Henry Ainsworth on Psalms 111

PSAL. CXI.

1 Halelu-jah.

I Will confesse Iehovah, with all the heart: in the secret of the righteous, and assembly.

2 Great are the actions of Iehovah, sought out of all that delight in them.

3 Glorious majesty, and comely honour is his worke, and his justice standeth to perpetuall aye.

4 He hath made a memoriall of his marvellous workes; gracious and pittifull is Iehovah.

5 He hath given a prey to them that feare him: hee will remember his covenant for ever.

6 He hath shewed to his people the able power of his actions, in giving to them the inheritance of the heathens.

7 The actions of his hands are truth and judgement; faithfull are all his precepts.

8 Stablished they are for aye for ever, done in truth and righteousnesse.

9 Hee sent redemption to his people, hee hath commanded his covenant for ever; holy and fearefull is his name.

10 The beginning of wisedome is the feare of Iehovah; good prudency have all they that doe them: his praise standeth to perpetuall aye.

Annotations. HAlelu-jah] Praiseye Iah. This Psalme setteth forth the praises of God, and is composed after the order of the Hebrew Alphabet, every sentence beginning with a severall letter. So also the Psalme following. See Psal. 25. 1. the secret] or Councell; see Psal. 64. 3. and 89. 8. Vers. 2. sought out] that is, regarded and cared for; so Isa. 62. 12. a citie sought out, that is, cared for, as Deut. 11. 12. Or sought out, that is, found, or manifested unto, as Isa. 65. 1. compared with Rom. 10. 20. Or sought, that is, worthy to be sought, as Praised, Psal. 18. 4. for praise-worthy. of all that delight] or for all their delights, that is, the delights and pleasures of Gods workes are such, as they are worthy to be sought into. The originall may beare either sense. Vers. 3. Majestie] that is, most maj[illegible: 1 letter]sticall and honourable. standeth] that is, continueth, or abideth firme, as 1 Sam. 16. 22, Psal. 102. 27. and 33. 11. 2 Cor. 9. 9. from Psal. 112. 9. Vers. 5. a prey] that is, a portion of meat, or food, as the Greeke and Chaldee explaine it. So Prov. 31. 15. Mal. 3. 10. Vers. 6. in giving] or, to give unto them. Vers. 7. faithfull] or sure, constant: see Ps. 19. 8. Vers. 9. redemption] or deliverance; which meaneth both a riddance from the evils wherein they have beene, Deut. 7. 8. and 15. 15. Psal. 25. 22. and 130. 8. and a preservation from the evils whereinto the wicked fall, Exod. 8. 23. Psal. 49. 7, 16. and 119. 134. Vers. 10. beginning] the first, chiefe and principall, either in time or dignity. So, the first, Marke 12. 28. for the great commandement, Matth. 22. 36. prudenci[illegible: 1 letter]] understanding, or successe and felicitie, which commonly followeth prudency, Prov. 3. 4. have all] or, shall be to all. doe them] the precepts mentioned, vers. 7. or, these things generally. The Greeke saith, doe it, meaning the covenant, vers. 9. his] that is, Gods praise, of whom this Psalme is composed, vers. 1, &c. standeth] that is, abideth or continueth, as vers. 3.