Geneva Study Bible Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is {a} pleasant; and praise is comely.
(a) He shows in which we ought to exercise ourselves continually, and to take our pastime: that is, in praising God. The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. The LORD doth build up {b} Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
(b) Because the Lord is the founder of the Church, it cannot be destroyed, though the members of it are dispersed and seem as it were for a time to be cut off. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He healeth the {c} broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
(c) With affliction, or sorrow for sin. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. He {d} telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.
(d) Though it seems incredible to man, that God should assemble his Church, being so dispersed, yet nothing can be too hard to him that can number and name all the stars. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground. The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the {e} ground.
(e) For the more high that the wicked climb the greater is their fall in the end. Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. Who {f} covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
(f) He shows by the example of God's mighty power, goodness, and wisdom, that he can never lack just opportunity to praise God. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which {g} cry.
(g) For their crying is as it were a confession of their need, which cannot be relieved, but by God alone, then if God show himself mindful of the most contemptible souls, can he suffer them to die with famine, whom he has assured of life everlasting? He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. He delighteth not in the {h} strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
(h) Though to use lawful means is both profitable and pleases God, yet to put our trust in them is to defraud God of his honour. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.
For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. For he hath {i} strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.
(i) He not only furnishes his Church with all that is necessary but preserves also the same, and makes it strong against all outward force. He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.
He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly. He sendeth forth his {k} commandment upon earth: his word runneth very {l} swiftly.
(k) His secret working in all creatures is as a command to keep them in order and to give them moving and force. (l) For immediately and without resisting all things obey him. He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?
He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow. He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He sheweth his {m} word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
(m) As before he called God's secret working in all his creatures his word: so he means by this his word the doctrine of life everlasting, which he has left to his Church as a precious treasure. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not {n} known them. Praise ye the LORD. (n) The cause of this difference is God's free mercy, which has elected his in his Son Christ Jesus to salvation: and his just judgment, by which he has appointed the reprobate to eternal damnation. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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