Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 5. Let the righteous smite me ] This verse is extremely difficult in the original. The following translation, in which the Syriac, Vulgate, Septuagint, AEthiopic, and Arabic nearly agree, appears to me to be the best: "Let the righteous chastise me in mercy, and instruct me: but let not the oil of the wicked anoint my head. It shall not adorn ( yny yani, from hwn navah) my head; for still my prayer shall be against their wicked works." The oil of the wicked may here mean his smooth flattering speeches; and the psalmist intimates that he would rather suffer the cutting reproof of the righteous than the oily talk of the flatterer. If this were the case, how few are there now-a-days of his mind! On referring to Bishop Horsley, I find his translation is something similar to my own: - Let the just one smite me, let the pious remove me.
Let not the ointment of the impious anoint my head.
But still I will intrude in their calamities.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-10 - We should be ready to welcome the rebuke of our heavenly Father, an also the reproof of our brethren. It shall not break my head, if it ma but help to break my heart: we must show that we take it kindly. Thos who slighted the word of God before, will be glad of it when in affliction, for that opens the ear to instruction. When the world i bitter, the word is sweet. Let us lift our prayer unto God. Let u entreat him to rescue us from the snares of Satan, and of all the workers of iniquity. In language like this psalm, O Lord, would we entreat that our poor prayers should set forth our only hope, our onl dependence on thee. Grant us thy grace, that we may be prepared for this employment, being clothed with thy righteousness, and having all the gifts of thy Spirit planted in our hearts _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew יהלמני1986 צדיק6662 חסד2617 ויוכיחני3198 שׁמן8081 ראשׁ7218 אל408 יני5106 ראשׁי7218 כי3588 עוד5750 ותפלתי8605 ברעותיהם׃7451
