Psalms 58

David reproveth the Counsellors and Courtiers of Saul, for their unrighteousness, wickedness and stubbornness and prayeth to God to break their might, and to cause them speedily to perish and vanish in their consultations, for his honour, and the joy of the godly.

1. A Golden Jewel of David, for the chief-songmaster Altascheth [As Psal.57.1.]

2. Do ye verily speak righteousnesness, O congregation? [Or Rout understanding the Assembly or College of King Saul his Judges or Counsellors, or his Counsel of War, who instead of Judging according to right and equity, did but incense and stir up Saul against innocent David; which is the reason why the holy Ghost gives them such a slight title here] Do ye Judge equities, [or justnesses as Psalms 9:9, etc.] ye children of men? [of Adam.]

3. Yea, ye work iniquities, [Or ye practise perverseness, basenesses, villainies] in the heart; yea, weigh the violence of your hands upon earth [:in stead of keeping the balance of your judgements even (as ye ought) you over poise the wrong part to oppress and crush the innocent.]

4. The wicked are estranged from the womb: Namely from God; they are an evil brood of such an inbred ill condition, that they cannot leave it or give it over. Compare Isa.48.8.] the lies-tellers stray [in evil ways, not entering the right] from the (mothers) belly. [the word mothers is elsewhere expressed; See Jud.16.verse 17. Compare with chap.13.5,7. And Job 3.on verse 10.]

5. They have fiery venom, after the likeness of fiery Serpents venom: they are like a deaf Adder, (that) stoppeth ear:

6. That she may not hearken, Or, that doth not hear] after the voice of the charmer [Heb. Properly, mumblers, in regard that the Sorcerers and Conjurers, use to speak and mumble within their mouths!] of him that is expert [or learned, subtitle, cunning. Heb. Made wise. Compare 2 Sam.13.on v.3.] to deal with (or repractice) conjuring. [or charmings, Heb. Couplings, as Deut.18.11. These abominations are no ways allowed by the holy Ghost, as appeareth by Deut.18.v.10,11,12. But is onely applied here by way of similitude, the better and more lively to represent the stubbornness and incourigibleness of Davids and all the godliness enemies. Thus the similitude of a thief is used, Rev.16.15.etc. of the unrighteous Judge, Luke 18:1,2,6,7. Of the unfaithful steward, Luke.16.etc.]

7. O God, break their teeth in their mouth; [i.e. their power to do mischief, and to hurt the godly, See Job.29. on v.17.] break down [as one breaketh and pullet down a building] the Jaw-teeth of the young Lion, O LORD.

8. Let them melt like water, let them drive away: [That is fleet and run away like something that is molten Others, they shall rejected, they shall go away like water, &c. And so in the sequel] doth he [every one namely, of my wicked enemies; so also in the beginning of v.10. and further in v.11.] lay on his arrows, [Hebr. Shall he (or he shall tread his, arrows, i.e. bend or tend his bow, and lay his arrows upon it so Psalms 64:4.] let them be as if they were cut off? [and consequently blunt, or headless, so that they shall not be able to pierce or hurt. Others, let them be as corn-ears, or stubble, straw, that is, light, slight and without force.]

9. Let him he gone as a melting snail: [Heb. A snail of melting] let them be [all wicked enemies] (as) an untimely birth [or mischance, See Job 3:16. Eccl.6.3.] of a woman, not behold the Sun.

10. Ere your pots [The Hebrew word (so as it is here found) hath in the holy Scripture the signification of pots or kettles] are aware [Heb. Observe, mark, understand, i.e. before, or ere ever they are warm or heated; ere once they smell the fire, as we use to speak. Compare Jud.16.9. Jer.17.8. &c. Job 8.on v.18. This may be so taken as if the Prophet spake it to the wicked, for terror, or to the godly for comfort, your pots, &c.] of the thorn bush, [i.e. the fire of the thorn bush, wherewith it is kindling or kindled. The meaning of this verse (which indeed is variously rendered, though the sence remain one and the same) is, that God shall very suddenly and unexpectedly, like to a tempest or whirlewind ruine and hurry the wicked away ere they shall have wrought out their wicked practices. Compare Psalm 55.24.] shall he storm him away (God shall serve every one of these wicked ones in this manner; as on verse 8.or, that he him, &c. As praying and wishing that it might be so.] as alive, (as) in hot wrath; [i.e. very suddenly and unwares, as happened unto Korah, &c. See also Psalms 55:16. otherwise, as well the raw as the burnt; that is, even as a great storm may seize on, and carry or hurry away the flesh-pots with all that shall God, etc. Some read it thus: ere one shall feel your thorns (dangerous plots and practise) being thorns of a thorn bush (i.e. very sharp and pricking) shall he in a tempest hurry away, as well the fresh as the burnt, (or withered) thorn namely, that is the one as well as the other, green and dry, old and young together. Compare 2 Sam.23.v.6,7.]

11. The righteous shall rejoice, when he beholdeth the vengeance: of God, i.e. his righteous judgements upon the wicked. [This doth imply the greatness of their defeat. Comp.Psalms 68:24. Rev.14.20.]

12. And (a) man (homo) shall say; sure there is fruit for the righteous: [i.e. a comfortable and issue and gracious retribution, for those that fear God and suffer wrongfully for his Name. Which is so sweet and acceptable to them, as the sweetest fruit which they enjoy after all their toil and labour. Compare Heb.12.12. Jam.3.18. Rev.14.13. and see Prov.1.on verse 31.] sure there is a God, that judgeth upon the earth. [Heb. Elohim, that judge, in the plural; see hereof Gen.28.on v.13.]