Psalms 6:10

Let all mine enemies be ashamed,.... Or "they shall be ashamed" (k); and so the following clauses may be rendered, and be considered as prophecies of what would be; though if this be considered as an

Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly. Let all ... - or, 'All mine enemies shall be ashamed, etc.

Ashamed of their vain hopes and confidence of conquering and destroying me. Or, they shall be ashamed, because of their great and unexpected disappointment. Let them return, to wit, from their wicked ways, from their hostile and malicious practices against me, and let them come and submit to me, from whom they have revolted. Or, let them turn back, as it is expressed, ; let them be put to flight. Or, let them be converted, i.e. repent of their sins, and return to their obedience to me. Although it seems more probable, both from the foregoing and following words, that this turning or returning is rather penal than penitential. Or, they shall turn or return. Or this verb may be taken adverbially, and joined to the following verb, as it is frequently in other places, and both may be thus rendered, let them, or they shall, be again ashamed; clothed, as it were, with double shame. Suddenly; sooner than I could hope, or they did expect or believe.

Psalms 6:10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return [and] be ashamed suddenly.Ver. 10. Let all mine enemies be ashamed] When they see all their hopes of my death and downfall disappointed. Let them return] Retrocedant et in terrain cadant, saith the Arabic interpreter, Let them go backward, and fall to the earth. Some make this a prayer, some a prophecy; it comes all to one. And be ashamed suddenly] Let them be doubly ashamed, or deboshed, and that in a moment. These sudden and still revenges are very terrible. God usually premonisheth before he punisheth, but not always. Now as blessings, the more unexpected the more welcome; so judgments, the more sudden the more grievous.

(10) Let all mine enemies.—Better rendered either by the present or future. The Psalmist with the eye of faith sees the answer to his prayer. Return—i.e., retire discomfited and in failure. “My enemies shall all be blank, and dasht With much confusion: then grow red with shame; They shall return in haste the way they came, And in a moment shall be quite abashed.”— Milton’s trans.

Verse 10. Ashamed and sore vexed] May they as deeply deplore their transgressions as I have done mine! May they return; may they be suddenly converted! The original will bear this meaning, and it is the most congenial to Christian principles. ANALYSIS OF TEE SIXTH PSALM The parts of this Psalm are TWO, in general: - I. A petition to God for himself, contained in the first seven verses. II. The account of his restoration, contained in the three last. I. The petition consists of two parts: 1. Deprecation of evil; 2. Petition for good. 1. He prays to God to avert his wrath: "O Lord, rebuke me not," c. 2. He entreats to be partaker of God's favour: "Have mercy upon me," c. 1. To his BODY: "Heal me, O Lord." 2. To his SOUL: "Deliver my soul: O save me!" He enforces his petition by divers weighty reasons: 1. From the quantity and degrees of his calamity, which he shows to be great from the effects. 1. In general he was in a languishing disease: "I am weak." 2. In particular 1. Pains in his bones: "My bones are vexed." 2. Trouble in his soul: "My soul also is troubled." 2. From the continuance of it. It was a long disease; a lingering sickness; and he found no ease, no, not from his God. The pain I could the better bear if I had comfort from heaven. "But thou, O Lord, how long?" Long hast thou withdrawn the light of thy countenance from thy servant. 3. From the consequence that was likely to follow; death, and the event upon it. It is my intention to celebrate and praise thy name; the living only can do this: therefore, let me live; for in death there is no remembrance of thee; in the grave who shall give thee thanks? 4. And that he was brought now to the gates of death, he shows by three apparent symptoms: 1. Sighs and groans, which had almost broken his heart; the companions of a perpetual grief: "I am weary of my groaning." 2. The abundance of his tears had dried and wasted his body: "He made his bed to swim, and watered his couch with his tears." 3. His eyes also melted away, and grew dim, so that he seemed old before his time: "My eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old." 6. That which added to his sorrow was, he had many ill-wishers who insulted over him: "Mine eye is waxen old because of mine enemies." II. But at last receiving comfort and joy, he is enabled to look up; and then he turns upon his enemies, who were longing for his destruction: "Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity." He magnifies God's mercy; and mentions its manifestation thrice distinctly: 1. "The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping." 2. "The Lord hath heard my supplication." 3. "The Lord will receive my prayer." Then follows his prophetic declaration concerning them: 1.

10. It is better to render the verbs as future: All mine enemies shall be ashamed and sore vexed; They shall turn back, they shall be ashamed in a moment. The ‘dismay’, which he had felt to be a token of divine displeasure (Psalms 6:2-3), is now retorted upon those who took a malicious delight in his misfortunes. When God returns to His servant, his assailants are repulsed in sudden and ignominious defeat. Cp. Psalms 35:4; Psalms 35:26, Psalms 56:9, Psalms 83:17.

Let all mine enemies be ashamed - Be so brought to see their folly that they shall be ashamed of their conduct.

10. The evil that he dreaded, which his enemies had prepared, shall now fall upon them. This was in strictest accordance with retributive justice. They shall be ashamed—Pale with disappointment.