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alway, ye people pour out your hearts before him, for God is our hope.

9. As for the children of men, they are but vanity: the children of men are deceitful upon the weights (i); they are altogether lighter than vanity itself.

10. O trust not in wrong and robbery; give not yourselves unto vanity if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

11. (k) God spake once, and twice Ì have also heard the same: that power belongeth unto God; 12. And that thou, Lord, art merciful for thou rewardest every man according to his work. Psalm lxiii. (1)

O GOD, thou art my God: early

will I seek thee.

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(i) v. 9. "Upon the weights," i. e. "when weighed, when brought to the test, they "are deficient." The explanation of part of the handwriting against Belshazzar was, "Thou art weighed in the balances, and "art found wanting. Dan. v. 27."

(k) v.11, 12. These verses give the reasons why it is absurd to trust in wrong, &c.; because God is full of power, mercy, and justice; and will therefore, out of mercy and justice towards those on whom wrong is committed, punish with his power those who commit it.

(1) This Psalm is supposed to have been written by David: perhaps when he fled because of Absalom. It expresses his delight in praising God, his confidence in God's protection, and his conviction that God would discomfit his enemies. May it not also refer prophetically to the Messiah? (m) v.2. "In a barren, &c." "As a thirsty man longeth for water, so does my soul "long for thee." The same idea often occurs. Thus Ps. xlii. 1, 2. "Like as the "hart desireth the water brooks, so longeth "my soul after thee, O God. My soul is "athirst for God, yea, even for the living

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3. Thus (n) have I looked for thee in holiness: that I might behold thy power and glory.

4. For thy loving-kindness is better than the life itself: my lips shall praise thee.

5. As long as I live, will I magnify thee on this manner: and lift up my hands in thy

name.

6. My soul shall be satisfied, even as it were with marrow (0) and fatness: when my mouth praiseth thee with joyful lips.

7. Have I not remembered thee in my bed and thought upon thee when I was waking?

8. Because thou hast been my helper therefore under the shadow (p) of thy wings will I rejoice.

9. My soul hangeth upon thee: thy right hand hath upholden

me.

10. These also that seek the

"God: when shall I come to appear before "the presence of God?" And Ps. cxliii. 6. "My soul gaspeth unto thee as a thirsty "land."

(n) v. 3. "Thus, &c." i. e. "with the "same anxiety have I desired to see thee "in the sanctuary, to behold thy power and "glory." He was probably lamenting his absence from the tabernacle at Jerusalem, which he often makes a subject of regret. See Ps. xlii. and lxxxiv. Upon his flight on Absalom's account, he left the ark of God behind. See 2 Sam. xv. 25, 26. (o) v. 6. With marrow, &c." The meaning is, "the praising thee with joyful "lips will be as gratifying to my soul, as "the choicest dainties are to the palate." This has

(p) v. 8. "The shadow, &c." been repeatedly noticed as a highly poetical figure. See Ps. xvii. 8. - xxxvi. 7. lvii. 1. — lxi. 4. and the passage in our Saviour's affectionate lamentation over Jerusalem, "How often would I have "gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her "wings, and ye would not! Matt. xxiv. 37. "Luke xiii. 34."

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(g) v.10. "Under the earth," i. e. "into "the grave, shall die, shall perish.' In Ps. Ixxi. 18. "the grave" is called "the "deep of the earth." "Thou didst turn "and refresh me, yea, and broughtest me "from the deep of the earth again."

(r) v. 11. The Bible translation is, "they "shall fall," "they shall be a portion, " &c."

(s) v. 12. "Swear by him," i. e. " adhere "to him, acknowledge him." In Deuter. vi. 13. "Swearing by the name of God," is put for adhering to him, in opposition to "going after other gods." "Thou shalt "fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, "and shalt swear by his name. Ye shall "not go after other gods, of the gods

5. They encourage themselves in mischief: and commune among themselves, how they may lay snares, and say, that no man shall see them.

