Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 5. The iniquity of my heels ] Perhaps ybq[ akebai, which we translate my heels, should be considered the contracted plural of µybq[ akebim, supplanters. The verse would then read thus: "Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, though the iniquity of my supplanters should compass me about." The Syriac and Arabic have taken a similar view of the passage: "Why should I fear in the evil day, when the iniquity of my enemies compasses me about." And so Dr. Kennicott translates it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-14 - Here is a description of the spirit and way of worldly people. A ma may have wealth, and may have his heart enlarged in love, thankfulness and obedience, and may do good with it. Therefore it is not men' having riches that proves them to be worldly, but their setting their hearts upon them as the best things. Worldly men have only some floating thoughts of the things of God, while their fixed thoughts their inward thoughts, are about the world; that lies nearest the heart. But with all their wealth they cannot save the life of the dearest friend they have. This looks further, to the eternal redemptio to be wrought out by the Messiah. The redemption of the soul shall cos very dear; but, being once wrought, it shall never need to be repeated And he, the Redeemer, shall rise again before he sees corruption, an then shall live for evermore, Re 1:18. This likewise shows the folly of worldly people, who sell their souls for that which will never but them. With all their wealth they cannot secure themselves from the stroke of death. Yet one generation after another applaud their maxims and the character of a fool, as drawn by heavenly Wisdom itself, L 12:16-21, continues to be followed even among professed Christians Death will ask the proud sinner, Where is thy wealth, thy pomp? And in the morning of the resurrection, when all that sleep in the dust shal awake, the upright shall be advanced to the highest honour, when the wicked shall be filled with everlasting shame and contempt, Da 12:2 Let us now judge of things as they will appear in that day. The beaut of holiness is that alone which the grave cannot touch, or damage.
Original Hebrew למה4100 אירא3372 בימי3117 רע7451 עון5771 עקבי6120 יסובני׃5437
