1.
Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.
Title. A Prayer = An Intercession, or Hymn. Compare Psalms 72:20 , referring to the whole of Book II. Hebrew. Tephillah. See App-63 .
of David. The only Psalm in this third book ascribed to David. Refers to David's Son and Lord.
LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
hear = answer.
poor = helpless. Hebrew. 'ebyon. See note on Proverbs 6:11 .
2.
Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.
soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
holy = one whom Thou favourest.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
trusteth = confideth. Hebrew. batah, App-69 .
3.
Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.
Be merciful = Show me favour, or Be gracious.
LORD*. One of the 134 places where the Sopherim say they changed Jehovah to Adonai. See App-32 .
daily = all the day.
4.
Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5.
For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
plenteous. Compare Exodus 34:6 .
mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.
6.
Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.
7.
In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
8.
Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.
gods. Hebrew. 'elohim = judges. See note on Exodus 21:6 ; Exodus 22:8 , Exodus 22:9 .
9.
All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.
shall glorify. Compare Isaiah 66:23 .
10.
For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
For. Compare Psalms 86:5 in the Structure.
doest = a doer.
11.
Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
Unite my heart. Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, read "Let my heart rejoice".
fear = revere.
name. See note on Psalms 20:1 .
12.
I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.
13.
For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
the lowest hell = Sheol beneath.
hell. Hebrew Sheol. App-35 . Not the language of "Semitic heathenism", but the inspired revelation of Divine eschatology.
14.
O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.
15.
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 .
full of compassion, &c. Compare Exodus 34:6 .
16.
O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.
have mercy upon = show favour, or he gracious to.
17.
Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.