because of Yahweh's attention to His people's troubles (v.-lla); (4) promise of votive and thank-offerings for the accomplished deliverance (v.13-14). Rf. is a resolution of boastful song of praise and fearless trust in Yahweh (v.5. 116-12). BE gracious unto me, for man doth tread me down; All day long the fighter presseth me; All day long my watchful foes do tread me down; For many are fighting against me. O Most High, in the day I fear, Unto Thee I trust. Of Yahweh I boast with a word of song. In Yahweh do I put my trust without fear. What can flesh do unto me? ALL day long with words they vex me. (I Against me are all their plans. For evil they gather themselves together; they lurk; Even as they wait for my life. Because of trouble, weigh out to them. Of Yahweh I boast with a word of song. MAKE known, I recount them, Yahweh;) Mine enemies will turn backward. In the day I call, I know it. For Yahweh is for me, Of Yahweh I boast with a word of song. Of Yahweh I boast with a word of song. UPON me is (the obligation of) Thy votive offerings, For Thou hast delivered my life from death, And my feet from being pushed down, That I may walk before Yahweh In the light (of the land) of the living. Of Yahweh I boast with a word of song. Ps. 56 was in the earlier collection of an, then taken up into and E (v. Intr. §§ 25, 27, 32). The reference na ne in inna, cf. I S. 27, was in. Like all such historical references, it was not designed to indicate the circumstances of composition, but circumstances illustrating certain features of the Ps. In R it received the assignment on ba navby (v. Intr. §§ 33, 34). The Ps. is ornate, having 4 Str. 63 with Rf. 33, which is retained after There are also Strs. 1 and 3, but omitted after Strs. 2 and 4. The Ps. is a national prayer for deliverance from numerous and powerful enemies. The language and style are ancient. Words are often repeated: 7 v.2. 8, on? v.2. 8, own bɔ v.2. 3. 6, NTN v.4. 5. 12, MD) v.4. 5. 12. There are rare words: on v.2. 3, elsw. 351.1; v.2. 3, as 57a Am. 8a Ez. 363; 1 v.7 as 59a 1403 Is. 5415; 7i v.9 a.λ. dub., prob. txt. err.; app v.9 a.λ. also prob. txt. err.; n v.14 1169. rare uses of words: 1 v.3, as 929; 10w apy, phr. a.λ. v.7; but more prob. obb, as 583; own ~8 v.14, phr. elsw. Jb. 3380. 1168-9, and is therefore much earlier. The temple worship is with words of song, votive offerings, and thank-offerings, v.11. 13. have been delivered from their enemies, though they are still in peril. The Ps. dates therefore from the Babylonian period before the exile. 36 9 v.8; as 327, V.14 is cited in existence, The people Str. I. has a syn. tetrastich and an antith. couplet. -2-3. Be gracious unto me], usual petition in peril, v. 42.—for man], collective for the enemy of the nation, 920-21 1018 6613,-fighter], engaged in fighting, v. || watchful foes, v. 5o. — doth tread me down], repeated in v.3; of the trampling under foot by the victorious enemy, so 6, 3, and other Vrss., as 57', greatly to be preferred to "swallow me up," EV., which is based on a Hebrew word of similar form.-presseth me], the pressure of conflict on the battlefield; for the context shows that the fighting was still in progress. The enemy is powerful and numerous, and the danger is great.O Most High], as 3, PBV., AV., is better suited to the context than adv. "proudly," RV., which, though favoured by many moderns, is not so well sustained by Hebrew usage, and is not in accord with the position of the word, which the measure requires should be in 1. 5 and not in l. 4.—4. in the day I fear], the time of extreme peril in battle, when there was every reason to fear, I yet will trust in Yahweh. This leads to the Rf., which is a syn. couplet with a synth. line of challenge.