams been loll : 
 Nought could our lives from the b proud deluge fave, 
 Which mufl have yielded to the tyrant wave. 
 Your grateful vows to great Jehovah pay, 
 Who hath not giv'n us to their teeth a prey. 
 
 Our 
 
 b Orig. Proud waters. The Chaldee expoundeth, The 
 adverfe pow'r, ivboji camp was like the high waters of the 
 Jea. Ainsworth. 
 
318 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 Our foul's, as birds, 'fcap'd from the fowler's fnare, 
 'Tis broke,— and freed we draw the vital air. 
 Our help is in Jehovah's glorious name, 
 Who made the hcav'n and earth's ftupendous frame. 
 
 PSALM CXXV. 
 A Song of Degrees. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In what Age this Pfalm was composed) is uncertain ; tho 9 
 Bijhop Patrick conjectures it to refer to the Time 
 cf Sennacherib V Invafon. It is an Exhortation to 
 rely on God's Providence, and not to make ufe cf 
 indireel means of Safety. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 * ■ V HEY, who in great Jehovah's name confide, 
 
 Like Stan's mount, ever unmov'd abide : 
 Around our Sakm guardian mountains rife, 
 As round his fenced tribes the Lord's fupplies : 
 On the jufts lot c no tyrant rod mall reft, 
 Left they mould fin, thro' length of rime oppreft : 
 
 Thy 
 
 c No tyrant rod fi/ffl reft ; meaning, no dominion or 
 power of oppreflive tyrants mould continue fo long to 
 afflict the righteous, as to quell Chen patience^ and, 
 by taking off their confidence from God, to put them 
 upon unrig evil means for deliverance. Patrick. 
 
We PSALMS of DAVID. 319 
 
 Thy good, Jehovah, to the good bellow, 
 And to th' upright in heart thy favour fhow : 
 But thofe, who turn to crooked paths afide, 
 With evil workers, who thofe paths have try'd, 
 The Lord {hall lead, where torments flill increafe, 
 Whilft IfraePs race mall reft in fettled peace. 
 
 PSALM CXXVL 
 A Song of Degrees. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Pfalm was indited by Efdras, or fome infpir'd 
 Author of that Time; and is a Triumphal Song in 
 Congratulation of the Jews Return from the Cap- 
 tivity* Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 IT7HEN back Jehovah captive Sion brought, 
 
 'Twaslike apleafing dream's tranfportingthought i 
 Then on our lips the mirthful accents hung, 
 Then rang forth joyful flouting from our tongue ; 
 This language from th' aflonim'd heathen brake, 
 " Their Lord hath done great wonders for their fake. 
 " Surpaffing wonders hath Jehovah done, 
 " By Sion own'd in each rejocing fon.'" 
 
 Yet 
 
320 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 Yet blefs her with her Hill remaining bands, 
 As ftreams returning glad the d Southern lands. 
 What tho' in forrow mould the fower weep ? 
 He may at length with joy triumphant reap: 
 Who fpreads the feed with a repining tear, 
 May mouting homewards fheaves abundant bear. 
 
 PSALM CXXVII. 
 A Song of Degrees for, or rather by, Solomon, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Tlie Tenour of it is to Jhew^ that no endeavours of Men 
 can he profperous^ but thofe which have the Bleffing 
 of God attending them. Nichols. 
 
 Y? XCEPT Jehovah mould the plan prepare, 
 
 In vain is all the builder's artful care ; 
 Except Jehovah mould the city keep, 
 In vain the watchman is deprived of fleep : 
 
 to 
 
 d Heb. Ban-ne-ghebh. In the dry land, as were the 
 fouthern countries, being waterlefs, Judg. i. it;. Here 
 we may underfland, 'This pall be to us, as the rivers in 
 the feuih. The Chaldee paraphrafeth, As the land is 
 turned, when ivater-fprings break forth into it s in time of 
 drought. AlNSWORTH, BYTHNER. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 321 
 To rife up early, fit up late, is vain, 
 And thus to eat the bread of anxious pain : 
 But who Jehovah have their truft confeft, 
 He gives to them, his well-beloved, reft. 
 He gives them fons, the womb's delightful fruit, 
 And thus rewards the pious parent's fuit. 
 As arrows in the mighty hero's hand, 
 So to their aged fires the youthful band : 
 He's blefs'd, whofe quiver's full ; nor fhall he fall, 
 Defencelefs, in the e gate, or judgment-hall. 
 
 e Orig. They Jhall /peak with their enemies in the gate, 
 i. e. plead in judgment , which was at the city gates. It 
 may alfo be read, They Jhall fubdue the enemies in the gate. 
 The Greek giveth the firft interpretation ; the Chaldee too 
 faith, When they contend with their adverfaries in the gate 
 of the judgment -hall. Our bible verfion may be referr'd 
 to both fenfes. Ainsworth. 
 
 PSALM 
 
522 The PSALMS «/ DAVID. 
 
 P S A L M CXXVIII. 
 A Soncr of Deuces. 
 
 A R G U M E N T. 
 
 Learned Men think tins Pfahn was written by the 
 flvthor of the foregoing one -, and that it was us'd by 
 the Jews, as an Hymn in their Office of 'Matrimony; 
 and therefore it is i-iferted in that of our Church. 
 Patrick, Nicholas. 
 
 TJLESSINGS are his, who fears the Lord, nor ft rays 
 "^"^ From the fmooth paths of his delightful ways. 
 For thou fhalt eat the labour of thine hand, 
 Well malt thou be, and happy in the land : 
 Thy wife, like vines to their expe&ing lord, -\ 
 
 Which on thy walls their plenteous fruit afford, > 
 
 Thy fons, like olive -plants, around thy board. J 
 
 Thefe bleihngs, thro 1 kind heaven's indulgent care, 
 The man mall reap, who will Jehovah fear. 
 Thro" him from Sion numerous joys mail rife, 
 And Salem $ good mail ever glad thine eyes : 
 Lo ! thy fon's fons thy fight mall daily meet ; 
 ■v.;J : ce - ' thy blifs complete. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS ef DAVID. 323 
 
 PSALM CXXIX. 
 
 A Song of Degrees. 
 
 A.R G U M E N T. 
 
 The Author of this Pfalm was probably Efdras, or feme 
 other pious and infpired Per/on, whllfl the Jews were 
 in their Troubles^ after their Captivity ; it may be in 
 the Difficulties they were in about rebuilding the 
 Walls^ fcfr. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 /AFTEN we groan'd beneath oppreffing foes, 
 
 Since from its youth our growing nation rofe ; 
 May Ifrael now thro' fad experience fay , 
 <« Oft from its youth in thrall we groaning lay : 
 " Yet faw their fierce attempts as often fail, 
 " Nor wholly could their crufhing aims prevail. 1 ' 
 The plowers gave the long intrenching ftroke, 
 And on our livid backs their furrows broke : 
 When juft Jehovah view'd our grievous pain, 
 Reach'd forth his hand, and cut their f cords in 'twain, 
 Let all, who bear to Sion fell defpight, 
 Be turned back, and put tolhameful flight: 
 
 Y 2 So 
 
 f That is, put an end to thepow'r of the opprefTors, 
 that they might not always hold us under their yoke, 
 and thus miferably fcourge and tyrannize over as. 
 Patrick. 
 
