Notes, Critical and Explanatory, on the Holy Scriptures

P. " Truly God is good to Israel, to even such as are of a clean heart." The psalmist begins, «» is- suing from a deep meditation, in which the prosperity of the wicked had suggested a doubt of the divine goodness. " Aitamen bonus est." St. Jerome.

H. P. "Their eye standeth out with fatness." St. Jerome: " Processerunt apinguedineocuUeorum." The appearance of men accustomed to excessive indulgence is described. Their eyes appear buried in fat. Herder does not object to the reading followed by the Septuagint and Syriac interpreters, which tlilTers only in a letter P>7 D?. Olshausen adopts it. Their evil designs conceived in their sensual hearts come to light.

II. P. "His." St. Jerome likewise; The people of God were tempted to apostacy by the prosperity of the wicked.

Days full of prosperity are observed in the wicked. St. Jerome : "Who amongst them shall be found full?" P. "And waters of a full cuj» arc wrung out to them." Some translate the text; " and they shall quafif in full draughts the waters." The term for days and waters is similar, and the verb with differ- ent punctuation means to be found, or to quaff. The consideration ever recurring is, that abundance and long life arc granted to the wicked, to the scandal of just men.

II. P. "I was pricked in my reins." Perplexing thoughts disturbed him. The Hebrews referred thoughts to the reins. St. Jerome has: ^Humbimei veluti ignis fumigans:" "my loins as afire that smoketh." 3T I was stupid.