Prophetic anticipation of judgment on the wicked in Israel and on the nations, maintaining the remnant's cause, and putting out the name of the wicked forever. Jehovah is known by the judgment which He executes, and judges the world from His dwelling-place in Zion. To the chief musician upon Muth-labben. A psalm of David.
ALEPH.
I will celebrate Jehovah with my whole heart:I will declare all Thy wondrous works.
2. I will rejoice and exult in Thee; I will sing psalms to Thy name, O Most High !
BETH.
3. When mine enemies turn back, they stumble and perish from before Thy face.
4. For Thou hast maintained my right and my cause; Thou satest on Thy throne, judging righteously.
GIMEL.
5. Thou hast rebuked the Gentiles; Thou hast destroyed cities; their remembrance is perished with them.
VAU
7. And Jehovah abideth forever; He hath established His throne for judgment.
8. And Himself shall judge the world in righteousness; He shall govern the nations in uprightness.
9. Jehovah also shall be a high place for the afflicted one; a high place in seasons of distress.
10. And they that know Thy name will trust in Thee; for Thou, Jehovah, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee.
ZAYIN
11. Sing psalms to Jehovah, who dwelleth in Zion:tell His deeds among the peoples.
12. For He who seeketh out bloodshed hath remembered them :He hath not forsaken the cry of the humble.
CHETH
13. Be gracious to me, Jehovah; behold my affliction [at the hands] of them that hate me, – raising me up from the gates of death.
14. That I may declare all Thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion, – that I may exult in Thy salvation.
TETH.
15. The Gentiles are sunk down in the ditch which they made; in the net which they covered up is their foot taken.
16. Jehovah is made known; He hath executed judgment:'the wicked one is snared in the work of his own hands. A meditation. Selah.
JOD.
17. The wicked turn back into hades:all the Gentiles, forgetful of God.
CAPH.
18. For not for evermore shall the needy be forgotten:the expectation of the meek shall not perish for aye.
19. Arise, Jehovah! let not frail man be strong; let the Gentiles be judged before Thy face.
20. Put them in fear, Jehovah ; that the Gentiles may know themselves to be frail men. Selah.
Text.-Title. "Muth-labben,"-"Death for the son"- taken generally as the name of a melody to which the psalm was to be sung. As the Exodus is to be repeated in some main features in Israel's history in a future day,-a day to which this psalm refers,-a reference to Exodus 1:22 is worthy of consideration.
(4) "Maintained my right" is literally "wrought my judgment."
(5) I have endeavored to mark out the various expressions for eternity, although accomplishing nothing in the way of additional clearness of translation:1. Leolam, "forever," and when in the plural, rather "for ages," or "the ages." Olam is as nearly as can be equal to the Greek aion. The expression found so often in the New Testament, "for the ages of ages," occurs but once in the Old (Isa. 14:17.). 2. Ad I translate by "aye." 3. Lanetzach, "for evermore." The many shades of difference in expression it is perhaps impossible to render into English. It has not, at any rate, been done, if indeed attempted, hitherto.. My own rendering merely distinguishes, and nothing more. (6) The construction is a difficult one here. Most translate it as above. Some (with the A. V.) make it a direct address to the enemy-"O enemy."