-5. Of Yahweh I boast with a word of song]. Usage requires that we should render "boast," and not "praise," as 6, 3, EV'., due to interpreting "word" as word of promise. While this is possible, it is not suggested by the context. "His word" of is not sustained by "my words " of; but the simple "word" of 3 is sustained by v.", . Vrss. This is most naturally explained as the word of song, as Dt. 32 Pss. 181 452 1373, cf. Ju. 512 Jos. 1012. The people boast in song of the victory they are assured that Yahweh will eventually give them. trust without fear]. The trust in divine help is so firm and sure that the fear natural under the circumstances passed and no longer existed. away What can flesh do unto me?] Sure of speedy victory over foes, the poet challenges their power to do any permanent or real harm. They are but flesh, and therefore impotent to resist God. In v.12 "flesh" is changed to "man." This may have been an intentional variation of Rf., but in view of the author's style of frequent repetition, it is more probable that the variation is due to the taste of an editor. Str. II. has a syn. pentastich and a synth. line of imprecation. -6-7. with words they vex me], as J. The words are those of the enemy, as the plans are their plans. "My words" of , G, EV., interpret the words as those of the author, which might suit a reference of the Ps. to an individual, or a group of individuals; but hardly to the nation. The words are threatening words, which pass over into plans and finally into deeds of violence. For evil]. The measure requires that this should go with 1. 3 and be connected with: they gather themselves together, as the purpose of the gathering. Their activity in carrying out their evil purpose is graphically described. They lurk, hiding in ambush to spy upon the people and take them unawares; they watch my footprints, every movement that is made, following at my heels and tracing out my path.- wait for my life], in the climax. Their hope is, that they may take the life of the people of God, destroy the nation altogether. Therefore the final petition. 8. Because of trouble weigh out to them]. The enemies have made great trouble for the people of God. As deliverance had been implored in the previous Str., so here retribution upon the enemies. It is hoped that this may be weighed out in the exactness of justice. The Vrss. differ from in this line, and it is difficult to explain any of them. The difficulty originated from a copyist's mistake of a single letter, by which he gave a word meaning "escape," instead of the word meaning "weigh out." The only way to explain is as interrogatory, "shall they escape?" EV., which probably occasioned the insertion of an additional line, making the Str. too long: "In anger cast down. the peoples." Str. III. has a tristich composed of syn. couplet, a synth. line, and a synth. tristich.-9. I make known]. This emendation seems to explain, in a measure at least, the many different terms of and Vrss. This is emphasized by the cognate verb, I recount them], namely, the tears of the next line. The 1 sg. of G, S, is to be preferred to 2 sg. of , "Thou tellest," EV., "hast H, counted," Dr., Kirk. My tears are put before Thee]. So 6, which is to be preferred to H, "in Thy flask," as better suited to the context and simpler. gives a figure of speech, which is indeed striking and touching, especially if in parall. with the next clause of ,"are they not in Thy book." This is as much as to say that Yahweh not only records in His book of record the sufferings of His people; but every tear that these sufferings produce is treasured up in the flask, rather the skin bottle of the Orient, which He uses for the purpose. But this last clause is an explanatory gloss, destroying the measure, and the reference to flask, standing alone, is less probable.-10. Mine enemies will turn backward]. The attention of Yahweh to the sufferings of His people makes it certain that their enemies will be overcome, and that they will be compelled to a disastrous retreat, cf. 9' 4411. — In the day I call, I know it]. As in v., the time of extreme peril, the time of fear, was also the time of trust, so here the time when they call upon Yahweh for help is the very time in which they know that Yahweh is able to give them the deliverance they implore. This is emphasized in by the insertion of "lo," both unnecessary and at the expense of the measure. For Yahweh is for me], as PBV., AV., is to be preferred to RV., "that Yahweh is for me," connecting it with "know" in the same line as its obj., which is against the measure. Str. IV. has two syn. couplets and a synth. couplet.