This has been happily characterised as the “ new song” promised in Ps. cxliv. 9. In other words, it is the song of praise, corresponding to the didactic, penitential, and supplicatory psalms of this series. In form it is an alphabetical psalm, and like others of that class (see p. 113), admits of no analysis, being made up of variations on a single theme, the righteousness and goodness of the Lord to men in general, to his own people in particular, and more especially to those who suffer. The letter nun is wanting, being omitted, as some suppose, for the sake of having three equal stanzas, each containing seven verses. The Septuagint supplies the omission, in a very inartificial manner, by anticipating ver. 17 before ver. 15, with a simple change of W^/iieows (p^l^) to faithful (TpJ^3.’» as in Ps. cxi. 7.
1. Praise. By David. I will exalt thee, my God, the King, and will bless thy name to eternity and perpetuity. This is the only case in which the word Praise stands alone as the designation or description of a psalm. It evidently bears an antithetical relation to the title Prayer in Ps. cxlii. 1, the rather as the Hebrew words (Tib^D and rhnPi) are still more alike than their English equivalents differing only in a single letter. I will exalt thee, as in Ps. xxx. 2 (1), where the reason is expressed that is here implied, to wit, that God had exalted him. The king, the only true king, the king of kings, by whom they are put up and down, protected and punished. See above, on Ps. cxliv. 10, and compare Ps. v. 3 (2), xx. 10 (9), xxiv. 8, 10, xxix. 10, xciii. 1, xcv. 3, xcvi. 10, xcix. 1. The regal honours paid to himself by others David here transfers as due to God alone. Bless thy name, i. e. reverently praise it. See above, on Ps. v. 12 (11), xxxiv. 2 (1), ciii. 1. For ever and ever, in reference not merely to himself but to his royal race, which is to live for ever. See above, on Ps. cxxxviii. 8.
2. Every day will I bless thee, and praise thy name to eternity and perpetuity. Compare Ps. lxviii. 20 (19), lxix. 31 (30), xcii. 2, 3. Every day denotes constancy and regularity.
3. Great (is) Jehovah, and to he praised exceedingly, and to his greatness there is no search, i. e. it is unsearchable. The first clause is quoted in Ps. xlviii. 2 (1). Greatly to he praised, as in Ps. xviii. 4 (8), xcvi. 4, cxiii. 3. His greatness, as displayed in act, his great performance or performances. See above, on Ps. lxxi, 21. With the last words of the verse compare Ps. xl. 6 (5).
4. Generation to generation lauds thy deeds, and thy mighty doings they declare. With the first clause compare Ps. xix. 3 (2). The verbs are of the future form, lauds and will laud, declare and will declare. The first verb is the one used in Ps. lxiii. 4 (3), cxvii. 1. Mighty doings, literally mights or powers, but always used, like greatness, in an active not an abstract sense. See above, on Ps. xx. 7 (6), cvi. 2. They declare may agree with men indefinitely, or with the double generation in the first clause, which, however, is there construed with a verb in the singular.
5. ipj) the beauty of the honour of thy majesty, and the words of thy wonders, I will muse (or meditate). The accumulation of synonymous expression in the first clause has been falsely represented as a proof of later date and a corrupted taste, whereas it only proves intensity of admiration. For examples of the same thing in undisputed psalms of David, see above, Ps. xviii. 3 (2), lxii. 8 (7). Beauty and majesty, as in Ps. xlv. 4 (3). Honour or ghry, as in Ps. xix. 1. Words of thy wonders are the wonders or wondrous deeds themselves, considered as subjects of discourse or celebration. See above, on Ps. lxv. 4 (3), cv. 27. I will micse, as in Ps. lxxvii. 13 (12), cxix. 15, 23, 27, 48, 78, 148.
6. And the force of thy dread (deeds) they utter—and (as to) thy greatness, I will recount it. Dread, literally feared, and then to he feared, as praised means to be praised in ver. 3 above. Utter, literally say precisely as in Ps. xl. 11 (10). Greatness, or according to the reading in the text of the Hebrew Bible, greatnesses, i.e. great deeds, as mights means mighty deeds in A’er. 5.
7. The memory of thy great goodness they pour forth, and (of) thy righteousness they sing (or shout). Memory, as in Ps. vi. 6 (5). Great goodness is the order of the words not only in English but in Hebrew, where it is unusual. See above, on Ps. lxxxix. 51 (50). Pour forth, as in Ps. xix. 3 (2), lxxviii. 2. Compare Ps. lix. 8 (7). Thy righteousness, as in Ps. xxxi. 2 (1), li. 16 (14), cxliii. 1. Sing or sho^d for joy. The construction is like that in Ps. li. 16 (14), lix. 17 (16).
