Reference: Psalms
Easton
The psalms are the production of various authors. "Only a portion of the Book of Psalms claims David as its author. Other inspired poets in successive generations added now one now another contribution to the sacred collection, and thus in the wisdom of Providence it more completely reflects every phase of human emotion and circumstances than it otherwise could." But it is specially to David and his contemporaries that we owe this precious book. In the "titles" of the psalms, the genuineness of which there is no sufficient reason to doubt, 73 are ascribed to David. Peter and John (Ac 4:25) ascribe to him also the second psalm, which is one of the 48 that are anonymous. About two-thirds of the whole collection have been ascribed to David.
Psalms 39, 62, and 77 are addressed to Jeduthun, to be sung after his manner or in his choir. Psalms 50 and 73-83 are addressed to Asaph, as the master of his choir, to be sung in the worship of God. The "sons of Korah," who formed a leading part of the Kohathite singers (2Ch 20:19), were intrusted with the arranging and singing of PS 42, 44-49, 84, 85, 87, and 88.
In Lu 24:44 the word "psalms" means the Hagiographa, i.e., the holy writings, one of the sections into which the Jews divided the Old Testament. (See Bible.)
None of the psalms can be proved to have been of a later date than the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, hence the whole collection extends over a period of about 1,000 years. There are in the New Testament 116 direct quotations from the Psalter.
The Psalter is divided, after the analogy of the Pentateuch, into five books, each closing with a doxology or benediction:
(1.) The first book comprises the first 41 psalms, all of which are ascribed to David except 1, 2, 10, and 33, which, though anonymous, may also be ascribed to him.
(2.) Book second consists of the next 31 psalms (42-72), 18 of which are ascribed to David and 1 to Solomon (the 72nd). The rest are anonymous.
(3.) The third book contains 17 psalms (73-89), of which the 86th is ascribed to David, the 88th to Heman the Ezrahite, and the 89th to Ethan the Ezrahite.
(4.) The fourth book also contains 17 psalms (90-106), of which the 90th is ascribed to Moses, and the 101st and 103rd to David.
(5.) The fifth book contains the remaining psalms, 44 in number. Of these, 15 are ascribed to David, and the 127th to Solomon.
PS 136 is generally called "the great hallel." But the Talmud includes also PS 120-135. PS 113-118, inclusive, constitute the "hallel" recited at the three great feasts, at the new moon, and on the eight days of the feast of dedication.
It is presumed that these several collections were made at times of high religious life: the first, probably, near the close of David's life; the second in the days of Solomon; the third by the singers of Jehoshaphat (2Ch 20:19); the fourth by the men of Hezekiah (29, 30, 31); and the fifth in the days of Ezra.
The Mosaic ritual makes no provision for the service of song in the worship of God. David first taught the Church to sing the praises of the Lord. He first introduced into the ritual of the tabernacle music and song.
Divers names are given to the psalms. (1.) Some bear the Hebrew designation shir (Gr. ode, a song). Thirteen have this title. It means the flow of speech, as it were, in a straight line or in a regular strain. This title includes secular as well as sacred song.
(2.) Fifty-eight psalms bear the designation (Heb) mitsmor (Gr. psalmos, a psalm), a lyric ode, or a song set to music; a sacred song accompanied with a musical instrument.
(3.) PS 145, and many others, have the designation (Heb) tehillah (Gr. hymnos, a hymn), meaning a song of praise; a song the prominent thought of which is the praise of God.
(4.) Six psalms (16, 56-60) have the title (Heb) michtam (q.v.).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And the Levites from the sons of the Kohathites, and from the sons of the Korhites, will rise up to praise to Jehovah the God of Israel with a great voice to above
And the Levites from the sons of the Kohathites, and from the sons of the Korhites, will rise up to praise to Jehovah the God of Israel with a great voice to above
And he said to them, These the words which I spake to you, being yet with you, for all things must be completed, written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me.
Having said by the mouth of David thy servant, That why were the nations insolent, and did the people practise vain things
Fausets
(See DAVID; POETRY.) The Hebrew designation tehillim, "praises" or hymns," occurring only in the title of Psalm 145 and about 30 times in the body of the Psalms, applies only to some not to all the psalms. The glorification of God is the design of them all, even the penitentiary and precatory psalms; but tehilliym applies strictly to praise songs alone, tephillowt to the prayer songs; Psalm 17; Psalm 72 end, closing the second book of Psalms, Psalm 86; 90; 102 title. No one Hebrew title comprehends all.