324 the PSALMS of DAVID 
 So may their proje&s fail, their ftrength decay, 
 As grafs on walls, unpluck'd, foon dies away : 
 Which never fills the lufty reaper's hand, 
 Nor can his arms embrace the fheaved band. 
 Whilft thofe, who pafs, no profpering wifhes frame, 
 Nor fay, We blefs you in Jehovah's name. 
 
 P S A L M CXXX. 
 
 A Song of Degrees. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 So?ne attribute it to David, when under the deep Guilt 
 of his Sin with Bathfhcba, or the Perfeeution of 
 Saul. Others think it zuas compos 'd by fome pious 
 Perfon under the Captivity. It is one of the feven 
 penitential Pfahns ; and is an earnefi Prayer to God 
 for the Pardon of Sin, and Freedom from Punijh- 
 ment. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 Tl It Y cry, Jehovah, from the deeps T fend, 
 
 Hear thou my voice, my fuppliant pray'r attend : 
 If thou wert, Lord, to mark our fins fevere, 
 What man the dreadful fcrutiny might bear ? 
 But thou art in tremendous goodnefs great, 
 Therefore we bow before thine holy feat. 
 
 Thee, 
 
■ 
 
 The PSALMS of DAVID. 325 
 Thee, O Jehovah, thee my foul awaits, 
 Thy word's mine hope in all my prefling flraits ; 
 O Lord my foul's impatient for thy flay, 
 As thofe, who waiting ? watch the morning ray, 
 Who for thy fervice watch the dawn of day. 
 His hope let Ifrael in Jehovah place, 
 For with Jehovah is abundant grace : 
 From him flows largely that guilt-purging ftream ; 
 Who Ifrael will from all his fins redeem. 
 
 g Orig. Watchmen. Which the Chaldee explaineth 
 thus, More impatient than they, (i. e. the priejis in 
 the temple) ivho obfer--ve the morning watch, that 
 they may offer the morning facrifce. Ainsworth. 
 
 Y 3 PSALM 
 
326 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM CXXXI. 
 
 A Song of Degrees of David. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 // was wrote to purge its Author from any Defign of 
 ajfcfling the Kingdom during Saul'j Life. Pa- 
 trick, Nichols. 
 
 IT ORD, in mine heart no haughty thoughts arife, 
 
 No views ambitious lure my longing eyes ; 
 From grafping aims of power my life is clear, 
 Nor do I plunge in things beyond my fphere : 
 Juft as a child, which the fond mother weans, 
 A child, that on the bread no longer leans ; 
 Such is my foul, depending on thy care, 
 Such is my foul, fo pafiive, and fo fair. 
 Let Ifrae/ on Jehovah thus confide, 
 On him for ever let his hope abide. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 327 
 
 PSALM CXXXII. 
 
 A Song of Degrees. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 'Tis prefurrtd by the befl Criticks to be written by 
 Solomon, when he built the Temple , and fulfilled 
 what was defigrtd by hh Father David, 2 Sam. 
 Chap. vii. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 (~*\ Lord, thy fervant Da-vidca.il to mind, 
 
 How griev'd, yet meek, his foul, and howrefign'd ? 
 How he to Jacob's God, adoring, bow'd, 
 To great Jehovah fwore, and humbly vow'd : 
 " Surely, I'll never to mine houfe repair, 
 " To take my bed, or make my dwelling there : 
 " I will not give my wearied eyes to fleep, 
 " Nor (hall their clofed orbs mine eyelids keep ; 
 " Till I can find, where his dread h ark to reft, 
 " Where Jacob's mighty God (hall bepoffeft." 
 
 Y 4 L01 
 
 fc The tabernacle, which the Hebrews call Mifchhan, 
 had been in an unfettled condition, except one period 
 of time, ever fince they came into the land of Canaan. 
 It was firft pitch'd in Gtlged, and ftaid there twenty-four 
 years. Then it was remov'd to Shibb, where it 
 remained to the death of Efi, three hundred and fixty- 
 
 nine 
 
328 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Lo ! as we heard, at Ephrata it flood, 
 
 'Twas in thofe fields, where rofe th' adjoining wood : 
 
 There to his facred tabernacle go, 
 
 And let us at his footftool proftrate low. 
 
 Ari(e, Jehovah, fix thy feat at length, 
 
 Thou, and the ark of thine almighty ftrength. 
 
 1 Let juftice cloath thy righteous priefts around, 
 
 And let thy gracious faints their joy refound. 
 
 Jehovah, for thy fervant David's fake, 
 
 Do not thine eyes from thine anointed take. 
 
 Jehovah fware by his own facred name, 
 
 In truth he fware, nor will his oath difclaim : 
 
 A fovereign prince, from thee defcended down, 
 
 Will I exalt to fit upon thy throne : 
 
 Xay, 
 
 nine years. After his death, Shilob being laid wafle, it 
 was tranilated to Nob; where it remain'd, they fay, 
 thirteen years; (but was now no better than a cabinet 
 without its jewel, the ark being in another place, and 
 never reftor'd to it after that deiblation of Shilob ; fee 
 Pfalm lxxviii.) After the death of Samuel they fay Nob 
 was alfo deitroyM. And then it was carried to Gibeon, 
 where Solomon found it, and from thence fetched it, 
 when he had finiftYd the temple. Patrick. 
 
 * Orig. Let thy priejls be doathed nvith rigbteoujhejs, or 
 jujlice; that is, Let them jujily and hclily adminijlcr the 
 ' prieJTs office. So Job, fpeaking of his juft adminiltration, 
 faith, 1 put on right eon fnefs, and it doathed me, my judgment 
 ivas as a robe and a diadem, Job. xxix. 14. Therefore 
 the priefts had holy garments to officiate m. Exod. 
 xxviii. 2, 3. AliNS worth. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 329 
 
 Nay, Judah\ throne fhall be for ever thine, 
 To grace thy feed, and aggrandize thy line ; 
 If ftill they fhall maintain my facred caufe, 
 Walk in my cov'nant, and obferve my laws. 
 His Sicn hath Jehovah chofe his feat, 
 Here will he dwell, and here his votYies meet. 
 Round beauteous Sion fhall his blefTings fpread, 
 To feed her hungry, fill her poor with bread. 
 I'll with falvation robe her priefts around, 
 Whilft all her faints loud-ecchoing joy refound. 
 There fhall its moots the k horn of David ralfe, 
 My lamp fhall Hill round mine anointed blaze : 
 His foes defeated will I cloath with fhame, 
 But ftill his crown fhall nourifh with his name. 
 
 k Thefe are metaphors in frequent ufe ; David foould 
 ever have in Jerufalem a horn flourifhing, and a light, 
 or lamp burning, A horn is an emblem of fovereignty ; 
 as one horn dropp'd off, another mould fpring up j and 
 his lamp mould never be ex tinguiih'd, in allufion to the 
 ever-burning lamp of the temple. Mu dce. 
 
