3 Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; Though war should rise against me, yet will I be confident. 4 One thing have I desired of Jehovah; that do I yet seek; That I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, To behold the glory of Jehovah, And to gaze upon his temple. 5 For in the day of trouble he will hide me in his pávilion ; Yea, in the secret place of his tabernacle will he shel ter me; He will set me upon a rock. 6 Yea, already doth he lift my head above my enemies, who are around me; 7 Therefore in his tabernacle will I offer sacrifices with the sound of trumpets ; I will sing, yea, with instruments of music I will give praise to the Lord. Hear my voice, O Lord, when I cry unto thee; 8 When I think of thy precept, "Seek ye my face!" Thy face, Lord, do I seek 9 O hide not thou thy face from me ; Cast not thy servant away in displeasure; 10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me; 11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, And lead me in the right path, because of my enemies! 12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries! For false witnesses have risen up against me, And such as breathe out injustice. 13 I trust that I shall see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living; hope thou in Jehovah! 14 Be of good courage; let thy heart be strong; Hope thou in Jehovah! V. 5. Pavilion - tabernacle: See Ps. xxxi. 20. The allusion is not to the place of religious worship. The language is metaphorical, borrowed from the practice of men, who hide in their tents, or habitations, him whom they mean to protect. PSALM XXVIII. Prayer for aid, and for the punishment of enemies, with strong hopes of being heard. 1 A psalm of David. To thee do I cry, O Jehovah! O my rock, be not silent to me! Lest, if thou answer me not, I become like those, who go down to the pit. 2 Hear the voice of my supplication, when I cry unto thee, When I lift up my hands to thy holy mercy-seat! 3 Draw me not away with the impious, and with evildoers, Who speak peace to their neighbours, while mischief is in their hearts! 4 Give them according to their deeds, and the wickedness of their conduct; Give them according to the work of their hands; 5 For they regard not the doings of Jehovah, nor the work of his hands; 6 Therefore shall he destroy them, and never build them up. Praised be Jehovah, for he hath heard the voice of my supplications! 7 Jehovah is my strength, and my shield; My heart trusteth in him, and he helpeth me; And in my song I will praise him. 8 Jehovah is the strength of his people; He is the protecting shield of his anointed. 1 PSALM XXIX. The glory of God, as manifested in a thunder-storm. GIVE to Jehovah, O ye sons of God, Give to Jehovah glory and praise! 2 Give to Jehovah the glory due to his name; 3 Worship Jehovah in sacred attire! The voice of Jehovah is heard above the waters; The God of glory thundereth, Jehovah above the great waters. 4 The voice of Jehovah is powerful; The voice of Jehovah is full of majesty ; 5 The voice of Jehovah breaketh the cedars ; Yea, Jehovah breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He even maketh them to leap like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young buffalo. 7 The voice of Jehovah divideth the flames of fire. 8 The voice of Jehovah maketh the wilderness tremble e; Yea, Jehovah maketh the wilderness of Kadesh tremble. 9 The voice of Jehovah maketh the hinds bring forth, And layeth bare the forests; While, in his palace, every one declareth his glory. 10 Jehovah sitteth above the storm; Yea, Jehovah sitteth king for ever. 11 Jehovah will give strength to his people; Jehovah will bless his people with peace. V. 1. Sons of God, i. e. angels: Otherwise, kings. -V. 3. The voice of Jehovah, i. e. thunder: A personification. The waters, i. e. waters in the firmament; in the clouds. See Gen. i. 7. — V. 6. Maketh them to leap: A hyperbolical description of the trembling caused by thunder, or of the effect of an earthquake, connected with it. —V. 7. Divideth the flames of fire, i. e. scattereth lightning. — V. 9. In this palace, i. e. in heaven. A PSALM XXX. song of thanksgiving for deliverance from distress. A psalm of David. To the air of songs for the dedication of a house.* 1 I WILL extol thee, O Lord, for thou hast lifted me up; And hast not suffered my enemies to rejoice over me. 2 O Jehovah, my God! I called upon thee, and thou hast healed me. 3 O Lord, thou hast raised me up from the grave; Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. 4 Sing unto Jehovah, O ye his servants, And praise his holy name! 5 For his anger endureth but a moment, But his favor through life; 6 Sorrow may be a guest for the night, But joy cometh in the morning. I said in my prosperity, I shall never be moved ; 7 Thou, O Lord, by thy favor, hast made my mountain strong; Thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled; 8 I cried unto thee, O Jehovah, To Jehovah I made supplication, 9 "What will my blood profit thee, that I should go down to the pit? "Can dust praise thee? Can it declare thy faithfulness? 10" Hear, O Lord, and have pity upon me; 'Be thou, O Lord, my helper ! 11 Thou didst turn my mourning into dancing; Thou didst loose my sackcloth, and gird me with glad ness. 12 Wherefore I will sing praise to thee, and not be si lent; O Jehovah, my God, I will give thanks to thee for ever! *Or, On the dedication of David's house. 4* |