Henry Ainsworth on Psalms 13

PSAL. XIII.

To the Master of the Musicke, a Psalme of David.

HOw long Iehovah wilt thou forget me for ever: how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shal I set counsels in my soule, sorrow in my heart by day: how long shall my enemie be exalted above me? Behold, answer thou me, Iehovah my God; lighten thou mine eyes, lest I sleepe the death. Lest my enemy say, I have prevailed against him; my distressers be glad when I am moved. But I, in thy mercy doe I trust, my heart shall be glad in thy salvation: I will sing to Iehovah, for he hath bounteously rewarded unto me.

Annotations. HIde thy face] that is, withdraw thy favourable countenance and comfort; which the Chaldee expoundeth, the brightnesse of thy face. This is contrary to the lifting up of the light of Gods face, Psal. 4. 7. and importeth trouble and griefe, and is caused by sinne, and is the cause of many adversities and discomforts, Deut. 31. 17. 18. Isa. 59. 2. Ezek. 39. 23, 24, 29. therefore this Prophet doth often complaine hereof, and pray against i[illegible: 1 letter], Psalm. 30. 8. and 104. 29. and 88. 15. and 69. 18. and 102. 3. and 143. 7. and 27. 9. Vers. 3. set counsels] that is, consult and devise with my selfe how to escape. by day] that is, daily; in Greeke, day and night. Vers. 4. lighten my eyes] that is, make them see cleare, and consequently, make me joyfull; for, the light of the eyes rejoyceth the heart, Prov. 15. 30. Or, keepe me alive: which sense the words following seeme to imply, and the like speeches in Prov. 29. 13. Eccles. 11. 7, 8. The eyes are said to be inlightened, when penurie, sorrow, sicknesse, or other affliction whereby they were dulled, is done away, and the senses by some meanes refreshed, 1 Sam. 14. 27. 29. Esr. 9. 8. also when ignorance is by Gods Word and Spirit done out of the minde, Psal 19. 9. Ephes. 1. 18. See also Psal. 38. 11. left I sleepe] or, that I sleepe not the death, meaning the sleepe of death, that is, lest I die. For death is often called sleepe in the Scripture, Psal. 76. 6. Iob 3. 13. and 14. 12. Act. 7. 60. and 13. [illegible: 1 letter]6. the sleepe of e[illegible: 1 letter]ernitie, Ier. 51. 39. The Chaldee paraphraseth thus, Enlighten mine eyes in thy Law, lest I sinne, and sleepe with them which are guiltie of death. Vers. 6. But I,] or, And I, as for me. bounteously rewarded.] The originall word Gamal signifieth to give one thing for another; as prosperity, after one hath beene in adversitie, &c. And though it be sometime used for rewarding evill for good, Psal. 7. 5. or evill for evill, Psalm. 137. 8. yet from God to his people, it commonly signifieth a bountiful[illegible: 1 letter] rewarding of good things, in stead of evill, which we rather doe deserve. So Psal. 116. 7. and 119. 17. and 142. 8. and 103. 2. 10. The Greeke translateth dealt bounteously; the Chaldee, rewarded me good.