3 He reviveth my spirit ; He leadeth me in the right paths, For his name's sake. 4 When I walk through the darkest valley 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. PSALM XXIV. Hymn to Jehovah, occasioned by the introduction of the ark of the covenant into the tabernacle, or temple. This is one of the psalms, which Dr. Lowth supposes to have been sung responsively, a portion by the priests, and a portion by the people. 1 A psalm of David. THE earth is the Lord's, and all that is therein ; The world, and they, who inhabit it. 2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, 3 4 And established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend the hill of Jehovah ? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart; Who hath not inclined his soul to falsehood, Nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive a blessing from Jehovah, And favor from God, his helper. 6 This is the race of them that seek him; That seek thy face, O God of Jacob! 7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates! Lift yourselves up, ye everlasting doors, That the glorious king may enter in! Jehovali, God of hosts, He is the glorious king. PSALM XXV. This is one of the seven psalms, called alphabetic, because the verses begin with the letters of the Hebrew Alphabet, arranged in order; as if in English, the first verse should begin with A, the second with B, &c. It contains a prayer for deliverance from enemies, for instruction in duty, for divine forgiveness, and for a distressed nation. A psalm of David. 1 To thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul! 2 O my God, I trust in thee! Let me not be put to shame! Let not my enemies triumph over me! 3 Yea, none that hope in thee shall be put to shame; They shall be put to shame, who wickedly forsake thee. 4 Show me thy ways, O Lord, Teach me thy paths! 5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me ; For thou art the God, from whom cometh my help; 6 Remember thy kindness, O Lord, and thy mercy, 7 Remember not the faults and transgressions of my youth; 8 According to thy mercy remember thou me, For thy goodness' sake, O Lord! Good and righteous is Jehovah, Therefore showeth he to sinners the way; 9 The humble he guideth in his statutes, 10 All the doings of Jehovah are mercy and truth, 12 Pardon my iniquity, for it is great! Who is the man that feareth the Lord? Him doth he show the way which he should choose. 13 He shall himself dwell in prosperity, And his offspring shall inherit the land. 14 Jehovah is the friend of them that fear him, And he will teach them his covenant. 15 Mine eyes are ever directed to Jehovah, For he will pluck my feet from the net, 16 Look upon me, and pity me, For I am desolate and afflicted! 17 Lighten the sorrows of my heart, 19 Consider how many are my enemies, 20 Guard thou my life and deliver me; Let me not be put to shame, for I have trusted in thee! 21 Let innocence and uprightness preserve me, For on thee do I rest my hope! 22 Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles ! PSALM XXVI. A prayer for deliverance from distress, with protestations of the righteousness of him who offers it. It is commonly supposed to relate to the persecution of David by Saul. A psalm of David. 1 Be thou my judge, O Lord, for I have walked in uprightness! I have put my trust in Jehovah, therefore shall I not fall. 2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; Try my reins and my heart! 3 For thy kindness is ever before my eyes, And I walk in thy truth. 4 I sit not with men of falsehood; And go not in company with dissemblers. 5 I hate the assembly of evil-doers, And do not sit with the wicked. 6 I wash my hands in innocence, And frequent thine altar, O Lord, 7 To utter the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all thy wondrous works! 8 O Lord, I love the house of thine abode, The place where thine honor dwelleth ! 9 Gather not my breath with sinners, Nor my life with men of blood! 10 In whose hands is mischief, And whose right hands are full of bribes. 11 But as for me, I walk in integrity; O redeem me, and be merciful to me! 12 My feet tread in a straight path; In the congregation will I bless the Lord. V. 11. Redeem me, i. e. deliver me from distress. — V. 12. In a straight path, i. e. in the path of integrity. PSALM XXVII. A pious man in distress expresses his confidence in God, and his earnest desire for his temple. He then prays for relief in his desolate condition, and trusts that he shall obtain it. This psalm may have been composed on the same occasion with the last. 1 A psalm of David. THE Lord is my light and my salvation; The Lord is the shield of my life e; Of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked came upon me to devour me, Even my persecutors and enemies, they stumbled and fell. |