Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Psalms » Chapter 106

Psalms 106:1-48 King James Version (KJV)

1 Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?

3 Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.

4 Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;

5 That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.

6 We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.

7 Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.

8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.

9 He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.

10 And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

11 And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.

12 Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.

13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:

14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.

15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

16 They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.

17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan and covered the company of Abiram.

18 And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.

19 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.

20 Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.

21 They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;

22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.

23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.

24 Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:

25 But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.

26 Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:

27 To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.

28 They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.

30 Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.

31 And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.

32 They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:

33 Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

34 They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:

35 But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.

36 And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.

37 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,

38 And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

39 Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.

40 Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.

41 And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.

42 Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.

43 Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.

44 Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:

45 And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.

46 He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.

47 Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.

48 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.


Psalms 106:1-48 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 Praise H1984 ye the LORD. H3050 O give thanks H3034 unto the LORD; H3068 for he is good: H2896 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769

2 Who can utter H4448 the mighty acts H1369 of the LORD? H3068 who can shew forth H8085 all his praise? H8416

3 Blessed H835 are they that keep H8104 judgment, H4941 and he that doeth H6213 righteousness H6666 at all times. H6256

4 Remember H2142 me, O LORD, H3068 with the favour H7522 that thou bearest unto thy people: H5971 O visit H6485 me with thy salvation; H3444

5 That I may see H7200 the good H2896 of thy chosen, H972 that I may rejoice H8055 in the gladness H8057 of thy nation, H1471 that I may glory H1984 with thine inheritance. H5159

6 We have sinned H2398 with our fathers, H1 we have committed iniquity, H5753 we have done wickedly. H7561

7 Our fathers H1 understood H7919 not thy wonders H6381 in Egypt; H4714 they remembered H2142 not the multitude H7230 of thy mercies; H2617 but provoked H4784 him at the sea, H3220 even at the Red H5488 sea. H3220

8 Nevertheless he saved H3467 them for his name's H8034 sake, that he might make his mighty power H1369 to be known. H3045

9 He rebuked H1605 the Red H5488 sea H3220 also, and it was dried up: H2717 so he led H3212 them through the depths, H8415 as through the wilderness. H4057

10 And he saved H3467 them from the hand H3027 of him that hated H8130 them, and redeemed H1350 them from the hand H3027 of the enemy. H341

11 And the waters H4325 covered H3680 their enemies: H6862 there was not one H259 of them left. H3498

12 Then believed H539 they his words; H1697 they sang H7891 his praise. H8416

13 They soon H4116 forgat H7911 his works; H4639 they waited H2442 not for his counsel: H6098

14 But lusted H183 exceedingly H8378 in the wilderness, H4057 and tempted H5254 God H410 in the desert. H3452

15 And he gave H5414 them their request; H7596 but sent H7971 leanness H7332 into their soul. H5315

16 They envied H7065 Moses H4872 also in the camp, H4264 and Aaron H175 the saint H6918 of the LORD. H3068

17 The earth H776 opened H6605 and swallowed up H1104 Dathan, H1885 and covered H3680 the company H5712 of Abiram. H48

18 And a fire H784 was kindled H1197 in their company; H5712 the flame H3852 burned up H3857 the wicked. H7563

19 They made H6213 a calf H5695 in Horeb, H2722 and worshipped H7812 the molten image. H4541

20 Thus they changed H4171 their glory H3519 into the similitude H8403 of an ox H7794 that eateth H398 grass. H6212

21 They forgat H7911 God H410 their saviour, H3467 which had done H6213 great things H1419 in Egypt; H4714

22 Wondrous works H6381 in the land H776 of Ham, H2526 and terrible things H3372 by the Red H5488 sea. H3220

23 Therefore he said H559 that he would destroy H8045 them, had not H3884 Moses H4872 his chosen H972 stood H5975 before H6440 him in the breach, H6556 to turn away H7725 his wrath, H2534 lest he should destroy H7843 them.

24 Yea, they despised H3988 the pleasant H2532 land, H776 they believed H539 not his word: H1697

25 But murmured H7279 in their tents, H168 and hearkened H8085 not unto the voice H6963 of the LORD. H3068

26 Therefore he lifted up H5375 his hand H3027 against them, to overthrow H5307 them in the wilderness: H4057

27 To overthrow H5307 their seed H2233 also among the nations, H1471 and to scatter H2219 them in the lands. H776

28 They joined H6775 themselves also unto Baalpeor, H1187 and ate H398 the sacrifices H2077 of the dead. H4191

29 Thus they provoked him to anger H3707 with their inventions: H4611 and the plague H4046 brake in H6555 upon them.

30 Then stood up H5975 Phinehas, H6372 and executed judgment: H6419 and so the plague H4046 was stayed. H6113

31 And that was counted H2803 unto him for righteousness H6666 unto all H1755 generations H1755 for H5704 evermore. H5769

32 They angered H7107 him also at the waters H4325 of strife, H4808 H4809 so that it went ill H3415 with Moses H4872 for their sakes:

33 Because they provoked H4784 his spirit, H7307 so that he spake unadvisedly H981 with his lips. H8193

34 They did not destroy H8045 the nations, H5971 concerning whom the LORD H3068 commanded H559 them:

35 But were mingled H6148 among the heathen, H1471 and learned H3925 their works. H4639

36 And they served H5647 their idols: H6091 which were a snare H4170 unto them.

37 Yea, they sacrificed H2076 their sons H1121 and their daughters H1323 unto devils, H7700

38 And shed H8210 innocent H5355 blood, H1818 even the blood H1818 of their sons H1121 and of their daughters, H1323 whom they sacrificed H2076 unto the idols H6091 of Canaan: H3667 and the land H776 was polluted H2610 with blood. H1818

39 Thus were they defiled H2930 with their own works, H4639 and went a whoring H2181 with their own inventions. H4611

40 Therefore was the wrath H639 of the LORD H3068 kindled H2734 against his people, H5971 insomuch that he abhorred H8581 his own inheritance. H5159

41 And he gave H5414 them into the hand H3027 of the heathen; H1471 and they that hated H8130 them ruled H4910 over them.

