HarperCollins Study Bible
Page 209
13they open wide their mouths at me,
like a ravening and roaring lion.
14I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
15my moutha is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16For dogs are all around me;
a company of evildoers encircles me.
My hands and feet have shriveled;b
17I can count all my bones.
They stare and gloat over me;
18they divide my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they cast lots.
19But you, O LORD, do not be far away!
O my help, come quickly to my aid!
20Deliver my soul from the sword,
my lifec from the power of the dog!
21Save me from the mouth of the lion!
From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescuedd me.
22I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters;e
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
23You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him;
stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24For he did not despise or abhor
the affliction of the afflicted;
he did not hide his face from me,f
but heard when Ig cried to him.
25From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
26The poorh shall eat and be satisfied;
those who seek him shall praise the LORD.
May your hearts live forever!
27All the ends of the earth shall remember
and turn to the LORD;
and all the families of the nations
shall worship before him.i
28For dominion belongs to the LORD,
and he rules over the nations.
29To him,j indeed, shall all who sleep ink the earth bow down;
before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
and I shall live for him.l
30Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord,
31andm proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,
saying that he has done it.
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a Cn: Heb strength
b Meaning of Heb uncertain
c Heb my only one
d Heb answered
e Or kindred
f Heb him
g Heb he
h Or afflicted
i Gk Syr Jerome: Heb you
j Cn: Heb They have eaten and
k Cn: Heb all the fat ones
l Compare Gk Syr Vg: Heb and he who cannot keep himself alive
m Compare Gk: Heb it will be told about the Lord to the generation, 31they will come and
22.1–31 The prayer for help of an individual in great distress (vv. 1–21a) and the song of thanksgiving and praise (vv. 22–30) that follows God’s response of deliverance (v. 21b). To the leader. See note on 4.1–8. The Deer of the Dawn may be a note about the melody. The Septuagint gives an alternate possibility, “Concerning the help at dawn,” because of the similarity of the word translated “deer” to the word for “help” in v. 19.
22.1–2 An anguished complaint to God because God is silent and absent in the petitioner’s distress.
22.1 The first part of this verse is quoted in Jesus’ cry from the cross (Mt 27.46; Mk 15.34). Groaning, better “roaring.”
22.3–5 The psalmist’s trust in God’s protection is renewed in remembering that the earlier community of faith trusted and cried out in trouble and God heard and delivered them.
22.6–8 Remembering the earlier community’s deliverance, their not being shamed, the psalmist becomes more aware of the present, as those round about mock and scorn because the one who prayed suffers without release. These verses are alluded to in the passion story of Jesus (Mt 27.39–44; Mk 15.29–32; Lk 23.35–37).
22.9–11 The memory of God’s care of the psalmist up to now is a claim of faith in the face of despair and leads to the plea for God to be present and to help. Cf. 71.6; 139.13.
22.12–21a The sufferer plunges back into the depths and recounts at length the persecutions of others and the sense of being close to death.
22.12–13 Bulls, strong bulls. See note on 7.2. Bashan was an area in Transjordan east of the Sea of Galilee noted for producing good cattle (cf. Ezek 39.18; Am 4.1). Roaring lion. Cf. 1 Pet 5.8.
22.14–15 The picture of sickness unto death may be metaphorical for severe distress or it may reflect actual illness.
22.16–18 Dogs. See vv. 12–13; note on 7.2. The picture here is of one wasted away by illness, and the taunters and persecutors already distributing the victim’s clothing as death nears (cf. Mt 27.35; Mk 15.24; Lk 23.34; Jn 19.23–24).
22.19–21a The final desperate petition for God to come and save the life of the sufferer. Dog, lion. See vv. 12–13, 16; note on 7.2.
