Past - Indeed time seems long when it is to come, but when it is past, very short and contemptible. A watch - Which lasted but three or four hours.
Them - Mankind. Away - Universally, without exception or distinction. A sleep - Short and vain, as sleep is, and not minded 'till it be past.
Are consumed - Thou dost not suffer us to live so long as we might by the course of nature.
Hast set - Thou dost observe them, as a righteous judge, and art calling us to an account for them. Secret sins - Which though hid from the eyes of men, thou hast brought to light by thy judgments.
Our years - Of the generality of mankind, in that and all following ages, some few persons excepted. Flee - We do not now go to death, as we do from our very birth, but flee swiftly away like a bird, as this word signifies.
Thy fear - According to the fear of thee; according to that fear which sinful men have of a just God. So - It bears full proportion to it, nay indeed doth far exceed it.
Teach us - To consider the shortness of life, and the certainty and speediness of death. That - That we may heartily devote ourselves to true wisdom.
Return - To us in mercy. How long - Will it be before thou return to us? Repent thee - Of thy severe proceedings against us.
Early - Speedily.
The beauty - His gracious influence, and glorious presence. In us - Do not only work for us, but in us,
He - He that makes God his habitation and refuge.
Pestilence - From the pestilence, which like a fowler's snare takes men suddenly and unexpectedly.
By night - When evil accidents are most terrible and least avoidable. Arrow - The pestilence, or any such destructive calamity; such are frequently called God's arrows. By day - Thou shalt be kept from secret and open mischiefs.
Darkness - Invisibly, so that we can neither foresee nor prevent it.
Bear thee - Sustain or uphold thee in thy goings, as we do a child.
The lion - Shall lie prostrate at thy feet, and thou shalt securely put thy feet upon his neck. Dragon - By which he understands all pernicious creatures, though never so strong, and all sorts of enemies.
Because - This and the two following verses are the words of God.
Thoughts - Thy counsels in the government of the world and of thy church.
A brutish man - Who is led by sense, not by reason and faith. This - The depth of God's counsels and works.
Anointed - I shall have cause of testifying my joy by anointing myself, as the manner was at all joyful solemnities.
Palm - tree - Which is constantly green and flourishing.
Planted - Whom God by his gracious providence has fixed there. The house - In its courts; he means in the church of God, whereof all good men are living members.
Old age - Their last days shall be their best days, wherein they shall grow in grace, and increase in blessedness.
Clothed - That majesty and strength which he always had, he will shew in the eyes of all people. Moved - He will overrule all the confusions in the world, so that they shall end in the erection of that kingdom of the Messiah, which can never be moved.
Floods - The enemies of thy kingdom.
Testimonies - Thy promises, which no less than the precepts are God's testimonies, or the witnesses, or declarations of his will to mankind. He seems here to speak of those precious promises concerning the erection of his kingdom in the world by the Messiah. Holiness - It becometh thy people to be holy in all their approach to thee.
Utter - Or pour forth freely, constantly, abundantly, as a fountain doth waters (so this Hebrew word signifies.) Hard things - Insolent, and intolerable words against thee and thy people.
Of Jacob - He who takes that name to himself, but has no regard to his people.
Planted - The word is emphatical, signifying the excellent structure of the ear, or the several organs belonging to the sense of hearing. Formed - By which word he intimates the accurate and curious workmanship of the eye.
Know - Mens thoughts and words and actions.
Thoughts - Yes, he knoweth all things, even the most secret things, as the thoughts of men; and in particular your thoughts; much more your practices.
Blessed - Those afflictions which are accompanied with Divine instructions are great and true blessings.
But - God will declare himself to be a righteous judge, and will again establish justice in the earth. Follow - They will all approve of it, and imitate this justice of God in all their actions.
Rise - To defend and help me. I looked hither and thither, but none appeared; God alone helped me.
Dwelt - In the place of silence, the grave.
Thoughts - While my heart was filled with various and perplexing thoughts, as this Hebrew word signifies. Comforts - Thy promises, and the remembrance of my former experience of thy care and kindness.
Shall - Wilt thou take part with the unrighteous powers of the world who oppress thy people. A law - By virtue of those unrighteous decrees which they have made.
God's - Above all that are called God's angels, earthly potentates, and especially the false gods of the Heathen.
Hand - Under his government. Strength - The strongest or highest mountains.
Pasture - Whom he feeds and keeps in his own pasture, or in the land which he hath appropriated to himself. The sheep - Which are under his special care. Today - Forthwith or presently.
Harden not - By obstinate unbelief. Provocation - In that bold and wicked contest with God in the wilderness. Temptation - In the day in which you tempted me.
Works - Both of mercy, and of justice.
Do err - Their hearts are insincere and bent to backsliding. Not known - After all my teaching and discoveries of myself to them; they did not know, nor consider, those great things which I had wrought for them.
My rest - Into the promised land, which is called the rest, Deut 12:9.
O sing - Upon this new and great occasion, not the removal of the ark, but the coming of the Messiah.