1 To the chief musician upon Nehiloth; a Psalm of David.
2 Give ear unto my words, O Jehovah; consider my meditation.
3 Hearken unto the voice of my cry for help, my King and my God; for unto thee will I pray.
4 O Jehovah, in the morning thou shalt hear my voice, in the morning will I set in order [my prayer] before thee and will look out [for help].
5 For thou art not a God delighting in wickedness: evil dwelleth not with thee.
6 The proud shall not stand before thine eyes: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
7 Thou wilt destroy those that speak lies: a man of blood and deceit Jehovah abhorreth.
8 But as for me, in the greatness of thy mercy I will come into thy house, I will worship towards the temple of thy holiness in thy fear.
9 Lead me, O Jehovah, in thy righteousness, on account of mine enemies, make thy way straight before me.
10 For there is nothing certain in his mouth; their inward part [is] wickedness; an opened sepulcher [is] their throat; they make smooth their tongue.
11 Treat them as guilty, O God; they shall fall from their counsels; in the multitude of their transgressions cast them down; for they have rebelled against thee.
12 But all those who trust in thee shall rejoice; for ever shall they shout for joy, and thou wilt protect them, and those who love thy name shall exult in thee.
13 For thou, O Jehovah, wilt bless the righteous; like the shield with favor thou wilt encompass him.
Notes on Psalm 5
This goes farther, and is also “To the chief musician upon Nehiloth” (which some regard as wind instruments): “a psalm of David.” It expresses the cry of the godly to God for judgment; a characteristically Jewish sentiment, and righteous altogether when the day approaches for the vindication of His people. The nearest approach to it in Christ’s life as the Sent but rejected One is in John 17:2525O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. (John 17:25); for the “Righteous” Father was and is not indifferent to the world’s wickedness. But “Holy” Father expresses His actual ways, as the Christian should well know. In its due time He will surely hear and judge the wicked on the earth when His public kingdom comes. His righteousness is everlasting; but there is a fitting season for its display, and this in and by Jesus His rejected King, which will fill the remnant by-and-by with just confidence. As they look to enjoy the earth under His reign, they rightly, when God livingly works in them, cry for judgment. We one with Christ in heaven look for Him to fetch us there where He is, and pray for grace as He did, even for His blinded murderers. For their joy and blessing they must await His deliverance, when condign judgment falls on His foes before all the world.