Verse 1

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

The fool — The wicked man.

Good — That is, actions really good or pleasing to God.

Verse 2

The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

Looked — God knoweth all things without any enquiry: but he speaks after the manner of men.

Upon — Upon the whole Israelitish nation, and upon all mankind for he speaks of all except his people, and the righteous ones, who are opposed to these, verse4,5.

Verse 3

They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Gone — From God, and from the rule which he hath given them.

Filthy — Loathsome and abominable to God.

Verse 4

Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.

Bread — With as little remorse, and with as much greediness.

Call not — They are guilty not only of gross injustice towards men, but also of horrid impiety and contempt of God.

Verse 5

There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.

There — Upon the spot, where they practised these insolences, God struck them with a panick fear.

For — God is on their side, and therefore their enemies have cause to tremble.

Verse 6

Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.

Because — This was the ground of their contempt, that he lived by faith in God's promise and providence.

Verse 7

Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

O that — These words immediately concern the deliverance of Israel out of that sinful state, in which they now were; which having described, he concludes, with a prayer to God to help them out of Zion, where the ark then was, but principally they design the spiritual redemption and salvation of all God's Israel by the Messiah.

The captivity — His captive people. The children of Jacob, as Aaron is named for his sons, 1 Chronicles 12:27.