1 O Lord God, to whome vengeance belongeth: O God to whome vengeance belongeth, shew thy selfe.
2 Lift vp thy selfe, thou iudge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.
3 Lord, how long shall the wicked? how long shall the wicked triumph?
4 How long shal they vtter, and speake hard things? and all the workers of iniquitie boast themselues?
5 They breake in pieces thy people, O Lord: and afflict thine heritage.
6 They slay the widowe and the stranger: and murder the fatherlesse.
7 Yet they say, The Lord shall not see: neither shall the God of Iacob regard it.
8 Understand, yee brutish among the people: and ye fooles, when will ye be wise?
9 He that planted the eare, shall he not heare? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
10 He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? hee that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man: that they are vanitie.
12 Blessed is the man whome thou chastenest, O Lord: and teachest him out of thy Law:
13 That thou mayest giue him rest from the dayes of aduersitie: vntill the pit be digged for the wicked.
14 For the Lord will not cast off his people: neither will he forsake his inheritance.
15 But iudgement shall returne vnto righteousnesse: and all the vpright in heart shall follow it.
16 Who will rise vp for mee against the euill doers? or who will stand vp for me against the workers of iniquitie?
17 Unlesse the Lord had bene my helpe: my soule had almost dwelt in silence.
18 When I said, My foote slippeth: thy mercie, O Lord, held me vp.
19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soule.
20 Shal the throne of iniquitie haue fellowship with thee: which frameth mischiefe by a lawe?
21 They gather themselues together against the soule of the righteous: and condemne the innocent blood.
22 But the Lord is my defence: and my God is the rocke of my refuge.
23 And hee shall bring vpon them their owne iniquitie, and shall cut them off in their owne wickednesse: yea the Lord our God shall cut them off.
The danger and folly of persecutors. (1-11) Comfort and peace to the persecuted. (12-23)
1-11 We may with boldness appeal to God; for he is the almighty Judge by whom every man is judged. Let this encourage those who suffer wrong, to bear it with silence, committing themselves to Him who judges righteously. These prayers are prophecies, which speak terror to the sons of violence. There will come a day of reckoning for all the hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against God, his truths, and ways, and people. It would hardly be believed, if we did not witness it, that millions of rational creatures should live, move, speak, hear, understand, and do what they purpose, yet act as if they believed that God would not punish the abuse of his gifts. As all knowledge is from God, no doubt he knows all the thoughts of the children of men, and knows that the imaginations of the thoughts of men's hearts are only evil, and that continually. Even in good thoughts there is a want of being fixed, which may be called vanity. It concerns us to keep a strict watch over our thoughts, because God takes particular notice of them. Thoughts are words to God.
12-23 That man is blessed, who, under the chastening of the Lord, is taught his will and his truths, from his holy word, and by the Holy Spirit. He should see mercy through his sufferings. There is a rest remaining for the people of God after the days of their adversity, which shall not last always. He that sends the trouble, will send the rest. The psalmist found succour and relief only in the Lord, when all earthly friends failed. We are beholden, not only to God's power, but to his pity, for spiritual supports; and if we have been kept from falling into sin, or shrinking from our duty, we should give him the glory, and encourage our brethren. The psalmist had many troubled thoughts concerning the case he was in, concerning the course he should take, and what was likely to be the end of it. The indulgence of such contrivances and fears, adds to care and distrust, and renders our views more gloomy and confused. Good men sometimes have perplexed and distressed thoughts concerning God. But let them look to the great and precious promises of the gospel. The world's comforts give little delight to the soul, when hurried with melancholy thoughts; but God's comforts bring that peace and pleasure which the smiles of the world cannot give, and which the frowns of the world cannot take away. God is his people's Refuge, to whom they may flee, in whom they are safe, and may be secure. And he will reckon with the wicked. A man cannot be more miserable than his own wickedness will make him, if the Lord visit it upon him.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.