2 Which imagine H2803 mischiefs H7451 in their heart; H3820 continually H3117 are they gathered together H1481 for war. H4421
They gather themselves together, H1481 they hide H6845 H6845 themselves, they mark H8104 my steps, H6119 when they wait H6960 for my soul. H5315
He deviseth H2803 mischief H205 upon his bed; H4904 he setteth H3320 himself in a way H1870 that is not good; H2896 he abhorreth H3988 not evil. H7451
Then came up H5927 the Ziphites H2130 to Saul H7586 to Gibeah, H1390 saying, H559 Doth not David H1732 hide H5641 himself with us in strong holds H4679 in the wood, H2793 in the hill H1389 of Hachilah, H2444 which is on the south H3225 of Jeshimon? H3452 Now therefore, O king, H4428 come down H3381 according to all the desire H185 of thy soul H5315 to come down; H3381 and our part shall be to deliver H5462 him into the king's H4428 hand. H3027 And Saul H7586 said, H559 Blessed H1288 be ye of the LORD; H3068 for ye have compassion H2550 on me. Go, H3212 I pray you, prepare H3559 yet, and know H3045 and see H7200 his place H4725 where his haunt H7272 is, and who hath seen H7200 him there: for it is told H559 me that he dealeth very H6191 subtilly. H6191 See H7200 therefore, and take knowledge H3045 of all the lurking places H4224 where he hideth H2244 himself, and come ye again H7725 to me with the certainty, H3559 and I will go H1980 with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be H3426 in the land, H776 that I will search H2664 him out throughout all the thousands H505 of Judah. H3063 And they arose, H6965 and went H3212 to Ziph H2128 before H6440 Saul: H7586 but David H1732 and his men H582 were in the wilderness H4057 of Maon, H4584 in the plain H6160 on the south H3225 of Jeshimon. H3452
Moreover, my father, H1 see, H7200 yea, see H7200 the skirt H3671 of thy robe H4598 in my hand: H3027 for in that I cut off H3772 the skirt H3671 of thy robe, H4598 and killed H2026 thee not, know H3045 thou and see H7200 that there is neither evil H7451 nor transgression H6588 in mine hand, H3027 and I have not sinned H2398 against thee; yet thou huntest H6658 my soul H5315 to take H3947 it. The LORD H3068 judge H8199 between me and thee, and the LORD H3068 avenge H5358 me of thee: but mine hand H3027 shall not be upon thee.
And the Ziphites H2130 came H935 unto Saul H7586 to Gibeah, H1390 saying, H559 Doth not David H1732 hide H5641 himself in the hill H1389 of Hachilah, H2444 which is before H6440 Jeshimon? H3452 Then Saul H7586 arose, H6965 and went down H3381 to the wilderness H4057 of Ziph, H2128 having three H7969 thousand H505 chosen H977 men H376 of Israel H3478 with him, to seek H1245 David H1732 in the wilderness H4057 of Ziph. H2128 And Saul H7586 pitched H2583 in the hill H1389 of Hachilah, H2444 which is before H6440 Jeshimon, H3452 by the way. H1870 But David H1732 abode H3427 in the wilderness, H4057 and he saw H7200 that Saul H7586 came H935 after H310 him into the wilderness. H4057 David H1732 therefore sent out H7971 spies, H7270 and understood H3045 that Saul H7586 was come H935 in very deed. H3559 And David H1732 arose, H6965 and came H935 to the place H4725 where Saul H7586 had pitched: H2583 and David H1732 beheld H7200 the place H4725 where Saul H7586 lay, H7901 and Abner H74 the son H1121 of Ner, H5369 the captain H8269 of his host: H6635 and Saul H7586 lay H7901 in the trench, H4570 and the people H5971 pitched H2583 round about H5439 him. Then answered H6030 David H1732 and said H559 to Ahimelech H288 the Hittite, H2850 and to Abishai H52 the son H1121 of Zeruiah, H6870 brother H251 to Joab, H3097 saying, H559 Who will go down H3381 with me to Saul H7586 to the camp? H4264 And Abishai H52 said, H559 I will go down H3381 with thee. So David H1732 and Abishai H52 came H935 to the people H5971 by night: H3915 and, behold, Saul H7586 lay H7901 