1 To the chiefe musician vpon Nehiloth, A Psalme of Dauid. Giue eare to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.
2 Hearken vnto the voice of my crie, my King, and my God: for vnto thee will I pray.
3 My voyce shalt thou heare in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer vnto thee, and will looke vp.
4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickednesse: neither shall euill dwell with thee.
5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest al workers of iniquity
6 Thou shalt destroy them that speake leasing: the Lord will abhorre the bloodie and deceitfull man.
7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy feare will I worship toward thy holy temple.
8 Lead me O Lord, in thy righteousnesse, because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
9 For there is no faithfulnes in their mouth, their inward part is very wickednesse: their throat is an open sepulchre, they flatter with their tongue.
10 Destroy thou them, O God, let them fall by their owne counsels: cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they haue rebelled against thee.
11 But let all those that put their trust in thee, reioyce: let them euer shout for ioy; because thou defendest them: let them also that loue thy name, be ioyfull in thee.
12 For thou, Lord, wilt blesse the righteous: with fauour wilt thou compasse him as with a shield.
God will certainly hear prayer: David gives to God the glory, and takes to himself the comfort. (1-6) He prayed for himself, that God would guide him, and for all the Lord's people, that God would give them joy, and keep them safe. (7-12)
1-6 God is a prayer-hearing God. Such he has always been, and he is still as ready to hear prayer as ever. The most encouraging principle of prayer, and the most powerful plea in prayer, is, to look upon him as our King and our God. David also prays to a sin-hating God. sin is folly, and sinners are the greatest of all fools; fools of their own making. Wicked people hate God; justly are they hated of him, and this will be their endless misery and ruin. Let us learn the importance of truth and sincerity, in all the affairs of life. Liars and murderers resemble the devil, and are his children, therefore it may well be expected that God should abhor them. These were the characters of David's enemies; and such as these are still the enemies of Christ and his people.
7-12 David prayed often alone, yet was very constant in attendance on public worship. The mercy of God should ever be the foundation both of our hope and of our joy, in every thing wherein we have to do with him. Let us learn to pray, not for ourselves only, but for others; grace be with all that love Christ in sincerity. The Divine blessing comes down upon us through Jesus Christ, the righteous or just One, as of old it did upon Israel through David, whom God protected, and placed upon the throne. Thou, O Christ, art the righteous Saviour, thou art the King of Israel, thou art the Fountain of blessing to all believers; thy favour is the defence and protection of thy church.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.