Verse 1

The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

No fear — When I consider the manifold transgressions of ungodly men, I conclude within myself, that they have cast off all fear of the Divine majesty.

Verse 2

For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.

Flattereth — He deceiveth himself with vain persuasions, that God does not mind his sins, or will not punish them.

Found — Punish, as the same phrase is used, Numbers 32:23.

Verse 3

The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

Left off — Once he had some degrees of wisdom, but now he is become an open apostate.

Verse 4

He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

Deviseth — Freely, from his own inclination, when none are present to provoke him to it.

Verse 5

Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

Thy mercy — Mine enemies are cruel and perfidious, but thou art infinite in mercy, and faithfulness.

Heavens — Is infinite and incomprehensible.

Faithfulness — The truth both of thy threatenings against thine enemies, and of thy promises made to good men.

The clouds — Is far above our reach, greater and higher than we can apprehend.

Verse 6

Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.

Mountains — Stedfast and unmoveable: eminent and conspicuous to all men.

Judgments — The executions of thy counsels.

Deep — Unsearchable, as the ocean.

Man — The worst of men; yea, the brute-beasts have experience of thy care and kindness.

Verse 7

How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

Loving-kindness — Though all thine attributes be excellent, yet, above all, thy mercy is most excellent, or precious and amiable.

Verse 8

They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

Satisfied — Who trust in thee, as he now said.

Fatness — With those delightful provisions, which thou hast prepared for them in heaven.

The river — Which denotes both their plenty, and their perpetuity.

Verse 9

For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

Life — It is in God as in a fountain, and from him is derived to us.

But — Of that glorious and blessed, and endless life, which alone is worthy of the name.

Light — In the light of thy glorious presence, which shall be fully manifested, when we see thee face to face.

Light — Joy and comfort, and happiness: the word light is elegantly repeated in another signification; in the former clause it is light discovering, in this light, discovered or enjoyed.

Verse 11

Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.

The foot — Of my proud and insolent enemies.

Come — So as to overthrow me.

Verse 12

There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

There — He seems as it were to point at the place, as if it were already done.