Verse 1
Title. A Psalm of David. Same as 140.
LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
Verse 2
enter not. As in Job 9:32; Job 22:4.
in Thy sight. Compare 1 Samuel 16:7. Isaiah 55:8. Job 14:3.
no man = no one. Compare Job 15:14, Job 15:15.
be justified = stand or appear [before Thee] just. The verb is Active. Septuagint, Authorized Version, and Revised Version render it passive. Compare Romans 3:20. Galatians 1:2, Galatians 1:16.
Verse 3
persecuted = pursued.
my soul = me (emphatic). Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.
Verse 4
my spirit = me. Hebrew. ruach. App-9. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6, put for the whole person, for emphasis.
overwhelmed. Same word as Psalms 77:3; Psalms 107:5; Psalms 142:3.
Verse 5
remember. Compare Psalms 77:5, Psalms 77:10, Psalms 77:11.
muse = talk with myself. t
he work of Thy hands. Some codices, with three early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "works" (plural)
Verse 6
as. Some codices, with seven early printed editions, read "in".
Selah. Connecting and returning to prayer (7-11) as the consequence of the reflection (5, 6). This is the last Selah (of seventy-one) in the Psalms. For three others, see- Habakkuk 3:3, Habakkuk 3:9, Habakkuk 3:13. See App-66.
Verse 7
the pit = a grave. Hebrew. bor. A sepulchre, as hewn out of the rock. Hence rendered cistern, or dry pit. Compare Genesis 37:20. See note on Genesis 21:19.
Verse 8
lovingkindness: or grace.
trust = confide. Hebrew. batah. App-69.
Verse 9
Deliver me = pluck me [out of the hands of].
flee. Authorized Version, 1611, reads "fly". Since 1629 the reading is "flee".
unto. Some codices, with one early printed edition and Septuagint, read "in". Compare Psalms 143:8.
Verse 10
will = good pleasure.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.
Spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.
lead, &c. = It will lead.
land. Some codices, with one early printed edition, read "way"; others, with Syriac, read "path". Compare Psalms 27:11.
Verse 11
Quicken me = Give, or preserve me in life. See note || on p. 827.
name"s. See note on Psalms 20:1.
Verse 12
mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.
enemies. Compare Structure, Psalms 143:3.