Psa 116:9-11 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 9. I will walk before the Lord ] ethhallech , I will set myself to walk . I am determined to walk ; my eyes are now brightened, so that I can see ; my feet are strengthened , so that I can walk ; and my soul is alive , so that I can walk with the living . The Vulgate , the Septuagint , the AEthiopic , the Arabic , and the Anglo-Saxon end this Psalm here, which is numbered the cxivth; and begin with the tenth verse another Psalm, which they number cxvth; but this division is not acknowledged by the Hebrew, Chaldee , and Syriac .

‏ Psalms 116:9-11

Verse 9. I will walk before the Lord] ethhallech, I will set myself to walk. I am determined to walk; my eyes are now brightened, so that I can see; my feet are strengthened, so that I can walk; and my soul is alive, so that I can walk with the living.

The Vulgate, the Septuagint, the AEthiopic, the Arabic, and the Anglo-Saxon end this Psalm here, which is numbered the cxivth; and begin with the tenth verse another Psalm, which they number cxvth; but this division is not acknowledged by the Hebrew, Chaldee, and Syriac.

Verse 10. I believed, therefore have I spoken] Distressed and afflicted as I was, I ever believed thy promises to be true; but I had great struggles to maintain my confidence; for my afflictions were great, oppressive, and of long standing.

It is scarcely worth observing that the letters called heemantic by the Hebrew grammarians, and which are used in forming the derivatives from the roots, are taken from the first word in this verse, heemanti, "I have believed;" as the prefixes in that language are found in the technical words Mosheh vecaleb, "Moses and Caleb;" and the formatives of the future are found in the word eythan, "strength."

Verse 11. I said in my haste] This is variously translated: I said in my flight, CHALDEE. In my excess, or ecstasy, VULGATE. In my ecstasy, εκστασει, SEPTUAGINT. [Arabic] tahayury, in my giddiness, ARABIC. In my fear or tremor, SYRIAC. [Anglo-Saxon], I quoth in outgoing mine, when I was beside myself, ANGLO-SAXON. In myn oute passyng, old Psalter. When passion got the better of my reason, when I looked not at God, but at my afflictions, and the impossibility of human relief.

All men are liars.] col haadam cozeb, "the whole of man is a lie." Falsity is diffused through his nature; deception proceeds from his tongue; his actions are often counterfeit. He is imposed on by others, and imposes in his turn; and on none is there any dependence till God converts their heart.

"O what a thing were man, if his attires

Should alter with his mind,

And, like a dolphin's skin,

His clothes combine with his desires!

Surely if each one saw another's heart,

There would be no commerce;

All would disperse,

And live apart."

HERBERT.

To the same purpose I shall give the following Italian proverb:-

Con arte e con inganno,

Si vive mezzo l'anno.

Con inganno e con arte

Si vive l' altro parti.

"Men live half the year by deceit and by art;

By art and deceit men live the other part."

Who gives this bad character of mankind? MAN.