Geneva Study Bible <<A Psalm of David.>> Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. <<A Psalm of David.>> Plead my {a} cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
(a) He desires God to undertake his cause against them who persecute him and slander him. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. {b} Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
(b) Even though God can with his breath destroy all his enemies, yet the Holy Spirit attributes to him these outward weapons to assure us of his patient power. Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my {c} soul, I am thy salvation.
(c) Assure me against these temptations, that you are the author of my salvation. Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD {d} chase them.
(d) Smite them with the spirit of giddiness that their enterprises may be foolish, and they received just reward. Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them. Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul. For {e} without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.
(e) Showing that we may not call God to be a revenger but only for his glory, and when our cause is just. Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall. Let destruction come upon {f} him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into {g} that very destruction let him fall.
(f) When he promises peace to himself. (g) Which he prepared against the children of God. And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him? All my {h} bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?
(h) He attributes his deliverance only to God, praising him therefore both in soul and body. False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. {i} False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
(i) That would not permit me to purge myself. They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. They rewarded me evil for good to the {k} spoiling of my soul.
(k) To have taken from me all comfort and brought me into despair. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and {l} my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
(l) I prayed for them with inward affection, as I would have done for myself: or, I declared my affection with bowing down my head. I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: But in mine {m} adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear {n} me, and ceased not:
(m) When they thought me ready to slip and as one that limped for infirmity. (n) With their railing words. With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. With hypocritical mockers in {o} feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
(o) The word signifies cakes: meaning that the proud courtiers at their dainty feasts scoff, rail, and conspire his death. Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them {p} wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
(p) In token of contempt and mocking. For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land. For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.
Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it. Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, {q} our eye hath seen it.
(q) They rejoiced as though they had now seen David overthrown. This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me. This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.
Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord. Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me. Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy {r} righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
(r) It is the justice of God to give to the oppressors affliction and torment, and to the oppressed aid and relief, 2Th 1:6. Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up. Let them not say in their hearts, {s} Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
(s) Because we have that which we sought for, seeing he is destroyed. Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me. Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion {t} together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed {u} with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.
(t) That is, at once, were they never so many or mighty. (u) This prayer will always be verified against them who persecute the faithful. Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. Let them shout for joy, and be glad, {x} that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the {y} prosperity of his servant.
(x) That at least favour my right, though they are not able to help me. (y) He exhorts the Church to praise God for the deliverance of his servants, and for the destruction of his adversaries. And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long. And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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