1 A Psalme of Dauid. Fret not thy selfe because of euill doers, neither bee thou enuious against the workers of iniquitie.
2 For they shall soone be cut downe like the grasse; and wither as the greene herbe.
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verely thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thy selfe also in the Lord; and he shall giue thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way vnto the Lord: trust also in him, and he shall bring it to passe.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousnes as the light, and thy iudgement as the noone day.
7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thy selfe because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked deuices to passe.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thy selfe in any wise to doe euill.
9 For euil doers shall be cut off: but those that waite vpon the Lord, they shall inherite the earth.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not bee: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11 But the meeke shall inherite the earth: and shall delight themselues in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plotteth against the iust, and gnasheth vpon him with his teeth.
13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is comming.
14 The wicked haue drawen out the sword, and haue bent their bow to cast downe the poore and needy, and to slay such as be of vpright conuersation.
15 Their sword shall enter into their owne heart, and their bowes shall be broken.
16 A little that a righteous man hath, is better then the riches of many wicked.
17 For the armes of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord vpholdeth the righteous.
18 The Lord knoweth the dayes of the vpright: and their inheritance shall be for euer.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the euill time: and in the dayes of famine they shalbe satisfied.
20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambes: they shall consume: into smoke shall they consume away.
21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not againe: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giueth.
22 For such as be blessed of him, shall inherite the earth: and they that be cursed of him, shalbe cut off.
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.
24 Though hee fall, he shall not be vtterly cast downe: for the Lord vpholdeth him with his hand.
25 I haue bene yong, and now am old; yet haue I not seene the righteous forsaken, nor his seede begging bread.
26 He is euer mercifull, and lendeth: and his seede is blessed.
27 Depart from euill, and doe good; and dwell for euermore.
28 For the Lord loueth iudgement, and forsaketh not his Saints, they are preserued for euer: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherite the land, and dwell therein for euer.
30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisedome; and his tongue talketh of iudgement.
31 The Law of his God is in his heart: none of his steps shall slide.
32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
33 The Lord will not leaue him in his hand, nor condemne him when he is iudged.
34 Wait on the Lord, and keepe his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
35 I haue seene the wicked in great power: and spreading himselfe like a greene bay tree.
36 Yet he passed away, and loe he was not: yea, I sought him, but hee could not be found.
37 Marke the perfect man, and behold the vpright: for the end of that man is peace.
38 But the transgressours shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shalbe cut off.
39 But the saluation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
40 And the Lord shall helpe them and deliuer them: he shall deliuer them from the wicked, and saue them because they trust in him.
David persuades to patience and confidence in God, by the state of the godly and of the wicked.
1-6 When we look abroad we see the world full of evil-doers, that flourish and live in ease. So it was seen of old, therefore let us not marvel at the matter. We are tempted to fret at this, to think them the only happy people, and so we are prone to do like them: but this we are warned against. Outward prosperity is fading. When we look forward, with an eye of faith, we shall see no reason to envy the wicked. Their weeping and wailing will be everlasting. The life of religion is a believing trust in the Lord, and diligent care to serve him according to his will. It is not trusting God, but tempting him, if we do not make conscience of our duty to him. A man's life consists not in abundance, but, Thou shalt have food convenient for thee. This is more than we deserve, and it is enough for one that is going to heaven. To delight in God is as much a privilege as a duty. He has not promised to gratify the appetites of the body, and the humours of the fancy, but the desires of the renewed, sanctified soul. What is the desire of the heart of a good man? It is this, to know, and love, and serve God. Commit thy way unto the Lord; roll thy way upon the Lord, so the margin reads it. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, the burden of thy care. We must roll it off ourselves, not afflict and perplex ourselves with thoughts about future events, but refer them to God. By prayer spread thy case and all thy cares before the Lord, and trust in him. We must do our duty, and then leave the event with God. The promise is very sweet: He shall bring that to pass, whatever it is, which thou has committed to him.
7-20 Let us be satisfied that God will make all to work for good to us. Let us not discompose ourselves at what we see in this world. A fretful, discontented spirit is open to many temptations. For, in all respects, the little which is allotted to the righteous, is more comfortable and more profitable than the ill-gotten and abused riches of ungodly men. It comes from a hand of special love. God provides plentifully and well, not only for his working servants, but for his waiting servants. They have that which is better than wealth, peace of mind, peace with God, and then peace in God; that peace which the world cannot give, and which the world cannot have. God knows the believer's days. Not one day's work shall go unrewarded. Their time on earth is reckoned by days, which will soon be numbered; but heavenly happiness shall be for ever. This will be a real support to believers in evil times. Those that rest on the Rock of ages, have no reason to envy the wicked the support of their broken reeds.
21-33 The Lord our God requires that we do justly, and render to all their due. It is a great sin for those that are able, to deny the payment of just debts; it is a great misery not to be able to pay them. He that is truly merciful, will be ever merciful. We must leave our sins; learn to do well, and cleave to it. This is true religion. The blessing of God is the spring, sweetness, and security of all earthly enjoyments. And if we are sure of this, we are sure not to want any thing good for us in this world. By his grace and Holy Spirit, he directs the thoughts, affections, and designs of good men. By his providence he overrules events, so as to make their way plain. He does not always show them his way for a distance, but leads them step by step, as children are led. God will keep them from being ruined by their falls, either into sin or into trouble, though such as fall into sin will be sorely hurt. Few, if any, have known the consistent believer, or his children, reduced to abject, friendless want. God forsakes not his saints in affliction; and in heaven only the righteous shall dwell for ever; that will be their everlasting habitation. A good man may fall into the hands of a messenger of Satan, and be sorely buffeted, but God will not leave him in his enemy's hands.
34-40 Duty is ours, and we must mind it; but events are God's, we must refer the disposal of them to him. What a striking picture is in ver. #35,36|, of many a prosperous enemy of God! But God remarkably blights the projects of the prosperous wicked, especially persecutors. None are perfect in themselves, but believers are so in Christ Jesus. If all the saint's days continue dark and cloudy, his dying day may prove comfortable, and his sun set bright; or, if it should set under a cloud, yet his future state will be everlasting peace. The salvation of the righteous will be the Lord's doing. He will help them to do their duties, to bear their burdens; help them to bear their troubles well, and get good by them, and, in due time, will deliver them out of their troubles. Let sinners then depart from evil, and do good; repent of and forsake sin, and trust in the mercy of God through Jesus Christ. Let them take his yoke upon them, and learn of him, that they may dwell for evermore in heaven. Let us mark the closing scenes of different characters, and always depend on God's mercy.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.