1.
Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
Title. Prayer. Hebrew. Tephillah. One of five Psalms so called (17; 86; 90; 102; 142). See App-63 . It is a prayer of Messiah, the true David; in view of Psalms 16:6-11 , Compare Psalms 17:15 .
Hear . . . attend . . . Give ear. Figure of speech Anabasis . App-6 .
right = righteousness. Compare Psalms 17:15 , and Structure.
LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah.
ear. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . Compare verses: Psalms 17:2 , eyes; 7, hand; 8, wings; 15, face.
feigned = guileless.
2.
Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
Let my sentence, &c. = From thy presence my judgment will come: Thine eyes will discern upright ones.
3.
Thou has proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou has tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
find nothing. None but Christ could say this. See John 14:30 .
4.
Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
men. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .
kept me from = I have marked.
the destroyer = the oppressor, or violent one. Only here in the Psalms.
5.
Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
paths = tracks, or ruts.
6.
I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
hear = answer. See Structure, above.
7.
Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
put their trust = flee for refuge. Hebrew. hasah. App-69 .
8.
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
as. Figure of speech Simile. App-6 .
apple. . . eye . . . wings. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.
Hide = Thou wilt hide.
9.
From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
the wicked = the lawless ones.
my deadly enemies = the foes of my soul Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
10.
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
11.
They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
steps = ways, or goings, as in Psalms 17:5 .
12.
Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
13.
Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
Disappoint = anticipate.
my soul = me myself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
the wicked = a lawless one. Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 .
sword. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .
14.
From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
men. Hebrew. methim. App-14 .
hand. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . See note on "ear", Psalms 17:1 .
world. Hebrew. heled. The world as being transitory. See longer note on Psalms 49:1 .
hid. Figure of speech Antimereia ( App-6 ). Act. Part, put for Noun. Hebrew thy hid = thy hidden, or secret thing.
They are = Let them be.
full = satisfied with. Compare Psalms 17:15 .
children = sons.
15.
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
I will behold Thy face. See note on Exodus 23:15 ; Exodus 34:20 .
face. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . Compare Psalms 17:1 , and see note on Exodus 23:15 ; Exodus 34:20 .
satisfied = full, as in Psalms 17:14 .
when I awake = when I awake from the sleep of death in resurrection. This prayer is in view of Psalms 16:9-11 . Resurrection of the body is the true inheritance.
Thy likeness = Thine appearing, or a vision of Thee. Compare 1 John 3:2 .
To the chief Musician. See App-64 .