 PSALM 
 
33 o The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 P S A L M CXXXIII. 
 A Song of Degrees. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Pfalm was probably composed by David, when 
 the Tribes were contending^ who Jhould be moji 
 forward to bring the King back fro?n the Place^ to 
 which the rebellious Arms of Abfalom had driven 
 buriy 2 Sam. xix. 9. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 *T T THAT joys they reap ? what folidpleafure prove ? 
 
 * Where brethren's hearts unite in holy love. 
 
 'Tis like the l fpicy oil on Aaron s crown, 
 Which to th' imbibing beard descending down, 
 
 Streamed to his fkirts ; whilft from his facred head, 
 
 « 
 
 Thus all around the rich perfume is fpread. 
 "Tis as the drops, bedewing Herman' & hill, 
 Or which on Sions beauteous mount diftiil. 
 
 For 
 
 1 Orig. The good oil; the excellent ointment 5 com- 
 pounded of the principal fpices, which coniecrated 
 the high prieft, Exod. xxx. 31, 32. &c. The meaning 
 is, Like as that /pre ads around its fragrant odours, fo 
 doth holy lo<ve y and concord, its diffufove influences amongfl 
 brethren, A ins worth, Patrick. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 331 
 
 For there the Lord his bleffings laid in flore, 
 And there commanded life for evermore. 
 
 PSALM CXXXIV. 
 
 A Song of Degrees. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 // is afcriVd to no certain Author ; but Writers agree, 
 that 'tis a Liturgical Pfalm, us'd in the Service of 
 the Temple, and to be fung in Parts, between the 
 High-Prieft, and other inferior Priefts^W Levites. 
 Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 TEAR, all his fervants ; let your notes confpire, 
 Who nightly watch within his facred choir, 
 To blefs Jehovah : in his temple raife 
 Your fpotlefs hands -, and give Jehovah praife. 
 The Lord, who gave to heav'n and earth their frame, 
 From Sion blefs thee, Ifratl> in his name. 
 
 PSALM 
 
332 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM CXXXV. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Pfalm feetns to be adapted for common Ufe in the 
 Temple -, andpoffibly might be the Morning Hymn 9 
 which the Praecentor (Vcr. 4, 5 J called upon the 
 Levites to fing at the opening of the Gates of the 
 Temple, as the former might be fung at the {hutting 
 up the Gates in the Evening, The four Verfes from 
 the \$th, differ very little from the 4, 5, 6, 8, of 
 115th, which it is certain was composed in a Time of 
 great Diflrefs, as this was, when it was over, Pa- 
 trick, Nichols. 
 
 TJRAISE ye Jehovah, praife his glorious name, 
 
 All ye, his fervants, chaunt Jehovah's fame; 
 The Levite band, which in his temple waits, 
 And ye, who ftand within his SiotCs Gates : 
 Praifeye, Jehovah, ever good and kind, 
 His praife is pleafant to the grateful mind. 
 DiftinguinYd love he will to Jacob bear, 
 And chofen Ifrael, his peculiar care : 
 Great is Jehovah, by his fervant known, 
 What God can with Jehovah /hare the throne ? 
 His will mull ftand all heaven and earth around, 
 In the fubmiflive feas, and each profound ; 
 
 From 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 333 
 
 From diftant earth he makes the vapours rife, 
 Condenfe in clouds, and veil th' ethereal ikies : 
 Whence lightnings glare ; and whence the halty rains 
 Pour down in torrents on the bubbling plains. 
 He keeps the winds amongft his hidden ftores ; 
 Unlocks his treafures, and the tempeft roars. 
 The prime of all their ftrength thro' Egypt's land, 
 Both man, and beaft, felt his deftroying hand : 
 His wrath on Fharoah, and his realm, was fent 
 In fignal plagues, and wond'rous punifhment. 
 He in the bloody field his marvels wrought, 
 He mighty kings, and numerous nations, fmote: 
 There Sibon, th 1 Amorite, refign'd his breath, 
 There Og, the king of Bajhan, found his death : 
 VanquiftYd alike were Canaan's warlike hofts, 
 And all the kingdoms, fpread throughout its coafts. 
 'Twas there he would his favourite Ifrael plant, 
 And to his race confign the promis'd grant. 
 Ever, Jehovah* fhall endure thy name, 
 And thy m memorials ever keep thy fame. 
 Jehovah will his people's caufe defend, 
 And fave his fervants, gracious in the end. 
 
 The 
 
 m Heb. Zich-re-cha, from Zachar, whence "le- 
 cher, the memory, which is either private, denoting 
 
 that 
 
334 Th' PSALMS of DAVID. 
 The Gods, for whom the heathen altars flame, 
 Are gold and filver, wrought by man to frame : 
 Mouths have they, fuch as never filence broke, 
 And eyes, which ne'er on proftrate mortals look : 
 Ears have they, which ne'er heard the vocal notes, 
 No airy draughts pervade their breathlefs throats. 
 They're blind alike, the makers and the made, 
 And thofe, who at their fhrines their fuit have paid. 
 O houie of I/rae/y give Jehovah praife ; 
 O houfe of Aaron, fmg your thankful lays : 
 O houfe of Levi, with your pfalms addrefs, 
 And ye, that fear him, great Jehovah blefs : 
 Give, Sion, to Jehovah bleflings meet, 
 Who hath in Salem fix'd his holy feat. 
 
 Hallelujah ! 
 
 that internal fenfe, whereby we retain in our minds, 
 things paftj or publick, denoting a monument, hiftory, 
 or token, whereby die remembrance of remarkable 
 facls is prefer ved: as it may be here taken. Byth- 
 
 NER. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 335 
 
 PSALM CXXXVL 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Pfalm was in the Temple Service a publick Form 
 of Thankf giving for the magnifying of 'God V Mercies 
 to the Nation of the Jews. The intercalary Verfe y 
 For his Mercy endureth for Ever, is fo far from 
 being a vain Repetition, that it expreffes a great 
 Degree of ' Eameftnefs in the Devotion, is very proper 
 in Liturgical Forms, and is in fever al particulars 
 very well imitated by our Church. Patrick, 
 Nichols. 
 
 f~** OOD is Jehovah, blefs his gracious name, 
 ^^^ And loudly to the God of gods proclaim 
 Your tributary thanks : for ever fure 
 His wide-extending mercy will endure. 
 