sleeping H3463 within the trench, H4570 and his spear H2595 stuck H4600 in the ground H776 at his bolster: H4763 but Abner H74 and the people H5971 lay H7901 round about H5439 him. Then said H559 Abishai H52 to David, H1732 God H430 hath delivered H5462 thine enemy H341 into thine hand H3027 this day: H3117 now therefore let me smite H5221 him, I pray thee, with the spear H2595 even to the earth H776 at once, H6471 H259 and I will not smite him the second time. H8138 And David H1732 said H559 to Abishai, H52 Destroy H7843 him not: for who can stretch forth H7971 his hand H3027 against the LORD'S H3068 anointed, H4899 and be guiltless? H5352 David H1732 said H559 furthermore, As the LORD H3068 liveth, H2416 the LORD H3068 shall smite H5062 him; or his day H3117 shall come H935 to die; H4191 or he shall descend H3381 into battle, H4421 and perish. H5595 The LORD H3068 forbid H2486 that I should stretch forth H7971 mine hand H3027 against the LORD'S H3068 anointed: H4899 but, I pray thee, take H3947 thou now the spear H2595 that is at his bolster, H4763 and the cruse H6835 of water, H4325 and let us go. H3212 So David H1732 took H3947 the spear H2595 and the cruse H6835 of water H4325 from Saul's H7586 bolster; H7226 and they gat them away, H3212 and no man saw H7200 it, nor knew H3045 it, neither awaked: H6974 for they were all asleep; H3463 because a deep sleep H8639 from the LORD H3068 was fallen H5307 upon them. Then David H1732 went over H5674 to the other side, H5676 and stood H5975 on the top H7218 of an hill H2022 afar off; H7350 a great H7227 space H4725 being between them: And David H1732 cried H7121 to the people, H5971 and to Abner H74 the son H1121 of Ner, H5369 saying, H559 Answerest H6030 thou not, Abner? H74 Then Abner H74 answered H6030 and said, H559 Who art thou that criest H7121 to the king? H4428 And David H1732 said H559 to Abner, H74 Art not thou a valiant man? H376 and who is like to thee in Israel? H3478 wherefore then hast thou not kept H8104 thy lord H113 the king? H4428 for there came H935 one H259 of the people H5971 in to destroy H7843 the king H4428 thy lord. H113 This thing H1697 is not good H2896 that thou hast done. H6213 As the LORD H3068 liveth, H2416 ye are worthy H1121 to die, H4194 because ye have not kept H8104 your master, H113 the LORD'S H3068 anointed. H4899 And now see H7200 where the king's H4428 spear H2595 is, and the cruse H6835 of water H4325 that was at his bolster. H4763 And Saul H7586 knew H5234 David's H1732 voice, H6963 and said, H559 Is this thy voice, H6963 my son H1121 David? H1732 And David H1732 said, H559 It is my voice, H6963 my lord, H113 O king. H4428 And he said, H559 Wherefore doth my lord H113 thus pursue H7291 after H310 his servant? H5650 for what have I done? H6213 or what evil H7451 is in mine hand? H3027 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord H113 the king H4428 hear H8085 the words H1697 of his servant. H5650 If the LORD H3068 have stirred thee up H5496 against me, let him accept H7306 an offering: H4503 but if they be the children H1121 of men, H120 cursed H779 be they before H6440 the LORD; H3068 for they have driven H1644 me out this day H3117 from abiding H5596 in the inheritance H5159 of the LORD, H3068 saying, H559 Go, H3212 serve H5647 other H312 gods. H430 Now therefore, let not my blood H1818 fall H5307 to the earth H776 before the face H6440 of the LORD: H3068 for the king H4428 of Israel H3478 is come out H3318 to seek H1245 a H259 flea, H6550 as when one doth hunt H7291 a partridge H7124 in the mountains. H2022 Then said H559 Saul, H7586 I have sinned: H2398 return, H7725 my son H1121 David: H1732 for I will no more do thee harm, H7489 because my soul H5315 was precious H3365 in thine eyes H5869 this day: H3117 behold, I have played the fool, H5528 and have erred H7686 exceedingly. H7235 