22.21b–31 The psalmist receives a response from God and renders extravagant praise for God’s delivering help. The thanksgiving may be after God’s help has been received or in anticipation of its coming because the prayer has been answered. Words of praise (vv. 22–23, 25–27, 29–31a) are followed by reasons for such praise (vv. 24, 28, 31b) as the psalmist evokes an ever widening circle of those who should praise and worship the Lord because of such a marvelous deliverance.
22.21b Rescued, more accurately “answered.” It is likely that this point in the psalm reflects the giving by some priestly or representative figure of an oracle of salvation that is God’s promise to be with the psalmist and to help (e.g., Isa 41.8–13; cf. Ps. 35.3).
22.22–26 The community of faith in which the psalmist lives is called to praise the Lord because he has answered the prayer of the sufferer.
22.22 I will tell your name. Set on the lips of Jesus in Heb 2.12. Cf. 35.18.
22.23 Fear the LORD. See note on 34.7. Cf. 22.25.
22.24 Hide his face. See notes on 10.1; 27.9.
22.27–28 The nations of the earth are called to praise.
22.29–31 Those who have died and those yet unborn are expected to serve the Lord, who has done such a marvelous deed in saving the psalmist from death.
PSALM 23
The Divine Shepherd
A Psalm of David.
1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;a
3he restores my soul.b
He leads me in right pathsc
for his name’s sake.
4Even though I walk through the darkest valley,d
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.
5You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6Surelye goodness and mercyf shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
my whole life long.g
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a Heb waters of rest
b Or life
c Or paths of righteousness
d Or the valley of the shadow of death
e Or Only
f Or kindness
g Heb for length of days
23.1–6 A song of trust that may have been evoked by an experience of deliverance such as the one described in Ps 22.
23.1–3 The imagery of the Lord as shepherd and the people as the flock is developed here in detail (cf. 95.7; 100.3; Isa 40.11; Ezek 34.11–16; Jn 10.11, 14).
23.1 I shall not want, as Israel lacked nothing when wandering in the wilderness (Neh 9.21).
23.4 The confidence here reflects the assuring words of the oracle of salvation that came to those in distress who cried out to God: “Do not fear. I am with you” (cf. note on 22.21b). Darkest valley is an image for the experience of terrible distress or suffering, the nearness of death. Rod, a club used to fend off wild animals. Staff, an instrument to keep sheep from wandering off.
23.5–6 The image of the Lord as host conveys the psalmist’s experience of the goodness of God. These verses may reflect a sacrificial meal in thanksgiving for God’s deliverance.
23.5 You prepare…me, as God spread a table of provision for Israel in the wilderness (78.19). You anoint…oil reflects the custom of pouring oil over the head of an honored guest.
23.6 The psalmist is now pursued by God’s goodness and mercy instead of by enemies and persecutors (7.5; 71.11).
PSALM 24
Entrance into the Temple
Of David. A Psalm.
1The earth is the LORD’s and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it;
2for he has founded it on the seas,
and established it on the rivers.
3Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
4Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
who do not lift up their souls to what is false,
and do not swear deceitfully.
5They will receive blessing from the LORD,
and vindication from the God of their salvation.
6Such is the company of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob.a
Selah
7Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
8Who is the King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle.
9Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
10Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
he is the King of glory.
Selah
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a Gk Syr: Heb your face, O Jacob
24.1–10 A liturgy for entrance into the sanctuary. See Ps 15 (cf. Isa 33.14–16; Ezek 18.5–9; Mic 6.6–8).
24.1–2 A confession that everything belongs to the Lord, who created the world and everything in it. Cf. 1 Cor 10.26.
24.3–6 A question is asked, perhaps by a priest or representative figure, about the qualifications for admission into the sanctuary (v. 3), and those qualifications are then listed (v. 4). Cf. Ps 15. A final affirmation accepts these conditions as the requisites for divine blessing (vv. 5–6).
24.6 Selah. See note on 3.2.
24.7–10 The liturgy continues, but now centers on the entrance of the Lord into the city and sanctuary, presumably by means of the ark of the covenant, which, as the throne of the invisible God, accompanied the people into battle against their enemies (Num 10.35–36; 1 Sam 4.4).
