9 JEHOVAH is also a tower of refuge for the poor A tower of refuge in times of trouble. 10 Those, who acknowledge Thy Name, put their trust in Thee; For Thou forsakest not those, who seek Thee, O JEHOVAH! 11 Hymn ye unto JEHOVAH, who sitteth enthroned in Sion, Declare among the people His doings! 12 For, when He searcheth into deeds of blood, He remembereth the oppressed, HE forgetteth not their distressful cry: 13 Have mercy upon me, O JEHOVAH ! "Look on my trouble, and save me from those who hate me, "O Thou, who liftest me up from the gates of death! 14 That I may recount all thy praises, "In the gates of the daughter of Sion "That I may rejoice in Thy salvation." 15 The heathen are sunk into the pitfall, which they had made; In the net, which they had hidden, is their own foot taken. 16 JEHOVAH is made known! He hath executed judgment! HE ensnareth the wicked in the work of their own hands! 17 The wicked are turned into the regions of the dead— All the nations who forget God! 18 For the poor will not alway be forgotten, The expectation of the oppressed faileth not for ever: 19 Arise, O JEHOVAH! let not mortal man prevail; "Let the heathen be judged in Thy presence. 10 Thou forsakest not-i. e. Thou especially protectest. Compare Ps. v. 4. Note 1. 12 deeds of blood-"And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man." Gen. ix. 5. 13 Look on &c.-Heb. Look on mine oppression from those who hate me. See Ps. vii. 5. Note 1. 13 Have mercy &c.-The Psalmist here introduces the cry of the distressed referred to in the preceding verse. 14 gates-places of public resort. 16 He ensnareth &c.—So Job v. 13. "He taketh the wise in their own craftiness." Compare 1 Cor. iii. 19. 19 Arise &c.-(when they say) Arise &c. "Let the heathen know that they are mortal men.” PSALM X. 1 WHEREFORE, O JEHOVAH! standest Thou afar off? Wherefore turnest Thou away Thine eyes, in time of trouble? 2 The wicked man in his pride hotly pursueth the poor, They are taken in the wiles, which he hath contrived! 3 For the wicked man glorieth That he hath attained unto his heart's desire ; He congratulateth himself upon his unjust gains; 4 The wicked man, in the haughtiness of his spirit- "He will never enquire!" "There is no God!" 5 His ways are crooked at all times; O Thou, who art on high! THY judgments are not before him. As for all his enemies he scorneth them. X. 1 turnest Thou away Thine eyes— in token of displeasure. "Wherefore hidest Thou Thy face, and holdest me for Thine enemy?" Job xiii. 24. 2 he hath &c.-Heb. they have &c. The singular number has been adopted in order to avoid ambiguity. 3 That he hath attained unto Heb. upon. He congratulateth &c.— Heb. and making unjust gain blesses (himself), contemns Jehovah. 4 Compare ver. 13. 5 His ways &c.-i. e. He is continually declining from the path of rectitude. 5 O Thou &c. - Heb. high Thy judgments (are) from before him. The meaning is, that the supposed remoteness of God's dwelling place (the heavens) from the earth causes his judgments to be disregarded by the wicked. "Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the height of the stars, how high they are! and thou sayest, How doth God know? Can He judge through the dark cloud? Thick clouds are a covering to Him, that He seeth not; and He walketh in the circuit of heaven." Job xxii. 12, 13, 14. Opposed to this view is the declaration of the Psalmist. Ps. xviii. 22. cxiii. 5, 6. scorneth-Heb. puffeth at. 6 He saith in his heart: "I shall not be moved" "For ages to come, I shall not be in adversity!" 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and wrong, Under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. 8 He coucheth in ambush, near the folds, In his hiding places doth he murder the innocent; 9 He lieth in wait in his hiding place, like a lion, In his covert he lieth in wait, to prey upon the afflicted. When he hath drawn them into his net. 10 He croucheth, he stoopeth down, And the helpless fall into his toils. 11 He saith in his heart: "God hath forgotten!" "He hath hidden His face!" "HE will never see!" 12 Arise, JEHOVAH! O God, lift up Thy hand! Forget not the afflicted! 13 Wherefore doth the wicked man hold God in contempt? Wherefore saith he in his heart: "THOU wilt not enquire?" 14 THOU dost see, for Thou beholdest mischief and oppression; To note them upon Thy hand. The helpless leaveth his cause with Thee; THOU art the helper of the orphan. 15 Break Thou the arm of the wicked man, and crush him. "Thou shalt search for the wicked, and shalt not find him.” 7 under his tongue-A metaphor taken from a venomous serpent. Compare Ps. cxL. 3. 8 He coucheth &c.—as a wild beast. - folds-i. e. inclosures for cattle, to which wild beasts would approach in search of their prey. 10 croucheth-as a fowler that he may not be observed. 13 Wherefore doth &c.-Why is the wicked man permitted to do so with impunity? 13 Wherefore saith &c.-Why is he suffered, through Thy forbearance, to entertain this persuasion ? 14 Tonote &c.-Heb. To give upon Thy hand. "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands." Isai. xLix. 16. 15 Thou shalt &c.-This is the an 16 JEHOVAH is King for ever and ever; The heathen perish out of His land! 17 THOU, JEHOVAH! hearest the desire of the afflicted, PSALM XI. 1 WITH JEHOVAH do I take refuge. Wherefore say ye unto me: "Flee to the mountains, like a bird. "For behold, the wicked bend their bow, They string it, their arrow is upon the string, "To shoot in secret at the upright of heart. 3 "When the foundations are overthrown, "What can the righteous man do?" 4 JEHOVAH is in His holy palace; JEHOVAH is in heaven, His throne. His eyes behold His eye-lids prove the children of men. 5 JEHOVAH proveth the righteous and the wicked, And He hateth the lover of violence. "For ages to come, I shall not be in adversity!" 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and wrong, Under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. 8 He coucheth in ambush, near the folds, In his hiding places doth he murder the innocent; 9 He lieth in wait in his hiding place, like a lion, In his covert he lieth in wait, to prey upon the afflicted. When he hath drawn them into his net. 10 He croucheth, he stoopeth down, And the helpless fall into his toils. 11 He saith in his heart: "God hath forgotten!" "He hath hidden His face!" "HE will never see!" 12 Arise, JEHOVAH! O God, lift up Thy hand! Forget not the afflicted! 13 Wherefore doth the wicked man hold God in contempt? Wherefore saith he in his heart: "THOU wilt not enquire?" 14 THOU dost see, for Thou beholdest mischief and oppression; To note them upon Thy hand. The helpless leaveth his cause with Thee; THOU art the helper of the orphan. 15 Break Thou the arm of the wicked man, and crush him. "Thou shalt search for the wicked, and shalt not find him." 7 under his tongue-A metaphor taken from a venomous serpent. Compare Ps. CXL. 3. 8 He coucheth &c.— -as a wild beast. - folds-i. e. inclosures for cattle, to which wild beasts would approach in search of their prey. 10 croucheth-as a fowler that he may not be observed. 13 Wherefore doth &c.-Why is the wicked man permitted to do so with impunity? 13 Wherefore saith &c.-Why is he suffered, through Thy forbearance, to entertain this persuasion ? 14 Tonote &c.-Heb. To give upon Thy hand. " Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands." Isai. XLIX. 16. 15 Thou shalt &c.-This is the an |