42 Their enemies H341 also oppressed H3905 them, and they were brought into subjection H3665 under their hand. H3027

43 Many H7227 times H6471 did he deliver H5337 them; but they provoked H4784 him with their counsel, H6098 and were brought low H4355 for their iniquity. H5771

44 Nevertheless he regarded H7200 their affliction, H6862 when he heard H8085 their cry: H7440

45 And he remembered H2142 for them his covenant, H1285 and repented H5162 according to the multitude H7230 of his mercies. H2617

46 He made H5414 them also to be pitied H7356 of H6440 all those that carried them captives. H7617

47 Save H3467 us, O LORD H3068 our God, H430 and gather H6908 us from among the heathen, H1471 to give thanks H3034 unto thy holy H6944 name, H8034 and to triumph H7623 in thy praise. H8416

48 Blessed H1288 be the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 from everlasting H5769 to everlasting: H5769 and let all the people H5971 say, H559 Amen. H543 Praise H1984 ye the LORD. H3050


Psalms 106:1-48 American Standard (ASV)

1 Praise ye Jehovah. Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness `endureth' forever.

2 Who can utter the mighty acts of Jehovah, Or show forth all his praise?

3 Blessed are they that keep justice, And he that doeth righteousness at all times.

4 Remember me, O Jehovah, with the favor that thou bearest unto thy people; Oh visit me with thy salvation,

5 That I may see the prosperity of thy chosen, That I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, That I may glory with thine inheritance.

6 We have sinned with our fathers, We have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.

7 Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; They remembered not the multitude of thy lovingkindnesses, But were rebellious at the sea, even at the Red Sea.

8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, That he might make his mighty power to be known.

9 He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up: So he led them through the depths, as through a wilderness.

10 And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

11 And the waters covered their adversaries; There was not one of them left.

12 Then believed they his words; They sang his praise.

13 They soon forgat his works; They waited not for his counsel,

14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tempted God in the desert.

15 And he gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul.

16 They envied Moses also in the camp, `And' Aaron the saint of Jehovah.

17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, And covered the company of Abiram.

18 And a fire was kindled in their company; The flame burned up the wicked.

19 They made a calf in Horeb, And worshipped a molten image.

20 Thus they changed their glory For the likeness of an ox that eateth grass.

21 They forgat God their Saviour, Who had done great things in Egypt,

22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham, `And' terrible things by the Red Sea.

23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, Had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, To turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy `them'.

24 Yea, they despised the pleasant land, They believed not his word,

25 But murmured in their tents, And hearkened not unto the voice of Jehovah.

26 Therefore he sware unto them, That he would overthrow them in the wilderness,

27 And that he would overthrow their seed among the nations, And scatter them in the lands.

28 They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor, And ate the sacrifices of the dead.

29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their doings; And the plague brake in upon them.

30 Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment; And so the plague was stayed.

31 And that was reckoned unto him for righteousness, Unto all generations for evermore.

32 They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, So that it went ill with Moses for their sakes;

33 Because they were rebellious against his spirit, And he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

34 They did not destroy the peoples, As Jehovah commanded them,

35 But mingled themselves with the nations, And learned their works,

36 And served their idols, Which became a snare unto them.

37 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto demons,

38 And shed innocent blood, Even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, Whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with blood.

39 Thus were they defiled with their works, And played the harlot in their doings.

40 Therefore was the wrath of Jehovah kindled against his people, And he abhorred his inheritance.

41 And he gave them into the hand of the nations; And they that hated them ruled over them.

42 Their enemies also oppressed them, And they were brought into subjection under their hand.

43 Many times did he deliver them; But they were rebellious in their counsel, And were brought low in their iniquity.

44 Nevertheless he regarded their distress, When he heard their cry:

45 And he remembered for them his covenant, And repented according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

46 He made them also to be pitied Of all those that carried them captive.

47 Save us, O Jehovah our God, And gather us from among the nations, To give thanks unto thy holy name, And to triumph in thy praise.

48 Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting. And let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye Jehovah.


Psalms 106:1-48 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Praise ye Jah, give thanks to Jehovah, For good, for to the age, `is' His kindness.

2 Who doth utter the mighty acts of Jehovah? Soundeth all His praise?

3 O the happiness of those keeping judgment, Doing righteousness at all times.

4 Remember me, O Jehovah, With the favour of Thy people, Look after me in Thy salvation.

5 To look on the good of Thy chosen ones, To rejoice in the joy of Thy nation, To boast myself with Thine inheritance.

6 We have sinned with our fathers, We have done perversely, we have done wickedly.

7 Our fathers in Egypt, Have not considered wisely Thy wonders, They have not remembered The abundance of Thy kind acts, And provoke by the sea, at the sea of Suph.

8 And He saveth them for His name's sake, To make known His might,

9 And rebuketh the sea of Suph, and it is dried up, And causeth them to go Through depths as a wilderness.

10 And He saveth them from the hand Of him who is hating, And redeemeth them from the hand of the enemy.

11 And waters cover their adversaries, One of them hath not been left.

12 And they believe in His words, they sing His praise,

13 They have hasted -- forgotten His works, They have not waited for His counsel.

14 And they lust greatly in a wilderness, And try God in a desert.

15 And He giveth to them their request, And sendeth leanness into their soul.

16 And they are envious of Moses in the camp, Of Aaron, Jehovah's holy one.

17 Earth openeth, and swalloweth up Dathan, And covereth over the company of Abiram.

18 And fire burneth among their company, A flame setteth on fire the wicked.

19 They make a calf in Horeb, And bow themselves to a molten image,

20 And change their Honour Into the form of an ox eating herbs.

21 They have forgotten God their saviour, The doer of great things in Egypt,

22 Of wonderful things in the land of Ham, Of fearful things by the sea of Suph.

23 And He saith to destroy them, Unless Moses, His chosen one, Had stood in the breach before Him, To turn back His wrath from destroying.

24 And they kick against the desirable land, They have not given credence to His word.

25 And they murmur in their tents, They have not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah.

26 And He lifteth up His hand to them, To cause them to fall in a wilderness,

27 And to cause their seed to fall among nations, And to scatter them through lands.

28 And they are coupled to Baal-Peor, And eat the sacrifices of the dead,

29 And they provoke to anger by their actions, And a plague breaketh forth upon them,

30 And Phinehas standeth, and executeth judgment, And the plague is restrained,

31 And it is reckoned to him to righteousness, To all generations -- unto the age.

32 And they cause wrath by the waters of Meribah, And it is evil to Moses for their sakes,

33 For they have provoked his spirit, And he speaketh wrongfully with his lips.

34 They have not destroyed the peoples, As Jehovah had said to them,

35 And mix themselves among nations, and learn their works,

36 And serve their idols, And they are to them for a snare.

37 And they sacrifice their sons And their daughters to destroyers,

38 And they shed innocent blood -- Blood of their sons and of their daughters, Whom they have sacrificed to idols of Canaan, And the land is profaned with blood.

39 And they are defiled with their works, And commit whoredom in their habitual doings.

40 And the anger of Jehovah Is kindled against His people, And He doth abominate His inheritance.

41 And giveth them into the hand of nations, And those hating them rule over them,

42 And their enemies oppress them, And they are humbled under their hand.

43 Many times He doth deliver them, And they rebel in their counsel, And they are brought low in their iniquity.

44 And He looketh on their distress When He heareth their cry,

45 And remembereth for them His covenant, And is comforted, According to the abundance of His kindness.

46 And He appointeth them for mercies Before all their captors.

47 Save us, O Jehovah our God, and gather us from the nations, To give thanks to Thy holy name, To glory in Thy praise.

48 Blessed `is' Jehovah, God of Israel, From the age even unto the age. And all the people said, `Amen, praise Jah!'


Psalms 106:1-48 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 Hallelujah! Give ye thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever.

