26 Give thanks, O Israel, unto God the LORD in the congregations: from the ground of the heart. 27 There is little Benjamin their ruler, and the princes of Judah their council: the princes of Zabulon, and the princes of Nephthali. 28 Thy God hath sent forth strength for thee : stablish the thing, O God, that Thou hast wrought in us, 29 For Thy temple's sake at Jerusalem : so shall kings bring presents unto Thee. 30 When the company of the spear-men, and multitude of the mighty are scattered abroad among the beasts of the people, so that they humbly bring pieces of silver and when He hath scattered the people that delight in war; 31 Then shall the princes come out of Egypt the Morians' land shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. 32 Sing unto God, O ye kingdoms of the earth: O sing praises unto the LORD, 33 Who sitteth in the heavens over all from the beginning: lo, He doth send out His voice, yea, and that a mighty voice. 34 Ascribe ye the power to God over Israel: His worship, and strength is in the clouds. 35 O God, wonderful art Thou in Thy holy places even the God of Israel; He will give strength and power unto His people; blessed be God. 32. [SELAH.] 26. Possibly; the burst of song from the damsels. -PEROWNE. From the ground of the heart; Heb. "From the fountains of Israel" i.e., ye who are descendants of Israel. 27. Four representative tribes are men tioned-viz., Benja min and Judah in the south; and Zabulon and Naphtali in the north. 28. In us; rather, for us. 30. Translate "Rebuke Thou the beast of the reed [i.e., the crocodile, symbolising Egypt], the troop of bulls with the calves of the peoples [.e., idolatrous nations]; trampling under foot those that have pleasure in silver: He scattereth the people eager for fights.' It refers to the subjugation of the world to God. 31. Morians' land; Cush, Ethiopia. An example of a wealthy land. Cf. "The merchandise of Ethio pia," Isa. xlv. 14. Morian = Mohren, Moorish such was the treasurer of Queen Candace.-Acts viii. 27. 33. Who sitteth, &c.; Heb. who rideth upon the heaven of heavens from eternity. Evening Prayer. PSALM 69. Salvum me fac. [A Psalm of David, quoted as his by S. Paul, Rom. xi. 9. The circumstances under which it was composed are a matter of uncertainty. Dr Kay refers it to the conspiracy of Joab and Abiathar to support Adonijah's succession to the throne in the place of Solomon. It is frequently quoted in the New Testament.] SAVE me, O God: for the waters are come in, even unto my soul. 2 I stick fast in the deep mire, where no ground is : I am come into deep waters, so that the floods run over me. 3 I am weary of crying; my throat is dry my sight faileth me for waiting so long upon my God. 4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head: they that are mine enemies, and would destroy me guiltless, are mighty. 5 I paid them the things that I never took: God, Thou knowest my simpleness, and my faults are not hid from Thee. 6 Let not them that trust in Thee, O LORD God of hosts, be ashamed for my cause let not those that seek Thee be confounded through me, O LORD God of Israel. 7 And why? for Thy sake have I suffered reproof shame hath covered my face. 8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren: even an alien unto my mother's children. 9 For the zeal of Thine house hath even eaten me and the rebukes of them that rebuked Thee are fallen upon me. 10 I wept, and chastened myself with fasting and that was turned to my reproof. Good Friday.. The first Psalm at Evening Prayer, followed by Ps. Ixxxviii. 2. Floods. The word here used for flood is shibboleth, which was used as the test-word for the Ephraimites, applied by the Gileadites at the fords of the Jordan.-Judges xii. 6. 4. Our Lord says, "They hated Me without a cause," S. John xv. 25. 5. Simpleness; Heb. foolishness. [This confession of personal sinfulness by the Psalmist has no reference to the Messianic character of the Psalm.] 8. David's foes were they of his own household, as Absalom, &c. 9. "And His disciples remembered that it was written, THE ZEAL OF THINE 11 I put on sackcloth also: and they jested upon me. 12 They that sit in the gate speak against me and the drunkards make songs upon me. 13 But, LORD, I make my prayer unto Thee in an acceptable time. : 14 Hear me, O God, in the multitude of Thy mercy even in the truth of Thy salvation. 