Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 140

1 DEliver, me, O LORD, from the evil man : preserve me from the violent man.

Either Saul or Doeg or some other malicious enemy, or rather enemies: the word man being taken collectively for men, as appears from the next verse, where he speaks of this man in the Plural number.

Marginal references: Heb. man of violences.

2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart: continually are they gathered together for war .

To execute those bloody enterprises which they had devised in the first clause of this verse.

3 They have sharpned their tongues like a serpent ; adders poison is under their lips.

Their malicious hearts stirred up their tongues to utter vile slanders against me.

Either whetting their tongues as serpents are said to whet theirs when they are about to bite: or rather, using words as sharp and piercing as the sting of a serpent.

Marginal references: Psal. 58. 4▪ Rom. 3. 13.

4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked, preserve me from the violent man, who have purposed to overthrow my goings .

Whose design and full resolution it is, if thou dost not prevent it.

Or, my [illegible: 1+ letters]eet or footsteps, i. e. to throw me down to the ground, to defeat all my hopes and counsels, and bring me to ruine.

5 The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords, they have spread a net by the way side : they have set grins for me. Selah.

My in[illegible: 1+ letters]olent enemies who despise me for my meanness, and exalt themselves against thee.

In which I used to walk.

Marginal references: Psal. 35. 7. & 57. 6. & 141. 9. Jer. 18. 22.; Heb. hand.

7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation; thou hast covered my head in the day of battel.

With thy powerful protection as with an helmet or shield.

8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked, further not his wicked device , lest they exalt themselves . Selah.

Which is to destroy me.

Not onely against me, but against thee also, as if by their power and policy they had frustrated thy design and promise made to me.

Marginal references: Or, let them not be exalted.; Deut. 32. 27.

9 As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them .

Or, beads, the Singular number put for the Plural, as is frequent. By which he understands either, 1. their politick heads, their chiefs or ring-leaders, who were most malicious, and by whom all the rest were supported and stirred▪ up: or, 2. their proper and natural heads, as this word is▪ used v. 7. and this covering of their heads here is opposed to that covering of Davids head there.

Let the mischief which by their calumnies they design against me, fall upon themselves.

Marginal references: Psal. 7. 16. & 94. 23. Prov. 12. 13. & 18. 7.

10 Let burning coals fall upon them, let them be cast into the fire: into deep pits, that they rise not up again .

Divine vengeance, which is compared to coals of fire, as Psal. 18. 12. and elsewhere.

Either to my danger, or to their own comfort.

Marginal references: Psal. 11. 6.

11 Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

Such as slander me and other innocent persons, to exasperate Princes against us.

Either the evil of punishment, or, which comes to the same thing, the evil of sin, their own wickedness, which shall recoil upon themselves.

Marginal references: Heb. a man of tongue.; Or, an evil speaker, a wicked man of violence be established in the [illegible: 1+ letters]arth: let him be hunted to his overthrow.

12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.

Both by Gods word which hath promised it, and by my own experience of it in the course of Gods providence.

13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy Name , the upright shall dwell in thy presence .

Shall have occasion to praise thee for their deliverance.

Shall constantly enjoy thy gracious and powerful presence and assistance.