1.
Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
2.
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
(2) From the end. of the earth . . .—A hyperbolic expression for a great distance. Isaiah (Isaiah 5:26) uses the expression of Assyria, and it would be natural in an exile’s mouth, but must not be pressed to maintain any theory of the psalm’s date.
When my heart is overwhelmed.—Literally, in the covering of my heart, the verb being used (Psalms 65:13) of the valleys covered with corn, and metaphorically, as here, of “the garment of heaviness,” which wraps a sad heart (Psalms 102 title; Isaiah 57:16). (Comp. Tennyson’s “muffled round with woe.”)
Lead me to the rock . . .—Literally, upon the rock lead me, which is probably a constructio prægnans for lead me to the rock too high for me to climb by myself, and place me there. The elevated rock is a symbol of security, which cannot be obtained without the Divine help. Others take the expression as figurative for a difficulty which it needs God’s help to surmount.
3.
For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
(3) A strong tower.—Comp. Proverbs 18:10.
4.
I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
(4) I will abide.—Rather, Let me be a guest in, etc. (Comp. Psalms 15:1; Psalms 27:4.)
Thy tabernacle . . .—It is difficult to decide whether this indicates. the Mosaic tabernacle, and so may be used as an index of the date of the poem; or whether the tent is a general figure for the protection of God, wherever it may be found. It certainly recalls Psalms 23:6.
For ever.—Literally, for ages or æons. For the same plural, see Psalms 145:13.
I will trust . . .—Rather, let me find refuge under the shelter of thy wings. (For the image, see Note Psalms 17:8.)
5.
For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
(5) Heritage.—As the Authorised Version runs, the heritage is length of days, one promised generally to those who fear Jehovah (Proverbs 10:27; Proverbs 19:23), and particularly to Israel (Deuteronomy 6:2) and its kings (Deuteronomy 17:19-20, which passage may have been in the psalmist’s mind). But the LXX. and Vulg. read, “to them that fear thy name,” meaning, of course, by the heritage, Canaan.
6.
Thou wilt prolong the king's life: and his years as many generations.
(6) See margin, and render as a prayer.
7.
He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.
(7) He shall abide.—Better, may he sit enthroned.
Prepare.—Rather, appoint. But the LXX. had a different reading, and an ingenious emendation has been suggested from a comparison with Psalms 40:11, viz., “let mercy and truth continually preserve him.”
8.
So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.