Verse 1

Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.

Thy name — Thy self; art present with us, and ready to help.

Verse 2

When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.

Receive — The whole congregation, all the tribes.

Verse 3

The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. /*Selah*/.

Dissolved — Or, destroyed; by intestine divisions and wars.

I hear — I support it, by maintaining religion and justice, by setting up good magistrates, and encouraging good ministers, and good men, who are indeed the pillars of a nation.

Verse 4

I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:

I said — I charged them.

Deal not — Desist from your practices.

Lift not up — Do not carry yourselves scornfully and maliciously.

Verse 5

Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.

Lift not — A metaphor from untamed oxen, which will not bow their heads to receive the yoke.

Stiff neck — With pride and contempt.

Verse 8

For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.

For — God is here compared to the master of a feast, who then used to distribute portions of meat and drink to the several guests.

A cup — Of vengeance.

Red — Such as the best wine of Judea was.

Mixture — The wine is mingled not with water, but with strengthening and intoxicating ingredients.

Dregs — The worst and most dreadful part of those tribulations.

Shall wring — This dreadful draught was brought upon them by their own choice and wickedness.

Verse 9

But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

Declare — The praises of God.

Verse 10

All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

Horns — Their honour and power, which they made an instrument of mischief.

Will — When I shall be advanced to the throne.

But — Good men shall be encouraged and promoted.