2 Who can utter the mighty acts of Jehovah? [who] can shew forth all his praise?

3 Blessed are they that keep justice, [and] he that doeth righteousness at all times.

4 Remember me, O Jehovah, with [thy] favour toward thy people; visit me with thy salvation:

5 That I may see the prosperity of thy chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the joy of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.

6 We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.

7 Our fathers in Egypt considered not thy wondrous works; they remembered not the multitude of thy loving-kindnesses; but they rebelled at the sea, at the Red Sea.

8 Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his might.

9 And he rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; and he led them through the deeps as through a wilderness.

10 And he saved them from the hand of him that hated [them], and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

11 And the waters covered their oppressors: there was not one of them left.

12 Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.

13 They soon forgot his works; they waited not for his counsel:

14 And they lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted ùGod in the desert.

15 Then he gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.

16 And they envied Moses in the camp, [and] Aaron, the saint of Jehovah.

17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram;

18 And fire was kindled in their company; a flame burned up the wicked.

19 They made a calf in Horeb, and did homage to a molten image;

20 And they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.

21 They forgot ùGod their Saviour, who had done great things in Egypt,

22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham, terrible things by the Red Sea.

23 And he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses, his chosen, stood before him in the breach, to turn away his fury, lest he should destroy [them].

24 And they despised the pleasant land; they believed not his word,

25 But murmured in their tents: they hearkened not unto the voice of Jehovah.

26 And he lifted up his hand to them, that he would make them fall in the wilderness;

27 And that he would make their seed fall among the nations, and disperse them through the countries.

28 And they joined themselves unto Baal-Peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead;

29 And they provoked [him] to anger with their doings; and a plague broke out among them.

30 Then stood up Phinehas and executed judgment, and the plague was stayed;

31 And that was reckoned unto him for righteousness, from generation to generation, for evermore.

32 And they moved him to wrath at the waters of Meribah, and it went ill with Moses on their account;

33 For they provoked his spirit, so that he spoke unadvisedly with his lips.

34 They did not destroy the peoples, as Jehovah commanded them;

35 But they mingled with the nations, and learned their works;

36 And they served their idols; and they were a snare unto them:

37 And they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto demons,

38 And shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan; and the land was polluted with blood.

39 And they were defiled with their works, and went a-whoring in their doings.

40 Then was the anger of Jehovah kindled against his people, and he abhorred his inheritance;

41 And he gave them into the hand of the nations; and they that hated them ruled over them:

42 And their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.

43 Often did he deliver them; but as for them they provoked [him] by their counsel, and they were brought low by their iniquity.

44 But he regarded their distress, when he heard their cry;

45 And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his loving-kindnesses;

46 And he caused them to find compassion of all those that had carried them captives.

47 Save us, Jehovah our God, and gather us from among the nations, to give thanks unto thy holy name, [and] to triumph in thy praise.

48 Blessed be Jehovah the God of Israel, from eternity and to eternity! And let all the people say, Amen! Hallelujah!


Psalms 106:1-48 World English Bible (WEB)

1 Praise Yahweh! Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, For his loving kindness endures forever.

2 Who can utter the mighty acts of Yahweh, Or fully declare all his praise?

3 Blessed are those who keep justice. Blessed is one who does what is right at all times.

4 Remember me, Yahweh, with the favor that you show to your people. Visit me with your salvation,

5 That I may see the prosperity of your chosen, That I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, That I may glory with your inheritance.

6 We have sinned with our fathers. We have committed iniquity. We have done wickedly.

7 Our fathers didn't understand your wonders in Egypt. They didn't remember the multitude of your loving kindnesses, But were rebellious at the sea, even at the Red Sea.

8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, That he might make his mighty power known.

9 He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up; So he led them through the depths, as through a desert.

10 He saved them from the hand of him who hated them, And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

11 The waters covered their adversaries. There was not one of them left.

12 Then they believed his words. They sang his praise.

13 They soon forgot his works. They didn't wait for his counsel,

14 But gave in to craving in the desert, And tested God in the wasteland.

15 He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul.

16 They envied Moses also in the camp, And Aaron, Yahweh's saint.

17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, And covered the company of Abiram.

18 A fire was kindled in their company. The flame burned up the wicked.

19 They made a calf in Horeb, And worshiped a molten image.

20 Thus they exchanged their glory For an image of a bull that eats grass.

21 They forgot God, their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt,

22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham, And awesome things by the Red Sea.

23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, Had Moses, his chosen, not stood before him in the breach, To turn away his wrath, so that he wouldn't destroy them.

24 Yes, they despised the pleasant land. They didn't believe his word,

25 But murmured in their tents, And didn't listen to Yahweh's voice.

26 Therefore he swore to them That he would overthrow them in the wilderness,

27 That he would overthrow their seed among the nations, And scatter them in the lands.

28 They joined themselves also to Baal Peor, And ate the sacrifices of the dead.

29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their deeds. The plague broke in on them.

30 Then Phinehas stood up, and executed judgment, So the plague was stopped.

31 That was credited to him for righteousness, For all generations to come.

32 They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, So that Moses was troubled for their sakes;

33 Because they were rebellious against his spirit, He spoke rashly with his lips.

34 They didn't destroy the peoples, As Yahweh commanded them,

35 But mixed themselves with the nations, And learned their works.

36 They served their idols, Which became a snare to them.

37 Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.

38 They shed innocent blood, Even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. The land was polluted with blood.

39 Thus were they defiled with their works, And prostituted themselves in their deeds.

40 Therefore Yahweh burned with anger against his people. He abhorred his inheritance.

41 He gave them into the hand of the nations. Those who hated them ruled over them.

42 Their enemies also oppressed them. They were brought into subjection under their hand.

43 Many times he delivered them, But they were rebellious in their counsel, And were brought low in their iniquity.

44 Nevertheless he regarded their distress, When he heard their cry.

45 He remembered for them his covenant, And repented according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.

46 He made them also to be pitied By all those who carried them captive.

47 Save us, Yahweh, our God, Gather us from among the nations, To give thanks to your holy name, To triumph in your praise!

48 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting! Let all the people say, "Amen." Praise Yah!


