Ps. 141:0 THE ARGUMENT. This Psalm also must he referred to the time of David’s persecution by Saul. It is a humble prayer that God would deliver him from the rage and malice of his enemies, and from those sins to which he might be inclined or provoked upon that occasion.

Be set forth before thee, Heb. be directed to thy face. Let it not be lost, but let it come unto thee and find audience. As incense; owned and accepted by thee no less than the increase, which by thy command, Ex.

That I may not through mine own infirmity, and the great provocations of mine enemies, break forth into any unadvised speeches, or any expressions of impatience, or distrust, or envy, or malice, &c. My lips, which are the door of my mouth whence words come forth.

Incline not; suffer it not to be inclined or led aside, either by my own errors or lusts, or by the temptations of the world or of the devil. Thus God is frequently said to harden men’s hearts, not positively, for he can do no evil, nor tempt any man to it, James 1:3; but privatively, by denying…

Smite me, to wit, with his tongue by reproofs, as the next clause explains it, which are called wounds, Prov. 27:6. As I pray unto thee that thou wouldst keep me from sinful practices, so I beg it of all just men, that if I do transgress, or if by the arts and slanders of mine enemies any of them…

Their judges; the chief of mine enemies, their governors civil and military. Are overthrown; or, shall be overthrown, or cast down headlong by thine exemplary vengeance. Or, as others, were left free, unhurt by me, when it was in my power to destroy them; of which see 1 Sam. 24:0; 1 Sam.

Our bones; my bones, and the bones of my friends and followers. Our skin and flesh is in a manner consumed, and there is nothing left of us but a company of dead and dry belles; whereby he intimates that their condition was desperate. Compare Ezek. 37:11.

Or, naked, as this word signifies, Ps. 137:7, and Aaron is said to have made the people naked, Ex. 32:25, i.e. deprived of thy favour and protection. Or, do not pour out my soul, to wit, unto death, as this word is used, Isa. 53:12.

Into their own nets, Heb. into his nets; either into God’s nets, the relative being put without the antecedent, as is usual in such cases, where it is easily understood; or, each into his own nets, to wit, the mischiefs which he designs against me.