THE PSALTER, OR PSALMS OF DAVID, B as they are to be fung or faid in CHURCHES. Morning Prayer. THE FIRST DAY. § Pfalmi. Beatus vir, qui abiit. LESSED is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of finners: and hath not fat in the feat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord: and in his law will he exercife himself day and night. 3 *And he shall be like a tree planted by the water-fide: that will bring forth his fruit in due feafon. 4 His leaf also shall not wither: and look, whatsoever he doeth, it shall profper. : 5 As for the ungodly, it is not fo with them: but they are like the chaff which the wind scattereth away from the face of the earth. This Pfalm is like a recommendatory Preface to the whole following collection: and describes the conduct and happiness of the Righteous, and the misery of the Wicked. The condition of the former is represented by a flourishing fruitful Tree; of the latter by Chaff which as it is unprofitable in itself, so it is easily dispersed by the Winds. And be shall be like a Tree, &c. The Tree here alluded to was probably the Palm; because it natu- : 6 Therefore the ungodly shall not be able to stand in the judgment; neither the finners in the congregation of the righteous. 7 But the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: and the way of the ungodly shall perish. || Pfalm 2. Quare fremuerunt gentes? HY do the heathen fo furi fo furioufly rage together: and why do WHY the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together: against the Lord, and against his Anointed. 3 Let us break their bonds asunder: and cast away their cords from us. 4 He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath: and vex them in his fore difpleasure. 6 Yet have I set my King: upon my holy hill of Sion. 7 I will preach the law, whereof the Lord hath faid unto me: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. 8 Defire of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance: and the utmost parts of the earth for thy poffeffion. 9 Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron: and break them in pieces like a potters vessel. 10 Be wife now therefore, O ye kings: be learned, ye that are judges of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord in fear: and rejoice unto him with reverence. 12 + Kiss the Son, left he be angry, and so ye perish from the right way: if his wrath be kindled (yea, but a little) blessed are all they that put their truft in him. L § Pfalm 3. Domine, quid multiplicati?. ORD, how are they increased that trouble me: they that rife against me. ‡ But the Lord knoweth the way, &c. i. e. he approves, favours, or is pleased with it. | Though this Pfalm may primarily be a triumphant many are celebration of David's victory over his Fuemies, and safe establishment upon the Throne of Judah: yet it is plainly prophetical likewise and relates to the King 2 Many one there be that say of my foul: There is no help for him in his God. 3 But thou, O Lord, art my defender: thou art my worship, and the lifter up of my head. 4 I did call upon the Lord with my voice: and he heard me out of his holy hill. 5 I laid me down and slept, and rose up again: for the Lord fuftained me. 4 6 I will not be afraid for ten thousands of the people: that have fet themselves against me round about. 7 Up, Lord, and help me, O my God: for thou smitest all mine enemies upon the cheek-bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: and thy blessing is upon thy people. H || Pfalm 4. Cum invocarem. EAR me when I call, O God of my righteousness : thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble; have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer. : 2 O ye fons of men, how long will ye blafpheme mine honour : and have fuch pleasure in vanity, and seek after leasing? 3 Know this also, that the Lord hath chosen to himself the man that is godly: when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me. dom of the Meffiah, which it was hereby foretold, should, in fpite of all its Enemies, prevail through the World. + Kiss the Son left be be angry, &c. As a Kiss among ng the Eastern People from a Subject to a Superior was confidered as a token of homage and reverence; so this passage, as it relates to Chriftians, is an Exhortation to pay a due obedience to the Doctrine of Christ. This Pfalm was occasioned by the Rebellion of Abfalom, when David was obliged to flee from Jerufalem. 