Psalms 5

To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth. A Psalm of David. A Psalm composed by David (but whether when he was persecuted by Saul or by Absalom, I cannot certainly determine), and delivered to the master of music in the tabernacle, after his troubles were over, to be sung in parts to the organ; in commemoration of that sad condition, and the devout confidence he placed in God of deliverance out of it. CO

Psalms 5:1

\jrIVE ear to my words, O Lord; consider my meditation. , Thou seest, O Lord, unto what grievous straits I am reduced: let them move thee to grant me my request, and to have regard to the silent groans and sighs, whereby I call upon thee for relief.

Psalms 5:2

Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King and my God: for unto thee will I pray. To thee I appeal as my sovereign Lord and supreme Judge; from whose almighty power I earnestly beg protection, and from whose justice I humbly implore the vindication of my innocence.,

Psalms 5:3

My voice shalt thou hear in themorning, OLord; in the morning ivill I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. And thou wilt be as speedy, I hope, in thy help?ind succour, as I am early in my prayer: for the first thing I do, is to address myself to thee. I no sooner awake, but I dispose myself to wait on thee (as an humble suitor at the gate of thy mercy), and expect what thou wilt be pleased to do for me.

Psalms 5:4

, For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness; neither shall evil dwell with thee. Who wilt jiot fail, I am confident, to answer my expectations; for thou art a most righteous judge, who art so far from approving this unjust persecution of me (or rebellion against me), that thou abhorrest such wicked practices. They may prosper for a little time in these evil courses, but shall have no place in thy favour.

Psalms 5:5

The foolish shall not stand in thy sight:. thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou wilt condemn them to suffer the punishment of their idly and madness; and banish those from thy presence, who in their blind rage havo driven me from my habitation: for all such wicked doers are odious to thee.

Psalms 5:6

Tliou shalt destroy them that’ speak leasing; the Lord ivill abhor the bloody and deceitful man. Thou wilt utterly destroy those that abuse their tongues to tell lies, whereby they defame and calumniate my government: their bloody designs, which they seek to compass by fraud and treachery, make them abominable to the Divine Majesty.

Psalms 5:7

But as for me, I ivill come into thy house in the midtitude of thy mercy; and in thy fear will I worship t towards thy holy temple. But I, whom they have driven not only from my own house, but (which is far worse) from thine, hope, by thine infinite goodness towards me, to be restored again to go into thy courts; and there, with the humblest reverence, to worship thee, towards the place where thou hast set the monument of thy presence with us,

Psalms 5:8

Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. And in the mean time, thou wilt be my guide and conductor in the w r ay of thy commandments, which are the rule of righteousness; that my enemies, who seek for something lo colour their hatred to me, may have nothing to object against me. They vvould gladly see me trip, and they watch for my halting: and therefore do thou make thy way so plain before me, and order my goings so steadfastly, that I may never stumble, much less fall, and give them any advantage over me.

Psalms 5:9

For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open septdchre; they flatter with their tongue. For with what triumph would they blaze abroad my real faults, who now stick not to tell all manner of lies of me? their hearts are perpetually hatching the most malicious and mischievous stories, which they utter with open “mouth, gaping for the destruction of the innocent: to whom, when they speak fair, and put on a guise of friendship, it is with an intent to devour them.

Psalms 5:10

Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of, their transgressions; for they liave rebelled against thee. O thou most righteous Judge, pronounce that sentence of condemnation against them which they deserve. Let their owti devices, whereby they seek to ruin me, destroy themselves; and disperse them, because of their multiplied impieties. For it is thy cause more than mine that is now disputed, while they reject him whom thou hast appointed the king of thy people.*

Psalms 5:11

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. This will excite all those who are faithful to thee, and confide in nothing but thy merciful protection, to rejoice and triumph perpetually in thy praise. They will be encouraged by thy wonderful goodness and power appearing in my deliverance, to hope thou wilt protect and succour them also; and never fail to fill the hearts of all those that truly love thee, with the highest joy in thee.

Psalms 5:12

For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous;, with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield,. For thou, Lord, who art faithful and true, hast engaged thyself,, by thy gracious promise, to do good unto the righteous: whom thou lovest and delightest in; and therefore wilt crown with thy favour, and encircle him, as with an impenetrable shield, against all the darts of his enemies.