Verse 1

"To the chief Musician, a Altaschith, A Psalm [or] Song of Asaph." Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, [unto thee] do we give thanks: for [that] thy name is near b thy wondrous works declare.

(a) Read (Psalm 57:1).

(b) He declares how the faithful will always have opportunity to praise God, as in their need they will feel his power at hand to help them.

Verse 2

c When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.

(c) When I see my time (says God) to help your miseries, I will come and set all things in good order.

Verse 3

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

(d) Though all things are brought to ruin, yet I can restore and preserve them.

Verse 5

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

(e) The prophet warns the wicked that they would not set themselves against God's people, seeing that God at his time destroys them who rule wickedly.

Verse 8

For in the hand of the LORD [there is] a f 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].

(f) God's wrath is compared to a cup of strong and delicate wine, with which the wicked are made so drunk that by drinking till they come to the very dregs they are utterly destroyed.

Verse 10

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

(g) The godly will better prosper by their innocent simplicity, than the wicked will by all their craft and subtilty.