
Text -- Psalms 38:20 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
JFB -> Psa 38:19-20; Psa 38:19-20
JFB: Psa 38:19-20 - -- Still, while humbled before God, he is the victim of deadly enemies, full of malice and treachery.
Still, while humbled before God, he is the victim of deadly enemies, full of malice and treachery.

Literally, "of life," who would take my life, that is, deadly.
Clarke -> Psa 38:20
Clarke: Psa 38:20 - -- Because I follow the thing that good is - The translation is as bad as the sentence is awkward. תחת רדפי טוב tachath rodpi tob , because ...
Because I follow the thing that good is - The translation is as bad as the sentence is awkward.
None of the other Versions have any thing like this addition; only the Ethiopic adds, "They rejected their brethren as an unclean carcass."St. Ambrose says this reading was found in some Greek and Latin copies in his time; and Theodoret has nearly the same reading with the Arabic:
Calvin -> Psa 38:20
Calvin: Psa 38:20 - -- This is more fully confirmed in the following verse, in which he declares that they requited him evil for the good which he had done them. More than ...
This is more fully confirmed in the following verse, in which he declares that they requited him evil for the good which he had done them. More than this, however, is implied in the language of David. It implies that he not only abstained from all hurtful dealing towards his enemies, but that he had done them all the good which was in his power; and on this account the rage of the wicked is the less excusable, which not only moves them to do harm to others without cause, but which likewise cannot be appeased by any marks of kindness exercised towards them. It is indeed true, that there is nothing which wounds those of an ingenuous disposition of mind more than when wicked and ungodly men recompense them in a manner so dishonorable and unjust; but when they reflect upon this consolatory consideration, that God is no less offended with such ingratitude than those to whom the injury is done, they have no reason to be troubled beyond measure. To mitigate their sorrow, let this doctrine be the subject of their frequent meditation, That whenever the wicked, to whom we have endeavored to do good, shall requite us evil for good, God will certainly be their judge. In the last place, it is added, as the highest degree of their desperate wickedness, that they hated David because he studied to practice uprightness: They are opposed to me, because I follow that which is good It must be admitted, that those are froward and wicked in the extreme, nay, even of a devilish disposition, who hold uprightness in such abhorrence that they deliberately make war upon those who follow after it. It is, indeed, a very sore temptation, that the people of God, the more sincerely they endeavor to serve him, should procure to themselves so much the more trouble and sorrow; but this consideration ought to prove a sufficient ground of consolation to them, that they are not only supported by the testimony of a good conscience, but that they also know that God is ever ready, and that, too, for this very reason, to manifest his mercy towards them. On the ground of this assurance, they dare to appear in the presence of God, and entreat him, as it is his cause as well as theirs, that he would maintain and defend it. There can be no doubt that David, by his own example, has prescribed this as a common rule to all the faithful, rather to incur the hatred and ill-will of the world, than in the least degree to swerve from the path of duty, and without any hesitation to regard those as their enemies whom they know to be opposed to that which is just and righteous.
TSK -> Psa 38:20
TSK: Psa 38:20 - -- render : Psa 7:4, Psa 35:12, Psa 109:3-5; 1Sa 19:4-6, 1Sa 23:5, 1Sa 23:12, 1Sa 25:16, 1Sa 25:21; Jer 18:20
because : Mat 5:10; Joh 10:32; 1Pe 3:13, 1P...

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Psa 38:20
Barnes: Psa 38:20 - -- They also that render evil for good - They whose characteristic it is to return evil for good, are opposed to me. This implies that those who w...
They also that render evil for good - They whose characteristic it is to return evil for good, are opposed to me. This implies that those who were now seeking his ruin had been formerly benefitted by him. They were persons who cherished no grateful recollection of favors bestowed on them, but who found a pleasure in persecuting and wronging their benefactor. Compare Psa 35:12-16. "Are my adversaries."Are now opposed to me; have become my enemies.
Because I follow the thing that good is - This properly means, Because I follow the good. The Hebrew word rendered "because"-
Poole -> Psa 38:20
Poole: Psa 38:20 - -- They render evil for good they hate and persecute me, not only without any injury or provocation on my part, but as it were in requital of the good w...
They render evil for good they hate and persecute me, not only without any injury or provocation on my part, but as it were in requital of the good which I have done to them.
Because I follow the thing that good is because I love and diligently practise justice and godliness, which they hate, and which they take to be a reproach to them, and which I did exercise, as I had opportunity, in the punishment of such as they are. Compare Joh 15:19 1Jo 3:12 .
Gill -> Psa 38:20
Gill: Psa 38:20 - -- They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries,.... See Gill on Psa 35:12;
because I follow the thing that good is; or "follow good"; a...
They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries,.... See Gill on Psa 35:12;
because I follow the thing that good is; or "follow good"; a good God, whom his soul followed hard after, Psa 63:8; the good Shepherd of the sheep, who led him into green pastures, whither he followed him, Psa 23:1; the good Spirit of God his guide, whom he walked after, Rom 8:1; good and holy men of God, whom he took for examples and copied after; and every good work, which he pursued with eagerness and pleasure; and all this drew upon him the hatred of his adversaries.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes -> Psa 38:20
NET Notes: Psa 38:20 Heb “the ones who repay evil instead of good accuse me, instead of my pursuing good.”
Geneva Bible -> Psa 38:20
Geneva Bible: Psa 38:20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow [the thing that] ( o ) good [is].
( o ) He would rather have the hatred of...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Psa 38:1-22
MHCC -> Psa 38:12-22
MHCC: Psa 38:12-22 - --Wicked men hate goodness, even when they benefit by it. David, in the complaints he makes of his enemies, seems to refer to Christ. But our enemies do...
Matthew Henry -> Psa 38:12-22
Matthew Henry: Psa 38:12-22 - -- In these verses, I. David complains of the power and malice of his enemies, who, it should seem, not only took occasion from the weakness of his bod...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Psa 38:15-22
Keil-Delitzsch: Psa 38:15-22 - --
(Heb.: 38:16-23) Become utterly useless in himself, he renounces all self-help, for ( כּי ) he hopes in Jahve, who alone can help him. He waits f...
Constable -> Psa 38:1-22; Psa 38:12-21
Constable: Psa 38:1-22 - --Psalm 38
In this psalm David expressed penitence that he had sinned against God and had thereby incurred...
