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Have mercy upon us, O Lord the God of all, and look at us with favor;
Verse 1. Have. He has pointed out the conditions for prayer, and now he gives a model. The Jews were at this time dispersed and subservient to the Egyptians or Syrians, which greatly afflicted them. Calmet.—And shew. Greek (2.) “send.”
and send your fear upon all the nations.
Verse 2. That. Greek Rom. omits the rest. But Grabe retains, “all nations which seek not after thee.” Bible.—This prayer implies a prediction of the Gentiles’ conversion, as the psalms do frequently in like terms. Psalms 64. Worthington.
The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.
Lift up your hand against the foreign nations and let them see your mighty power.
As you showed your holiness in us before them, so be magnified in them before us.
Verse 4. Sanctified, by chastising us, or by protecting our fathers in the desert.
Let them know you, as we also have known you, that there is no God but only you, O God.
Show new signs, and work various wonders. Glorify your hand and your right arm.
The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.
Raise up indignation and pour out wrath. Take away the adversary and destroy the enemy.
Hasten the time and remember your oath. Let them declare your mighty works.
Let him who escapes be devoured by raging fire. May those who harm your people find destruction.
Crush the heads of the rulers of the enemies who say, “There is no one but ourselves.”
Verse 10. End of our sufferings. The malice of our enemies is at the height.
Gather all the tribes of Jacob together, and take them for your inheritance, as from the beginning.
Verse 11. Escapeth the sword. Deuteronomy 32:36. He foretells the event, or wishes that they may be chastised, in order that they may enter into themselves, and adore the true God.
The ancient authorities read I took them for my inheritance: but the Greek text is here very confused.
O Lord, have mercy upon the people that is called by your name, and upon Israel, whom you likened to a firstborn.
Verse 12. Other lord. The Syrian and Egyptian monarchs sometimes claimed divine honours. Daniel 7:25 and 11:36. Calmet.
Have compassion upon the city of your sanctuary, Jerusalem, the place of your rest.
Verse 13. That. Greek transposes the rest, and has only, and thou, and so forth Bible.
Fill Zion. Exalt your oracles and fill your people with your glory.
Verse 14. First-born. Exodus 4:22. Wives, children, servants, were called after their lord or father. Isaiah 4:1 and 63:19. Jeremiah 7:10.
Give testimony to those who were your creatures in the beginning, and fulfill the prophecies that have been spoken in your name.
Verse 15. Rest, where the temple is built. 2 Chronicles 6:41. Psalms 131:8.
Reward those who wait for you, and men will put their trust in your prophets.
Verse 16. Words, predictions, as heretofore; or with thy favours.
Listen, O Lord, to the prayer of your servants, according to the blessing of Aaron concerning your people; and all those who are on the earth will know that you are the Lord, the eternal God.
Greek God of the ages.
The belly will eat any food, but one food is better than another.
Verse 18. Thee. The Jews were more faithful after the captivity. The author seems to beg for the coming of the Messias.
The mouth tastes meats taken in hunting, so does an understanding heart detect false speech.
Verse 19. People, which thou hast prescribed. Numbers 6:24. Calmet.—Direct. Greek “All shall know.”—Art. Greek “Lord art the God of ages.” Bible.—Here the prayer ends. Calmet.—The author continues to instruct. Bible.
A contrary heart will cause heaviness. A man of experience will pay him back.
Verse 20. Another. Thus act discreetly in the pursuit of knowledge. The good may be distinguished from bad, as easily as venison can from other meats. Calmet.—As there is a difference of meats, so must discretion be used in words, in the choice of a wife, and so forth Worthington.
A woman will receive any man, but one daughter is better than another.
The beauty of a woman cheers the countenance. A man desires nothing more.
Verse 22. Resist. Greek “requite it,” as it deserves. Bible.
If kindness and humility are on her tongue, her husband is not like other sons of men.
Verse 23. Man. Yet in marriage the temper of the person is to be considered.
He who gets a wife gets his richest treasure, a help meet for him and a pillar of support.
Verse 24. More. Love is the most violent of all the passions, and nothing can afford greater content than a virtuous and consoling wife. Calmet. 26:21. Calmet.
Where no hedge is, the property will be plundered. He who has no wife will mourn as he wanders.
For who would trust a nimble robber who skips from city to city? Even so, who would trust a man who has no nest, and lodges wherever he finds himself at nightfall?
Verse 26. Good, is not in Greek, but the context shews that it is necessary. Bible.—By concord small possessions increase, as by discord the greatest are lost. Worthington.