Henry Ainsworth on Psalms 101:1-8

PSAL. CI.

A Psalme of David.

MErcy and judgement I will sing to thee, Iehovah will I sing Psalme. I will doe wisely in the perfect way, when wilt thou come unto me? I will walke in the perfection of mine heart, in the middest of mine house. I will not set before mine eies any word of Belial: I hate the doing of them that turne aside, it shall not cleave unto me. A froward heart shall depart from me, I will know none evill. he that in secret hurteth with tongue his fellow-friend, him will I suppresse: the haughty of eyes, and large of heart, him I cannot suffer. Mine eyes shall be on the faithfull of the land, for to sit with me; hee that walketh in the perfect way, hee shall minister to me. He shall not sit within my house that doth deceit, hee that speaketh lies shall not be established before mine eies.

In the mornings I will suppresse all the wicked of the land, for to cut off from the Citie of Iehovah all the workers of iniquity.

Annotations. MErcy and judgement] This may be meant of Davids owne administration: howbeit the Chaldee understandeth it of Gods, saying, If thou dealest mercifully with me, if thou dost judgement with me, for all, I will sing praise. Vers. 3. doe wisely] behave my seife prudently; as David is said to doe, 1 Sam. 18. 14. when wilt thou come] namely, to assist me in the performance hereof: or, when thou shalt come] namely, to call me unto an account of my life, &c. Vers. 3. of Belial] that is, mischievous (or wicked) word or thing. See Psal. 41. 9. Vers. 4. know] or acknowledge, that is, regard, or approve; so Psal. 1. 6. Vers. 5. hurteth with tongue] that traduceth, or (as the Hebrew phrase is) betongueth. Hereupon a man of tongue, is for a pratler or calumniator, Psa. [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word]. 12. The Chaldee paraphraseth, He that speaketh with a third (or threefold) tongue, against has neighbour; meaning a back-biter or calumniator, which is said of the Hebrew Doctors to have a three sold tongue, because hee hurteth three therewhich, both himselfe by his sinne, and his neighbour whom he backbi[illegible: 1 letter]eth, and the receiver of his tale whom he corrupteth. Hereupon is that saying of Ben Syrach, A third tongue hath disguieted many, Eeclus. 28. 14. and a third tongue hath cast out vertuous women, Ecclus. 28 15. meaning the back biter, or tale-bearer. See the Annotations on Levit. 19. 16. large] or wide, broad of heart; meaning proud, as Prov. 21. 4. So, large of soule, Prov. 28. 25. is proud in minde. I cannot] here the word heare, or suffer is to be understood, as is expressed, Prov. 30 21. So Ioh. 31. 23. and in Greeke, 1 Cor. 3. 2. Vers. 8. In the mornings] that is, every morning, or early: see Psal. 73. 14.