The Greek Septuagint has given the title "Psalms" (from psalloo "to play an instrument") applied to the whole collection. The Hebrew mizmor designates 65 psalms; in the Syriac version it comprises the whole (from zaamar "to decorate"), psalms of artificial, adorned structure (Hengstenberg). "A rhythmical composition" (Lowth). "Psalms," the designation most applicable to the whole book, means songs accompanied by an instrument, especially the harp (1Ch 16:4-9; 2Ch 5:12-13). Shir, "a joyful thanksgiving song," is prefixed only to some. The various kinds are specified in Eph 5:19; "psalms (accompanied by an instrument), hymns (indirect praise of God), ... spiritual songs (joyous lyric pieces; contrast Am 8:10)."
TITLES. Their genuineness is confirmed by their antiquity (which is proved by their being unintelligible to the Septuagint translators of the Hebrew into Greek), and by their presence in the greatest number of manuscripts, and in fragments of Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodotion. Their obscurity and occasional want of connection with the psalm's contents (as title Psalm 34) are incompatible with their origination from forgers. The orientals, moreover, usually prefix titles to poems (Hab 3:1; Isa 38:9); so David (2Sa 23:1). The enigmatical titles, found only in the psalms of David and of David's singers, accord with Eastern taste. They are too "poetical, spirited, and profound for any later collector" (Hengstenberg). So David's "bow song" (2Sa 1:18), his enigmatical designation for "the song on him expert with the bow" (2Sa 1:22).
The historical hints in some titles give a clue to the dates. If the titles were added by later hands, how is it that they are wanting in those psalms where conjecture could most easily have had place, namely, the non-Davidic psalms of the fourth and fifth books, whereas they appear in the most regular and complete form in David's psalms, next in those of his singers? Now these are just the ones where conjecture is given no room for exercise; for the titles do not apparently illustrate these psalms, but are a memorial of the events which most deeply impressed David's own mind. In the last two books the historical occasions do not occur in the titles, because cycles of psalms mainly compose these books, and among such cycles psalms of an individual reference hardly have place.
DIVISIONS. Davidic basis of the whole. The Psalms form one "book"; so the Lord refers to them (Lu 20:42), so His apostles (Ac 1:20). The fathers, Ambrose (on Psalm 40) and Jerome to Cyprian (2:695), describe the Psalms as five books in one volume. Based on and corresponding to the historical Pentateuch, they form a poetical "Pentateuch" (Epiphanius, de Mens., c. 5), extending from Moses to the times of Malachi "the Hebrew history set to music an oratorio in five parts, with Messiah for its subject" (Wordsworth). The Psalms, like the Pentateuch, being used in divine worship, are the people's answer to God's address to them in the law, i.e. the expression of their pious feelings called forth by the word of God. The close of each of the five books is marked by a doxology. The "blessed be the Lord God of Israel" is taken up by Zacharias, as fulfilled in Christ (Le 1:17; Ps 106:48). Book I includes Psalm 1-41; Book II, Psalm 42-72; Book III, Psalm 73-89; Book IV, Psalm 90-106; Book V, Psalm 107-150.
Book I is according to the titles Davidic; accordingly there is no trace of any author hut David. The objection from the "temple" (Ps 5:7) being mentioned is groundless, for in 1Sa 1:9; 3:3, it is similarly used for the tabernacle long before Solomon's temple was built. The argument for a post-Babylonian date from the phrase "bring back the captivity" (Ps 14:7) is invalid; it is a Hebraism for reversing one's misfortunes (Job 42:10). Nor does the acrosticism in Psalm 25 prove a late date, for acrosticism appears in psalms acknowledged to be David's (Psalm 9). In Books II and III David's singers have borrowed from David (excepting "a song of the beloved" Psalm 45, and Psalm 46, "upon Alamoth") everything peculiar in his superscriptions; see Psalm 42; 43; 44; 84; 86. "Selah" is restricted to David and his singers; but "hallelujah" is never found in his or their psalms.
So also "to the chief musician," (committing the psalm to the music conductor to prepare for musical performance in the public service: 1Ch 15:21 Hebrew and margin, compare 1Ch 15:22,) is limited to David's and their psalms. The writer of 2 Samuel 22 evidently turned into prose David's poetical superscription (Psalm 18); so the writer of 1Sa 19:11; 21:13-14; 23:19, had before him the titles of Psalm 34; 54; 59. Hezekiah's "writing" (miktab) alludes probably to David's miktam (a "secret," or "song of deep import"), Psalm 56; 57 titles, for it was he who restored David's psalms to their liturgical use in the temple (2Ch 29:30). This imitation of David's title, and still more the correspondence of his prayer to David's psalms (Ps 102:24; 27:13; 49:1; 6:5; 30:9), is a presumption for the authenticity of David's and his singers' psalms and their titles.