6. They imagine wickedness, and practise it: that they keep secret among themselves, every man in the deep of his heart.

7. But God shall suddenly shoot (w) at them with a swift arrow : that they shall be wounded.

8. Yea, their own tongues shall make them fall (w): insomuch that whoso seeth them, shall laugh them to scorn.

9. And all men that see it, shall say, "This hath God done:" for they shall perceive that it is his work.

10. The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord, and put his trust in him and all they, that are true of heart, shall be glad.

"of the people which are round about "you." See also Is. lxv. 16. and Ps. xliv. 21.

(t) A prayer for deliverance from enemies, foretelling their discomfiture. It is supposed to have been written by David.

(u) v. 3. "A sword." See note on Ps.lv. 22, where the same figurative expression occurs; ante, 322.

(v) v. 4. "Suddenly," i. e. "by surprise." (w) v. 7, 8. Whereas they shoot at others, (according to the 3d and 4th verses), God shall shoot at them, and whereas they use their tongues against others, (see 3d, 4th, and 5th verses), their own tongues shall bring about their destruction.

Morn. 1 Sam. xxvii. Acts ix. (3)

January 12.

Lessons for the Twelfth Day of the Month throughout the Year.

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EVENING PRAYER.

Psalm lxv. (x)

July 12. Morn. Eccles. iii. Luke xxiv. (5)

Even. Eccles. iv.

1 Thess. iv. (6)

November 12.

Morn. Ecclus. xxxvii. John iv. (12) Even. Ecclus. xxxviii. 2 Thess. iii.

Even. 1 Sam. xxviii. James i. (4)

August 12.

Morn. Jer. lii. Acts x. (7) Even. Lam. i.

James ii.

December 12.

Morn. Isa. xxxvii. Acts xii. (13)

Even. Isa. xxxviii. James v.

(4) ante, 154. 158. 160. (9) ante, 67. 27.

(8) ante, 72. (13) ante, 187.

THOU, O God, art praised in

Sion

and unto thee shall the vow be performed in Jerusalem. 2. Thou that hearest the prayer: unto thee shall all (y) flesh come. 3. My misdeeds prevail against me O be thou merciful unto our sins.

4. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and receivest unto thee: he shall dwell (%) in thy court, and shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

(x) Upon the propriety of making God the object of prayer on account of the blessings he confers, and because of his power and providence. It has been supposed to have been written by David upon the restoration of plenty after the three years' famine mentioned 2 Sam. xxi. 1. and it probably looks forward prophetically to the times of the Christian dispensation, to the spiritual abundance God should then supply, to the coming in of the

(5) ante, 139. 142. (10) ante, 114.

5. Thou shalt shew us wonderful things in thy righteousness, O God of our salvation: thou that art the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of them that remain in the broad sea.

6. Who in his strength setteth fast the mountains: and is girded about with power.

7. Who stilleth the raging of the sea and the noise of his waves, and the madness of the people.

8. They also that dwell in the uttermost parts of the earth shall be afraid at thy tokens: thou

Gentiles, and to the triumph of Christianity.

(y) v. 2. "All flesh," Gentiles as well as Jews.

(z) v. 4. "Dwell, &c." The power of frequenting the house of God is often mentioned by David as matter of the highest gratification. See Ps. xxvi. 8.xxvii. 4. lxi. 4. And his being driven from it, when he fled from Absalom, is made a topic of earnest regret. See Psalms xlii. - lxxxiv.

that makest the outgoings (a) of the morning and evening to praise thee.

9. Thou visitest the earth, and blessest it thou makest it very plenteous.

10. The river of God (b) is full of water thou preparest their corn; for so thou providest for the earth.

11. Thou waterest her furrows, thou sendest rain into the little valleys thereof: thou makest it soft with the drops of rain, and blessest the increase of it.

12. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness: and thy clouds drop fatness.

13. They shall drop upon the dwellings of the wilderness (c): and the little hills shall rejoice on every side.

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14. The folds shall be full of

(a) v. 8. "The outgoings, &c." i. e. (probably) "the regular succession of day and night; and then it is in unison with Ps. xix. 1. "The heavens declare the glory "of God, &c."

(b) v. 10. "The river of God," i. e. "his storehouse to supply the earth with "water." There are many other passages where God's providence in supplying rain is made a subject of praise. See Psalm civ. 6 to 15.-cxxxv. 7.-cxlvii. 8.

