To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. This psalm, A ben Ezra says, was composed by David before he was king; and Kimchi says, it is concerning Doeg and the Ziphites, who calumniated him to Saul; and, according to our English contents, it is a prayer of David to be delivered from Saul and Doeg.

Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man Either Saul; so Theodoret; or rather Doeg, according to R. Obadiah: but Jarchi interprets it of Esau; by whom he means Edom, or Rome, or rather the Christians in general.

Which imagine mischiefs in their heart This shows that not a single person barely is meant but more, as Saul’s courtiers; who were secretly and continually meditating mischief against David, traducing him to Saul, and devising things to take away his life.

They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent Which Kimchi says it does before it bites. Aristotle [[8]] observes, that the tip or extreme point of a serpent’s tongue is as small as a hair, and so exceeding sharp and piercing.

Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked From falling into their hands, and the weight of them}; and from their laying hands on him, being men of power and authority; preserve me from the violent man: or men, everyone of them; (See Gill on Ps.

The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords These were the Ziphites, according to Arama; see ; the character well agrees with the Scribes and Pharisees, who were proud boasters, and despised others, and often laid snares for Christ to take away his life; and with the enemies of the church and…

I said unto the Lord, thou art my God He said this to the Lord himself; claimed his covenant interest in him, and expressed it in the strength of faith: and this he did when in the midst of trouble and distress; in danger of falling into the hands of evil and violent men; they imagined mischief…

O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation Temporal and spiritual, which he was able to effect; the mighty God and mighty Saviour: and this encouraged David to believe he should have deliverance; and this secured, confirmed, and established it to him; and to which he was the more induced by what…

Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked Of Doeg, as the Targum, and of other wicked men, who were desirous both of taking him, and of taking away his life: but the desires of such men are under the restraints of the Lord; nor can they fulfil them unless they have leave from him, which is here…

As for the head of those that compass me about, let the, mischief of their own lips cover them. ] Meaning either their natural head, put for their whole persons; and the sense is, let the mischief they have contrived for others fall upon themselves; see ; or some principal person, the head and…

Let burning coals fall upon them From heaven, as the Targum, Aben Ezra, and Kimchi, by way of explanation; alluding to the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah with fire from thence: and may design both the terrible judgments of God in this life, and everlasting burnings in hell; so Jarchi interprets it…

Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth One that sets his mouth against the heavens, and speaks evil of God; of his being, perfections, purposes, and providences: whose tongue walks through the earth, and speaks evil of all men, even of dignities; and especially of the saints of the…

I know Here is a double reading: the “Keri”, or marginal reading, is, “thou knowest”; an appeal of the psalmist to God, who knew the thoughts of the wicked concerning him, and their devices against him; as Kimchi: but the Scripture reading is, I know; expressing his full persuasion and assurance…

Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name The same with the poor and the afflicted; who, though traduced by men, and evil spoken of and ill used by them, are righteous in the sight of God; being justified by the righteousness of Christ, which is imputed to them, and received by faith, in…