*H A psalm for David himself. Mercy and judgment I will sing to thee, O Lord: I will sing,
Ver. 1. Himself. He describes the conduct which he was resolved to follow in ruling, (C.) or alluding to the pious king Josias. Theod. 4 K. xxii. The sentiments are not confined to rulers alone, (Bert.) though this psalm might be styled, "the mirror of princes." Muis. — Mercy and judgment. The chief qualifications of a king. C. — Whether I am treated with clemency or with rigour, I will praise thee. Chal. — No one should presume, since there is judgment, nor despair, since mercy goes before. S. Jer. S. Aug. — I will sing, and I will understand. Piety is one of the best means to acquire the intelligence of these heavenly hymns, and of the whole scripture. H. — We might translate the Heb. (C.) and Vulg. Mercy and judgment I will sing, to thee, Lord, will I sing psalms. H.
*H And I will understand in the unspotted way, when thou shalt come to me. I walked in the innocence of my heart, in the midst of my house.
Ver. 2. I will understand, &c. That is, I will apply my mind, I will do my endeavour, to know and to follow the perfect way of thy commandments: not trusting in my own strength, but relying on thy coming to me by thy grace. Ch. — I will watch over my conduct. — When thou. So S. Jer. and Houbigant read, though Sept. have "when wilt thou come to me?" Bert. — He is impatient of having the ark: but is well apprized that God will not dwell in a polluted soul, or in a wicked city: therefore he promises to remove such obstacles. — I walked. Or "will walk." All the other verbs should be in the future; (C.) though that is of no consequence. Bert. — David had studied to regulate his interior and his family before, as much as he did afterwards. H. — His fall was most likely (Bert.) subsequent to this event. 1 K. vi. 11. H. — He acknowledges that he had done what he here mentions, by God's assistance. W.
*H I will not set before my eyes any unjust thing: I hated the workers of iniquities.
Ver. 3. Thing. Or Heb. "word of Belial." I will neither suffer an evil word or action to pass without reproof. C.
*H The perverse heart did not cleave to me: and the malignant, that turned aside from me, I would not know.
Ver. 4. Know. I looked upon them with such contempt, (Euseb.) or I highly disapproved of their conduct, (S. Aug.) and would have no society with them. C. — David was, in a manner, forced to tolerate Joab; but he shewed sufficiently his displeasure, and ordered his successor to punish him, as soon as it could be done with safety to the state. M.
*H The man that in private detracted his neighbour, him did I persecute. With him that had a proud eye, and an unsatiable heart, I would not eat.
Ver. 5. Persecute. Or abhor (W.) with a perfect hatred. We must shew our displeasure if we hear detraction, (H.) that we may not partake in the crime. S. Jer. — The court is most likely to be infected with this vice, as people are continually endeavouring to supplant their rivals. C. — Secret thoughts of resentment must be stifled in their birth. Euseb. — Heart. Heb. "wide heart," which is sometimes taken in a good sense. 3 K. iv. 29. But here it denotes the ambitious and misers. Prov. xxviii. 25. C.
*H My eyes were upon the faithful of the earth, to sit with me: the man that walked in the perfect way, he served me.
Ver. 6. Faithful. A prince cannot do every thing himself. But he ought to make choice of the most virtuous and skilful ministers. C.
*H He that worketh pride shall not dwell in the midst of my house: he that speaketh unjust things did not prosper before my eyes.
Ver. 7. Prosper. Heb. "shall not be pleasing," (S. Jer. H.) or "maintain himself." C.
*H In the morning I put to death all the wicked of the land: that I might cut off all the workers of iniquity from the city of the Lord.
Ver. 8. Morning. Without delay, (W. Jer. xxi. 12. H.) and with a mind composed. S. Isid. Pelus i. ep. 321. — The Jews explain this of the judgment of zeal, by which a person might kill a notorious criminal, without any trail, (C.) in imitation of Phinees and Mathathias. 1 Mac. ii. 24. H. — God alone will punish all malefactors at the last day. S. Aug. — The Fathers admonish us to resist temptations at the beginning. C.