Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 1. In my distress ] Through the causes afterwards mentioned.
I cried unto the Lord ] Made strong supplication for help.
And he heard one. ] Answered my prayer by comforting my soul.
It appears to be a prayer of the captives in Babylon for complete liberty; or perhaps he recites the prayer the Israelites had made previously to their restoration.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-4 - The psalmist was brought into great distress by a deceitful tongue. Ma every good man be delivered from lying lips. They forged false charge against him. In this distress, he sought God by fervent prayer. God can bridle their tongues. He obtained a gracious answer to this prayer Surely sinners durst not act as they do, if they knew, and would be persuaded to think, what will be in the end thereof. The terrors of the Lord are his arrows; and his wrath is compared to burning coals of juniper, which have a fierce heat, and keep fire very long. This is the portion of the false tongue; for all that love and make a lie, shal have their portion in the lake that burns eternally.
Original Hebrew שׁיר7892 המעלות4609 אל413 יהוה3068 בצרתה6869 לי קראתי7121 ויענני׃6030