H3966 And David H1732 answered H6030 and said, H559 Behold the king's H4428 spear! H2595 and let one H259 of the young men H5288 come over H5674 and fetch H3947 it. The LORD H3068 render H7725 to every man H376 his righteousness H6666 and his faithfulness: H530 for the LORD H3068 delivered H5414 thee into my hand H3027 to day, H3117 but I would H14 not stretch forth H7971 mine hand H3027 against the LORD'S H3068 anointed. H4899 And, behold, as thy life H5315 was much set by H1431 this day H3117 in mine eyes, H5869 so let my life H5315 be much set by H1431 in the eyes H5869 of the LORD, H3068 and let him deliver H5337 me out of all tribulation. H6869 Then Saul H7586 said H559 to David, H1732 Blessed H1288 be thou, my son H1121 David: H1732 thou shalt both do H6213 great H6213 things, and also shalt still H3201 prevail. H3201 So David H1732 went H3212 on his way, H1870 and Saul H7586 returned H7725 to his place. H4725
For they intended H5186 evil H7451 against thee: they imagined H2803 a mischievous device, H4209 which they are not able H3201 to perform.
They encourage H2388 themselves in an evil H7451 matter: H1697 they commune H5608 of laying H2934 snares H4170 privily; H2934 they say, H559 Who shall see H7200 them? They search out H2664 iniquities; H5766 they accomplish H8552 a diligent H2664 search: H2665 both the inward H7130 thought of every one H376 of them, and the heart, H3820 is deep. H6013
I am for peace: H7965 but when I speak, H1696 they are for war. H4421
For they have made ready H7126 their heart H3820 like an oven, H8574 whiles they lie in wait: H693 their baker H644 sleepeth H3463 all the night; H3915 in the morning H1242 it burneth H1197 as a flaming H3852 fire. H784
Woe H1945 to them that devise H2803 iniquity, H205 and work H6466 evil H7451 upon their beds! H4904 when the morning H1242 is light, H216 they practise H6213 it, because it is H3426 in the power H410 of their hand. H3027 And they covet H2530 fields, H7704 and take them by violence; H1497 and houses, H1004 and take them away: H5375 so they oppress H6231 a man H1397 and his house, H1004 even a man H376 and his heritage. H5159 Therefore thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 Behold, against this family H4940 do I devise H2803 an evil, H7451 from which ye shall not remove H4185 your necks; H6677 neither shall ye go H3212 haughtily: H7317 for this time H6256 is evil. H7451
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 140
Commentary on Psalms 140 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 140
Ps 140:1-13. The style of this Psalm resembles those of David in the former part of the book, presenting the usual complaint, prayer, and confident hope of relief.
1. evil man—Which of David's enemies is meant is not important.
2-5. This character of the wicked, and the devices planned against the pious, correspond to Ps 10:7; 31:13; 58:4, &c.
3. sharpened … like a serpent—not like a serpent does, but they are thus like a serpent in cunning and venom.
5. snare [and] net—for threatening dangers (compare Ps 38:12; 57:6).
6. (Compare Ps 5:1-12; 16:2).
7. day of battle—literally, "of armor," that is, when using it.
8. (Compare Ps 37:12; 66:7).
lest they exalt themselves—or, they will be exalted if permitted to prosper.
9. Contrasts his head covered by God (Ps 140:7) with theirs, or (as "head" may be used for "persons") with them, covered with the results of their wicked deeds (Ps 7:16).
10. (Compare Ps 11:6; 120:4).
cast into the fire; into deep pits—figures for utter destruction.
11. an evil speaker—or, "slanderer" will not be tolerated (Ps 101:7). The last clause may be translated: "an evil (man) He (God) shall hunt," &c.
12. (Compare Ps 9:4).
13. After all changes, the righteous shall have cause for praise. Such
shall dwell—shall sit securely, under God's protection (Ps 21:6; 41:12).