
Text -- Psalms 140:8 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Or, they will be exalted if permitted to prosper.
Clarke -> Psa 140:8
Clarke: Psa 140:8 - -- Further not his wicked device - He knew his enemies still desired his death, and were plotting to accomplish it; and here he prays that God may disa...
Further not his wicked device - He knew his enemies still desired his death, and were plotting to accomplish it; and here he prays that God may disappoint and confound them. The Chaldee understands this of Doeg.
Calvin -> Psa 140:8
Calvin: Psa 140:8 - -- 8.Grant not, O Jehovah! the desires of the wicked 228 We might render the words Establish not, though the meaning would be the same — that God wou...
8.Grant not, O Jehovah! the desires of the wicked 228 We might render the words Establish not, though the meaning would be the same — that God would restrain the desires of the wicked, and frustrate all their aims and attempts. We see from this that it is in his power, whenever he sees proper, to frustrate the unprincipled designs of men, and their wicked expectations, and to dash their schemes. When, therefore, it is found impracticable to bring our enemies to a right state of mind, we are to pray that the devices which they have imagined may be immediately overthrown and thwarted. In the next clause there is more ambiguity. As the Hebrew verb
TSK -> Psa 140:8
TSK: Psa 140:8 - -- Grant not : Psa 27:12, Psa 94:20, Psa 94:21; 2Sa 15:31; Job 5:12, Job 5:13
lest they exalt themselves : or, let them not be exalted, Deu 32:27

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Psa 140:8
Barnes: Psa 140:8 - -- Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked - That is, in the matter under consideration. Let them not accomplish their desire in my destructi...
Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked - That is, in the matter under consideration. Let them not accomplish their desire in my destruction. Let them not succeed in their designs against me. The prayer, however, "may"be used more generally. It is proper to pray that the desires of the wicked, as wicked people, may not be granted to them; that they may "not"be successful in their purposes. Success in such desires would be only an injury to themselves and to the world. It is proper to pray that the purposes of the wicked may be defeated, and that they may be led to abandon their designs and to seek better ends. For this, in fact, we always pray when we pray for their conversion.
Further not his wicked device - His purpose against me.
Lest they exalt themselves - Lest they attribute it to their own skill, wisdom, or valor, and lest they pride themselves on their success. To succeed in a righteous cause makes a man humble and grateful; in a bad cause, proud, and forgetful of God. The margin here is, "Let them not be exalted."The meaning is, that success would at the same time elate them in their own estimation, and increase their bad influence in the world. It is, on every account, a benevolent prayer that wicked people may "not"be successful in their plans of iniquity.
Poole -> Psa 140:8
Poole: Psa 140:8 - -- His wicked device which is to destroy me.
Exalt themselves not only against me, but against thee also, as if by their power and policy they had fru...
His wicked device which is to destroy me.
Exalt themselves not only against me, but against thee also, as if by their power and policy they had frustrated thy design and promise made to me.
Gill -> Psa 140:8
Gill: Psa 140:8 - -- Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked,.... Of Doeg, as the Targum, and of other wicked men, who were desirous both of taking him, and of taking...
Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked,.... Of Doeg, as the Targum, and of other wicked men, who were desirous both of taking him, and of taking away his life: but the desires of such men are under the restraints of the Lord; nor can they fulfil them unless they have leave from him, which is here deprecated. The psalmist entreats he might not be delivered up to their will, or they have their will of him; see Psa 27:12. Jarchi interprets it of Esau, as in Psa 140:1; and it is applicable enough to antichrist and his wicked followers; who, could they have their desires, would root the Gospel, and the interest of Christ and his people, out of the world;
further not his wicked device: or, "let not his wicked device come forth" l, or proceed to execution, or be brought to perfection; let him be disappointed in it, that he may not be able to perform his enterprise, or execute his designs; which cannot be done without the divine permission. The Rabbins, as Jarchi and others, render it, "let not his bridle come out" m; the bridle out of his jaws, with which he was held by the Lord, and restrained from doing his will; let him not be left to his liberty, and freed from the restraints of divine Providence; see Isa 37:29;
lest they exalt themselves. Grow proud, haughty, and insolent to God and man; see Deu 32:27. Or, "let them not be exalted" n; upon the ruin of me and my friends.
Selah; on this word; see Gill on Psa 3:2.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Psa 140:8 Heb “his plot do not promote, they rise up.” The translation understands the final verb as being an unmarked temporal clause. Another opti...
Geneva Bible -> Psa 140:8
Geneva Bible: Psa 140:8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: ( f ) further not his wicked device; [lest] they exalt themselves. Selah.
( f ) For it is in God's hand...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Psa 140:1-13
TSK Synopsis: Psa 140:1-13 - --1 David prays to be delivered from Saul and Doeg.8 He prays against them.12 He comforts himself by confidence in God.
MHCC -> Psa 140:8-13
MHCC: Psa 140:8-13 - --Believers may pray that God would not grant the desires of the wicked, nor further their evil devices. False accusers will bring mischief upon themsel...
Matthew Henry -> Psa 140:8-13
Matthew Henry: Psa 140:8-13 - -- Here is the believing foresight David had, I. Of the shame and confusion of persecutors. 1. Their disappointment. This he prays for (Psa 140:8), tha...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Psa 140:6-8
Keil-Delitzsch: Psa 140:6-8 - --
Such is the conduct of his enemies; he, however, prays to his God and gets his weapons from beside Him. The day of equipment is the day of the crisi...
Constable: Psa 107:1--150:6 - --V. Book 5: chs. 107--150
There are 44 psalms in this section of the Psalter. David composed 15 of these (108-110...

Constable: Psa 140:1-13 - --Psalm 140
David prayed for God to frustrate his enemies' attempts to trip him up with confidence that Go...
