Verse 1

"To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David." Hear my a voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

(a) In that he calls to God with his voice, it is a sign that his prayer was vehement, and that his life was in danger.

Verse 2

Hide me from the b secret counsel of the wicked; from the c insurrection of the workers of iniquity:

(b) That is, from their secret malice.

(c) That is, their outward violence.

Verse 3

Who whet their tongue like a sword, [and] bend [their bows to shoot] their arrows, [even] d bitter words:

(d) False reports and slanders.

Verse 4

That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and e fear not.

(e) To be without fear of God and reverence of man, is a sign of reprobation.

Verse 5

They f encourage themselves [in] an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

(f) The more the wicked set God's children in misery, the more bold and impudent are they in oppressing them.

Verse 6

They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward [thought] of every one g [of them], and the heart, [is] deep.

(g) There is no way so secret and subtle to do hurt, which they did not invent for his destruction.

Verse 8

So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall h flee away.

(h) To see God's heavy judgments against them, and how he has caught them in their own snares.

Verse 10

The righteous i shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

(i) When they will consider that he will be favourable to them as he was to his servant David.