1.

Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Praise ye THE LORD. Hebrew = Hallelu-jah.
THE LORD. Hebrew Jah. App-4 .
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.

2.

Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?

3.

Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.

Blessed = Oh how happy! Figure of speech Beatitude. App-63 .
he that doeth. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "they that do".

4.

Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;

me. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "us".

5.

That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.

chosen . . . nation . . . inheritance. Note the three names of Jehovah's People.

6.

We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.

sinned. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 . Note the three iniquity. Hebrew. 'avah. App-44 . classes of ill-doing.
we have. Some codices, with one early printed edition, read "and have".
wickedly = lawlessly. Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 .

7.

Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.

Egypt. It took forty hours to take Israel out of Egypt, but forty years to take Egypt out of Israel.
provoked Him = rebelled. Hebrew. marah . Same word as in verses: Psalms 106:33 , Psalms 106:43 ; not the same as in Psalms 106:29 .

8.

Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.

Nevertheless. Compare Structure, Psalms 106:44 . Figure of speech Palinodia. App-6 .

9.

He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.

10.

And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

redeemed , as a kinsman. Hebrew. ga'al. See notes on Exodus 6:6 ; Exodus 13:13 .

11.

And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.

enemies = adversaries.

12.

Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.

13.

They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:

soon forgat. Characteristic of human nature.

14.

But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.

GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 .

15.

And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

soul. Hebrew. nephesh . App-13 .

16.

They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.

saint = separated one. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

17.

The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.

Dathan . . . Abiram. Korah not mentioned; not because of being an "older tradition" (as alleged), butbecause the "sons of Korah" were spared. See Psalms 42 , Title, and compare Numbers 16:1-35 and Psalms 26:11 .
covered = overwhelmed.

18.

And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.

19.

They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.

Horeb. So called here; not because the word of a later writer, but because "Horeb" was the higher name ("the mount of God", Exodus 3:1 . 1 Kings 19:8 ), in order to show the heinousness of the sin.

20.

Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.

their glory. The primitive text was "My glory", but this was changed by the Sopherim to "their" out of a mistaken reverence. See App-33 .
glory. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for God Himself. Who was and should have been He Whom they gloried in.

21.

They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;

22.

Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.

land of Ham. Compare Psalms 78:51 ; Psalms 105:27 .

23.

Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.

Moses. Compare Exodus 32:10-14 .
His chosen. Not theirs.

24.

Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:

25.

But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.

murmured. Occurs only here, Deuteronomy 1:27 , and Isaiah 29:24 .
And. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read this word in the text; others read "they".

26.

Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:

27.

To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.

overthrow. Septuagint reads "disperse".

28.

They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

Baal-peor. Compare Numbers 25:2 , Numbers 25:3 .
the dead. This pertains to necromancy, Compare Deuteronomy 18:11 .Isaiah 8:19 .

29.

Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.

provoked = grieved, or irritated. Hebrew. ka'as. Not the same word as in verses: Psalms 106:7 , Psalms 106:33 , Psalms 106:43 .
Him. This word is read in text in some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate
inventions = doings. See Psalms 106:39 also.

30.

Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.

Phinehas. Compare Numbers 25:7 , Numbers 25:8 .

31.

And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.

counted. Compare Numbers 25:12 , Numbers 25:13 .

32.

They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:

angered = caused indignation. Occurs only here in the Psalms.
strife. Hebrew. Meribah. Numbers 20:2-13 .
went ill = fared ill.

33.

Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

his: i.e. Moses.
spirit. Hebrew. ruach . App-9 .
spake unadvisedly. A very rare Hebrew word. Occurs only here in the Psalms.

34.

They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:

did not destroy. Compare Judges 1:21-29 , &c.
nations = peoples: i.e. the Canaanite nations. See App-23 and App-25 .
commanded. Compare Exodus 23:32 , Exodus 23:33 : and often repeated. For the reason, see App-23 and App-25 .

35.

But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.

heathen = nations: i.e. the nations of Canaan. Compare Psalms 106:38 . See App-23 and App-25 .

36.

And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.

Which were = And they became. Some codices, with Septuagint and Vulgate, read "And it became".

37.

Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,

devils = demons. Compare Deuteronomy 32:17 .

38.

And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

polluted . The strongest word that could be used. Compare Numbers 35:33 .Isaiah 24:5 .

39.

Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.

40.

Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.

41.

And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.

42.

Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.

43.

Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.

Many times. Compare Judges 2:16 . Nehemiah 9:27 , &c.
deliver = rescue.
iniquity. Hebrew. 'av o n . App-44 .

44.

Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:

45.

And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.

remembered. repented. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .

46.

He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.

pitied. Compare 2 Kings 25:27-30 . Daniel, Nehemiah, Esther, Ezra; showing that the prayer of Solomon was answered (1 Kings 8:50 ).
Of = Before: i.e. By.

47.

Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
gather us. Not necessary to suppose a late date for the Psalm. The Spirit of God spake by the prophets. David was a prophet (Acts 2:30 , Acts 2:31 ). Moreover, the Dispersion was well known, being foretold in Deuteronomy 28:64 . We might as well reason away 1 Kings 8:46-60 , for Solomon himself prays this prayer.
holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .
name. See note on Psalms 20:1 .

48.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.

Blessed. Figure of speech Benedictio. This Doxology closes this fourth book. Compare the closing Psalms of the other books.
THE LORD. Hebrew Jah. See App-4 .