Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 64

1. HEar my voyce, O God, in my prayer, preserve my Life from fear of the enemy.

(i. e.) From Danger: The Act or Passion of Fear, being oft put for its Object, Danger, as Psal. 14. 5. 1 Pet. 3. 14. and oft elsewhere.

2. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity.

(i. e.) From the ill Effects of their Plots against me.

3. Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows , even bitter words .

Of which Phrase see the notes on Psal. 58. 7.

slanderous and pernicious Speeches against me.

Marginal references: Psal. 11. [illegible: 1+ letters].; Psal. 57. 4.

4. That they may shoot in secret at the perfect : suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not .

Lying in Ambush, or hiding themselves in secret places, as Fowlers commonly do.

Or, upright Man; (i. e.) At me, who in spight of all their Calumnies, dare avow that my Heart is perfect with God, and that I am blameless as to them, having given them no just Provocation.

At the very first Opportunity.

Neither men, because they conceal it from them, as appears from the foregoing and following Words; nor God, whose Judgments they despise.

5. They encourage themselves in an evil matter; they commune of laying snares privily: they say, who shall see them ?

Heb. They strengthen, or sortisie themselves, by firm Resolutions, by assured Confidence of Success, by Uniting their Counsels and Forces together, and by mutual Encouragements and Exhortation[illegible: 1+ letters].

Their snares are so secretly laid that David cannot discern, and therefore not avoid them.

Marginal references: Or, Speech.; Heb. to hide Sna[illegible: 1+ letters]es.

6. They search out iniquities , they accomplish a diligent search , both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart is deep .

They study Diligently and Constantly, to find out either Matter, which they may lay to my Charge, or new Ways and means of doing me Mischief.

They have long and accurately searched, till at last they have Ripened and perfected their Thoughts, and found out a very cunning and deep Plot. Or, they say, we have accomplished our accurate search. By long searching we have at last found what we desired.

Mine Enemies are not onely Cruel and Malicious, but also very Cunning, both to Contrive and Conceal, and to execute their Plots.

Marginal references: Or, we [illegible: 1 word] Consumed by that which they heart throughly searched.; Heb. a part searched.

7. But God shall shoot at them with an arrow, suddenly shall they be wounded.

Though I can neither search out, or prevent their subtil Devises, yet God can and will certainly do it.

Shortly and unexpectedly.

Marginal references: Heb. their Wound shall be.

8. So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves ; all that see them, shall flee away .

The Mischief of their hard Speeches and Threats, and Crafty Counsels against me, shall be turned against themselves.

Partly, through Abhorrency of them; and Partly, through Fear of being involved in their Destruction.

9. And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God ; for they shall wisely consider of his doing .

(i. e.) A greater number of those who shall see these Events.

(i. e.) This admirable work of divine Power and Wisdom, and Faithfulness.

Learning Wisdom by their Folly and Misery, and avoiding those Evil Courses, which brought them to Ruin.

10. The righteous shall be glad in the LORD , and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory .

Or, for the Lord, (i. e.) Not out of Malice or ill Will to the Persons of their Enemies, but for the Honour of God, which by this means is fully Vindicated, and greatly advanced.

To wit, in God, as their sure Rock and all-sufficient Portion.