Psalms 5

David prayeth and beseecheth God earnestly for the hearing of his devout and fervent prayers, and assuring himself of Gods justice against his Enemies, and gratiouness to him, he prayeth further with confidence for himself, against his wicked Enemies, and for the whole Church.

1. A Psalm of David, for the chief Song-Master [See Psalm 4.v.1.] upon the Nechiloth. [Hereby some understand such Instruments of Musick, as are made your Flutes, Cornets, Trumpets, organs, &c. Others hold it to be a certain Tune, or Musical air.]

2. O Lord, hearken unto my speeches, understand my meditation.

3. Attend unto the voice of my crying, O my King, and my God; for unto thee will I pray.

4. (In) the morning LORD, shalt thou hear my voice; [Compare Psalms 88:14. and 92.3. So God is said likewise to shew his mercy in the morning, i.e. early, timely, seasonably. Psalm 90.v.14. and 143.8. Lam.3.23.] in the morning will I dispose my self unto thee, [or set (my words, or my prayer) in order before thee. See Job 33:5. and chap.32.v.14.] and keep watch [i.e. look abroad, or about me, whether thy help come not, or wait and attend, what thou shalt answer me. Compare Psalms 130:6. Mich.7.7. Hab.2.1.]

5. For Thou art not a God that delighteth in ungodliness; the evil that man, or thing] shall not sojourn with thee. [i.e. have no communion with thee, nor endure, subsist, or abide before thee. Compare 34.17. and 94.20.]

6. Then mad (ones) [Or, the vanting, bragging, boasting, which the Hebrew word seemeth to imply peculiarly; although it be likewise taken in general, for foolish, mad, raging, such as have not the true wisdom, but like raging, senseless men do wallow, delight and boast themselves in all manner of sin and vanity. See Psalms 73:3. and 75.5. and 102.9. Eccles.2.2,12. And 7.9, and 10.13. Isa.44.25, Jer.50.38. etc.] shall not subsist before thine eyes; thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

7. Thou shalt undo the speakers of lies, [Compare Psalm 4.on v.3.] the LORD abhoreth the man of blood and of deceit. [Heb. (sanguinum) in the plural. See Genesis 4.on v.10. i.e. the blood-thirty, murderous and deceitful. Comp.2. Sam.16.7. & 22.49. Psa.18.49. and 26.9. and 43.1. and 55.24. and 59.3. and 140.2,5. Prov.3.31.]

8. But I through the greatness of thy benignity shall enter into thine house; [Understand the Tabernacle; for the Temple was not builded yet in Davids time] I shall how my self [viz. In the Court at the entry of the Tabernacle, directing my face toward the most holy part, where the Ark of the covenant standeth. See Lev.1.3. Psal.116.19. Into thy holy place the Priests went; into the most holy none but the High-Priest, heb.9.6,7.] towards the Palace [the Hebrew word is used for Royal Courts and Palaces, Psalms 45:9, 16. Prov.30.28 and is likewise used for the place, where God is said to dwell: as of the Tabernacle, 1 Sam.1.9. & 3.3. and here; of the Temple, 1 Kings 6:17, &c. Yea of the heaven it self, Psalms 11:4. Mich.1.2.] of thine holiness in regard of thy Majesty, and incomprehensible mercy.]

9. LORD, lead me in thy righteousness, [i.e. the obedience of thy commands, which presently is termed likewise the way: Oth through thy righteousness, where by thou doest maintain the innocent] for my spies sake; [that watch me, and have an eye upon me, for to entrap me, or to make me fall. So Psalms 27:11.] direct thy way before my face. [See Gen.18.on verse 19.] the meaning is: Shew and prepare for me by thy spirit, as by a Guide, the path wherein thou wilt have me to walk.]

10. For in their mouth there is nothing of right, [i.e. They speak nothing, but falsehood and deceit. (Heb. in his mouth, i.e. in the mouth of every one of them) see Job 15.on v.5.] their inmost is meer destroying, [Heb. destroying in the plural; or villanies, wiles, perversenesses; tending to their neighbours vexation, mischief and destruction; He will say, their hears are fraught with nothing, but bitter intents and purposes to spight & mischief and plague the godly man on all occasions.] their throat is an open sepulchre, [i.e. they gape and yawn, or greedily long and look for the ruin and destruction of the goldy. This the Apostle applieth to all men (Rom.3.13.) in regard of their natural corruption and peversness. Comp.bel.Psa.14.v.2, &c.] with their tongues they flatter.

11. Declare them guilty, O God, [i.e. Judge and punish them, as such that have deserved it well. Otherwise, Lay them waste, the Hebrew signifying both] let them fall away from their counsels; [So that none take effect, but all miscarry. Oth. let them fall because of their counsels.] drive them away [Like chaff, Psalm, 1.4. or dispel, dissipare them, cast them out.] because of the multitude of their transgressions, [or backslidings, unfaithful dealings] for they are rebellious against thee.

12. But let all them rejoice [Oth. so, or, then shall all they rejoice, etc. And so in the sequel] that trust in thee; let them shout for ever; because thou coverest them; [i.e. protectest and defendest them; like as a man is free and safe under a roof, from heat and cold and tempest: or by a shield, from the darts of the Enemies] and let them leap for joy in thee, that love thy Name.

13. For thou, LORD, shalt bless the righteous; thou shalt crown him [Or, environe, encompass him] with (thy) favourableness [or well pleasing, complacency.] as with a Target.