-13. Upon me], incumbent as a duty, or an assumed obligation, because of the deliverance granted. Thy votive offerings], sacrifices vowed and offered up in accordance with such vows, cf. 226 || thankofferings, sacrifices expressing gratitude for blessings received, cf. 5014 23; first distinguished in code of D.-14. And my feet from being pushed down]. The phr. cited 1168 is dub. But the use of the verb makes it evident that the peril was from thrusts or pushes of the enemy, which would result in his stumbling and falling prostrate in death, unless delivered. - that I may walk before Yahweh], in the presence of Yahweh, resident in His temple in D Jerusalem; the city of Jerusalem being conceived as the royal city, and the land as His land. in the light of the land of the living]. The Holy Land is a land rejoicing in the light shining forth from Yahweh's presence in the temple, and so it is the land of the living, in which those living by the favour of Yahweh truly live. An ancient copyist reduced the line to "light of the living," a phr. elsw. Jb. 3330, but it was cited before that mistake was made in 1169 as "lands of the living," cf. 2713 527 142o. The measure requires both words. 2. ] Kúρte. The divine name is a gl., making 1. too long. — ?] gl. of interpretation.-] Qal pf. v pant after, as 119181 Je. 224 146, so Du., Dr.; but KatewáτNoév μe, I conculcavit me † a×o II. v.3 57a Am. 27 (?) 84 Ez. 363, so Bä.-] coll. antith. God 85 920. 21, cf. v.5, DN v.12. — ] thrice repeated, v.2. 3. 6. It should begin the 1. v.3 as in other cases. - Qal impf. ‡pr↳ vb. Qal squeeze, oppress, as 10642 Ex. 2220 239 (E) ,so Auge,כי רבים before מרום יום inserts 68 [מָריס .3 - .64 .Ju. 218 Am which ,מֶרוּס or ממרום = 929 Most High, Cassiodorus, by txt. err., rendering åïò ü↓ovs nμépas meaning is unknown to Heb. usage. . a. c. T. A attach it as H. GA, Eusebius rd. o, but divide as , so Houb. o, should, however, go with on as the measure requires. I usually is the height of heaven, 78 105 1817, but Tos, so here I altissime, Aq., T, Quinta, Ki., Calv., AV. It is also used of heavenly beings Is. 241. Bu. gives it adverbial force, with pride, proudly, as 2, Luther, Geier, Moll., RV., Now., Kirk., with high looks, Dr., but this is the only example proposed and is dub. The measure requires o in v., and Most High gives best sense and is better sustained.-4. D] with impf. as v.10, cf. with inf. 2010, time when, graphically conceived as a day. -] Qal impf. of state; but & poßη@hσovтaι makes it prob. that we should rd. inf., capable of both interpretations.] emph. —5. = v. 118. 12, a Rf. to be inserted also after v.8a 14.] Pi. impf. v. 56; c. 2, as in 44o, boast of; c. acc. laud, praise. inserts ov¬ ↳ from 44o and interprets vb. as ¿waivέow, so I laudavi. —¬¬] 6 777, both interp. of ¬¬, I as v.11; 2d acc. after with a word, cf. p 35, etc.—wa] flesh, v. 169; for man antith. God, cf. 7839 Gn. 63 (J) Je. 175 and the phr. Pss. 658 14521 || DN v.12, which latter is prob. editorial substitution. — ] should precede wa for better measure.-6.] if obj. must be taken in the sense of affairs, Bä., Du.; but J has sermonibus 7, which is most prob.-] Pi. impf. 3 pl. i.p. ‡ [axy] vb. hurt, pain, grieve; Pi. vex, as Is. 6310; Hiph. idem Ps. 7840. has ¿ßdeλúσσovTo which translates y 57 10640 10718 119163, but improb. — ›by] emph. — ɔnavn] has two beats 3310 Je. 619 1812 2911 +.—y¬b] makes 1. too long; should go with next in emph. position, which indeed needs it. 7.] Qal impf. apoikhσovov, usual mng. sojourn, v. 55; but I congregabuntur, so Σ, T, EVa., from another stem † mng, gather together, |