Geneva Study Bible O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. O LORD God, to whom {a} vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, {b} shew thyself.
(a) Whose office it is to take vengeance on the wicked. (b) Show by effect that you are judge of the world to punish the wicked. Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.
LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked {c} triumph?
(c) That is, brag of their cruelty and oppression, or esteem themselves above all others. How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage. They {d} break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.
(d) Seeing the Church was then so sore oppressed, it ought not to seem strange to us, if we see it so now, and therefore we must call to God, to take our cause in hand. They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. {e} Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
(e) He shows that they are desperate in malice, as they did not fear God, but gave themselves wholly to do wickedly. Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?
He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? He that {f} planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
(f) He shows that it is impossible, but God should hear, see, and understand their wickedness. He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? He that chastiseth the {g} heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
(g) If God punishes whole nations for their sins, it is mere folly for any one man or else a few to think that God will spare them. The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law; Blessed is the man whom thou {h} chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;
(h) God has care over his, and chastised them for their own good, that they should not perish for ever with the wicked. That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance. For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it. But {i} judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.
(i) God will restore the state and government of things to their right use, and then the godly will follow him cheerfully. Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. Unless the LORD had been my {k} help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
(k) He complains of them who would not help him to resist the enemies, yet was assured that God's help would not fail. When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up. When I said, {l} My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
(l) When I thought there was no way but death. In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul. In the multitude of my {m} thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
(m) In my trouble and distress I always found your present help. Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law? Shall the throne of iniquity have {n} fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
(n) Though the wicked judges pretend justice in oppressing the Church, yet they do not have the authority of God. They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge. But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.
And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off. And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall {o} cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off. (o) It is a great token of God's judgment when the purpose of the wicked is broken, but most, when they are destroyed in their own malice. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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