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A PSALM-SONG, FOR THE SONS OF KORAH. I

THE foundations of Zion are on hallowed hills: JEHOVAH loveth the gates of Zion,

more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.

Honourable things shall be said of thee, city of GOD! 3

I might mention Babel and Rahab,

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celebrated for their men of knowledge:

Lo! the Philistines and Tyrians are a skilful people:

"Such a one (say they) was born there!"

But of Zion it shall be faid:

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"HE and HE were born there!"

For JEHOVAH, the most High, himself, will establish it.

In the records of nations it fhall be written :

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"Such a one was born there!"

For all its inhabitants are expert musicians.

NOTES.

Ver. 4. The difficulties begin here: and it is curious to observe what defperate expedients have been taken to remove them. I venture to say, that none of them have been effectual. Whether mine efforts have been happier, it is not for me to fay: but I trust that every reader of common fenfe will, by comparing my verfion with any other tranflation, be convinced that mine is the moft intelligible: not to say, the most rational. I have made no alterations in the original text but one, and even that has manuscript authority. I muft refer to my Critical Remarks for my differing fo widely from all other interpreters; and will only subjoin a very few notes, to illustrate some expreffions.-Ver. 4. Babel and Rahab. The former is doubtlefs Babylon: but the latter is a matter of dispute. Moft interpreters will have it to be Egypt: but Michaëlis, I think, has shown that this cannot be the cafe. I believe, with him, that it was a city of Affyria. The Affyrians, as well as the Babylonians, were celebrated for their learning; and the Jewish bard is willing to concede to them that praife. The fame may be faid of the

Philistines and Tyrians. The latter were eminently skilful in fhipbuilding, and other branches of architecture. He grants then, readily, that some great men had been born among them: for that is the meaning of Such a one was born there! It is well known that cities derived celebrity from the birth of celebrated perfons: that of Homer was claimed by seven of the principal towns of Greece.-Ver. 5. But of Zion it ball be faid, HE and HE were born there. i. e. not one, but many men of note. -Ver. 6. In the records of nations, &c. I have withdrawn the word Jehovah from this verse, and joined it to the preceding one: to which I am perfuaded it belongs.-Ver. 7. For all its inhabitants are expert muficians; lit. fing like flute-players. The Hebrews feem to have furpaffed all nations in the skill of poefy and mufic; and every citizen could fing and dance. This preeminence the Pfalmift seems to hint at. If any one will prefer our vulgar verfion, he may: here it is: "As well the fingers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee."

PSALM LXXXVIII.-al. LXXXVII.

This psalm is entirely plaintive, without a ray of hope in it. Hence some bave imagined, that it is only a fragment. Its author must have been in the deepest distress, when be composed it. He is thought by some to be Hezekiab, by others Uziab. The title, on which little stress is to be laid, is :

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A PSALM-SONG FOR THE SONS OF KORAH:
FOR THE FIRST MUSICIAN, ON MAHALATH-
LEANOTH: A DIDACTIC OF ETHAN
EZRAHITE.

JEHOVAH! the GOD of my falvation!
to thee, day and night, I cry!

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and my life toucheth on Hades!

I am counted with thofe, who are defcending to the pit: 5

I am as one, who hath no strength remaining;

like one laid low among the dead :

like the flain who lie in the grave, whom thou no more remembereft ;

and who are cut off from thy protection!

In a deep pit thou haft placed me,

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in a dark and deep abyss!

Thy wrath preffeth hard upon me:

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and with all thy waves thou whelmest me.

Thou haft eftranged from me mine acquaintances, and to them haft made me abominable.

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I am fo closely confined, that I cannot get out! mine eyes languifh from mine affliction.

JEHOVAH! thee I daily invoke:

to thee I ftretch out mine hands.
Wilt thou perform a miracle for the dead?
fhall the deceased arise and praise thee?

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shall thy bounty be rehearsed in the grave;

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or thy truth in the state of corruption?

Shall thy wonders be known in the darkness of death? 13

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I have been afflicted, and languishing from youth;

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I have borne thy terrors, and been diftracted.

Thy fierce wrath hath overwhelmed me ;

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thy terrors have totally wasted me:

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they encompass me altogether.

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Thou haft estranged from me my friends and familiars;

and my acquaintances are withdrawn from my fight.

NOTE.

There is little obscurity in this pfalm, although fome of the terms are of a dubious meaning. I have given to them that which I judged to be the most analogous; and I believe I have feldom miffed the sense.

PSALM LXXXIX.-al. LXXXVIII.

This psalm is of a mixt nature. In the first part of it, by much the longest, the author praises God for bis past favours to Israel, and more especially to the house of David; in the last, be deprecates the present calamities, and expostulates with Jebovab, on their account. It is now pretty generally ascribed to Hezekiab, or some one for bim, during the time of bis adversity. The title is :

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A DIDACTIC OF ETHAN, THE EZRAHITE.

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Of the bounties of JEHOVAH I will ever fing: my mouth I will make known thy truth, from generation to generation.

For, I have faid, thy goodness muft for ever endure: in the heavens themfelves thy truth thou haft established.

"I have made (faidft thou) a covenant with mine "elect:

"to my fervant David I have fworn:

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"Thy feed I will for ever establish,

"and thy throne I will fupport,

"from generation to generation."

Let, then, the wonderful goodness of JEHOVAH

be celebrated in the heavens:

and his truth in the affembly of the faints.

For who in the heavens is equal to JEHOVAH?

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who like to JEHOVAH, among the fons of GOD?

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A GOD moft formidable in the affembly of the faints: 8
and to be revered, above all who are about him.
JEHOVAH! GOD of hofts! who so powerful as thou? 9
and of thofe around thee whofe truth like thine?
Thou rulest the proud fwelling of the sea,
and its rifing billows thou restrainest!

The haughty thou breakest like a hollow reed:
with thy potent arm thou crusheft thy foes.
Thine are the heavens-thine alfo is the earth.
The universe, and its contents, thou foundedst!
The north and the fouth thou createdft!
Thabor and Hermon rejoice in thy name!
Strong is thine arm-powerful is thine hand:
thy right hand is highly exalted!

Juftice and judgment are the basis of thy throne:
benevolence and truth precede thy face!

Happy the people who know the joyful sound : who walk in the light of thy countenance:

who daily rejoice in thy name,

and glory in thy justice.

When thou wert the glory of our strength,

and, through thy favour, our horn was exalted:
when our protection refted on JEHOVAH;
and our king, on the Holy One of Ifrael:

Then, in the fight of thy faints,

thou spokest and saidft:

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