Let my mouth be filled _with_ thy praise _and with_ thy honour all the
day.
Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my
strength faileth.
For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul
take counsel together,
Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for _there is_
none to deliver _him_.
O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste for my help.
Let them be confounded _and_ consumed that are adversaries to my soul;
let them be covered _with_ reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
But I will hope continually, and yet will praise thee more and more.
My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness _and_ thy salvation all
the day; for I know not the numbers _thereof_.
I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of thy
righteousness, _even_ of thine only.
O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared
thy wondrous works.
Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I
have shewed thy strength unto _this_ generation, _and_ thy power to
every one _that_ is to come.
Thy righteousness also, O God, _is_ very high, who hast done great
things: O God, who _is_ like unto thee!
_Thou_, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me
again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
I will also praise thee with the psaltery, _even_ thy truth, O my God:
unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul,
which thou hast redeemed.
My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for
they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my
hurt.
This Psalm is a general prayer; which, I think, may be very properly
used in the person of the whole church against all her enemies and
persecutors who are now or ever shall be, unto the end. “Forsake me
not,” saith he, “in the time of mine old age,” &c. and although this
may more especially apply to the prophet himself, as praying for
divine protection under his infinite temptations; yet the words may be
appropriately applied to the last times, and to the close of the
church militant before the last day. For the church has her old age
also: and Christ himself and his apostles have foretold, “That in the
latter days perilous times shall come:” as Daniel also prophesied,
that the truth should be persecuted and iniquity should abound: and
this we have experienced under Mahomet, and the Pope, to our infinite
peril and sorrow.
Hence, in verses 15–17, the prophet foretells the justice and
righteousness of God. “My mouth (saith he) shall show forth thy
righteousness. O God thou hast taught me from my youth, and hitherto
have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also, when I am old and
grey-headed, &c.” This prophecy may be of singular use to us, and
apply to us very appropriately: because God has, as it were, brought
us back out of hell, and from the depths of the earth, and has made
the light of his word to shine again, by which our consciences have a
firm and eternal consolation. These our times are like the times of
Elias and Enoch: for they commonly say of us, ‘These men will subvert
antichrist, and restore all things!’