1.
Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
(1) My prayer.—Rather, my cry, complaint, as in Psalms 55:2.
2.
Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
(2) Secret counsel . . . insurrection—Better, secret league (sôd) . . . noisy gathering (rigshah). For sôd see Psalms 25:14, and for rigshah see Note to Psalms 2:2.
3.
Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
(3) For the figure in this and the following verse, see Psalms 10:7; Psalms 11:2; Psalms 52:2; Psalms 57:4; Psalms 59:7.
“’Tis slander.
Whose edge is sharper than the sword.”
SHAKESPEARE.
For the ellipse in “they bend (literally, tread) their arrows,” see Psalms 58:7.
4.
That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
(4) And fear not.—These are utterly unscrupulous, fearing neither God nor man.
5.
They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
(5) They encourage themselves.—Literally, they strengthen for themselves an evil thing (or “word,” margin, LXX., and Vulg.,) which evidently means that they take their measures carefully, and are prepared to carry them out resolutely.
They commune . . .—Better, they calculate how they may lay snares privily. The conspirators carefully and in secret go over every detail of their plot.
Who shall see them?—Literally, who shall look to them? which seems at first glance to mean, “who will see the snares?” but this is weak. It may be equivalent to, “who is likely to see us?” the question being put indirectly. But in 1 Samuel 16:7, the expression, “looketh on,” implies “regard for,” which may possibly be the meaning here, “who careth for them?”
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) They search out iniquities—i.e., they plan wicked schemes.
They accomplish a diligent search.—See margin, which indicates the difficulty in this clause. The versions and some MSS. also suggest a corruption of the tent. Read “They have completed their subtle measures” (literally, the planned plan).
7.
But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.
8.
So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.
9.
And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.
(9) For they shall wisely consider.—Rather, And they understand his work.
10.
The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.
(10) Shall glory.—Or, perhaps, shall shine forth clear, i.e., shall have their cause acknowledged just. The LXX. and Vulg. seem to have understood it so: “shall be praised.”