They must always be considered as the writings of men who were
Prophets, who spoke more or less of Christ, and the coming glory of
His kingdom.

The Psalms are, indeed, a storehouse of the experience of God's people: they exhibit the state of the children of God under the most varied circumstances of sorrow and joy, of adoration and repentance, depression and triumph; yet it must ever be borne in mind that this sorrow may foreshadow Messiah's grief, and the joy the anticipations of Christ; that the contrition may be the mysterious utterance of Him who bore our sins in His own body; and that the triumphant strains of the prophet belong in their fulness to the time of the setting up of the King upon the holy hill of Zion.

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PSALMS.

PSALM I.

BLESSED is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of Or, wicked. sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful: but his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not 'wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Heb. fade.

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*The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

*

assemble.

II. WHY do the heathen *rage, and the Or, tumultuously people imagine a vain thing? The kings of Heb. meditate. the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

*He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the

LORD shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and "vex them Or, trouble. in his sore displeasure.

Heb. anointed. Heb.

"Yet have I set my king "upon my upon Zion, the hill of holy hill of Zion.

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*

my holiness.

"I will declare the decree: the LORD hath or, for a decree. said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

10 Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. "Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

III. A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

*

3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my Or, about. glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

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5

I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked: for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

'Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation

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belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

IV. To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Or, overseer.
A Psalm of David.

HEAR me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; *have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

Or, be gracious unto me.

"O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 5 Öffer the sacrifices of righteousness; and put your trust in the LORD.

"There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

V. To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David.

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3

GIVE ear to my words, O LORD: consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness; neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish

thine eyes.

shall not stand "in thy sight: thou hatest all Heb. before workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the Heb. the man of bloody and deceitful man.

*

blood and deceit.

But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

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9

Heb. the temple of

thy holiness.

observe me.

ness.

Heb. wicked

nesses.

Lead me, O LORD, in thy O LORD, in thy righteousness because of *mine enemies; make thy way straight be- Heb. those which fore my face. For there is no "faithfulness Or, stedfast*in their mouth; their inward part Heb. in his mouth, that is, in is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. 10*De- Or, Make them stroy thou them, O God; let them fall by Or, from their their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.

guilty.

counsels.

or, protectest them.

"But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because * thou Heb. thou coverest over, defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou *compass Heb. crown him. him as with a shield.

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VI. To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon *Sheminith, Or, the eighth. A Psalm of David.

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O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?

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5

3

* Return, O LORD, deliver my soul; O save me for thy mercies' sake. For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? 'I am weary with my groaning; all Or, very

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night.