 O give unto the Lord of lords your praife, 
 To him alone your grateful anthems raife, 
 Who doth ftupendous works : for ever fure 
 His wide-extending mercy will endure. 
 
 He by his wifdom heaven's high concave fpread. 
 And bade the earth rife from its watery bed 
 With his almighty voice : for ever fure 
 His wide-extending mercy will endure. 
 
 'Twaa 
 
336 The PSALMS of DAVID, 
 
 'Twas he, who made each great, celeftial light 
 The fun to rule the day, to rule the night 
 The moon, and ftarry orbs : for ever fure 
 His wide-extending mercy will endure. 
 
 He fmote the nrft-born thro' th' JEgyptian land, 
 And brought forth Ifrael with a mighty hand, 
 And with a ftretch'd-out arm : for ever fure 
 His covenanted mercy will endure. 
 
 He on each fide made the Red-fea retire 
 For IfraePs footfteps : but in vengeful ire 
 Plung'd Pbaroah and his hofts : for ever fure 
 His covenanted mercy will endure. 
 
 'Twas he, who deign'd his chofen tribes to bring 
 (Whilfl by his pow'r fell many a potent king) 
 Thro' defarts wild and vaft : for ever fure 
 His covenanted mercy will endure. 
 
 'Twas he, who great and famous kings o'erthrew, 
 Sihon, the Amoritiflj monarch, flew, 
 And Bo/hat? s tyrant, Og : for ever fure 
 His covenanted mercy will endure. 
 
 He gave the lands, their wrefted fceptres fway'd, 
 Ev'n to his fervant Ifrael he convey 'd 
 Their lands an heritage : for ever fure 
 His covenanted mercy will endure. 
 
 'Twas 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 337 
 
 'Twas he remembred us, reduc'd, and low, 
 Rais'd us, redeem'd from each oppreffive foe, 
 To a triumphant joy : for ever fure 
 His covenanted mercy will endure. 
 
 He gives, to feed all flefh, the earth's increafe, 
 O ! never let your thankful praifes ceafe 
 To heaven's o'er-ruling God : for ever fure 
 His wide -extending mercy will endure. 
 
 PSALM CXXXVII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This is a mournful Song, composed by fame captive 
 Levite in Babylon, when he rcflecled upon their 
 fad parting zuith their dear Country, and the Scorn 
 with which their Enemies treated them in that f range 
 Land. Patrick. 
 
 T^T EAR" Basel's ftreams we fat, to tears refign'd, 
 When Sign's dear remembrance ftruck our mind : 
 Our fympathizing harps, for mufick fining, 
 Now on the bordering willows filent hung : 
 
 Z Mocking 
 
 n It is a conjecture of St. Chryfoftome's, that the 
 Jvwtjh captives were not fuffer'd at firft to dwell in an y 
 of their conquerors towns, or cities, but were difper^'d 
 all along feveral rivers of the country, where they 
 built for themfelves tabernacles, or cottages. Patrick. 
 
3 $S The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Mocking our groans, tlT enflaving tyrants fay, 
 " Sing us, from &Ws choirs, a mirthful lay/* 
 How can or raife our voice, or tune our hand, 
 A lay to IfraePs God, in a ftrange land ? 
 If, Salem, I forget thee in my thought, 
 May my right hand forget the fkilfull note ; 
 May to my palate cleave the faft'ned tongue, 
 If Salem rife not with my mindful fong. 
 Remember, Lord, and firft on Edam frown ; 
 " Raze it, they faid, raze it entirely down : M 
 Daughter of Babel too, thy turn (hall come, 
 When thou mayft look for thy reward at home: 
 When fome fyrannick conqueror fhall repay 
 Th' opprefiions, under which we groaning lay. 
 Bleft he ! whofe arms (hall feize thy little ones, 
 And dafh their tainted blood againft the Hones. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 339 
 
 PSALM CXXXVIIL 
 A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Title a/cribes it to David, by whom it might be 
 composed upon his promotion to the royal Dignity. 
 However, the Septuagint Tranflation fays, that it 
 was made ufe of by Haggai and Zachary upon the 
 re-building of the Temple. // is a pious Thank f- 
 giving to God for Mercies received. Patrick, 
 Nichols. 
 
 ' I ^O thee I'll offer my fincerefl praife, 
 
 'Midft the vicegerent gods mine anthems raife ; 
 And bowing tow'rds thy facred palace down, 
 With joy thy ftedfaft truth and mercy own : 
 For this thy goodnefs Hands upon record, 
 Exalting above all thy name and word. 
 Thou in my trouble waft my fure refort, 
 Didft hear me, and my foul with ftrength fupport. 
 All earthly kings fhall homage thee, O Lord, 
 When they fhall hear the wonders of thy word : 
 Yea, they mail fing the good Jehovah's ways, 
 For matchlefs is Jehovah's glorious praife. 
 
 Z 2 {ehcvah's 
 
340 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Jehovah's high, yet he refpetts the low, 
 JBut from afar he doth the lofty know. 
 Tho 1 I thro 1 deadly perils fcarce could live, 
 Yet will thy timely aids my foul revive : 
 From me thine hand mould ward the furious blow, 
 And thy right-hand mould fave me from the foe. 
 Still mail the Lord his gracious blefTings fend, 
 And what he hath begun, compleatly end : 
 Thy promis'd mercy mull for ever Hand, 
 Forfake not, Lord, the works of thine own hand. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 341 
 
 PSALM CXXXIX, 
 To the chief Mufician. A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This is an excellent Hymn on tbofe divine Attributes^ 
 the Omniprefence, and Omnifcience of God. 
 To thefe David appeals for an Approbation of his 
 Integrity, and the Honejly of his Intentions, • It 
 is probable, that it was written during SaulV 
 Reign, when he zvas traduced for having ill Defgns 
 againjl that Prince. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 T E H O VA H, thou hall fearch'd, and try'd my frame. 
 Mine embrio -thoughts, e'er to the birth they came : 
 To thee mine outward ads, my fitting down, 
 And mine uprifing, are exaclly known. 
 Lo ! all my ways are ° fifted by thine eye, 
 Or when I'm rais'd, or when at reft I lie : 
 E'er yet my words can utter mine intent, 
 O Lord, thy knowledge doth my tongue prevent : 
 
 Z 3 Thou 
 
 fc lieb. Ze-ri-tha. Thou fanvejl, njcinncvcejl \ or 
 compajfeft, that is, dojk difcufs and fearch out to the 
 utmolt; even tracing the footfteps, according to the 
 Greek. Compare Job xxxi. 4. BifhopHARE renders 
 it, Thou dofi compafs, apprehending it to be a metaphor, 
 taken from hunting. Ains worth, Hare. 
 
