Psalm 138:17, 1-2
Thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honourable: their principality is exceedingly strengthened. Ps. Lord, Thou hast proved me, and known me: Thou hast known my sitting down, and my rising up. Glory be to the Father.
Haydock
Verse 17. Friends. Many pervert this passage, translating “thoughts,” because the word may have that sense in Chal. (W.) though the paraphrase agree with us; (C.) and all confess that our version is accurate. The other may also be admitted. While the dead seem to have no longer any existence, the saints are still with God, and the psalmist hopes to rise with them. Bert. — Principality. S. Jer. and Theod. “poor,” who are generally employed by God in his greatest works, that no flesh may glory in his sight. Though the elect be comparatively few, yet they cannot be numbered (H. Apoc. vii. 9.) by man. W.
Verse 1. David. Some Greek copies add, “a psalm or alleluia of Zacharias in the dispersion,” when the Israelites were at Babylon. But Theodoret greatly disapproves of those additions, and explains this psalm of king Josias, while others refer it to David, though it may have no reference to any historical fact, being designed to praise the knowledge of God. C. — It is the most beautiful and sublime piece in all the psalter. Abenezra. — Proved me. God makes trial of his servants, to let them know themselves, as all thing are open to him. W. — Me. Houbigant supplies the omission in Heb. “hast known.” — Up. Or all the occurrences of my life. Lam. iii. 63. H. — The expression is similar to that of coming in and going out. Acts i. 21. This may be explained of Christ, whose sufferings and resurrection were foreseen. C. — God sounds the very heart. Jer. xvii. 9. Rom. viii. 27. Bert.