1.
O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
Title. A Psalm. Hebrew. mizmor. App-65 .
when, &c. See 1 Samuel 22:5 ; 1 Samuel 23:14-16 .
My soul = I myself. Hebrew. nephesh.
longeth = fainteth. Occurs nowhere else.
In. Some codices, with Syriac, read "like".
thirsty = weary.
2.
To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
3.
Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
lovingkindness = grace.
praise = commend, or extol. Hebrew. ahabah ; used only by David and Solomon.
4.
Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
5.
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
6.
When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
And. Supply Ellipsis by reading "[I will] meditate".
7.
Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
wings. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .
rejoice: or, rest.
8.
My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
followeth. Supply Ellipsis by reading "[cleaveth to and] followeth".
hard = close.
hand. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.
9.
But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
to destroy it. As Ahithophel did (2 Samuel 17:1-3 ).
the lower parts: i.e. to Sheol.
10.
They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.
foxes = jackals.
11.
But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
To the chief Musician. See App-64 .