1.
Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
1. preserve . . . fear—as well
as the danger producing it.
2.
Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
2. insurrection—literally,
"uproar," noisy assaults, as well as their secret counsels.
3.
Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
3, 4. Similar figures for
slander (Psalms 57:4; Psalms 59:7).
bend—literally,
"tread," or, "prepared." The allusion is to the
mode of bending a bow by treading on it; here, and in Psalms 59:7, transferred to arrows.
4.
That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
4. the perfect—one innocent of
the charges made (Psalms 18:23).
fear not— (Psalms 18:23), not regarding God.
5.
They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
5. A sentiment here more fully
presented, by depicting their deliberate malice.
6.
They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.
6. This is further evinced by
their diligent efforts and deeply laid schemes.
7.
But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.
7. The contrast is heightened by
representing God as using weapons like theirs.
8.
So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.
8. their . . . tongue to fall,
c.—that is, the consequences of their slanders, &c. (compare
Psalms 10:2 Psalms 31:16).
all that see . . . away—Their
partners in evil shall be terrified.
9.
And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.
9, 10. Men, generally, will
acknowledge God's work, and the righteous, rejoicing in it, shall be
encouraged to trust Him ().
10.
The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.