Jehovah is in his holy temple ; Jehovah,-in heaven is his throne. His eyes behold,

His eyelids try, the sons of men.

5 Jehovah tries the righteous;

And the wicked, and lover of violence, his soul hates. 6 He will rain on the wicked snares,

Fire and brimstone, and a burning tempest,—

The portion of their cup!

7 For righteous is Jehovah, he loves righteousness ; His countenance beholds the upright.

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PSALM XII.

To the chief Musician. On the eighth, A Psalm of David.

SAVE, Jehovah, for the godly ceases;

For the faithful fail from the sons of men.

They speak falsehood every man with his neighbor; With flattering lips, with a double heart, they speak. 3 May Jehovah cut off all flattering lips,

The tongue that speaks proud things;

4 Who say: With our tongue will we prevail; Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?

For the oppression of the lowly, for the sighing of the needy,

Now will I arise, saith Jehovah ;

I will set him in safety at whom he scoffs.

V. 4. Temple.] Compare 1 Sam. 1:9; 3:3; showing that the tabernacle, which contained the ark, the symbol of Jehovah's presence, was so called.

V. 5. Tries the righteous.] With the implication that he finds him faithful; as must be the result of such a trial.

Ps. xii. (title.) On the eighth.] See Ps. vi.

V. 5. Or, I will set him in safety who pants for it.

6 The sayings of Jehovah are pure sayings; Silver tried in a furnace of earth,

Seven times refined.

7 Thou, Jehovah, wilt keep them,

Wilt guard them from this generation forever. 8 The wicked walk on every side,

When the vilest of the sons of men are exalted.

PSALM XIII.

To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 How long, Jehovah! Wilt thou forget me forever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul,

[Bear] sorrow in my heart, daily?

How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? 3 Look, I pray, answer me, Jehovah, my God; Lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the [sleep of] death; 4 Lest my enemy say: I have prevailed over him ; Lest my foes exult when I am ready to fall.

5 But I, in thy kindness have I trusted;

Let my heart exult in thy salvation.

I will sing to Jehovah, for he has been bountiful to me.

PSALM XIV.

To the chief Musician. [A Psalm] of David.

1 THE fool has said in his heart: There is no God. Corrupt, abominable are they in their works; There is none that doeth good.

V. 6. Or, silver melted to the ground in a furnace. Meaning: melted from the ore in a furnace, and flowing down to the ground,—to the receptacle in the earth.

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4

Jehovah looked down from heaven upon the sons of men, To see if there is any that understands,

That seeks after God.

They have all turned aside; together they are corrupted; There is none that doeth good, not even one.

Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge,

Who eat up my people as they eat bread,

Call not upon Jehovah?

5 There were they in great fear;

For God is in the righteous generation.

6 Ye put to shame the counsel of the lowly, For Jehovah is his refuge.

7 Oh for the salvation of Israel out of Zion! When Jehovah turns the captivity of his people, Jacob will exult, Israel will rejoice.

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PSALM XV.

A Psalm of David.

JEHOVAH, who shall sojourn in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy mount?

2 He that walks uprightly, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart.

3 He has not slandered with his tongue,

Has not done evil to his fellow,

Nor taken up a reproach against his neighbor.

4 In his eyes a reprobate is abhorred;

But he will honor them that fear Jehovah.

If he has sworn to his harm, he will not change.

V. 6. By "counsel of the lowly" is meant whatever he devises, or resorts to, for security. As his reliance is on the righteous sovereignty of God, whoever wrongs him "puts it to shame."

V. 7. Turns the captivity.] A proverbial phrase, meaning restoration to prosperity. See the remark on Ps. 85: 1.

V. 1. Sojourn in thy tabernacle.] Meaning, to frequent it, to be as it were Jehovah's guest, and under his care and protection.

5 His money he has not put out at usury;
Nor has he taken a bribe against the innocent.
He that does these things shall never be moved.

PSALM XVI.

Memorial [Psalm] of David.

1 PRESERVE me, O God, for I trust in thee.

2 Thou [my soul] hast said to Jehovah: Thou art Lord ; My good is not aside from thee.

3 As for the saints who are in the earth,

[They are] the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that exchange for another. I will not pour out their drink-offerings of blood,

5

And will not take their names upon my lips.

Jehovah is the portion of my heritage and of my cup;

Thou wilt maintain my lot.

6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yea, I have a goodly heritage.

7 I will bless Jehovah who has counseled me;

Also by night my reins admonish me.

8 I have set Jehovah always before me;

Because [he is] on my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory exults; Also my flesh shall rest in hope.

V. 2. Thou [my soul] hast said.] Appealing to his self-consciousness of this truth, as though strengthening his sole reliance in the hour of trial. Hebrew verb.

himself in the conviction of it, as "Soul" is implied in the form of the

V. 4. Another.] Compare Is. 48: 11, "I will not give my glory to another." Another god, is the implication in both passages.

V. 6. Lines.] Measuring lines, by which lands were measured off for division. Compare Ps. 78: 55, "divided them a heritage by line." V. 7. Admonish me.] Namely, of this duty, to bless Jehovah.

V. 9. My glory.] The distinguishing and nobler part of man, his spiritual in distinction from his material, physical nature.

10 For thou wilt not abandon my soul to the underworld; Thou wilt not suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.

11 Thou wilt show me the path of life,

Fullness of joys in thy presence,

Pleasures at thy right hand, for evermore!

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PSALM XVII.

A Prayer of David.

HEAR, O Jehovah, the right;

Be attentive to my cry.

Give ear to my prayer,

From lips not deceitful.

Let my sentence come forth from thy presence;
Let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
3 Thou hast tried my heart, hast visited by night,
Hast assayed me,-thou findest nothing.

I have purposed, my mouth shall not transgress.
4 As to the deeds of man, by the word of thy lips
I have kept myself from the paths of the violent.
5 My steps have held fast to thy ways;

My feet have not wavered.

6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt answer me, O God; Incline thine ear to me, hear my speech.

7 Show thy marvelous kindness, thou that savest the trusting, From such as rise up against them, with thy right hand.

8 Keep me as the apple of the eye;

In the shadow of thy wings thou wilt hide me,

9 From the wicked that oppress me,

My deadly enemies that encompass me round.

10 They are inclosed in their own fat; With their mouth they speak proudly.

V. 10. Holy One.] Or, Beloved; compare Ps. 4: 3.

V. 9. Or, my enemies that eagerly encompass me round.

V. 10. In their own fat.] An expression either of luxurious ease, or