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(c) v. 13. "The wilderness, &c." It is a sign of unusual plenty, when even the wilderness and the hills abound in produce. In Ps. lxxii. 16. it is foretold among other blessings, that "there shall be a heap of corn upon the earth, high upon "the hills." And see Psalm civ. 13.cxlvii. 8. And those will be times of great spiritual plenty, when the most ignorant and uncultivated shall bring forth fruits of righteousness and true holiness.

(d) v. 14. "Laugh and sing." It is highly poetical to consider what is inanimate as exhibiting marks of joy. There is a passage of the same kind, Is. lv. 12. "The mountains and the hills shall break "forth before you into singing, and all the "trees of the field shall clap their hands." So Psalm xcviii. 9. "Let the floods clap

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3. "For all the world shall "worship thee: sing of thee, and praise thy name."

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4. O come hither, and behold the works of God: how wonderful he is in his doing toward the children of men!

5. He turned (h) the sea into dry land: so that they went

"their hands, and let the hills be joyful "together before the Lord;" and see Ps. xcvi. 11. and cxlviii. 3, 4. So Virgil, (who probably had borrowed some of his ideas from the Scriptures):

Ipsi lætitiâ voces ad sidera tollunt Intonsi montes, ipsæ jam carmina rupes, Ipsa sonant arbusta. Eclog. v. 62. &c. (e) A spirited invocation to praise God, on account of his wonderous works, and the signal instances of deliverance he had displayed, noticing the attention he pays to the conduct and prayers of man, and the difference he makes between those who look up to him, and those who disregard him. It has the appearance of having been written after some deliverance from trouble.

"Thy

(g) v. 2." Be found liars." "works shall prove so decisively that "thou art God, as to confute all those "who say thou art not." So in Psalm lxxxi. 16. in mentioning some of the consequences if their obedience had justified the giving them deliverance and putting down their enemies, this is noticed, "the "haters of the Lord should have been "found liars."

(h) v. 5. "Turned, &c." The miracles of dividing the waters of the Red Sea,

through the water on foot; there did we rejoice thereof.

6. He ruleth with his power for ever ; his eyes behold (i) the people and such as will not believe, shall not be able to exalt themselves.

7. O praise our God, ye people: and make the voice of his praise to be heard;

8. Who holdeth our soul in and suffereth not our feet

life to slip.

9. For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou also hast tried us, like as silver (k) is tried.

10. Thou broughtest us into the snare and laidest trouble upon our loins.

11. Thou sufferedst men to ride over our heads: we went through fire and water, and thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

12. I will go into thine house with burnt-offerings : and will pay thee my vows, which I promised with my lips, and spake with my mouth, when I was in trouble.

13. I will offer unto thee fat burnt sacrifices, with the incense of rams I will offer bullocks and goats.

to enable the Israelites to flee from the Egyptians, and of dividing those of Jordan to let the Priests with the ark and the people pass, were constant topics with the Israelites for praising God. See Psalm lxxviii. 14. and Psalm cxiv.

(i) v. 6. "His eyes behold." God's attention to the actions of men is often mentioned. Solomon says, Prov. xv. 3. "The eyes of the Lord are in every "place, beholding the evil and the good;" and Prov. v. 21. "The ways of man are "before the eyes of the Lord, and he "pondereth all his goings." Job puts the question, Job xxxi. 4. "Doth not he sec

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66 my ways, and count all my steps?" And see 1 Chron. xxviii. 9. . Ecclus. xvi. 17, 18. Jer. xxiii. 24.-Ps. xxxiii. 13, 14.-xliv. 21. cxxxix. 1 to 11.

(k) v. 9. "As silver, &c." As silver is tried by fire, so didst thou try us by adversity, by bringing us into the snare, laying trouble upon our loins, &c. The same idea as Mal. iii. 2, 3. ante, 70. "He "is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap, &c."

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() v. 17. "Hath heard, &c." So that this is a proof that I have not inclined unto wickedness with my heart.

(m) See ante, 9. where this Psalm also

occurs.

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