15 Take me out of the mire, that I sink not O let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. : and 16 Let not the water-flood drown me, neither let the deep swallow me up let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. 17 Hear me, O LORD, for Thy lovingkindness is comfortable: turn Thee unto me according to the multitude of Thy mercies. 18 And hide not Thy face from Thy servant, for I am in trouble: O haste Thee, and hear me. 19 Draw nigh unto my soul, and save it: O deliver me, because of mine enemies. 20 Thou hast known my reproof, my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all in Thy sight. 21 Thy rebuke hath broken my heart; I am full of heaviness: I looked for some to have pity on me, but there was no man, neither found I any to comfort me. : 22 They gave me gall to eat and when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink. 23 Let their table be made a snare to take themselves withal: and let the things that should have been for their wealth be unto them an occasion of falling. 22. "They gave HIM vinegar to drink mingled with gall,' S. Matt. xxvii. 34. 23. This and the following verses breathe the spirit of Elijah in the Old, not of Christ in the New Testament. 24 Let their eyes be blinded, that they see not and ever bow Thou down their backs. 25 Pour out Thine indignation upon them and let Thy wrathful displeasure take hold of them. : 26 Let their habitation be void and no man to dwell in their tents. 26. S. Peter applies this verse to Judas joining it with Ps. Iscariot, Acts i. 20, 27 For they persecute him whom Thou hast smitten and they talk how they may cix. 7. : vex them whom Thou hast wounded. 28 Let them fall from one wickedness to another and not come into Thy right eousness. : 29 Let them be wiped out of the book of the living and not be written among the righteous. 30 As for me, when I am poor and in heaviness: Thy help, O God, shall lift me up. 31 I will praise the Name of God with a song and magnify it with thanksgiving. 32 This also shall please the LORD: better than a bullock that hath horns and hoofs. 27. Surely He and carried our sorhath borne our griefs, rows; yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted," Isa. liii. 4. 29. The book of the living; or of life. Cf. "Whosoever hath sinned against ME, him will I blot out of MY BOOK," Ex. xxxii. 33. 32. That hath horns and hoofs-i.e., fit for 33 The humble shall consider this, and be glad seek ye after God, and your soul-Lev. xi. : shall live. 34 For the LORD heareth the poor and despiseth not his prisoners. 35 Let heaven and earth praise Him: the sea, and all that moveth therein. 36 For God will save Sion, and build the cities of Judah that men may dwell there, and have it in possession. : 37 The posterity also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love His Name shall dwell therein. 34. His prisoners i. e., those whom He permits to be in trouble, captivity, &c., and who still hold 66 'Not fast to Him. My will, but THINE be done." 36. An appropriate prayer and assurance in the mouth of David. PSALM 70. Deus in adjutorium. [This Psalm is almost exactly repeated from Ps. xl. 16 to end. It may be regarded as an introduction to the next Psalm, which has no title.] HASTE Thee, O God, to deliver me : make haste to help me, O LORD. 2 Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward and put to confusion that wish me evil. 3 Let them for their reward be soon brought to shame : that cry over me, There, there. 4 But let all those that seek Thee be joyful and glad in Thee and let all such as delight in Thy salvation say alway, The LORD be praised. 5 As for me, I am poor and in misery: haste Thee unto me, O God. 6 Thou art my helper, and my redeemer : O LORD, make no long tarrying. Morning Prayer. PSALM 71. In te, Domine, speravi. [This Psalm, frequently referring to former Psalms, seems to have been composed by David at the close of his life; possibly at the time of Adonijah's rebellion, and is fitly followed by Solomon's Psalm, lxxii., which closes the Second Book of the Psalter.] IN Thee, O LORD, have I put my trust, let me never be put to confusion: but rid me, and deliver me, in Thy righteousness; incline Thine ear unto me, and save me. 2 Be Thou my strong hold, whereunto I may alway resort: Thou hast promised to DAY 14. This Psalm is appointed to be used in the VISITATION OF THE SICK. 1. Rid; from the Anglo-Saxon hreddan, to deliver. |