7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

16. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

18. Do good in thy good pleasure, unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and

whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

PSALM LII. 20.

David composed this psalm on being informed that Doeg had denounced him to Saul, and declared he had seen him come to Nob, a levitical city of the tribe of Benjamin, to seek refuge with the High-priest Ahimelech, who had consulted God on his account, and given him the sword of Goliath. David in this psalm reproaches Doeg, warning him of his unhappy end, and expressing his own trust in God. 1 Sam. xxii. 3-10.

To the chief Musician, Maschil.

A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.

To the giver of victory. An instruction of David, &e.

1. WHY boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.

2. Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

3. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. 4. Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.

5. God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of

H

thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.

6. The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him :

7. Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wicked

ness.

8. But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

9. I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

PSALM LIII. 109.

This is only a repetition of the fourteenth Psalm, with a slight variation in the fourth verse, which is probably the reason it is repeated in the Psalter. Like the fourteenth, it contains David's reflections on the primary cause of the almost unparalleled wickedness of Achitophel and Absalom, and of the nation deluded by them. He looks to God that their eyes may be opened, and ardently longs for his own restoration to Jerusalem, for the joy and deliverance of his people. See 2 Sam. xvii. 21-23.

To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil. A Psalm of David.

To the giver of victory. Concerning the profane. An instruction

of David.

1. THE fool hath said in his heart, There is

no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

2. God looketh down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.

3. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one,

4. Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread : they have not called upon God.

5. There were they in great fear, where no fear was for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.

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

PSALM LIV. 37.

Prayer of David representing his distress to God, when the perfidious Ziphims betrayed the place of his retreat; and Saul,

instigated by their advice, pursued him to the mountain of Hachilah. 1 Sam xxvi. 1—4.

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil. A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?

To the giver of victory. Concerning afflictions. An instruction of David, when the Ziphites, &c.

1. SAVE me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.

2. Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.

3. For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.

4. Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

5. He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.

6. I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O Lord; for it is good.

7. For he hath delivered me out of all trouble and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.