1<To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David.> Happy is the man who gives thought to the poor; the Lord will be his saviour in the time of trouble. 2The Lord will keep him safe, and give him life; the Lord will let him be a blessing on the earth, and will not give him into the hand of his haters. 3The Lord will be his support on his bed of pain: by you will all his grief be turned to strength. 4I said, Lord, have mercy on me; make my soul well, because my faith is in you. 5My haters say evil against me, When will he be dead, and his name come to an end? 6If one comes to see me, deceit is in his heart; he keeps a store of evil, which he makes public in every place. 7All my haters are talking secretly together against me; they are designing my downfall. 8They say, He has an evil disease, which will not let him go: and now that he is down he will not get up again. 9Even my dearest friend, in whom I had faith, who took bread with me, is turned against me. 10But you, O Lord, have mercy on me, lifting me up, so that I may give them their punishment. 11By this I see that you have pleasure in me, because my hater does not overcome me. 12And as for me, you are my support in my righteousness, giving me a place before your face for ever. 13May the Lord God of Israel be praised, through eternal days and for ever. So be it. So be it.
Matthew Henry's Commentary
God's care for his people. (1-4) The treachery of David's enemies. (5-13) 1-4 The people of God are not free from poverty, sickness, or outward affliction, but the Lord will consider their case, and send due supplies. From his Lord's example the believer learns to consider his poor and afflicted brethren. This branch of godliness is usually recompensed with temporal blessings. But nothing is so distressing to the contrite believer, as a fear or sense of the Divine displeasure, or of sin in his heart. Sin is the sickness of the soul; pardoning mercy heals it, renewing grace heals it, and for this spiritual healing we should be more earnest than for bodily health. 5-13 We complain, and justly, of the want of sincerity, and that there is scarcely any true friendship to be found among men; but the former days were no better. One particularly, in whom David had reposed great confidence, took part with his enemies. And let us not think it strange, if we receive evil from those we suppose to be friends. Have not we ourselves thus broken our words toward God? We eat of his bread daily, yet lift up the heel against him. But though we may not take pleasure in the fall of our enemies, we may take pleasure in the making vain their designs. When we can discern the Lord's favour in any mercy, personal or public, that doubles it. If the grace of God did not take constant care of us, we should not be upheld. But let us, while on earth, give heartfelt assent to those praises which the redeemed on earth and in heaven render to their God and Saviour.