8. Gracious and compassionate (is) Jehovah, slow to anger and great (in) mercy. Compare Ps. lxxxvi. 15 (14), ciii. 8, cxi. 4. Instead of the usual expression (y^) much or abundant, we have here great, in allusion to its previous use in ver, 3, 6.
9. Good (is) Jehovah to all, and his compassions (are) over all his worlcs. All, literally the all, the whole universe. See above, on Ps. cxix. 91. Over or upon, the first suggesting the idea of a covering, the second that of a descent from above. His workt, the things which he has made, his creatures. Sie above, on Ps. ciii. 22. I he argument implied is, how much more to his own people, the creatures of his grace. See above, on Ps. cxxxviii. 8.
10. All thy creatures, 0 Jehovah, praise (or thank) thee, and thy saints bless thee. The future forms, as usual, denote that it is so and will be so. The superfluous H in the last word is an orthographical peculiarity like that in Ps. cxxxix. 3, cxl. 8, cxli. 8. As saints (or gracious ones) are more than creatures, so to bless is more than to praise. See above, on ver, 1.
11. The glory of thy reign they utter, and thy might they speak. Compare Ps. ciii. 19. Thy reign or kingdom, which is universal. The whole phrase may mean thy royal dignity or honour.
12. To make known to the sons of man his mighty deeds, and the glory of the majesty of his reign (or kingdom). Some give the infinitive the force of a gemnd, hy making known; but the true sense seems to be, so as to (or so that they) make known. See above, on Ps. lxxviii. 18.
13. Thy reign is a reign of all eternities, and thy dominion in generation and generation. These words are also found in Dan. iii. 33, iv. 31. The meaning of the last clause is, thy dominion still exists and shall exist in every successive generation.
14. An upholder (is) Jehovah for all the falling, a lifter up for all the bowed down. The first word in each clause is properly a participle, here used as a noun, and therefore followed by the preposition to or for. Translated in either way, the words necessarily suggest the idea of habitual action. With the first clause compare Ps. xxxvii. 17, 24, liv. 6 (4), cxix. 116.
15. The eyes of all unto thee (look and) wait, and thou givest them their food in its season. The verb in the first clause means to wait, expect, or hope, but is here construed with the preposition to or towards, which implies the act of turning or looking to the object confided in. Givest, literally giving, i. e. (art habitually) giving. See above, on Ps. civ. 27, where these words are quoted.
16. Opening thy hand and satisfying to every living (thing its) desire, or the desire of every living thing. Another construction, preferred by some interpreters, is, satisfying (giving satisfaction) to every living thing (in its) desire, viz. that which it desires. See the imitation of this verse in Ps. civ. 28, and compare Ps. ciii. 5, Acts xiv. 17. The words satisfy and will (or desire) are combined, as here, in Deut. xxxiii. 23.
17. Righteous (is) Jehovah in all his icaijs and merciful in all his works. Justice and mercy are not mentioned here as opposites, but rather as equivalents, the goodness of God being really included in the rectitude so fi-equently ascribed to him.
18. Near (is) Jehovah to all calling upon him, to all calling upon him in truth, i. e. sincerely, with importunate desire and strong confidence. With this verse compare Ps. xxxiv. 7, 19.
19. The will of his fearers he wvl do, and their cry he will hear, and will save them. He will do what they desire, or gi-ant their prayer, especially their prayer for help in time of danger and distress, as intimated in the last clause. Compare Ps. xxxiv. 10, 16 (9, 15), xxxvii. 40.
20. Jehovah keeps all that love him, and all the wicked will he destroy. The fearers of ver. 19 and the lovers of this verse are identical, which shews that godly fear and love are not incompatible. Keeps, literally keeping, as in ver. 15, from all danger and distress, preserving.
21. The praise of Jehovah shall my mouth speak, and all flesh shall bless his holy name for ever, or retaining the idiomatic form of the original, all flesh shall bless the name of his holiness (or his name of holiness) to eternity and perpetuity. The use of the word praise connects this verse with the title or inscription in ver. 1, which is thereby justified or proved to be correct. All flesh, as in Ps. lxv. 3 (2).’ His holy name, as in Ps. xxxiii. 21.
