Verse 1

To the chief Musician. See App-64.

Title. A Psalm. Hebrew. mizmor. See App-65.

of David = by David.

LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

the evil = an evil man. Hebrew. ra"a". App-44. man. Hebrew. "adam. App-14.

man. Hebrew "ish. App-14.

Verse 2

Which = Who.

mischiefs. Not the same word as in Psalms 140:9, but the same word as "evil" in Psalms 140:1.

Verse 3

tongues. Singular. See note on Psalms 140:11. Quoted in Romans 3:13.

Selah. Connecting the evil with the prayer to be delivered; thus marking the Structure (App-66)

Verse 4

wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha". App-41.

Verse 5

by the wayside. See Job 18:10.

Verse 6

GOD. Hebrew El App-4.

Verse 7

GOD the Lord. Hebrew. Jehovah.Adonai. App-4. (2).

of. Genitive of character = my saving strength. covered = screened or protected. Not the same word as in Psalms 140:9.

Verse 8

wicked. Hebrew. rasha". Singular. App-44. The same word as in Psalms 140:4.

wicked device = devices or plots. Occurs only here.

Verse 9

those that compass me about = one word in Hebrew.

mischief = labour, toil Hebrew. "amal. App-44.

cover = overwhelm. Not the same word as in Psalms 140:7.

Verse 10

burning coals. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy(of Adjunct), App-6, for cruel words and hard speeches which wound the heart as fire wounds the body. Compare Proverbs 16:27; Proverbs 26:23.

that they, &c. = let them not, &c.

Verse 11

evil speaker. Hebrew a man of tongue; not "a man of lips" (= talkative. Job 11:2), but with an evil motive = a slanderer. Compare Psalms 140:3.

Evil shall hunt = Let evil hunt.

Verse 12

the afflicted = a poor one.

the poor = helpless ones.

Verse 13

name. See note on Psalms 20:1.

dwell in Thy presence. Compare Psalms 11:7; Psalms 16:11.