than to trust in mankind : it is better to rely on JEHOVAH, than to trust in the great. Many nations beset me round: but through JEHOVAH's aid I repulsed them. They beset me round like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns; for through JEHOVAH's aid I repulsed them. Thou hast thrust sore, at me that I might fall: but JEHOVAH helped me. JEHOVAH is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 is in the tabernacles of the righteous : the right hand of JEHOVAH doeth valiantly. but live, and declare the works of JEHOVAH. but he hath not given me over unto death. I will go into them: I will praise JEHOVAH: into which the righteous shall enter. 16 17 18 19 20 * The last sheets of manuscript which Dr. Geddes sent to the Printer, a few days before his death, extended to the eleventh verse of this psalm. The continuation of the work is printed from an interleaved copy of the Psalms from Wilson's Bible, with many corrections in the handwriting of Dr. Geddes. 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 for thou hast heard me, and art become my salva tion. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which JEHOVAH hath made; Save now, I beseech thee, O JEHOVAH ! Thou art my GOD, and thee I will praise : Give thanks unto JEHOVAH, for good is he PSALM CXIX. This is another alphabetic psalm; but of a different construction from all the preceding ones. Each of the 22 Hebrew letters has eight stanzas or verses under it; that is, the first eight stanzas begin with an aleph, the 2d eight with a beth, and so on to the end. But that the reader may have a clearer idea of the mechanism of this curious composition, I have placed at the head of each octrain the name of its respective letter, and its Hebrew form at the beginning of every line, stanza, or verse, beginning by that letter. For the rest, the psalm itself is a continual ring on one or two ideas :-the excellence of the divine laws, and the felicity of those who observe them. The aim of the ingenious bard seems to have been, to try in how many various shapes, and with what copious ness of words, he could express those ideas. By Venema and Michaelis it is ascribed to David, before his elevation to the throne. I take it, as well as all the other alphabetic psalms, to be a much more modern composition. See C. R. .א ALEPH. HAPPY they, who in the path of innocence walk according to JEHOVAH's law. N. Happy they who observe his testimonies; and seek him with their whole heart. N. For they who walk in his ways, commit no evil. 8. Thou (O JEHOVAH) hast commanded us strictly to observe thy precepts. N. O may my paths be directed 2 to the observance of thy statutes. . Then only shall I not be abashed, when I shall respect thy commandments. 1 2 3 5 . Then shall I praise thee with an upright heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. N. If I observe all thy statutes, Thou wilt never forsake me. BETH. 7 8 but by regulating them according to thy word? 2. With my whole heart I have sought thee: 10 suffer me not to stray from thy commandments. 1. In my heart I have treasured thy words, that I may not sin against thee. . Blessed art thou, O JEHOVAH, who hast taught me thy statutes. 2. With my lips I recount all thy decrees. 2. In the way of thy testimonies I rejoice, as much as in all riches. 12 13 14 15 16 17 2. 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 . I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. . I will delight myself in thy statutes: GHIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. 2. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. 2. I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy.commandments from me. 2. My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. 2. Remove from me reproach and contempt; DALETH. 25 26 27 7. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: revive thou me according to thy word. 7. I have declared my ways, and thou heardest. me: teach me thy statutes. 7. Make me to understand the way of thy pre cepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. 7. My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. 7. Remove from me the way of lying: thy judgments have I laid before me. HE. Show me, O JEHOVAH, the way of thy statutes; 33 and I shall keep in it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; 34 yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. . Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. . Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, 35 36 . Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness. 40 VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O JEHOVAH, 41 even thy salvation, according to thy word. |