342 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 Thou haft befet, and compafs'd me around, 
 And 'tis thine hand hath fix'd my ftated bound : 
 Such excellence, fo wondrous, and fo high, 
 Exceeds the limits of my reafon's eye. 
 Where from thy fpirit can I fhrouded be ? 
 Or whither from thy boundlefs prefence flee ? 
 If I afcend to heaven's extremefr fphere, 
 There fhall thy glorious majefty appear : 
 Should I to earth's infernal regions go, 
 Thine eye would pierce the vaft profound below : 
 If on the golden wings of p morning light 
 To weftern feas I fleer my rapid flight, 
 Yet Hill mould I perceive thy guardian care, 
 And flill would thy right-hand conduct me there. 
 Or mould I feek the fable fhades of night, 
 The darknefs all around me would be light : 
 All things perfpicuous to thine eyes abide, 
 From thee can no obfcuring darknefs hide : 
 The darknefs mines, clear as the folar ray, 
 To thee, and both alike are night and day. 
 Twas thou, who didft my fecret q reins pojfcfs, 
 .And wrap me, folded in the womb's rccefs : 
 
 Fear- 
 
 P Meaning, from the eaft to the weftern coafls. 
 " That is, My mojl retired thoughts and contrivances, 
 at;d my tnofi /tent dejires are apparent to thee, according 
 
 to 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 343 
 
 Fearfully made, will I thy praife proclaim ; 
 Well knows my foul the wonders of my frame : 
 My wound-up mafs was open to thine eye, 
 Whilft in its dark abode confin'dto lie ; 
 When 'twas, with curious veins r embroider'd o'er, 
 Hid as in pregnant mines the precious (lore. 
 My fabrick, e'er I was, thy plan defign'd, 
 And all my parts were copied from thy mind. 
 How can we rate the tenders of thy care ? 
 Or how determine what their numbers are ? 
 To fum them were to count the fandy grains ; 
 s By day and night intent, they mock my pains. 
 Sure heav'nly vengeance will to death purfue 
 The wicked bands : then fly, ye bloody crew : 
 
 Z 4 Thine 
 
 to bifhop Patrick ; but bifhop Hare renders the 
 expreflion, Thou haft created my reins ; which feems beft 
 to fuit the connection. 
 
 r Heb. Ruk-kam-ti. / was curioujly wrought, 
 as with the needle, as it were embroider d over with' 
 nerves, fmews, veins, &c Ainsworth, Byth- 
 ner. 
 
 s Orig. When I awake, I am ftill with thee. That 
 is, This is my laji thought in the nighty when Jleep 
 jleals upon me, and the fir ft in the morning, when I awake. 
 Hare, from Simeon de Muis. 
 
344 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Thine honour they with impious tongues prophane, 
 
 Thy foes blafphemhig take thy name in vain. 
 
 Do not thy haters, Lord, mine hatred move ? 
 
 Do not they grieve me, who with thee have flrove ? 
 
 This hate indignant nothing can appeafe, 
 
 And I dare own mine enmity to thefe. 
 
 Search me, O God, and know my confcious heart, 
 
 Try me, and nicely probe mine inward part : 
 
 If there it lies, the wicked way difclofe, 
 
 And lead me, where the way eternal goes. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 345 
 
 PSALM CXL. 
 
 To the chief Mufician. A Pfalm of David, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The particular Occafion of it was his Perfecution by 
 Saul, when he was infix 'gated thereunto by the 
 Calumnies of Doeg, and the Information of tte 
 Ziphites, 1 Sam. xxiii. 20. Patrick, Ni- 
 chols. 
 
 TJRESERVE me from the wicked man, afiwage, 
 
 O Lord, the violent man's impetuous rage ; 
 
 Both theirs, whofe hearts o'er fecret mifchiefs brood, 
 
 And who with open force purfue my blood : 
 
 Their darting tongue, like venom'd ferpents, wounds, 
 
 And afpic poifon moots in vocal founds. 
 
 Selah. 
 
 Preferve me from the wicked hands, afTwage, 
 
 O Lord, the violent man's impetuous rage : 
 
 Who fubt'ly all their treacherous fkill employ, 
 
 To work my ruin, and my peace deftroy : 
 
 For me befide the way the proud prepare 
 
 Their cords, and nets, and each infidious fnare. 
 
 Selah. 
 
 " Thou art my God ; I cry'd unto the Lord ; 
 
 " Attend my voice, and hear my fuppliant word : 
 
 << O God, 
 
346 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 " O God, the Lord, thou faving ftrength doll yield, 
 
 <( Thou art mine helmet in th 1 embattl'd field : 
 
 u Give not, O Lord, the wickeds aims fuccefs, 
 
 M Left they exalt themfelves ; their fchemes fupprefs." 
 
 Selah. 
 For thofe, who would befet me, round their head 
 Shall their own lips the wily mifchief fpread : 
 They on themfelves the f glowing coals mail call, 
 And thro' his pow'r in raging fire fhall fall : 
 Sunk down in pits, which their own hearts devife, 
 His arm fhall plunge them, never more to rife. 
 'StablinYd on earth, let not the flanderer ftand, 
 Let evils hunt the violent from the land . 
 I know Jehovah will avenge the poor, 
 He will th' opprefTed to their right reftore : 
 Thy praife the jufl in grateful drains fhall tell, 
 And in thy prefence fhall the righteous dwell. 
 
 f Orig. They Jhall bring upon themfehes coals , (viz. 
 kindled by their own tongues) or, They Jhall he thrown 
 upon them. The Hebrew will bear both thefe (enfes ; 
 their judgments being from God, but procured by 
 
 themfelves. Ains worth. 
 
 PSALM 
 
Tht PSALMS of DAVID. 347 
 
 PSALM CXLI. 
 A Pfalm of David. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Mojl probably it was written under his Troubles in the 
 Reign of Saul. He herein doth particularly beg of 
 God Grace, that he might not, by any intemperate* 
 or imprudent Word, give his Adverfaries any 
 Advantage againjl him. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 7k /TAKE hafte unto me, Lord; to thee I cry; 
 
 Attend me, fince to thee I fuppliant fly : 
 Before thee let my pray'r, as incenfe, rife, 
 And my ftretch'd palms, as th' evening facrifice. 
 Set, Lord, around my mouth thy facred guard, 
 Keep thou before its doors the watchful ward : 
 Avert from ill, and thofe who work deceit, 
 Mine heart ; nor let me of their dainties eat. 
 Let the juft fmite me, I'll the kindnefs own, 
 Let him reprove me with a gracious frown, 
 'Twill heal, like flagrant oil, not break my head; 
 u Guard me from inares, by wicked flattery fpread. 
 
