Psalms 28

King James Version (KJV) · English

1 Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. 2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle. 3 Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts. 4 Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert. 5 Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up. 6 Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. 7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. 8 The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed. 9 Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

Commentary — not Bible text

Psalms 28:1

PSALM 28

Psa 28:1-9. An earnest cry for divine aid against his enemies, as being also those of God, is followed by the Psalmist's praise in assurance of a favorable answer, and a prayer for all God's people.

1. my rock--(Psa 18:2, 31).

be not silent to me--literally, "from me," deaf or inattentive.

become like them, &c.--share their fate.

go down into the pit--or, "grave" (Psa 30:3).

Psalms 28:3

3. Draw me not away--implies punishment as well as death (compare Psa 26:9). Hypocrisy is the special wickedness mentioned.

Psalms 28:4

4. The imprecation is justified in Psa 28:5. The force of the passage is greatly enhanced by the accumulation of terms describing their sin.

endeavours--points out their deliberate sinfulness.

Psalms 28:5

5. Disregard of God's judgments brings a righteous punishment.

destroy ... build ... up--The positive strengthened by the negative form.

Psalms 28:6

6. supplications--or, "cries for mercy."

Psalms 28:7

7. The repetition of "heart" denotes his sincerity.

Psalms 28:8

8. The distinction made between the people.

their strength--and the anointed--may indicate Absalom's rebellion as the occasion.

Psalms 28:9

9. The special prayer for the people sustains this view.

feed them--as a shepherd (Psa 23:1, &c.).

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