1.
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
do I put my trust = have I fled for refuge. Hebrew. hasah . App-69 .
confusion = shame.
2.
Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
ear. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .
3.
Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
strong habitation = rock of habitation. Hebrew. zur , a fortified place. Some codices, with six early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "a rock of refuge".
whereunto I may continually resort, &c. Septuagint reads "a place of security to save me".
rock. Hebrew. sela '. See note on Psalms 18:1 , Psalms 18:2 .Exodus 17:6 . Deuteronomy 32:13 .
4.
Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
Deliver = Cause me to escape.
the wicked = lawless one. Hebrew. rash a'. App-44 .
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
5.
For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.
hope. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the object of hope.
Lord GOD. Hebrew Adonai Jehovah. App-4 .
trust = confidence. Hebrew. batah. App-69 .
6.
By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.
from the womb. Compare Jeremiah 1:5 . Some have supposed that this Psalm was written by Jeremiah. See note on Psalms 71:22 . But even then it points to Christ.
7.
I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.
I am = I have become.
art. Supply the Ellipsis , "hast been".
8.
Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
9.
Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
10.
For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,
my soul = me (emphatic). Hebrew. nephesh.
11.
Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.
12.
O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.
13.
Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
14.
But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
15.
My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.
the numbers. Compare Psalms 40:5 .
16.
I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.
strength = strengths. Plural of majesty = great strength.
17.
O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
18.
Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.
Now also = Yea also.
when I am old and grayheaded = to old age and gray hairs.
Thy strength = Thine arm; "arm" being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the wonders wrought by it.
every one that is to come. A special reading called. Sevir ( App-34 ) reads "all who are to come".
19.
Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!
who is like unto Thee. This is the cry of all God's saints. See note on Exodus 15:11 .
20.
Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
quicken me again = make me alive again.
bring me up again: i.e. in resurrection.
21.
Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
22.
I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
with = with the aid of.
sing = sing praise.
Holy One of Israel. Occurs only three times in the Psalms (here, Psalms 78:41 ; Psalms 89:18 ). In Isaiah we find it thirty times. In Jeremiah twice ( Psa 50:29 ; Psalms 51:5 ). See note on Psalms 78:41 .
23.
My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
redeemed. Hebrew. padah. See note on Exodus 13:13 with Exodus 6:6 .
24.
My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.