 Their 
 
 u This meaning is chofe by way of oppolition to 
 the former lines ; and this the Greek favoureth, faying, 
 
 But 
 
34$ The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Their w chiefs, furpriz'd within the rock's retreat, 
 Have heard my fpeech was peace, my words were fweet. 
 * Yet, near their graves, our bones are fcatter'd round, 
 As earth in pieces, which the plough-ihares wound. 
 My views, mine hopes, reft on Jehovah's name, 
 Do not in flreams of grief difTolve my frame. 
 Preferve me from the gins and treacherous fnarc, 
 Which evil workers for my feet prepare. 
 Whilfl I efcape th' unjufts deceitful net* 
 Let them be taken in the toils they fet. 
 
 But let rot the oil of the firmer fupple mine head ; by 
 oily meaning flattering fpeeches, as Pfalm lv. 21. 
 
 AlKSWORTH. 
 
 w Saul and his officers in the cave of EngeM. 
 
 x That is, we are difpers'd, and reduc'd almoft to 
 the pit of definition. 
 
 PSALM 
 
Tbi PSALMS of DAVID. 349 
 
 PSALM CXLII. 
 
 The Hebrew Infcription. 
 
 Mafebil of David. A Prayer, when ht was in the 
 Cave, 1 Sam. xxiv. 
 
 T% /TY voice fent to the Lord a grievous cry, 
 
 "* My fervent voice addrefs'd the Lord, moft high : 
 
 To him I pour'd out my complaining prayer, 
 
 And fhew'd before him all my penfive care : 
 
 When my foul fainted, thou didft guide my way, 
 
 Whilit the clofe ambuihes in fecret lay ; 
 
 For help around I call my fearching eyes, 
 
 But there was none to bring the kind fupplies ; 
 
 No refuge, whilft my thoughts perplexing roll ; 
 
 And no man car'd for my endangered foul. 
 
 Before the Lord then did I crying ftand ; 
 
 " Thou art my rock, my portion in the land : 
 
 " My foes have funk me low ; attend my cry ; 
 
 " Save thou, for they are ftronger far than I. 
 
 <« My foul from its imprifoning r cave releafe, 
 
 c« That I, to praife thy name, may never ceafe." 
 
 The 
 
 y viz. The cave oiEngeddi. 
 
350 7k- PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 The juft fhall compafs me with fongs of praife, 
 When thy rewards my finking foul fhall raife. 
 
 PSALM CXLIII. 
 A Pfalmof.DawV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Theodoret fays, he found in feme Greek Copies thefe 
 Words, added to explain the Occafton and Time of 
 its Compofition, When Abfalom, his Son, perfe- 
 cted him. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 ^T^O thee my fuppliant voice and pray'r afcend, 
 
 O ! for thy truth and goodnefs, Lord, attend : 
 O! judge me not, with aweful frowns fevere, 
 For whom might then thy dreadful juftice clear ? 
 Still feels my foul the perfecuting foe, 
 Who fmites me to the ground, reduc'd and low ; 
 Who fhuts me buried in th' imprifoning z cave, 
 As in the ceafelefs darknefs of the grave. 
 Amazing terrors overwhelm my foul, 
 And thoughts difmaying in my bofom roll ; 
 'Tis then the days of old I ponder o'er, 
 Mufe on thy works, the wonders of thy pow'r : 
 
 Then 
 
 2 Sec i Sam. xvii. 9. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 351 
 
 Then ftretch I forth to thee mine hoi/ hands, 
 My foul thirfts for thee, as the weary lands. 
 
 Selah. 
 Hafle, Lord, and hear ; my fainting fpirit fave, 
 Thy face withdrawn would fink me to the grave : 
 In thee I truft, that from the gloomy night 
 Thy grace mall glad me with the morning light. 
 Teach me to know thy providential ways, 
 For my dependant foul to thee I raife : 
 Thine aids, Jehovah, to my refcue bring, 
 And hide me with the covert of thy wing. 
 Thou art my God, teach me thy will's command, 
 Let thy good fpirit point the a peaceful land : 
 For thy name's fake revive me, when I grieve, 
 And for thyjuftice, Lord, my foul relieve : 
 To fcnd my woes thro' faving grace incline, 
 And crufii mine enemies : for I am thine. 
 
 a That is, a land where juftice and uprightnefs 
 might prevail, and where he might dwell at peace 
 from fear of the enemy. Patrick. 
 
 PSALM 
 
352 The PSALMS of DAVID; 
 
 PSALM CXLIV. 
 A Pfalm of David. 
 
 A R G U M E N T. 
 
 To this Infcription, in forne Greek and Latin Copies y 
 is added, againft Goliath. But if this Pfalm had 
 any relation to that Affair y it was certainly composed 
 after David'* coming to the Kingdom, from ver. 2d ; 
 and it feems to refer to fome of his Victories over 
 the Philiftines, towards the beginning of his Reign. 
 Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 b 
 
 LE'SSED be thou, O Lord, my fledfaft might, 
 Which gives mine arm to war, mine hands to fight. 
 
 My mercy, and my fortrefs, mine high tow'r, 
 
 My guardian buckler, and my refcuing pow'r, 
 
 In which I trull ; and which the nations awes ; 
 
 And makes them iubjec~t to my fovcreign laws. 
 
 Lord, what is man ? who thus partakes thy care ? 
 
 Or what his fons ? who thus thy favour mare ? 
 
 Asa vain, empty bubble, fuch is man, 
 
 Jull as the fhadow, is his tranficnt ipan. 
 
 Bow, Lord, the heavens , come down, and with thy ftroke 
 
 If thou but touch the mountain?, they mall fmoke. 
 
 Difcharge. 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 353 
 Difcharge thy bolts, and fcatter them around, 
 J)art forth thine arrows, and their ranks confound : 
 From raging torrents with thine heav'nly hand 
 Snatch me ; and from the b Grangers rid my land, 
 Who utter falfehoods with their vaunting tongue, 
 And their right-hand is a right-hand of wrong. 
 New fongs, O God, tun'd to the lute, I'll raife, 
 And fingon ten-ftring'd inftruments thy praife. 
 He faveth kings with his almighty word, 
 His fervant David, from the hurtful fword : 
 Snatch me from this invader's tyrant-hand, 
 From the ftrange children rid my groaning land ; 
 Who utter falfehoods with their vaunting tongue, 
 And their right-hand is a right-hand of wrong. 
 So may our fons, as youthful plants, be grown, 
 Our daughters, as the polifh'd corner-flone ; 
 As pillars, which the royal domes adorn ; 
 Be full our garners with the various corn ; 
 May teeming fheep our eyes in thoufands meet, 
 And bring ten thoufands forth within our ftreet. 
 Strong be our oxen for the golden load, 
 Free may they anfwer to the pungent goad : 
 
 A a No 
 
 b Orig. Sons of the fir anger, i. e. of a firange god, or 
 people. As Pfalm cxxxvii 4. born aliens ; as the 
 " liflints, &C, Ainsworth, 
 
354 Th' PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 No treacherous pafiage thro' our walls be found, 
 
 And no complaining in our ftreets around. 
 
