thy works; i.e. thy doings generally. And on thee, both sleeping and we.king, nor that my soul knoweth right well. The ever find the snbject of my thought ex- extent of the marvellonsness I moy not be hausted. e.ble to comprehend; but at lenst 1 know Ver. 19.-Burely thou wilt slay the the fact the.t they are marvellous. That wioked, 0 Goj; or," Oh that thou wouldst fact I know."right well." slay the wicked ! " ( comp. Pas. v. 6, 10; vii. Ver. 15.-llly substance was not hid from 9-13; ix. 19; x. 15; xxi. 8-12, etc.). thee, when I was made in seoret. The Depart from me therefore, ye bloody men formation of the embryo in the womb seems (comp. Ps. cxix. 115). There is no fellow- to be intended. This remains as much e. ship between light and darknesd, between mystery as ever, notwithstanding all the the wicked and the God-fearing. pryings of modern science. And cuxiously Ver. 20.-l!'or they speak against thee wrought; litere.lly, and embroidered, or woven wickedly; literally, who speak of thee for with threada of di-oers colours (comp. ver. tcickednes; i.e. use thy Name for the e.ccom- 13b; and note that modem science speaks l>lishment 1>f "icked ends. And thine of the varione "tiseues" of the humon entmies take thy Nume in vain. The text fro.me, and co.lie a portion of medical know- must be altered to produce this meaning. ledge "hietology "). In the lowest parts of As it stands, it can only be rendered, the earth. This is scarcelv to be taken "Thine enemies lift up [their soul) to literally. It is perhaps oniy a variant for vanity" (comp. P~. xxiv. 4). the "eecretly" of the preceding clause. Ver. 21.-Do not I hate them, 0 Lord, Ver. 16.-Thine eyes did see my substance, tha.t hate thee! and am not I griev~d with yet being unperfeot ; or, " my embryo." those that rise up age.inst thee! Those who The Hebrew text he.a but the single word love God must hate God'e enemies. Tbe •c~l, which probably means, "the still un- psolmist claims to be of this number. formed embryonic maes " (Hengstenberg). Ver. 22.-I hate them with perfect hatred; And in thy book all my members were i.e. with pure, absolute, intense hatred-a written; literally, all <Yf them; but the pro- hatred eommeusurate with the love that he noun has no antecedent. Professor Cheyne felt towards 11ll God's soiutd. I count them and others suspect the poauge to hnve suf- mine enemies; i.e. I regard them e.s my fered corruption, But the general meaning priv11te foes. I hove the s11me feeling to- ce.n scarcely be.ve been very different from wards them as I hove towards those who that assigned to the passage in the Autho- aro at open enmity with me, and seek my rized Version. Which in continue.noe were destruction. The command had not yet fashioned, when e.s yet there was none of been given, "Love your enemies" (Mo.tt. them. Modem critics moslly translate "the v. H). days," or "my de.ye," " were fashioned, Ver. 23.-Searoh me, 0 God, and know when as yet there was none of them; " i.e. my heart: try me, and know my thoughts. "my lifo was planned out by God, and Examine me, 11nd see if I hnve not repre- settled, before I begnn to be." sented my feeliuge us they renl ly ure. Keep Ver. 17.-How preoious also are thy on olwo.ys senrching me oat (comp. ver. 1), thoughts unto me, 0 God ! If God'e worke nnd "tryini;( my roins and my heart" (Pa. ore admirable, 11nd, therefore, preciou@, eo xxvi. 2). My desiio ie to be proved ond still moro nre his thoughts-those doep tested. counsels of bis, which must have precedod Ver. 24.-And see if there be any wicked nil me.nifestntion of himself in net or work. way in me; literally, any way of grief. How great is the sum of them ! Were they "Ways of grief" nre wC1ys which lead to all ndded together, how immeo.sure.ble would grief, which involve either bitter rcpente.noe be the amount I What e. treusure of wisdom or severe cbustisoment. And lend me in nnd knowledge! the way everlasting; i.e. either "the way Ver. 18.-If I should oount them, they that lendeth to everlo.sting lifr," or "the a.re more in number than the sand (comp. good old way, the wuy tl111t enduree-tbe Pa. xl. 5, "Thy thoughts which ore to way or righteousnese." DC1vi<l, with e.11 his uewe.r,I cannot be reckoned up"). When I faults, ie one of those who "hunger and awake, I am still with thee. I meditate thirst after righteousness" (Mo.tt. v. 6),
HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-6.-Gol's k11owledge oj u,. 1. We sometimes 88.Y that "we know" a certain man who is a neighbour. By this we ni_ay mean nothing more than that we can distinguish him from his fellows, and give liim Lis proper name. 'l'hnt is a slight acquaintance indeed, 2, Sometimes when we make such an affirmation we mean that 316 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.