2 Sam. xv. 14. From the fentiments which David expresses on this occafion we may learn amidst our greatest Troubles to fix a firm reliance upon Providence: being fully assured that God both can and will deliver us from them, when he sees it best for us. $ For thou smiteft all mine Enemies upon the Cheet. bone. This is a metaphorical expression signifying that God had utterly destroyed the power of his Enemies, viz. of Saul, his defcendents and followers. Upon this the Royal Prophet builds his hopes of future deliverance. This Pfalm seems to be a further invocation of God's help against Abfalom and his seditious party; whom David here reproves and exhorts to return to their obedience-inftructing them in their duty; and assuring them that true Happiness did not confift in worldly affluence, but in God's favour, on which he fixeth his fole dependence. A 2 4 * Stand in awe, and fin not: commune with your own heart, in your chamber, and be still. 5 Offer the sacrifice of righteousness: and put your trust in the Lord. 6 There be many that say: Who will shew us any good? 7 Lord, lift thou up : the light of thy countenance upon us. 8 8 Thou hast put gladness in my heart: fince the time that their corn, and wine, and oil increased. oil increased. 9 I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest: for it is thou, Lord, only that makest me dwell in safety. § Pfalm 5. Verba mea auribus. ONDER words, O Lord : PON my confider my meditation. 2 O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I make my prayer. 3 My voice shalt thou hear betimes, O Lord: early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.. 4 For thou art the God that haft no pleasure in wickedness: neither shall any evil dwell with thee. 5 Such as be foolish shall not stand in thy fight: for thou hateft all them that work vanity. 6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor both the blood-thirsty and deceitful man. 7 But as for me, I will come into thine house, even upon the multitude of thy mercy : and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. 8 Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness, because of mine enemies: make thy way plain before my face. * Stana in awe and Sin not. This in the Septuagint tranflation is be ye Angry and Sin not: which St. Paul quotes, Ephef. iv. 26. but the sense is much the fame in both tranflations, as it contains an Exhortation to the Rebels, not so to give way to their Passion, as to carry on a Conspiracy against their lawful Sovereign, and it contains in it also an useful instruction to all Men to beware of indulging their Anger to excest left it hurry them into words and actions of which they may afterwards have just caufe to Repent. The royal Prophet seems to have been in a state of Exile and Affliction at the time of the composition of this Pfalm, whether from Saul or his own Son is uncertain, but, from the wickedness of his Enemies he is encouraged to hope for deliverance from his Calami ties: because he is tully affured that the Righteous alone are God's favourites; and that to him all Iniquity is an abomination. : : 9 For there is no faithfulness in his mouth: their inward parts are very wickedness. 10 ongue. * Their throat is an open sepulchre: they flatter with their II Destroy thou them, O God, let them perish through their own imaginations: cast them out in the multitude of their ungodliness; for they have rebelled against thee. 12 And let all them that put their trust in thee rejoice: they shall ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendest them; they that love thy Name, shall be joyful in thee; 13 For thou, Lord, wilt give thy blessing unto the righteous: and with thy favourable kindness wilt thou defend him as with a shield. : EVENING LORD, || Pfalm 6. rebuke PRAYER. Domine, ne. me not in thine indignation: neither chaften me in thy displeasure. 2 Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak: O Lord, heal me, for my bones are vexed. 3 My Soul also is fore troubled: but, Lord, how long wilt thou punish me ? 4 Turn thee, O Lord, and deliver my foul: O fave me for thy mercies fake. 5 + For in death no man remembereth thee: and who will give thee thanks in the pit ? : 6 I am weary of my groaning, every night wash I my water my couch with my tears. * Their Throat is an open Sepulchre. is e. as the Sepulchre is a wide open for the reception of the dead, so were David's Enemies earnestly set upon his deftruction. This is the first among the seven penitential Pfalms, in which David expresses a forrow and remorse for his past Sins, truly worthy of imitation in his cir cumstances. † For in death no Man remembereth thee, &c. Which bed: and is, as if he had said, "Save me from cestruction, " that I may praise thee amongst the living: for if I " die, who, among the prefent degenerate Race of " Mortals, will pay thee the worship and praise which is "due to thee"? To wish for Life from a defire of pramoting God's glory is certainly laudable: yet it should always be with fubmiffion to his will. Because he needeth not our affiftance, but hath always fufficient power to effect his own purposes. |