Geneva Study Bible <> Truly {a} God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
(a) As it were between hope and despair he bursts forth into this affection, being assured that God would continue his favour toward such as were godly indeed, and not hypocrites. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. For there are {b} no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
(b) The wicked in this life live at pleasure and are not drawn to death like prisoners: that is, by sickness which is death's messenger. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. {c} Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
(c) They glory in their pride as some do in their chains, and in cruelty, as some do in apparel. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. They {d} set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
(d) They blaspheme God, and do not fear his power and rail upon men, because they esteem themselves above all others. Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. Therefore his {e} people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
(e) Not only the reprobate, but also the people of God often fall back seeing the prosperous estate of the wicked, and are overwhelmed with sorrows, thinking that God does not correctly consider the estate of the godly. And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? And they {f} say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
(f) Thus the flesh moves even the godly to dispute with God concerning their poor estate, and the prosperity of the wicked. Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. If I say, {g} I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
(g) If I give place to this wicked thought, I offend against your providence, seeing you do all things most wisely and preserve your children in their greatest dangers. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Until I went into the {h} sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
(h) Until I entered into your school and learned by your word and Holy Spirit that you order all things most wisely and justly. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are {i} utterly consumed with terrors.
(i) By your fearful judgment. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when {k} thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
(k) When you open our eyes to consider your heavenly happiness, we contemn all their vain pomp. Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a {l} beast before thee.
(l) For the more that man goes about by his own reason to seek out God's judgments, the more he declares himself a beast. Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Nevertheless I am continually {m} with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
(m) By faith I was assured that your providence always watched over me to preserve me. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. Whom have I in {n} heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
(n) He sought neither help nor comfort of any save God only. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my {o} portion for ever.
(o) He teaches us to deny ourselves, to have God our whole sufficiency, and only contentment. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that {p} go a whoring from thee.
(p) That is, forsake you to seek others. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works. But it is good for me {q} to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works. (q) Though all the world shrinks from God, yet he promises to trust in him and to magnify his works. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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