Open an explanation beneath verses with notes. Your notes and highlights stay on this device.
Help, LORD; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.
Verse 1. Me? These expressions are figurative. God seems displeased: but it is often for our greater good. Some explain this of David, Ezechias, the captives, and so forth It may be applied to every afflicted soul, which places her whole trust in God. Calmet.
Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.
Verse 2. Day; frequently. Worthington.—Septuagint adds, “and night.” Calmet.—These cares and perplexities arise from persecutions and from man’s weakness. Worthington.
May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,
Verse 3. Enemy; Saul, and so forth or the devil. Saint Augustine Calmet.
who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?”
Verse 4. Death, by mortal sin, ( Worthington.) or through excessive sorrow. Jeremiah 51:39. Shew me thy favour, ( Calmet.) and I shall be secure. Sleep is represented as nearly related to death. Iliad xiv.
Tum consanguineus lethi sopor. Æn. vi. Bible.
“Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD; “I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”
The LORD’s words are flawless words, as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.
Verse 6. Mercy. Man must attribute nothing to himself, otherwise he will be moved by pride. Saint Augustine Calmet.—Things; patience and reward. Worthington.—The prophet feels a secret confidence arising in his breast, in consequence of God’s protection.—Yea, and so forth is not in Hebrew but it is in the Septuagint Arab. and the ancient Fathers. Hebrew “My heart shall be transported in thy salvation; I will praise the Lord, because he has rendered me the like,” as I placed my hopes in him: ( Calmet.) or, “he hath rewarded me.” The blessed Virgin adopts the language of this verse, and the prophet probably had the same salvation, Christ, in view. Berthier.
You will keep them, LORD. You will preserve them from this generation forever.
The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.