10 But you, O Lord, have mercy on me, lifting me up, so that I may give them their punishment.
But your strength, O Lord, is round me, you are my glory and the lifter up of my head.
I go after my haters and overtake them; not turning back till they are all overcome. I will give them wounds, so that they are not able to get up: they are stretched under my feet. For I have been armed by you with strength for the fight: you have made low under me those who come out against me. By you their backs are turned in flight, so that my haters are cut off. They were crying out, but there was no one to come to their help: even to the Lord, but he gave them no answer. Then they were crushed as small as dust before the wind; they were drained out like the waste of the streets.
Your hand will make a search for all your haters; your right hand will be hard on all those who are against you. You will make them like a flaming oven before you; the Lord in his wrath will put an end to them, and they will be burned up in the fire. Their fruit will be cut off from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.
<To the chief music-maker; put to Al-tashheth. Michtam. Of David. When he went in flight from Saul, in the hole of the rock.> Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me; for the hope of my soul is in you: I will keep myself safely under the shade of your wings, till these troubles are past.
Let their table before them be for their destruction; let their feasts become a net to take them. Let their eyes be blind so that they may not see; let their bodies for ever be shaking. Let your curse come on them; let the heat of your wrath overtake them. Give their houses to destruction, and let there be no one in their tents. Because they are cruel to him against whom your hand is turned; they make bitter the grief of him who is wounded by you. Let their punishment be increased; let them not come into your righteousness. Let their names be taken from the book of the living, let them not be numbered with the upright.
Put an evil man over him; and let one be placed at his right hand to say evil of him. When he is judged, let the decision go against him; and may his prayer become sin. Let his life be short; let another take his position of authority. Let his children have no father, and his wife be made a widow. Let his children be wanderers, looking to others for their food; let them be sent away from the company of their friends. Let his creditor take all his goods; and let others have the profit of his work. Let no man have pity on him, or give help to his children when he is dead. Let his seed be cut off; in the coming generation let their name go out of memory. Let the Lord keep in mind the wrongdoing of his fathers; and may the sin of his mother have no forgiveness. Let them be ever before the eyes of the Lord, so that the memory of them may be cut off from the earth. Because he had no mercy, but was cruel to the low and the poor, designing the death of the broken-hearted. As he took pleasure in cursing, so let it come on him; and as he had no delight in blessing, let it be far from him. He put on cursing like a robe, and it has come into his body like water, and into his bones like oil. Let it be to him as a robe which he puts on, let it be like a band which is round him at all times. Let this be the reward given to my haters from the Lord, and to those who say evil of my soul. But, O Lord God, give me your help, because of your name; take me out of danger, because your mercy is good.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 41
Commentary on Psalms 41 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 41
Ps 41:1-13. The Psalmist celebrates the blessedness of those who compassionate the poor, conduct strongly contrasted with the spite of his enemies and neglect of his friends in his calamity. He prays for God's mercy in view of his ill desert, and, in confidence of relief, and that God will vindicate his cause, he closes with a doxology.
1-3. God rewards kindness to the poor (Pr 19:17). From Ps 41:2, 11 it may be inferred that the Psalmist describes his own conduct.
poor—in person, position, and possessions.
2. shall be blessed—literally, "led aright," or "safely," prospered (Ps 23:3).
upon the earth—or land of promise (Ps 25:13; 27:3-9, &c.).
3. The figures of Ps 41:3 are drawn from the acts of a kind nurse.
4. I said—I asked the mercy I show.
heal my soul—(Compare Ps 30:2). "Sin and suffering are united," is one of the great teachings of the Psalms.
5, 6. A graphic picture of the conduct of a malignant enemy.
6. to see me—as if to spy out my case.
he speaketh … itself—or, "he speaketh vanity as to his heart"—that is, does not speak candidly, "he gathereth iniquity to him," collects elements for mischief, and then divulges the gains of his hypocrisy.
7, 8. So of others, all act alike.
8. An evil disease—literally, "a word of Belial," some slander.
cleaveth—literally, "poured on him."
that he lieth—who has now laid down, "he is utterly undone and our victory is sure."
9. mine … friend—literally, "the man of my peace."
eat … bread—who depended on me or was well treated by me.
hath lifted up heel—in scornful violence. As David and his fortunes typified Christ and His (compare Introduction), so these words expressed the treatment he received, and also that of his Son and Lord; hence, though not distinctly prophetical, our Saviour (Joh 13:18) applies them to Judas, "that the Scripture may be fulfilled." This last phrase has a wide use in the New Testament, and is not restricted to denote special prophecies.
10. A lawful punishment of criminals is not revenge, nor inconsistent with their final good (compare Ps 40:14, 15).
11-13. favourest—or tenderly lovest me (Ge 34:19), evinced by relief from his enemies, and, farther, God recognizes his innocence by upholding him.
12. settest … before thy face—under thy watch and care, as God before man's face (Ps 16:8) is an object of trust and love.
13. Blessed—praised, usually applied to God. The word usually applied to men denotes happiness (Ps 1:1; 32:1). With this doxology the first book closes.