Psalm 109

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:19

And for a girdle - Let the curse cleave to him throughout life: as the girdle binds all the clothes to the body, let the curse of God bind all mischiefs and maladies to his body and soul. The Hindoos, Budhists, and others often wear a gold or silver chain about their waist. One of those chains, once the ornament of a Moudeliar in the island of Ceylon, lies now before me: it is silver, and curiously wrought. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:20

Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the Lord, and of them that speak evil apainst my soul - Following the mode of interpretation already adopted, this may mean: All these maledictions shall be fulfilled on my enemies; they shall have them for their reward. So all the opposition made by the Jews against our Lord, and the obloquies and execrations wherewith they have loaded him and his religion, have fallen upon themselves; and they are awful examples of the wrath of God abiding on... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:21

But do thou for me - While they use horrible imprecations against me, and load me with their curses, act thou for me, and deliver me from their maledictions. While they curse, do thou bless. This verse is a farther proof of the correctness of the interpretation given above. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:22

I am poor and needy - I am allicted and impoverished; and my heart is wounded - my very life is sinking through distress. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:23

I am gone like the shadow - " I have walked like the declining shadow," - I have passed my meridian of health and life; and as the sun is going below the horizon, so am I about to go under the earth. I am tossed up and down as the locust - When swarms of locusts take wing, and infest the countries in the east, if the wind happen to blow briskly, the swarms are agitated and driven upon each other, so as to appear to be heaved to and fro, or tossed up and down. Dr. Shaw, who has seen this,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:24

My knees are weak through fasting - That hunger is as soon felt in weakening the knees, as in producing an uneasy sensation in the stomach, is known by all who have ever felt it. Writers in all countries have referred to this effect of hunger. Thus Tryphioderus Il. Excid. ver 155: Τειρομενου βαρυθειεν ατερπεΐ γουνατα λιμῳ . "Their knees might fail, by hunger's force subdued; And sink, unable to sustain their load." Merrick. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:25

When they looked upon me they soaked their heads - Thus was David treated by Shimei, 2 Samuel 16:5 , 2 Samuel 16:6 , and our blessed Lord by the Jews, Matthew 27:39 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:27

That they may know that this is thy hand - Let thy help be so manifest in my behalf, that they may see it is thy hand, and that thou hast undertaken for me. Or, if the words refer to the passion of our Lord, Let them see that I suffer not on my own account; "for the transgression of my people am I smitten." read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:28

Let them curse, but bless thou - See on Psalm 109:20 ; (note): Of the mode of interpretation recommended there, this verse gives additional proof. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:29

Let them cover themselves - He here retorts their own curse, Psalm 109:18 . read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:24

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:25

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:27

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:28

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:29

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