1.

Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.

1, 2. poor and needy—a suffering child of God, as in Psalms 10:12; Psalms 10:17; Psalms 18:27.
I am holy—or, "godly," as in Psalms 4:3; Psalms 85:8.

2.

Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.

3.

Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.

4.

Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

4. lift up my soul—with strong desire (Psalms 25:1).

5.

For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

5-7. unto all . . . that call upon thee—or, "worship Thee" (Psalms 50:15; Psalms 91:15) however undeserving (Exodus 34:6; Leviticus 11:9-13).

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.

8. neither . . . works—literally, "nothing like thy works," the "gods" have none at all.

9.

All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.

9, 10. The pious Jews believed that God's common relation to all would be ultimately acknowledged by all men (Psalms 45:12-16; Psalms 47:9).

10.

For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

11.

Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

11. Teach—Show, point out.
the way—of Providence.
walk in thy truth—according to its declarations.
unite my heart—fix all my affections (Psalms 12:2; James 4:8).
to fear thy name—(compare Psalms 86:12) to honor Thy perfections.

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.

13, 14. The reason: God had delivered him from death and the power of insolent, violent, and godless persecutors (Psalms 54:3; Ezekiel 8:12).

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.

15. Contrasts God with his enemies (compare Psalms 86:5).

16.

O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.

16. son . . . handmaid—homeborn servant (compare Luke 15:17).

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.

17. Show me—literally, "Make with me a token," by Thy providential care. Thus in and by his prosperity his enemies would be confounded.