24.7 The call of those who bear the ark as they approach the gates or doors.
24.8a The question posed by those at the doors.
24.8b–9 The response of those with the ark.
24.10 The question and answer repeated once more (cf. 2 Sam 6.12–15).
PSALM 25
Prayer for Guidance and for Deliverance
Of David.
1To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.
3Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
teach me your paths.
5Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
6Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for your goodness’ sake, O LORD!
8Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
11For your name’s sake, O LORD,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12Who are they that fear the LORD?
He will teach them the way that they should choose.
13They will abide in prosperity,
and their children shall possess the land.
14The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,
and he makes his covenant known to them.
15My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17Relieve the troubles of my heart,
and bring mea out of my distress.
18Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.
19Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20O guard my life, and deliver me;
do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.
22Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all its troubles.
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a Or The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me
25.1–22 This acrostic psalm (see note on 9.1–10.18), presents an individual’s prayer for help in a situation of unspecified trouble. The prayer is marked by various petitions, undergirded by reasons for God’s positive response, and it expresses trust in God’s goodness.
25.1–7 The one who trusts prays for help, direction, and forgiveness.
25.2–3 The shame of the psalmist may be in being afflicted and receiving no response from God (cf. 4.2; 22.2–8; 31.1, 17; 69.7, 19), but those who are wantonly treacherous have probably accused or persecuted the psalmist in some way.
25.4–5 A prayer for instruction in the Lord’s way.
25.6–7 A prayer for forgiveness.
25.8–15 Affirmations of the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord, the ground of the petitioner’s hope for help.
25.11 The realization of God’s faithfulness to those who keep God’s instruction (v. 10) leads the psalmist, who is mindful of failure to do that in the past, to insert a prayer for forgiveness.
25.12 Fear the LORD. See note on 34.7. Cf. 25.14.
25.15 Net. See note on 9.15.
25.16–21 Renewed and passionate pleas for deliverance and forgiveness.
25.16 For loneliness as a symptom of the suffering of those who cry for help, see 22.6; 69.8, 20; 102.7; Jer 15.17.
25.20 Refuge. See note on 2.10–12.
25.22 The prayer of an individual concludes with a prayer for the whole community in trouble (cf. 14.7; 28.9; 130.7; 131.3).
PSALM 26
Plea for Justice and Declaration of Righteousness
Of David.
1Vindicate me, O LORD,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
2Prove me, O LORD, and try me;
test my heart and mind.
3For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I w
alk in faithfulness to you.a
4I do not sit with the worthless,
nor do I consort with hypocrites;
5I hate the company of evildoers,
and will not sit with the wicked.
6I wash my hands in innocence,
and go around your altar, O LORD,
7singing aloud a song of thanksgiving,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.
8O LORD, I love the house in which you dwell,
and the place where your glory abides.
9Do not sweep me away with sinners,
nor my life with the bloodthirsty,
10those in whose hands are evil devices,
and whose right hands are full of bribes.
11But as for me, I walk in my integrity;
redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12My foot stands on level ground;
in the great congregation I will bless the LORD.
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a Or in your faithfulness
26.1–12 An individual’s prayer seeking God’s judgment of the psalmist’s righteousness. Such a prayer may be that of one who has come before God in the sanctuary seeking vindication in the face of false accusations (vv. 9–10; cf. Ps 7; 1 Kings 8.31–32) or it may be the prayer of one who seeks entrance into the sanctuary and claims to have fulfilled the requirements of a righteous life (vv. 7–8; cf. Pss 15; 24).
26.1 The initial plea to God. Vindicate me, or “judge me.”
26.2–8 The petitioner offers to be tested and submits the case for a righteous and faithful life.
26.4–5 See 1.1.
26.6–7 Washing the hands may have been part of a ritual in the sanctuary as a way of testifying to cleanness or innocence.