Psalms 65:3

3 (64-4) The words of the wicked have prevailed over us: and thou wilt pardon our transgressions.

Psalms 65:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 65:3

Iniquities prevail against me
Or, "are mightier than I" {h}; this may be understood either of the iniquities of others, his enemies; their "words of iniquities" F9 or iniquitous words, as in the Hebrew text; their calumnies, reproaches, false charges, and accusations, which prevailed against David in Saul's court; or rather his own iniquities, inward lusts, indwelling sins, as well as open transgressions, which he considers as his enemies, as numerous and powerful, too mighty for him, which warred against him, and sometimes got the better of him, and threatened him with utter ruin and destruction; but amidst all this he spies atonement and pardon through the blood and sacrifice of Christ, as follows;

[as for] our transgressions, thou shall purge them away;
not only his own, but others, which Christ has done by the sacrifice of himself; and when his blood is applied to the conscience of a sensible sinner, it purges it from all his sins, ( Hebrews 1:3 ) ( 9:14 ) ; it may be rendered, "thou shall expiate them", or "make atonement for them" F11; which Christ, our propitiation, has done: this was the work appointed him, which he undertook, came into the world to do, and has performed, ( Daniel 9:24 ) ( Hebrews 2:17 ) ( 9:26 ) ; or "thou shalt cover them"; with the blood and righteousness of Christ; or forgive them for the sake of them, ( Psalms 32:1 Psalms 32:2 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F8 (ynm) "prae me", Muis, Michaelis.
F9 (tnwe yrbd) "verba iniquitatum", Montanus, Vatablus, Gejerus, Michaelis; so Ainsworth.
F11 (Mrpkt) "propitiaberis", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus; "expiabis", Vatablus, Gejerus, Michaelis.

Psalms 65:3 In-Context

1 (64-1) <To the end, a psalm of David. The canticle of Jeremias and Ezechiel to the people of the captivity, when they began to go out.> (64-2) A hymn, O God, becometh thee in Sion: and a vow shall be paid to thee in Jerusalem.
2 (64-3) O hear my prayer: all flesh shall come to thee.
3 (64-4) The words of the wicked have prevailed over us: and thou wilt pardon our transgressions.
4 (64-5) Blessed is he whom thou hast chosen and taken to thee: he shall dwell in thy courts. We shall be filled with the good things of thy house; holy is thy temple,
5 (64-6) Wonderful in justice. Hear us, O God our saviour, who art the hope of all the ends of the earth, and in the sea afar off.
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