Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 1 · Commentary on psalm 38
PSAL. XXXVIII.
David in sore afflictions, intreateth God not to bee angry with him, 5 complaineth of his sinnes, and chastisements, 11 of his owne weaknesse, 12 of his friends forsaking him, 13 and his enemies malice: 16 yet his faith is in God, whose helpe hee desireth.
A Psalme of David, for to record.
IEhovah, rebuke me not in thy fervent anger, neither chastise me in thy wrathfull heat. For thy arrowes are stucke in me, and thou lettest downe thy hand upon me. No soundnesse is in my flesh because of thy angry threat, no peace is in my bones, because of my sinne. For my iniquities are gone over my head: as a heavie burden, they are too heavie for me. My stripes do stinke, are putrified, because of my foolishnesse. I am crooked, I am bowed downe very vehemently, all the day I walke sad. For my flankes are full of parching, and there is no soundnesse in my flesh. I am weakned and crushed very sore, I roare out for the groaning of my heart. Lord before thee is all my desire, and my sighing is not hid from thee. My heart panteth, my able strength forsaketh me, and the light of mine eyes even they are not with mee. My lovers and my nearest friends stand from before my stroke, and my neighbours stand a farre off. And they that seeke my soule, set snares; and they that seeke my evill, speake wofull evils, and all the day they meditate deceits. And I as a deafe man heare not, and as a mute man openeth not his mouth.
And I am as a man which heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofes. Because for thee Iehovah I doe hopefully wait, thou wilt answer, O Lord my God. For I said, lest they rejoyce at me, and when my foot is moved doe magnifie against me. For I am ready to halting, and my paine is before me continually. For I doe declare my iniquitie, I am carefull for my sinne. And my enemies are alive mighty, and multiplied are they that hate mee falsly. And they that repay evill for good, are my adversaries, for that I follow good. Forsake me not, Iehovah; my God, be not farre off from me. Hasten to my helpe, Lord, my salvation.
Annotations.
FOr to record] or to cause remembrance for commemoration, to wit, of Davids troubles, as Psal. 132. 1. and of Gods mercies, deliverances, and prais…s for the same, as Isa. 63. 7. The like title is of the 70 Psalme. David appointed before the Arke, singers of the Levites for to record, and to confesse, and to praise Iehovah the God of Israel, 1 Chron. 16. 4. The Greeke addeth to the title, A Psalme of David for remembrance concerning the Sabbath.
Vers. 2. neither] Hebr. and, where the word not is againe to be repeated, as is noted, Psal. 9. 19. and as is expressed, Psal. 6. 2. where the like prayer is made.
Vers. 3. thy arrowes] so Iob saith, the arrowes of the Almighty are in me, the venome whereof drinketh up my spirit, Iob 6. 4. Arrowes are sicknesses, or plagues of body or mind, Psal. 18. 15. and 91. 5. thy hand] in Chaldee, the stroke of thy hand.
Vers. 4. no soundnesse] or, there is nothing sound, or whole. So Esai. 1. 6. angry throat] or, detestation, indignation. See Psal. 7. 12.
Vers. 6. my stripes] or skarres: properly such sore marks, wounds or stripes, as wherin the bloud and humours are gathered and doe appeare after beating; named in English, wailes. foolishnesse] The Hebrew, svveleth, meaneth rash and unadvised folly, through want of prudencie. Therefore though commonly in Greeke it is turned imprudencie, yet sometime it is called unadvised rashnesse, Prov. 14. 17. and Aevil the Foole, is named rash or heady, Prov. 10. 14. And by foolishnesse is meant usually viciousnesse or sinne, and is so expressed by the Greekes, Prov. 13. 16. and 15. 2. and 26. 11. and our Saviour numbreth foolishnesse among other evils that defile a man, Marke 7. 22.
Vers. 7. sad] mournfully. See Psal. 35. 14.
Vers. 8. my flancks] or loines. parching] or, burning, rosting: so elsewhere he complaineth of the burning of his bones, Psal. 102. 4. and so the Chaldee Paraphrast here taketh this word, which may also be translated, vile matter: meaning a vile or loathsome disease, full of burning paine. The Greeke turneth it, mockings.
Vers. 9. the gro…ing] or rumbling, roaring noise.
Vers. 11. panteth] throbbeth, beateth about, through trouble and distemperature. able strength] force and abilitie that is in the heart and bowels; as elsewhere he saith, my heart forsaketh me, Psal. 40. 13. are not with me] that is, I have no use of them; I cannot see, Psal. 40. 13. Through faintnesse oft times the eye-sight faileth, 1 Sam. 14. 28. 29. Psal. 13. 4.
Vers. 12. my plague] or, stroke, touch, hurt. The Hebrew useth touching, for striking, or hurting any manner of way, Psal. 105. 15.
Vers. 13. seeke my soule] to kill me. See Psal. 35. 4. wofull evils] in Greeke, vanities; in Chaldee, falshood.
Vers. 15. no reprehensions] no arguments, or convictions.
Vers. 16. thou wilt answer] or, that thou make answer, that is, heare and deliver me, Psal. 3. 5.
Vers. 17. I said, lest] or, I say, (I thinke) it is to be feared, lest, &c. An unperfect speech through passion. my foot is moved] that is, slip. This is alwayes in the evill part, when ones state is changed to worse, Deut. 32. 35. Psal. 66. 9. and 94. 18. and 121. 3. A like phrase is of moving of the hand, Lev. 25. 35. magnifie] vaunt themselves: in Greeke, speake great things: See Psal. 35. 26.
Vers. 18. to halting] to shew my infirmitie in my trials and afflictions; as Iaakob halted after his wrastling with God, Gen. 32. 31. See Psal. 35. 15. In the Greeke, I am ready for scourges, that is, to suffer correction and punishment for my sinnes: so the Chaldee saith, for calamitie.
Vers. 19. am carefull] or, will shew care, taking thought as for feare of some evill or danger to come. So the originall word importeth, Iosh. 22. 24. 1 Sam. 9. 5. and 10. 2. Isa. 57. 11.
Vers. 20. are alive] or living, that is, lively, lusty, chearefull, haile, and sound. Or rich, as the word seemeth to meane in Eccles. 6. 8. are mightie] or strengthened, compacted, by power, riches, number, &c. See Psal. 35. 18. falsly] or in falsitie, that is, for a false untrue and unjust cause, Ps. 35. 19. So the Greek translateth it, unjustly.
Vers. 21. my adversaries] or, are adverse to me, opposite, to let and hinder me. The Hebrew Satan is hereupon applied to the Devill, who is an adversary to hinder all goodnesse, Zach. 3. 1. Mar. 1. 13. Rev. 12. 9. So after, Psal. 71. 13. and 109. 4. 6. 20. 29.