1.
Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
Title. Michtam: i.e. Resurgam. See Psalms 56:13 . One of six Psalms so called. The first is Psalms 16 . App-65 .and sub-scription, v. m.
when, &c. See 1 Samuel 21:10 ; 1 Samuel 27:4 ; 1 Samuel 29:2-11 .
Be merciful = Be gracious, or favourable.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
man. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .
would swallow me up = thirst for my blood. Heb, sha'aph, used of wild beasts.
daily = all the day. See Psalms 56:5 .
2.
Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
enemies = watchers, or observers.
O Thou Most High. Hebrew. marom, lofty, or exalted (not Elyon) .
3.
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
trust = confide. Hebrew. batah. App-69 .
4.
In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
In God. Figure of speech Cycloides. App-6 . Compare Psalms 56:10 .
flesh. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6 , for man.
5.
Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.
Every day = all the day. See Psalms 56:5 .
evil. App-44 .
6.
They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
my soul = me. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
7.
Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.
iniquity. Hebrew. 'aven.
people = peoples. (No Art.)
8.
Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
tellest = recordest.
wanderings . . . bottle. Figure of speech Paronomasia. App-6 . Hebrew. nodi. . . ben'odeka.
Thy bottle. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . Tears of mourners were thus collected and buried with the dead. Hence often found in ancient tombs.
Thy book. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .
9.
When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
When I cry unto Thee = In the day of my cry.
for = that.
for me = mine.
10.
In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.
In God, &c. Figure of speech Cycloides. App-6 . See Psalms 56:4 .
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
11.
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
put my trust = confided. Compare Psalms 56:3 .
man = a man. (No Art.) Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .
12.
Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.
13.
For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?
delivered = plucked.
"Wilt not thou . . . ? Figure of Speech. Erotesis. App-6 .
In the light of the living = in resurrection life. Hence the title "Michtam". Compare Psalms 16 , and other Michtam Psalms. See also: Job 33:30 ; and Psalms 116:8 , Psalms 116:9 ; where it is "land of the living".
To the chief Musician. See App-64 .
Al-taschith = Destroy not. See App-65 . The words of David in 1 Samuel 26:9 . 2 Samuel 24:16 , 2 Samuel 24:17 . Same word as in 2 Samuel 1:14 .Isaiah 65:8 . Compare 1 Chronicles 21:12 , 1 Chronicles 21:15 .