 That land hath bleffings, where Jehovah's known, 
 
 That land hath bleifings, which God deigns t& own. 
 
 PSALM CXLV. 
 David's Pfalm of Praifc. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Title is peculiar to this Pfalm akne. It is not 
 evident, upon zvbat Occafion it tvas written. The Ttrfcs 
 begin with the Alphabetical Letters in order, only 
 Nun is wanting. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 Y Will extoll thee, O my God, and king, 
 Thy praife for ever, and for ever fmg ; 
 Thy bleffing every day will I proclaim, 
 For ever, and for ever praife thy name. 
 Great is Jehovah, great mould be his praife, 
 Deep, and unfearchable, are all his ways : 
 One age fiiall for the next thy praife prepare, 
 And all thy works, and mighty acts, declare : 
 My tongue fhall on thy palling marvels dwell, 
 Thine honour and majeftick glory tell : 
 
 WhiM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 355 
 
 WhilA men thy ftrength, and dreadful deeds, rehearfe, 
 
 Thy greatnefs mall inform my facred verfe. 
 
 Thy goodnefs mail retain their ceafelefs tongue, 
 
 And thy jufl judgment fhall exalt their fong. 
 
 From a full fource Jehovah's graces flow, 
 
 In mercy great, and in his anger flow. 
 
 All things Jehovah's wond'rous goodnefs fhare, 
 
 And all his works partake his tender care : 
 
 Thee fhall thy numerous works, Jehovah, praife, 
 
 And thefe thy faints with joyful thanks fhall blaze. 
 
 Their voice fhall thine imperial glory fing, 
 
 And fpeak the pow'r of heaven's immortal king : 
 
 Shall make thy might to Adams offspring known, 
 
 Whilft they thy regal majefly fhall own. 
 
 Thy reign's a lafling and eternal reign, 
 
 And thy dominion ever fhall remain. 
 
 Jehovah's arm the low can raife on high, 
 
 And thofe uphold, in dull who groveling lie. 
 
 All creatures wait on thee with longing eyes, 
 
 Who dofl in feafon give their crav'd fupplies : 
 
 Thine opening hand with ftreaming bounty pours, 
 
 To fill each living thing, its plenteous ftores. 
 
 Juftly are all Jehovah's ways defign'd, 
 
 And all his works are merciful and kind. 
 
 A a 2 To 
 
356 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 To thofe, who call on him, Jehovah's near, 
 To thofe ^ who call on him, with heart iincerc : 
 To them, that fear him, will he bring relief, 
 Will hear their cry, and refcue them from grief: 
 Safe is their Hate, who love the Lord, their God, 
 Whilit finners fall beneath his vengeful rod. 
 My mouth fhall praile Jehovah more and more; 
 For ever let all flefh his holy name adore. 
 
 P S A L M CXLVL 
 Hallelujah. 
 
 A R G U M E N T. 
 
 Tlie following five Pfalnis are entitled Hallelujahs, 
 I caufe they begin a?id end zvith that IP'crd. Thg 
 Vulgar Latin, and the preient Greek, iu.'itie it 
 to Haggai and Zachary ; and Grotius fiiys, 
 that this Infcription was formerly in Origeh'j 
 Hexapla. Some attribute it to David. // contains 
 a Celebration of G?d\~ Praifes for his Creation 
 and Prefervation ; and particularly for ir.jiolably 
 matntaimng his Prtmifts, which he hath made u 
 his Pe iple, Patrick, Ni c h o l s . 
 
 . 
 
 Y> R AISE thcu Jehovah, O my foul j my breath 
 
 Shall chaunt hispraifef* 'till it ceaic in death; 
 
 Whilft 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 357 
 Whilft I the being, which he gave, enjoy, 
 Jehovah's praife mall be my juft employ. 
 Trufl not in princes, impotent to fave, 
 Like every fon of Adam, from the grave : 
 Forth goes their fpirit, hous'd in earth they lie, 
 When at that inftant all their projects die. 
 He's bleffed, who on Jacob's God relies^ 
 To whom his God, Jehovah, hope fupplies : 
 Who made the heav'n and earth, and all their ftore, 
 And keeps his facred truth for evermore : 
 Who deals forth righteous judgment to th' opprefs'd, 
 Who feeds the wretch, by pining want diftrefs'd : 
 Jehovah tears the captive bands away, 
 c And on the fightlefs eye-ball pours the day : 
 Jehovah raifes the deprefs'd with woes, 
 His love Jehovah to the juft bellows : 
 Jehovah is the (hanger's guardian friend, 
 His fure protection doth his paths attend: 
 His care the widow, and the orphan, flays, 
 But turneth upfide down the wicked's ways : 
 Jehovah doth an endlefs fway maintain, 
 Thy God, O Sion, ever fnall remain. 
 
 c This line is taken from Mr. Pope's Meffiah. 
 
 A a 3 PSALM 
 
358 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 PSALM CXLVII. 
 Hallelujah. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 From the fecond Verfe of this Pfalm it feems to have 
 been composed upon the Return from the Captivity ; 
 having probably , either Haggai, Zachariah, or 
 Nehemiah, for its Author. It is an Hy?nn of 
 Praife to the Honour of God, arifing from fever al 
 particulars of the Manifejlation of his Goodnefs. 
 Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 T) RAISE ye the Lord; chaunt forth the pleafingfong; 
 
 His praife is good, and comely for our tongue. 
 Jehovah builds the beauteous Sale?ns walls, 
 And Ifaets out-cafls, far difpers'd, recalls : 
 He heals the broken hearts with kind relief, 
 Binds up their wounds, and falves their painful grief. 
 tit counts the liars, which deck the heav'nly frame, 
 And gives to every twinkling orb its name. 
 Great is the Lord ; his pow'r is unconfin'd ; 
 And nought can limit his unfathomM mind. 
 Jehovah lifteth up the meek on high, 
 And bids on earth the wicked groveling lie. 
 
 To 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 359 
 
 To God eternal fing the grateful lays, 
 
 Sing to the pleafant harp Jehovah's praife : 
 
 Who fpreads the heaven with clouds ; doth fprinkle down 
 
 The rain on earth ; with grafs the mountains crown. 
 
 He to the beaft doth needful meat fupply, 
 
 And feeds the youngling ravens, when they cry. 
 
 He cares not for the horfe's fpeedy force, 
 
 Nor for the foldier's fwiftnefs in the courfe : 
 
 But cares for thofe, whofe faith his mercies own, 
 
 Whofe fear and hope center in him alone. 
 