Psalms 106:1-48 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Let the Lord be praised. O give praise to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

2 Who is able to give an account of the great acts of the Lord, or to make clear all his praise?

3 Happy are they whose decisions are upright, and he who does righteousness at all times.

4 Keep me in mind, O Lord, when you are good to your people; O let your salvation come to me;

5 So that I may see the well-being of the people of your selection, and have a part in the joy of your nation, and take pride in your heritage.

6 We are sinners like our fathers, we have done wrong, our acts are evil.

7 Our fathers did not give thought to your wonders in Egypt; they did not keep in memory the great number of your mercies, but gave you cause for wrath at the sea, even at the Red Sea.

8 But he was their saviour because of his name, so that men might see his great power.

9 By his word the Red Sea was made dry: and he took them through the deep waters as through the waste land.

10 And he took them safely out of the hands of their haters, and kept them from the attacks of those who were against them.

11 And the waters went over their haters; all of them came to an end.

12 Then they had faith in his words; they gave him songs of praise.

13 But their memory of his works was short; not waiting to be guided by him,

14 They gave way to their evil desires in the waste land, and put God to the test in the dry places.

15 And he gave them their request, but sent a wasting disease into their souls.

16 They were full of envy against Moses among the tents, and against Aaron, the holy one of the Lord.

17 The earth opening put an end to Dathan, covering up Abiram and his band.

18 And a fire was lighted among their tents; the sinners were burned up by the flames.

19 They made a young ox in Horeb, and gave worship to an image of gold.

20 And their glory was changed into the image of an ox, whose food is grass.

21 They had no memory of God their saviour, who had done great things in Egypt;

22 Works of wonder in the land of Ham, and things of fear by the Red Sea.

23 And he was purposing to put an end to them if Moses, his special servant, had not gone up before him, between him and his people, turning back his wrath, to keep them from destruction.

24 They were disgusted with the good land; they had no belief in his word;

25 Talking against him secretly in their tents, they did not give ear to the voice of the Lord.

26 So he made an oath against them, to put an end to them in the waste land:

27 That their children might be mixed among the nations, and sent away into other lands.

28 And they were joined to Baal-peor, and took part in the offerings to the dead.

29 So they made him angry by their behaviour; and he sent disease on them.

30 Then Phinehas got up, and made prayer for them; and the disease went no farther.

31 And all the generations coming after him kept the memory of his righteousness for ever.

32 They made God angry again at the waters of Meribah, so that Moses was troubled because of them;

33 For they made his spirit bitter, and he said unwise things.

34 They did not put an end to the peoples, as the Lord had said;

35 But they were joined to the nations, learning their works.

36 And they gave worship to images; which were a danger to them:

37 They even made offerings of their sons and their daughters to evil spirits,

38 And gave the blood of their sons and their daughters who had done no wrong, offering them to the images of Canaan; and the land was made unclean with blood.

39 So they became unclean through their works, going after their evil desires.

40 Then the wrath of the Lord was burning against his people, and he was angry with his heritage.

41 And he gave them into the hands of the nations; and they were ruled by their haters.

42 By them they were crushed, and made low under their hands.

43 Again and again he made them free; but their hearts were turned against his purpose, and they were overcome by their sins.

44 But when their cry came to his ears, he had pity on their trouble:

45 And kept in mind his agreement with them, and in his great mercy gave them forgiveness.

46 He put pity into the hearts of those who made them prisoners.

47 Be our saviour, O Lord our God, and let us come back together from among the nations, so that we may give honour to your holy name, and have glory in your praise.

48 Praise be to the Lord God of Israel for ever and for ever; and let all the people say, So be it. Give praise to the Lord.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 106

Commentary on Psalms 106 Matthew Henry Commentary


Psalm 106

We must give glory to God by making confession, not only of his goodness but our own badness, which serve as foils to each other. Our badness makes his goodness appear the more illustrious, as his goodness makes our badness the more heinous and scandalous. The foregoing psalm was a history of God's goodness to Israel; this is a history of their rebellions and provocations, and yet it begins and ends with Hallelujah; for even sorrow for sin must not put us out of tune for praising God. Some think it was penned at the time of the captivity in Babylon and the dispersion of the Jewish nation thereupon, because of that prayer in the close (v. 47). I rather think it was penned by David at the same time with the foregoing psalm, because we find the first verse and the last two verses in that psalm which David delivered to Asaph, at the bringing up of the ark to the place he had prepared for it (1 Chr. 16:34-36), "Gather us from among the heathen;' for we may suppose that in Saul's time there was a great dispersion of pious Israelites, when David was forced to wander. In this psalm we have,

  • I. The preface to the narrative, speaking honour to God (v. 1, 2), comfort to the saints (v. 3), and the desire of the faithful towards God's favour (v. 4, 5).
  • II. The narrative itself of the sins of Israel, aggravated by the great things God did for them, an account of which is intermixed. Their provocations at the Red Sea (v. 6-12), lusting (v. 13-15), mutinying (v. 16-18), worshipping the golden calf (v. 19-23), murmuring (v. 24-27), joining themselves to Baal-peor (v. 28-31), quarrelling with Moses (v. 32, 33), incorporating themselves with the nations of Canaan (v. 34-39). To this is added an account how God had rebuked them for their sins, and yet saved them from ruin (v. 40-46).
  • III. The conclusion of the psalm with prayer and praise (v. 47, 48).

It may be of use to us to sing this psalm, that, being put in mind by it of our sins, the sins of our land, and the sins of our fathers, we may be humbled before God and yet not despair of mercy, which even rebellious Israel often found with God.

