Verse 6
Respect - A due respect, which implies hearty affection, diligent study, and constant practice. To all - So as not to allow myself in any known sin, or in the neglect of any known duty.
Verse 7
When - When by thy good spirit I shall he more fitly instructed in the meaning of thy word.
Verse 8
Forsake me not - For then I shall fall into the foulest sins.
Verses 9–10
A young man - Or, any man. But he names the young man, because such are commonly void of wisdom and experience, and exposed to many and great temptations. Cleanse - Purge himself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit.
Verses 11–16
Hid - I have laid it up in my mind like a choice treasure, to be ready upon all occasions to counsel, quicken or caution me.
Verse 17
Live - Safely and comfortably.
Verse 18
Open - Enlighten my mind by the light of thy Holy Spirit, and dispel all ignorance and error. Behold - Those great and marvellous depths of Divine wisdom and goodness, and those profound mysteries of Christ, and God's grace to mankind, and of that everlasting state, which are not to be known but by Divine illumination.
Verse 19
A stranger - I am not here as in my home, but as a pilgrim travelling homeward in a strange land. Commandments - Which are my chief support and guide in my pilgrimage.
Verse 20
Breaketh - Faints, as it frequently does, when a thing vehemently desired is delayed. Judgments - To a more sound knowledge and serious practice of them.
Verses 21–24
The proud - Obstinate and presumptuous sinners, who sin with an high hand. Err - Or, wander, knowingly or wilfully.
Verse 25
The dust - I am in danger of present death: I am like one laid in the grave. Quicken - Preserve my life, or raise me out of the dust. Word - According to thy promise.
Verse 26
My ways - My sins; and all my cares, and fears, and troubles.
Verse 27
Understand - More throughly.
Verse 28
Melteth - Like wax before the fire.
Verse 29
Grant me - Vouchsafe me an accurate knowledge of thy word, and let me govern myself by it in all things.
Verses 30–31
Laid - Or, set before me as a mark to aim at; as a rule to direct me.
Verses 32–35
Run - I will obey thy precepts with all readiness, fervency, and diligence. Enlarge - When thou shalt replenish my heart with wisdom, and love to thee and thy law.
Verse 36
Covetousness - He mentions this in particular, because it is most opposite to God's testimonies, and does most commonly hinder men from receiving his word, and from profiting by it: and because it is most pernicious, as being the root of all evil.
Verse 37
Vanity - The vain things of this present world, such as riches, honours, pleasures: from beholding them, with desire or affection. Quicken - Make me lively, vigorous and fervent in thy service.
Verse 38
Stablish - Confirm and perform thy promises.
Verse 39
I fear - For my instability in thy ways; which in respect to my own weakness, I have great cause to fear.
Verses 40–42
Longed - After a more solid knowledge and constant performance of them. In - According to thy faithfulness.
Verses 43–44
Take not - Do not deal so with me, that I shall be ashamed to mention thy word. Judgments - In thy word.
Verses 45–47
At liberty - Enjoy great freedom and comfort in thy ways.
Verse 48
Lift up - To receive and embrace thy precepts and promises.
Verses 49–51
Thy word - Thy promises.
Verse 52
Judgments - Thy ancient dispensations to the children of men in punishing the ungodly.
Verse 53
Horror - A mixed passion, made up of abhorrence of their sins, and dread and sorrow at the consideration of the judgments of God coming upon them.
Verse 54
The house - In this world, wherein I am a stranger and pilgrim, as all my fathers were.
Verse 55
Thy name - Thy holy nature and attributes, thy blessed word, and thy wonderful works. In the night - When darkness causes fear in others, I took pleasure in remembering thee; and when others gave themselves up to sleep, my thoughts and affections were working towards thee.
Verse 56
This - This comfortable remembrance.
Verses 57–58
Said - I have professed and owned it.
Verses 59–60
Thought - I seriously considered both my former courses, and my duty in all my future actions.
Verses 61–65
Robbed - Done me many injuries, for my respect to thy law.
Verses 66–69
Judgment - Whereby I may rightly discern between truth and falsehood. Knowledge - A spiritual experimental knowledge.
Verses 70–73
Fat - They are stupid and insensible.
Verse 74
Glad - For the encouragement they have by my example to trust in God. See me - Alive and in safety. Word - In thy promise, and have not been disappointed of my hope.
Verses 75–78
Judgments - Thy corrections. Of faithfulness - In pursuance of thy promises, and in order to my good.
Verse 79
Known - Loved and practised them.
Verse 80
Sound - That I may love and obey them sincerely, constantly, and universally.
Verses 81–82
Fainteth - With long desire and earnest expectation.
Verse 83
Bottle - A leathern bottle. My natural moisture is dryed and burnt up.
Verse 84
The days - The days of my life. I have but a little while to live; give me some respite before I die.
Verse 85
Who - Who have no respect to thy law.
Verses 86–88
Faithful - Just and true.
Verses 89–90
In heaven - With thee in thy heavenly habitation.
Verses 91–95
They - The heaven and the earth. Ordinances - As thou hast appointed. For - All things are subject to thy power and pleasure.
Verses 96–99
Perfection - Of the greatest and most perfect enjoyments in this world. Commandment - Thy word; one part of it being put for the whole. Broad - Or, large, both for extent, and for continuance: it is useful to all persons: it is of everlasting truth and efficacy; it will never deceive those who trust to it, as all worldly things will, but will make men happy both here and for ever.
Verses 100–101
Because - The practice of religion is the best way to understand it.
Verses 102–107
Taught me - By thy blessed spirit, illuminating my mind, and working upon my heart.
Verse 108
Offerings - The sacrifices of prayer and praise.
Verses 109–117
Is - Exposed to perpetual danger.
Verses 118–120
Deceit - Their deceitful devices, shall bring that destruction upon themselves which they design for others.
Verse 121
Judgment, &c. - Just judgment.
Verse 122
Surety - Do thou undertake and plead my cause.
Verses 123–125
The word - For the performance of thy faithful or merciful promise.
Verse 126
To work - To put forth thy power for the restraint of evil - doers. They - The wicked. Made void - Or, abrogated thy law, have openly cast off its authority.
Verses 127–128
Therefore - Because the general apostacy of others makes this duty more necessary.
Verses 129–130
Wonderful - In regard of the deep mysteries, the most excellent directions, and the exceeding great and precious promises of God contained in them.
Verses 131–132
Panted - I thirst after thy precepts, and pursue them eagerly.
Verses 133–135
Steps - My motions and actions.
Verses 136–139
Rivers - Plentiful tears, witness of my deep sorrow for God's dishonour, and for the miseries which sinners bring upon themselves.
Verses 140–141
Pure - Without the least mixture of falsehood.
Verse 142
Everlasting - The same in all ages and places.
Verses 143–147
Trouble - Outward troubles and anguish of spirit.
Verse 148
Watches - The middle watch, which was set in the middle of the night; and the morning watch, which was set some hours before the dawning of the day.
Verse 149
Judgment - According to thy word.
Verses 150–151
Nigh - To me, they are at hand and ready to seize upon me. Are far - They cast away from them all thoughts of thy law.
Verses 152–159
Of old - By long experience. Founded - Thou hast established them upon everlasting foundations.
Verse 160
The beginning - From the beginning of the world.
Verses 161–163
But - But I feared thine offence and displeasure more than their wrath.
Verse 164
Seven times - Many times; a certain number being put for an uncertain.
Verses 165–174
Offend - Heb. they shall have no stumbling - block, at which they shall stumble and fall into mischief.
Verses 175–176
Judgments - Thy word or testimonies, which are the only ground of my hope in thy help.