Habakkuk similarly leans upon David's superscriptions, as also upon his psalms. Hab 3:1, "Shiggaion," compare title Ps 7:1, "Son of David"; Hab 3:19, "to the chief musician on my stringed instruments" is derived from the titles Psalm 4; 6. So the "Selah" (Ps 6:9-10) which occurs only in the psalms of David and his singers. The absence of the authors' names from most of the psalms in the fourth and fifth books implies that none of them have an individual and personal character, as the Davidic psalms have. In all such the psalmist represents the community. The later groups of psalms rest on the Davidic, and echo the poetry of David. Even in the psalms of David's singers, the authors, except Asaph (Psalm 1; 74) who was immediately associated with David, do not give their individual names.
PRINCIPLE OF SELECTION. Not all Israel's lyric poetry but only.
(1) such as is directly religious is included in the psalter, therefore not David's dirge over Saul and Jonathan (2Sa 1:17-27). Also
(2) only the psalms applicable to the whole church and therefore suited to the public services of the sanctuary. The individual psalmist represents the religious community whose mouthpiece he is. 2Sa 23:1; David sings in his typical and representative character; no other psalmist in the book has personal references. Hence Hezekiah's prayer (Isaiah 38) and Jonah's thanksgiving are excluded as too personal.
(3) Only such as were composed trader the Holy Spirit's inspiration. The very musicians who founded the sacred music were inspired (1Ch 25:1, "prophesy with harps"), much more the psalmists themselves. Asaph, the writer of some psalms, was a "seer" (2Ch 29:30).
David spoke "in the Spirit." Christ testifies (Mt 22:41-46), He classes" the Psalms," the chief book of the chetubim or hagiographa, with "the law and the prophets" (Lu 24:44). The Messianic prophetic element in David leans on Nathan's prophecy (2 Samuel 7). Subsequent prophets develop David's Messianic predictions. The Psalms draw out of the typical ceremonial of the law its tuner spirit, adapting it to the various requirements of the individual and the congregation. By their help the Israelite could enter into the living spirit of the law, and realizing his need of the promised Saviour look for Him of whom the Psalms testify. They are a treasury from which we can draw the inner experiences of Old Testament saints and express our corresponding feelings, under like circumstances, in their divinely sanctioned language of praise and prayer.
CLASSIFICATION.
(1) Psalms of joy and gratitude, shir, lethodah "for confession" or as
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And he cleft it with its wings; he shall not divide; and the priest burnt it upon the altar, upon the wood which is upon the fire: it is a burnt-offering, a sacrifice, an odor of sweetness to Jehovah.
And Hannah will rise after eating in Shiloh, and after drinking: (and Eli the priest sat upon the throne by the door-post of the edifice of Jehovah:)
And before the lamp of God shall go out, and Samuel lay down in the edifice of Jehovah where there the ark of God.
And Saul will send messengers to the house of David to watch him, and to kill him in the morning: and Michel his wife will announce to David, saying, If thou save not thy soul this night, to-morrow thou diest
And he will change his understanding in their eyes, and he will be foolish in their hand, and he will mark upon the doors of the gate, and his spittle will come down upon his beard. And Achish will say to his servants, Behold, ye will see the man raving: wherefore will ye bring him to me?
And the Ziphites will go up to Saul to the hill, saying, Is not David hiding with us in the fastnesses in the thicket, in the hill of Hachilah, which is from the right of the desert?
And it will press upon David greatly, for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was bitter, each for his sons and for his daughters: and David will be strengthened in Jehovah his God.
And David will set up this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: (And he will say to teach the sons of Judah the bow: it was written upon the book of Jasher.)
(And he will say to teach the sons of Judah the bow: it was written upon the book of Jasher.) The beauty of Israel was wounded upon thy heights: how have the powerful fallen read more. Ye shall not announce in Gath, ye shall not announce the good news in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the rovers shall rejoice--lest the daughters of the uncircumcised shall exult Mountains of Gilboa, no dew and no rain upon you, and fields of offerings: for there the shield of the powerful was cast away--the shield of Saul as not anointed with oil. From the blood of the wounded and from the fat of the powerful, the bow of Jonathan drew not back in the rear, and the sword of Saul will not turn back empty.