Psa 106:1-5

We are here taught,

  • I. To bless God (v. 1, 2): Praise you the Lord, that is,
    • 1. Give him thanks for his goodness, the manifestation of it to us, and the many instances of it. He is good and his mercy endures for ever; let us therefore own our obligations to him and make him a return of our best affections and services.
    • 2. Give him the glory of his greatness, his mighty acts, proofs of his almighty power, wherein he has done great things, and such as would be opposed. Who can utter these? Who is worthy to do it? Who is able to do it? They are so many that they cannot be numbered, so mysterious that they cannot be described; when we have said the most we can of the mighty acts of the Lord, the one half is not told; still there is more to be said; it is a subject that cannot be exhausted. We must show forth his praise; we may show forth some of it, but who can show forth all? Not the angels themselves. This will not excuse us in not doing what we can, but should quicken us to do all we can.
  • II. To bless the people of God, to call and account them happy (v. 3): Those that keep judgment are blessed, for they are fit to be employed in praising God. God's people are those whose principles are sound-They keep judgment (they adhere to the rules of wisdom and religion, and their practices are agreeable); they do righteousness, are just to God and to all men, and herein they are steady and constant; they do it at all times, in all manner of conversation, at every turn, in every instance, and herein persevering to the end.
  • III. To bless ourselves in the favour of God, to place our happiness in it, and to seek it, accordingly, with all seriousness, as the psalmist here, v. 4, 5.
    • 1. He has an eye to the lovingkindness of God, as the fountain of all happiness: "Remember me, O Lord! to give me that mercy and grace which I stand in need of, with the favour which thou bearest to thy people.' As there are a people in the world who are in a peculiar manner God's people, so there is a peculiar favour which God bears to that people, which all gracious souls desire an interest in; and we need desire no more to make us happy.
    • 2. He has an eye to the salvation of God, the great salvation, that of the soul, as the foundation of happiness: O visit me with thy salvation. "Afford me (says Dr. Hammond) that pardon and that grace which I stand in need of, and can hope for from none but thee.' Let that salvation be my portion for ever, and the pledges of it my present comfort.
    • 3. He has an eye to the blessedness of the righteous, as that which includes all good (v. 5): "That I may see the good of thy chosen and be as happy as the saints are; and happier I do not desire to be.' God's people are here called his chosen, his nation, his inheritance; for he has set them apart for himself, incorporated them under his own government, is served by them and glorified in them. The chosen people of God have a good which is peculiar to them, which is the matter both of their gladness and of their glorying, which is their pleasure, and their praise. God's people have reason to be a cheerful people, and to boast in their God all the day long; and those who have that gladness, that glory, need not envy any of the children of men their pleasure or pride. The gladness of God's nation, and the glory of his inheritance, are enough to satisfy any man; for they have everlasting joy and glory at the end of them.

Psa 106:6-12

Here begins a penitential confession of sin, which was in a special manner seasonable now that the church was in distress; for thus we must justify God in all that he brings upon us, acknowledging that therefore he has done right, because we have done wickedly; and the remembrance of former sins, notwithstanding which God did not cast off his people, is an encouragement to us to hope that, though we are justly corrected for our sins, yet we shall not be utterly abandoned.

  • I. God's afflicted people here own themselves guilty before God (v. 6): "We have sinned with our fathers, that is, like our fathers, after the similitude of their transgression. We have added to the stock of hereditary guilt, and filled up the measure of our fathers' iniquity, to augment yet the fierce anger of the Lord,' Num. 32:14; Mt. 23:32. And see how they lay a load upon themselves, as becomes penitents: "We have committed iniquity, that which is in its own nature sinful, and we have done wickedly; we have sinned with a high hand presumptuously.' Or this is a confession, not only of their imitation of, but their interest in, their fathers' sins: We have sinned with our fathers, for we were in their loins and we bear their iniquity, Lam. 5:7.
  • II. They bewail the sins of their fathers when they were first formed into a people, which, since children often smart for, they are concerned to sorrow for, even further than to the third and fourth generation. Even we now ought to take occasion from the history of Israel's rebellions to lament the depravity and perverseness of man's nature and its unaptness to be amended by the most probable means. Observe here,
    • 1. The strange stupidity of Israel in the midst of the favours God bestowed upon them (v. 7): They understood not thy wonders in Egypt. They saw them, but they did not rightly apprehend the meaning and design of them. Blessed are those that have not seen, and yet have understood. They thought the plagues of Egypt were intended for their deliverance, whereas they were intended also for their instruction and conviction, not only to force them out of their Egyptian slavery, but to cure them of their inclination to Egyptian idolatry, by evidencing the sovereign power and dominion of the God of Israel, above all gods, and his particular concern for them. We lose the benefit of providences for want of understanding them. And, as their understandings were dull, so their memories were treacherous; though one would think such astonishing events should never have been forgotten, yet they remembered them not, at least they remembered not the multitude of God's mercies in them. Therefore God is distrusted because his favours are not remembered.
    • 2. Their perverseness arising from this stupidity: They provoked him at the sea, even at the Red Sea. The provocation was, despair of deliverance (because the danger was great) and wishing they had been left in Egypt still, Ex. 14:11, 12. Quarrelling with God's providence, and questioning his power, goodness, and faithfulness, are as great provocations to him as any whatsoever. The place aggravated the crime; it was at the sea, at the Red Sea, when they had newly come out of Egypt and the wonders God had wrought for them were fresh in their minds; yet they reproach him, as if all that power had no mercy in it, but he had brought them out of Egypt on purpose to kill them in the wilderness. They never lay at God's mercy so immediately as in their passage through the Red Sea, yet there they affront it, and provoke his wrath.
    • 3. The great salvation God wrought for them notwithstanding their provocations, v. 8-11.
      • (1.) He forced a passage for them through the sea: He rebuked the Red Sea for standing in their way and retarding their march, and it was dried up immediately; as, in the creation, at God's rebuke the waters fled, Ps. 104:7. Nay, he not only prepared them a way, but, by the pillar of cloud and fire, he led them into the sea, and, by the conduct of Moses, led them through it as readily as through the wilderness. He encouraged them to take those steps, and subdued their fears, when those were their most dangerous and threatening enemies. See Isa. 63:12-14.
      • (2.) He interposed between them and their pursuers, and prevented them from cutting them off, as they designed. The Israelites were all on foot, and the Egyptians had all of them chariots and horses, with which they were likely to overtake them quickly, but God saved them from the hand of him that hated them, namely, Pharaoh, who never loved them, but now hated them the more for the plagues he had suffered on their account. From the hand of his enemy, who was just ready to seize them, God redeemed them (v. 10), interposing himself, as it were, in the pillar of fire, between the persecuted and the persecutors.
      • (3.) To complete the mercy, and turn the deliverance into a victory, the Red Sea, which was a lane to them, was a grave to the Egyptians (v. 11): The waters covered their enemies, so as to slay them, but not so as to conceal their shame; for, the next tide, they were thrown up dead upon the shore, Ex. 14:30. There was not one of them left alive, to bring tidings of what had become of the rest. And why did God do this for them? Nay, why did he not cover them, as he did their enemies, for their unbelief and murmuring? He tells us (v. 8): it was for his name's sake. Though they did not deserve this favour, he designed it; and their undeservings should not alter his designs, nor break his measures, nor make him withdraw his promise, or fail in the performance of it. He did this for his own glory, that he might make his mighty power to be known, not only in dividing the sea, but in doing it notwithstanding their provocations. Moses prays (Num. 14:17, 19), Let the power of my Lord be great and pardon the iniquity of this people. The power of the God of grace in pardoning sin and sparing sinners is as much to be admired as the power of the God of nature in dividing the waters.
    • 4. The good impression this made upon them for the present (v. 12): Then believed they his words, and acknowledged that God was with them of a truth, and had, in mercy to them, brought them out of Egypt, and not with any design to slay them in the wilderness; then they feared the Lord and his servant Moses, Ex. 14:31. Then they sang his praise, in that song of Moses penned on this great occasion, Ex. 15:1. See in what a gracious and merciful way God sometimes silences the unbelief of his people, and turns their fears into praises; and so it is written, Those that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and those that murmured shall learn doctrine, Isa. 29:24.

