“To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. upon: or, upon the eighth Help: or, Save”
Me? These expressions are figurative. God seems displeased: but it is often for our greater good. Some explain this of David, Ezechias, the captives, &c. It may be applied to every afflicted soul, which places her whole trust in God. (Calmet)
“They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. a double: Heb. an heart and an heart”
Day; frequently. (Worthington) — Septuagint adds, “and night.” (Calmet) — These cares and perplexities arise from persecutions and from man’s weakness. (Worthington)
“The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: proud: Heb. great”
Enemy; Saul, &c., or the devil. (St. Augustine) (Calmet)
“Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us? are: Heb. are with us”
Death, by mortal sin, (Worthington) or through excessive sorrow, Jeremias li. 39. Shew me thy favour, (Calmet) and I shall be secure. Sleep is represented as nearly related to death. (Homer, Iliad xiv.)
“Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. them from: Heb. him, etc: that is, every one of them, etc”
Mercy. Man must attribute nothing to himself, otherwise he will be moved by pride. (St. Augustine) (Calmet) — Things; patience and reward. (Worthington) — The prophet feels a secret confidence arising in his breast, in consequence of God’s protection. — Yea, &c., is not in Hebrew but it is in the Septuagint, Arabic, and the ancient Fathers. Hebrew, “My heart shall be transported in thy salvation; I will praise the Lord, because he has rendered me the like,” as I placed my hopes in him: (Calmet) or, “he hath rewarded me.” The blessed Mary adopts the language of this verse, [Luke i. 46-55] and the prophet probably had the same salvation, Christ, in view. (Berthier)