9 Because of this my heart is glad,
and joy shall be exprest

Ev'n by my glory and my flesh
in confidence shall rest.

10 Because my soul in grave to dwell
shall not be left by thee;

Nor wilt thou give thine holy One
corruption to see.

11 Thou wilt me shew the path of life;
of joys there is full store
Before thy face, at thy right hand
are pleasures evermore,

PSALM XVII.

Here, in the depths of distress, (1.) David appeals to God, concerning the integrity of his heart, and the justness of his cause, ver. 1,-4. (2.) He prays for establishment in grace within for tokens of divine favour from above; and for preservation from his carnal, malicious, and insolent, his restless and powerful enemies, around, ver. 5,-14. (3.) He triumphs in the assured faith of his everlasting enjoyment of, and conformity to God, ver. 15.-¶ Let me also bere look after Jesus, in whose heart was no deceit, and in whose mouth was no guile :-Jesus, who fulfilled all righteousness for me; and who, notwithstanding all the rage of devils and men, hath sat down at the right hand of God, crowned with glory and honour. Let me remember, That he, as the fore-runner, is for me entered into the mansions of bliss; and hath left me an example, that I should follow

his steps.

A Prayer of David.

1 LORD, hear the right, attend my cry, unto my pray'r give heed,

(2.) His comfortable reflections, on the integrity, which the Lord had enabled him to maintain, and on the gracious kindness of God, consequential thereupon, ver. 20,-28. (3.) His thankful ascription of all the glory of his noted exploits to God, as his director and strengthener, ver. 29,42. (4.) His triumphant faith and hope, further assistance and favour from God, to himself and to his seed, for evermore, ver. 43,-50.- -¶ But, let me not forget Jesus, to whom JEHOVAH is so closely, so marvellously, so sweetly, related:-Jesus, who so ardently loveth his eternal Father, and for ever returns the grateful remembrance of his kindness, to him and to his chosen seed, in delivering him from distress, in raising him from the dead; in rewarding his obedience unto death, in giving him glory at his own right hand, and in rendering all nations his obedient subjects.— Let me sing this new song, in the full assurance of faith, that God in Christ is my ALL and IN ALL; and with an heart ravished with the consolations of Christ, and in the sweet reviews of what he hath done, what he doth, and what he will for ever do, for my soul.

To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord, who spake unto the Lord the words of this song, in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. And he said,

1 THEE will I love, O Lord, my strength. My fortress is the Lord,

2

My rock and he that doth to me

deliverance afford:

My God, my strength, whom I will trust,

a buckler unto me,

The horn of my salvation,

and my high tower is he.

3 Upon the Lord who worthy is of praises will I cry:

And then shall I preserved be
safe from mine enemy.

4 Floods of ill men affrighted me,

death's pangs about me went. 5 Hell's sorrows me environed:

death's snares did me prevent.

6 In my distress I call'd on God,
cry to my God did I:

He from his temple heard my voice,
to his ears came my cry.

7 Th' earth, as affrighted, then did shake, trembling upon it seiz'd;

The hills' foundations moved were,
because he was displeas'd.

8 Up from his nostrils came a smoke,
and from his mouth there came
Devouring fire, and coals by it
were turned into flame.

9 He also bowed down the heav'ns,
and thence he did descend:

And thickest clouds of darkness did
under his feet attend.

10 And he upon a cherub rode,
and thereon he did fly:

Yea, on the swift wings of the wind
his flight was from on high.

11 He darkness made his secret place;
about him for his tent

Dark waters were, and thickest clouds of th' a ry firmament.

29 By thee through troops of men I break, and them discomfit all;

And, by my God assisting me,
I overleap a wall.

30 As for God, perfect is his way;
the Lord, his word is try'd;
He is a buckler to all those
who do in him confide.

31 Who but the Lord is God? but he
who is a rock and stay?

32 'Tis God that girdeth me with strength, and perfect makes my way.

33 He made my feet swift as the hinds, set me on my high places. 34 Mine hands to war he taught, mine arms brake bows of steel in pieces.

35 The shield of thy salvation

thou did'st on me bestow;

Thy right hand held me up, and great thy kindness made me grow.

36 And in my way, my steps thou hast
enlarged under me,

That I go safely, and my feet
are kept from sliding free.

37 Mine en'mies I pursued have,
and did them overtake;

Nor did I turn again, till I

an end of them did make.

38 I wounded them, they could not rise, they at my feet did fall.

39 Thou girdest me with strength for war, my foes thou brought'st down all.

40 And thou hast giv'n to me the necks
of all mine enemies :

That I might them destroy and slay
who did against me rise.

41 They cried out, but there was none
that would or could them save:
Yea, they did cry unto the Lord,
but he no answer gave.

42 Then did I beat them small as dust
before the wind that flies:

And I did cast them out like dirt
upon the street that lies.

43 Thou mad'st me free from people's strife, and heathen's head to be:

A people whom I have not known,
shall service do to me.

44 At hearing they shall me obey:
to me they shall submit.

45 Strangers for fear shall fade

who in close places sit.

away,

46 God lives, bless'd be my rock: the God of my health praised be.

47 God doth avenge me, and subdues the people under me.

48 He saves me from mine enemies:
yea, thou hast lifted me

Above my foes; and from the man
of vi'lence set me free.