Psa 106:13-33

This is an abridgment of the history of Israel's provocations in the wilderness, and of the wrath of God against them for those provocations: and this abridgment is abridged by the apostle, with application to us Christians (1 Co. 10:5, etc.); for these things were written for our admonition, that we sin not like them, lest we suffer like them.

  • I. The cause of their sin was disregard to the works and word of God, v. 13.
    • 1. They minded not what he had done for them: They soon forgot his works, and lost the impressions they had made upon them. Those that do not improve God's mercies to them, nor endeavour in some measure to render according to the benefit done unto them, do indeed forget them. This people soon forgot them (God took notice of this, Ex. 32:8, They have turned aside quickly): They made haste, they forgot his works (so it is in the margin), which some make to be two separate instances of their sin. They made haste; their expectations anticipated God's promises; they expected to be in Canaan shortly, and because they were not they questioned whether they should ever be there and quarrelled with all the difficulties they met with in their way; whereas he that believeth does not make haste, Isa. 28:16. And, withal, they forgot his works, which were the undeniable evidences of his wisdom, power, and goodness, and denied the conclusion as confidently as if they had never seen the premises proved. This is mentioned again (v. 21, 22): They forgot God their Saviour; that is, they forgot that he had been their Saviour. Those that forget the works of God forget God himself, who makes himself known by his works. They forgot what was done but a few days before, which we may suppose they could not but talk of, even then, when, because they did not make a good use of it, they are said to forget it: it was what God did for them in Egypt, in the land of Ham, and by the Red Sea, things which we at this distance cannot, or should not, be unmindful of. They are called great things (for, though the great God does nothing mean, yet he does some things that are in a special manner great), wondrous works, out of the common road of Providence, therefore observable, therefore memorable, and terrible things, awful to them, and dreadful to their enemies, and yet soon forgotten. Even miracles that were seen passed away with them as tales that are told.
    • 2. They minded not what God had said to them nor would they depend upon it: They waited not for his counsel, did not attend his word, though they had Moses to be his mouth to them; they took up resolves about which they did not consult him and made demands without calling upon him. They would be in Canaan directly, and had not patience to tarry God's time. The delay was intolerable, and therefore the difficulties were looked upon as insuperable. This is explained (v. 24): They believed not his word, his promise that he would make them masters of Canaan; and (v. 25), They hearkened not to the voice of the Lord, who gave them counsel which they would not wait for, not only by Moses and Aaron, but by Caleb and Joshua, Num. 14:6, 7, etc. Those that will not wait for God's counsel shall justly be given up to their own hearts' lusts, to walk in their own counsels.
  • II. Many of their sins are here mentioned, together with the tokens of God's displeasure which they fell under for those sins.
    • 1. They would have flesh, and yet would not believe that God could give it to them (v. 14): They lusted a lust (so the word is) in the wilderness; there, where they had bread enough and to spare, yet nothing would serve them but they must have flesh to eat. They were now purely at God's finding, being supported entirely by miracles, so that this was a reflection upon the wisdom and goodness of their Creator. They were also, in all probability, within a step of Canaan, yet had not patience to stay for dainties till they came thither. They had flocks and herds of their own, but they will not kill them; God must give them flesh as he gave them bread, or they will never give him credit, or their good word. They did not only wish for flesh, but they lusted exceedingly after it. A desire, even of lawful things, when it is inordinate and violent, becomes sinful; and therefore this is called lusting after evil things (1 Co. 10:6), though the quails, as God's gift, were good things, and were so spoken of, Ps. 105:40. Yet this was not all: They tempted God in the desert, where they had had such experience of his goodness and power, and questioned whether he could and would gratify them herein. See Ps. 78:19, 20. Now how did God show his displeasure against them for this. We are told how (v. 15): He gave them their request, but gave it them in anger, and with a curse, for he sent leanness into their soul; he filled them with uneasiness of mind, and terror of conscience, and a self-reproach, occasioned by their bodies being sick with the surfeit, such as sometimes drunkards experience after a great debauch. Or this is put for that great plague with which the Lord smote them, while the flesh was yet between their teeth, as we read, Num. 11:33. It was the consumption of the life. Note,
      • (1.) What is asked in passion is often given in wrath.
      • (2.) Many that fare deliciously every day, and whose bodies are healthful and fat, have, at the same time, leanness in their souls, no love to God, no thankfulness, no appetite to the bread of life, and then the soul must needs be lean. Those wretchedly forget themselves that feast their bodies and starve their souls. Then God gives the good things of this life in love, when with them he gives grace to glorify him in the use of them; for then the soul delights itself in fatness, Isa. 55:2.
    • 2. They quarrelled with the government which God had set over them both in church and state (v. 16): They envied Moses his authority in the camp, as generalissimo of the armies of Israel and chief justice in all their courts; they envied Aaron his power, as saint of the Lord, consecrated to the office of high priest, and Korah would needs put in for the pontificate, while Dathan and Abiram, as princes of the tribe of Reuben, Jacob's eldest son, would claim to be chief magistrates, by the so-much-admired right of primogeniture. Note, Those are preparing ruin for themselves who envy those whom God has put honour upon and usurp the dignities they were never designed for. And justly will contempt be poured upon those who put contempt upon any of the saints of the Lord. How did God show his displeasure for this? We are told how, and it is enough to make us tremble (v. 17, 18); we have the story, Num. 16:32, 35.
      • (1.) Those that flew in the face of the civil authority were punished by the earth, which opened and swallowed them up, as not fit to go upon God's ground, because they would not submit to God's government.
      • (2.) Those that would usurp the ecclesiastical authority in things pertaining to God suffered the vengeance of heaven, for fire came out from the Lord and consumed them, and the pretending sacrificers were themselves sacrificed to divine justice. The flame burnt up the wicked; for though they vied with Aaron, the saint of the Lord, for holiness (Num. 16:3, 5), yet God adjudged them wicked, and as such cut them off, as in due time he will destroy the man of sin, that wicked one, notwithstanding his proud pretensions to holiness.
    • 3. They made and worshipped the golden calf, and this in Horeb, where the law was given, and where God had expressly said, Thou shalt neither make any graven image nor bow down to it; they did both: They made a calf and worshipped it, v. 19.
      • (1.) Herein they bade defiance to, and put an affront upon, the two great lights which God has made to rule the moral world:-
