To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David. According to the Syriac version, this psalm was written when Saul threatened the priests, because they did not show him where David was, when they knew it. Dr.

Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? &c.] Of the mighty, as in ; the judges of the land, who were many, and therefore called a congregation, as it is necessary they should; for, being many, they are not so easily bribed; and besides, one may see that in a cause which another does not.

Yea, in heart ye work wickedness So far were they from speaking righteousness, and judging uprightly. The heart of man is wickedness itself; it is desperately wicked, and is the shop in which all wickedness is wrought; for sinful acts are committed there as well as by the tongue and hand, as…

The wicked are estranged from the womb Which original corruption of nature accounts for all the wickedness done by men: they are conceived in sin, shapen in iniquity, and are transgressors from the womb; they are alienated from God, and from that godly life which is agreeable to him, and he…

Their poison is like the poison of a serpent Either their “wrath” and fury, as the word [[22]] may be rendered, against God, his people, and even one another, is like that of a serpent when irritated and provoked; or their mischievous and devouring words are like the poison of asps under their…

Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers Or “that use enchantments”, to enchant serpents, by muttering certain words, or by magical songs; by which means it is said that they have been drawn out of their holes, or caused to fly, or have become stupefied, and have lost their poison, and even…

Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth From the description of the wicked, the psalmist passes to imprecations on his enemies; whom he represents as cruel and bloodthirsty, and as being stronger than he; and therefore he applies to God, who could, as he sometimes did, smite his enemies on the…

Let them melt away as waters which run continually Let them be disheartened, and their courage fail them, and let there be no spirit left in them, ; or let them be unstable as water that is continually running, ever upon the flux and motion; let them never be settled, but always changing in their…

As a snail which melteth, let everyone of them pass away, &c.] As a snail when it comes out of its shell liquefies, drops its moisture, and with it makes a “path”, from whence it has its name (שבלול) , in the Hebrew language; and so the Targum here, “as the snail moistens its way;” which moistness…

Before your pots can feel the thorns Which is soon done; for as dry thorns make a great blaze, so they give a quick heat; the pots soon feel them, or the water in them soon receives heat from them.

The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance Before imprecated and foretold; the punishment inflicted by the Lord, to whom vengeance belongs, in a way of vindictive wrath; for what befalls the wicked in an afflictive way is in wrath, and as a vengeance upon them: and as the judgments of…

So that a man shall say Any man, and every man, especially, that is observing, wise, and knowing; he shall conclude, from such a dispensation of things, from God’s dealing with the wicked after this manner: verily, there is a reward for the righteous; or “fruit” [[9]] for them: they have the fruits…