 To praife the Lord, thy voice, O Salem, raife, 
 
 And thy protecting God, O Sion, praife : 
 
 For he fecur'd thy gates with mafTy chains, 
 
 And blefs'd with great increafe thy thin remains: 
 
 Thro' plenteous peace he crowns thy borders o'er, 
 
 And with the fineft wheat augments thy {lore : 
 
 'Tis done— where-ever his command he fends ; 
 
 His word runs fwiftly to earth's diilant ends : 
 
 With fleecy fnow, like wool, he cloaths the ground, 
 
 Like afhes, fcatters the hoar-froft around : 
 
 He forth, as fragments, cafts the icy fhow'r, 
 
 Who can withftand his cold's deftroying pow'r ? 
 
 Again his word the chain'd-up waves unbinds, 
 
 The waters flow, loos'd by his melting winds. 
 
 A a 4 He 
 
360 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 He gives the law his Jacob's race to lead, 
 Statutes, and judgment?, to his IfraeVs feed : 
 He no fuch grace to other lands hath mown, 
 Nor have they his furpafimg judgments known. 
 
 Hallelujah. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS of DAVID. 361 
 
 *™™^*^"^^^™"™""^"^~ «■ 
 
 PSALM CXLVin. 
 Hallelujah, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Some are of Opinion, that it was written at the Clofe 
 of the Captivity, when the Editt was out for the 
 Ref oration of the Jews. But there is in the Pfalm 
 no Intimation of this \ and as the two following 
 feem to refer to the Times of David, 'tis probable 
 this was made by him, when God had given him 
 Reft from all his Enemies, Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 "ORAISE ye Jehovah from the heavens on high, 
 
 Praife him, ye choirs, above the fpangled iky : 
 Praife him, ye angels, which attend his will, 
 Praife him, ye hofts, which his commands fulfill; 
 Praife him, both fun, and moon, each day, and night, 
 And praife him, all ye ftars of twinkling light : 
 Praife him, ye heavens, throughout your vaft expanfe, 
 Ye ftreams, which o'er the air in clouds advance : 
 Let them united praife Jehovah's name, 
 Who fpake— when rofe this wondrous earthy frame : 
 For ever 'ftablifh'd by their endlefs caufe, 
 They never can tranfgrefs his ftated laws, 
 
 Praife 
 
362 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Praife ye Jehovah from this earthly ball, 
 
 Ye monflrous whales, and ocean's wonders all : 
 
 Fire, hail, and fnow, and vapours all accord, 
 
 With flormy tempefts, to fulfill his word. 
 
 Ye hills, and mountains, which fuperior rife, 
 
 Fruit-trees, and cedars, towering for the fides ; 
 
 Wild beafls, and cattle, and each creeping thing, 
 
 And feather'd fowl, which th' airy region wing ; 
 
 Kings, and all people, fway'd by their command, 
 
 Princes, and all the judges of each land ; 
 
 Ye fprightly youths, and blooming virgin choirs, 
 
 Ye infant children, and ye aged fires; 
 
 Your pow'rs combine to praife Jehovah's name : 
 
 For high-advanc'd is his furpafTing fame ; 
 
 Ev'n his alone : whofe glorious might appears 
 
 Above the earth, and heaven's extreme^ fpheres. 
 
 His people's horn his boundlefs pow'r doth raife, 
 
 He is of all his faints th' inceffant praife ; 
 
 Ev'n all the faints of his lov'd IfraePs race, 
 
 A people, planted near his holy place, 
 
 Hallelujah. 
 
 PSALM 
 
The PSALMS */ DAVID. 363 
 
 PSALM CXL1X. 
 Hallelujah. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 *Tis a triumphant Song on fome great Exploits done 
 by the Jews, and therefore probably relates to the 
 Times of David, when they made the gr eat ejl Figure 9 
 and gained the moft confiderable Victories. Pa- 
 trick, Nichols. 
 
 TJ RAISE ye the Lord; new fongs of thanks refoimd, 
 ■** And chaunt his praifes in his courts around : 
 Let raptur'd Ifrael to his d maker fing, 
 And Sions Tons be joyful in their king : 
 May the harmonious e dance exprefs his praife, 
 The harp and timbrel grateful numbers raife : 
 The Lord is pleas'd his people's good to feek, 
 And his falvation mall adorn the meek : 
 
 Ye 
 
 d Orig. Makers ; which plural exprefiion hath been 
 abundantly obferv'd by interpreters to contain in it 
 the my fiery of the Trinity, as in many other places. 
 Let us make man in our o-ivn image. Gen. i. 26. Where is 
 God thy Makers P Job xxxv. 10. Remember thy Creators, 
 Eccles. xii. i,&c. Ainsworth. 
 
 e Which was religioufly us 'din ovations and triumphs. 
 But the Hebre-Lu word here render'd dance, fignifies 
 alfo the pipe, whereunto theydanc'd. Ainsv/orth. 
 
364 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 
 Ye faints, exalt your glorious voices high, 
 
 And fing aloud, as on your beds you lie : 
 
 Shout from your tuneful mouths th' almighty's praife, 
 
 Whilft in your hands the two-edg'd weapons blaze : 
 
 Your vengeance fpread the heathen nations o'er, 
 
 Chaftife the people, that they rage no more ; 
 
 Whilft kings fhall grace your triumphs, bound in chains, 
 
 And fetter'd nobles in their captive trains : 
 
 Whofe doom we in the f facred volume read ; 
 
 Such honour is for all his faints decreed. 
 
 f This may have reference to that law, Deut, vii. 1, 2. 
 Ainsworth. 
 
 PSALM 
 
77* PSALMS of DAVID. 365 
 
 PSALM CL. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Tho' it is not certain, yet 'tis probable, that David 
 wrote this triumphant Pfalm, and directed it to the 
 Levites, whofe Office it was to praife the Lord 
 zvith muikal Inftruments ; of which thofe efpecially 
 (Ver. 4th, 5th) ftring'd Inftruments, Organs, and 
 Cymbals, are at prefent unknown. The vocal 
 Repetition 0/* Praife thirteen Times with the injlru- 
 mental Mufick mujl be very ajfecling to the truly 
 grateful Heart, to which we have been jujl in the 
 Tranjlation. Patrick, Nichols. 
 
 TJRAISE ye the Lord. Praife Godin heaven on hioh ; 
 Praife him, whofe pow'r befpread the Harry fky : 
 Praife him for each ftupendous, mighty deed j 
 Praife him, whofe name doth every name exceed : 
 Praife him v/ith trumpets, ecchoing all around ; 
 Praife him with harps, and pfalteries fofter found : 
 Praife him with flutes j for this the timbrels bring ; 
 Praife him with organs, and the trembling firing : 
 Praife him with the fhrill cymbal's tinkling voice ; 
 Praife him with loudeH cymbal's feftive noife : 
 
 Let 
 
366 The PSALMS of DAVID. 
 Let every thing, infpir'd with breath, accord 
 To praife Jehovah's name. Praife ye the Lord. 
 
 DEO, 
 
 OPTIMO, MAXIMO, 
 
 A D JU VANT I, 
 
 GLORIA. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
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