        • [1.] That of human reason; for they changed their glory, their God, at least the manifestation of him, which always had been in a cloud (either a dark cloud or a bright one), without any manner of visible similitude, into the similitude of Apis, one of the Egyptian idols, an ox that eateth grass, than which nothing could be more grossly and scandalously absurd, v. 20. Idolaters are perfectly besotted, and put the greatest disparagement possible both upon God, in representing him by the image of a beast, and upon themselves, in worshipping it when they have so done. That which is here said to be the changing of their glory is explained by St. Paul (Rom. 1:23) to be the changing of the glory of the incorruptible God.
        • [2.] That of divine revelation, which was afforded to them, not only in the words God spoke to them, but in the works he wrought for them, wondrous works, which declared aloud that the Lord Jehovah is the only true and living God and is alone to be worshipped, v. 21, 22.
      • (2.) For this God showed his displeasure by declaring the decree that he would cut them off from being a people, as they had, as far as lay in their power, in effect cut him off from being a God; he spoke of destroying them (v. 23), and certainly he would have done it if Moses, his chosen, had not stood before him in the breach (v. 23), if he had not seasonably interposed to deal with God as an advocate about the breach or ruin God was about to devote them to and wonderfully prevailed to turn away his wrath. See here the mercy of God, and how easily his anger is turned away, even from a provoking people. See the power of prayer, and the interest which God's chosen have in heaven. See a type of Christ, God's chosen, his elect, in whom his soul delights, who stood before him in the breach to turn away his wrath from a provoking world, and ever lives, for this end, making intercession.
    • 4. They gave credit to the report of the evil spies concerning the land of Canaan, in contradiction to the promise of God (v. 24): They despised the pleasant land. Canaan was a pleasant land, Deu. 8:7. They undervalued it when they thought it not worth venturing for, no, not under the guidance of God himself, and therefore were for making a captain and returning to Egypt again. They believed not God's word concerning it, but murmured in their tents, basely charging God with a design upon them in bringing them thither that they might become a prey to the Canaanites, Num. 14:2, 3. And, when they were reminded of God's power and promise, they were so far from hearkening to that voice of the Lord that they attempted to stone those who spoke to them, Num. 14:10. The heavenly Canaan is a pleasant land. A promise is left us of entering into it; but there are many that despise it, that neglect and refuse the offer of it, that prefer the wealth and pleasure of this world before it, and grudge the pains and hazards of this life to obtain that. This also was so displeasing to God that he lifted up his hand against them, in a way of threatening, to destroy them in the wilderness; nay, in a way of swearing, for he swore in his wrath that they should not enter into his rest (Ps. 95:11; Num. 14:28); nay, and he threatened that their children also should be overthrown and scattered (v. 26, 27), and the whole nation dispersed and disinherited; but Moses prevailed for mercy for their seed, that they might enter Canaan. Note, Those who despise God's favours, and particularly the pleasant land, forfeit his favours, and will be shut out for ever from the pleasant land.
    • 5. They were guilty of a great sin in the matter of Peor; and this was the sin of the new generation, when they were within a step of Canaan (v. 28): They joined themselves to Baal-peor, and so were entangled both in idolatry and in adultery, in corporeal and in spiritual whoredom, Num. 25:1-3. Those that did often partake of the altar of the living God now ate the sacrifices of the dead, of the idols of Moab (that were dead images, or dead men canonized or deified), or sacrifices to the infernal deities on the behalf of their dead friends. Thus they provoked God to anger with their inventions (v. 29), in contempt of him and his institutions, his commands, and his threatenings. The iniquity of Peor was so great that, long after, it is said, They were not cleansed from it, Jos. 22:17. God testified his displeasure at this,
      • (1.) By sending a plague among them, which in a little time swept away 24,000 of those impudent sinners.
      • (2.) By stirring up Phinehas to use his power as a magistrate for the suppressing of the sin and checking the contagion of it. He stood up in his zeal for the Lord of hosts, and executed judgment upon Zimri and Cozbi, sinners of the first rank, genteel sinners; he put the law in execution upon them, and this was a service so pleasing to God that upon it the plague was stayed, v. 30. By this, and some other similar acts of public justice on that occasion (Num. 25:4, 5), the guilt ceased to be national, and the general controversy was let fall. When the proper officers did their duty God left it to them, and did not any longer keep the work in his own hands by the plague. Note, National justice prevents national judgments. But, Phinehas herein signalizing himself, a special mark of honour was put upon him, for what he did was counted to him for righteousness to all generations (v. 31), and, in recompence of it, the priesthood was entailed on his family. He shall make an atonement by offering up the sacrifices, who had so bravely made an atonement (so some read it, v. 30) by offering up the sinners. Note, It is the honour of saints to be zealous against sin.
    • 6. They continued their murmurings to the very last of their wanderings; for in the fortieth year they angered God at the waters of strife (v. 32), which refers to that story, Num. 20:3-5. And that which aggravated it now was that it went ill with Moses for their sakes; for, though he was the meekest of all the men in the earth, yet their clamours at that time were so peevish and provoking that they put him into a passion, and, having now grown very old and off his guard, he spoke unadvisedly with his lips (v. 33), and not as became him on that occasion; for he said in a heat, Hear now, you rebels, must we fetch water out of this rock for you? This was Moses's infirmity, and is written for our admonition, that we may learn, when we are in the midst of provocation, to keep our mouth as with a bridle (Ps. 39:1-3), and to take heed to our spirits, that they admit not resentments too much; for, when the spirit is provoked, it is much ado, even for those that have a great deal of wisdom and grace, not to speak unadvisedly. But it is charged upon the people as their sin: They provoked his spirit with that with which they angered God himself. Note, We must answer not only for our own passions, but for the provocation which by them we give to the passions of others, especially of those who, if not greatly provoked, would be meek and quiet. God shows his displeasure against this sin of theirs by shutting Moses and Aaron out of Canaan for their misconduct upon this occasion, by which,
      • (1.) God discovered his resentment of all such intemperate heats, even in the dearest of his servants. If he deals thus severely with Moses for one unadvised word, what does their sin deserve who have spoken so many presumptuous wicked words? If this was done in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
      • (2.) God deprived them of the blessing of Moses's guidance and government at a time when they most needed it, so that his death was more a punishment to them than to himself. It is just with God to remove those relations from us that are blessings to us, when we are peevish and provoking to them and grieve their spirits.

Psa 106:34-48

Here,

  • I. The narrative concludes with an account of Israel's conduct in Canaan, which was of a piece with that in the wilderness, and God's dealings with them, wherein, as all along, both justice and mercy appeared.
    • 1. They were very provoking to God. The miracles and mercies which settled them in Canaan made no more deep and durable impressions upon them than those which fetched them out of Egypt; for by the time they were just settled in Canaan they corrupted themselves, and forsook God. Observe,
      • (1.) The steps of their apostasy.
        • [1.] They spared the nations which God had doomed to destruction (v. 34); when they had got the good land God had promised them they had no zeal against the wicked inhabitants whom the Lord commanded them to extirpate, pretending pity; but so merciful is God that no man needs to be in any case more compassionate than he.
        • [2.] When they spared them they promised themselves that, notwithstanding this, they would not join in any dangerous affinity with them. But the way of sin is down-hill; omissions make way for commissions; when they neglect to destroy the heathen the next news we hear is, They were mingled among the heathen, made leagues with them and contracted an intimacy with them, so that they learned their works, v. 35. That which is rotten will sooner corrupt that which is sound than be cured or made sound by it.
        • [3.] When they mingled with them, and learned some of their works that seemed innocent diversions and entertainments, yet they thought they would never join with them in their worship; but by degrees they learned that too (v. 36): They served their idols in the same manner, and with the same rites, that they served them; and they became a snare to them. That sin drew on many more, and brought the judgments of God upon them, which they themselves could not but be sensible of and yet knew not how to recover themselves.
        • [4.] When they joined with them in some of their idolatrous services, which they thought had least harm in them, they little thought that ever they should be guilty of that barbarous and inhuman piece of idolatry the sacrificing of their living children to their dead gods; but they came to that at last (v. 37, 38), in which Satan triumphed over his worshippers, and regaled himself in blood and slaughter: They sacrificed their sons and daughters, pieces of themselves, to devils, and added murder, the most unnatural murder, to their idolatry; one cannot think of it without horror. They shed innocent blood, the most innocent, for it was infant-blood, nay, it was the blood of their sons and their daughters. See the power of the spirit that works in the children of disobedience, and see his malice. The beginning of idolatry and superstition, like that of strife, is as the letting forth of water, and there is no villany which those that venture upon it can be sure they shall stop short of, for God justly gives them up to a reprobate mind, Rom. 1:28.
      • (2.) Their sin was, in part, their own punishment; for by it,
        • [1.] They wronged their country: The land was polluted with blood, v. 38. That pleasant land, that holy land, was rendered uncomfortable to themselves, and unfit to receive those kind tokens of God's favour and presence in it which were designed to be its honour.
        • [2.] They wronged their consciences (v. 39): They went a whoring with their own inventions, and so debauched their own minds, and were defiled with their own works, and rendered odious in the eyes of the holy God, and perhaps of their own consciences.
    • 2. God brought his judgments upon them; and what else could be expected? For his name is Jealous, and he is a jealous God.
      • (1.) He fell out with them for it, v. 40. He was angry with them: The wrath of God, that consuming fire, was kindled against his people; for from them he took it as more insulting and ungrateful than from the heathen that never knew him. Nay, he was sick of them: He abhorred his own inheritance, which once he had taken pleasure in; yet the change was not in him, but in them. This is the worst thing in sin, that it makes us loathsome to God; and the nearer any are to God in profession the more loathsome are they if they rebel against him, like a dunghill at our door.
      • (2.) Their enemies then fell upon them, and, their defence having departed, made an easy prey of them (v. 41, 42): He gave them into the hands of the heathen. Observe here how the punishment answered to the sin: They mingled with the heathen and learned their works; from them they willingly took the infection of sin, and therefore God justly made use of them as the instruments of their correction. Sinners often see themselves ruined by those by whom they have suffered themselves to be debauched. Satan, who is a tempter, will be a tormentor. The heathen hated them. Apostates lose all the love on God's side, and get none on Satan's; and when those that hated them ruled over them, and they were brought into subjection under them, no marvel that they oppressed them and ruled them with rigour; and thus God made them know the difference between his service and the service of the kings of the countries, 2 Chr. 12:8.
      • (3.) When God granted them some relief, yet they went on in their sins, and their troubles also were continued, v. 43. This refers to the days of the Judges, when God often raised up deliverers and wrought deliverances for them, and yet they relapsed to idolatry and provoked God with their counsel, their idolatrous inventions, to deliver them up to some other oppressor, so that at last they were brought very low for their iniquity. Those that by sin disparage themselves, and will not by repentance humble themselves, are justly debased, and humbled, and brought low, by the judgments of God.
      • (4.) At length they cried unto God, and God returned in favour to them, v. 44-46. They were chastened for their sins, but not destroyed, cast down, but not cast off. God appeared for them,
        • [1.] As a God of mercy, who looked upon their grievances, regarded their affliction, beheld when distress was upon them (so some), who looked over their complaints, for he heard their cry with tender compassion (Ex. 3:7) and overlooked their provocations; for though he had said, and had reason to say it, that he would destroy them, yet he repented, according to the multitude of his mercies, and reversed the sentence. Though he is not a man that he should repent, so as to change his mind, yet he is a gracious God, who pities us, and changes his way.
        • [2.] As a God of truth, who remembered for them his covenant, and made good every word that he had spoken; and therefore, bad as they were, he would not break with them, because he would not break his own promise.
        • [3.] As a God of power, who has all hearts in his hand, and turns them which way soever he pleases. He made them to be pitied even of those that carried them captives, and hated them, and ruled them with rigour. He not only restrained the remainder of their enemies' wrath, that it should not utterly consume them, but he infused compassion even into their stony hearts, and made them relent, which was more than any art of man could have done with the utmost force of rhetoric. Note, God can change lions into lambs, and, when a man's ways please the Lord, will make even his enemies to pity him and be at peace with him. When God pities men shall. Tranquillus Deus tranquillat omnia-A God at peace with us makes every thing at peace.
  • II. The psalm concludes with prayer and praise.
    • 1. Prayer for the completing of his people's deliverance. Even when the Lord brought back the captivity of his people still there was occasion to pray, Lord, turn again our captivity (Ps. 126:1, 4); so here (v. 47), Save us, O Lord our God! and gather us from among the heathen. We may suppose that many who were forced into foreign countries, in the times of the Judges (as Naomi was, Ruth 1:1), had not returned in the beginning of David's reign, Saul's time being discouraging, and therefore it was seasonable to pray, Lord, gather the dispersed Israelites from among the heathen, to give thanks to thy holy name, not only that they may have cause to give thanks and hearts to give thanks, that they may have opportunity to do it in the courts of the Lord's house, from which they were now banished, and so may triumph in thy praise, over those that had in scorn challenged them to sing the Lord's song in a strange land.
    • 2. Praise for the beginning and progress of it (v. 48): Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting. He is a blessed God from eternity, and will be so to eternity, and so let him be praised by all his worshippers. Let the priests say this, and then let all the people say, Amen, Hallelujah, in token of their cheerful concurrence in all these prayers, praises, and confessions. According to this rubric, or directory, we find that when this psalm (or at least the closing verses of it) was sung all the people said Amen, and praised the Lord by saying, Hallelujah. By these two comprehensive words it is very proper, in religious assemblies, to testify their joining with their ministers in the prayers and praises which, as their mouth, they offer up to God, according to his will, saying Amen to the prayers and Hallelujah to the praises.