From the blood of the wounded and from the fat of the powerful, the bow of Jonathan drew not back in the rear, and the sword of Saul will not turn back empty. Saul and Jonathan beloved and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not separated: they were swift above eagles, they were strong above lions. read more. Daughters of Israel weep for Saul, having clothed you with scarlet, with delights; bringing up ornaments of gold upon your garments. How have the powerful fallen in the midst of the battle Jonathan wounded upon the heights! Distress to me for thee, my brother Jonathan: thou wert sweet to me exceedingly: thy love to me was wonderful above the love of women. How have the powerful fallen and the vessels of war perished.
And David will make a name in his turning back from his smiting Aram in the valley of salt, eighteen thousand.
And these the last words of David. The declaration of David, son of Jesse, and the declaration of the man raised up for the Messiah of the God of Jacob, and the sweet songs of Israel.
And these the last words of David. The declaration of David, son of Jesse, and the declaration of the man raised up for the Messiah of the God of Jacob, and the sweet songs of Israel.
And Mattithiah and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps upon the Sheminith to shine. And Chenaniah chief of the, in lifting up, admonished in the lifting up, for he discerning. Levites
And he will give before the ark of Jehovah from the Levites serving, and for keeping in remembrance, and to confess and to praise to Jehovah God of Israel. Asaph the head, and his second, Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-Edom: and Jeiel with instruments of lyres and harps; and Asaph with trumpets causing to hear; read more. And Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God. In that day thus David gave at the first to confess to Jehovah by the hand of Asaph and his brethren. Confess ye to Jehovah, call upon his name, make known among the peoples his deeds. Sing ye to him, play on the harp to him, speak upon all his wonders.
And David will separate, and the chiefs of the army, for service to the sons of Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, prophesying with harps, with lyres and with cymbals: and there will be their number of men of work for their service.
And David will say to Solomon his son, Be strong and be active, and do: thou shalt not fear, and thou shalt not be terrified, for Jehovah God, my God, is with thee; he will not be slack to thee, and he will not forsake thee till the finishing all the works of the service of the house of Jehovah.
And David the king will say to all the convocation, Solomon my son, God chose in him alone, is a youth and tender, and the work great; for the fortress not for man but for Jehovah God.
And the Levites from the sons of the Kohathites, and from the sons of the Korhites, will rise up to praise to Jehovah the God of Israel with a great voice to above
And in the fourth day they were convoked together to the valley of praise; for there they praised Jehovah: for this, they called the name of that place, The valley of praise, even to this day. And they will turn back every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, to turn back to Jerusalem with joy; for Jehovah gladdened them from their enemies read more. And they will come to Jerusalem with lyres and with harps and with trumpets to the house of Jehovah. And the terror of God will be upon all the kingdoms of the lands in their hearing that Jehovah warred with the enemies of Israel.
And Hezekiah the king, and the chiefs, will say, to the Levites to praise to Jehovah in the words of David, and Asaph the seer. And they will praise even to gladness, and they will bow down and worship.
And Hezekiah the king, and the chiefs, will say, to the Levites to praise to Jehovah in the words of David, and Asaph the seer. And they will praise even to gladness, and they will bow down and worship.
After all this, when Josiah prepared the house, Necho king of Egypt came up to war against Carchemish upon Phrath: and Josiah will go forth to meet him. And he will send messengers to him, saying, What to me and to thee, thou king of Judah? Not against thee this day, but against the house of my war: and God said to hasten me: cease to thyself from God who is with me, and he will not destroy thee. read more. And Josiah turned not his face from him, but to fight with him he disguised himself, and he heard not to the words of Necho from the mouth of God; and he will go forth to fight in the valley of Megiddo. And the archers will shoot at king Josiah; and the king will say to his servants, Cause me to pass away; for I was made sick greatly. And his servants will cause him to pass from the chariot, and they will cause him to ride in the second chariot which was to him; and they will cause him to go to Jerusalem, and he will die, and be buried in the graves of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourning for Josiah. And Jeremiah will lament for Josiah: and all the singing men and singing women will speak concerning Josiah in their lamentations, even to this day, and they will give them for a law upon Israel: and behold them written upon the lamentations.
And the people of the land will take Jehoahaz son of Josiah, and make him king instead of his father in Jerusalem. The son of three and twenty years was Jehoahaz in his reigning, and three months reigned he in Jerusalem. read more. And the king of Egypt will remove him in Jerusalem, and he will amerce the land a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. And the king of Egypt will make Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and he will turn his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho will take Jehoahaz his brother and bring him to Egypt
This Ezra went up from Babel; and he a scribe skilled in the law of Moses which Jehovah God of Israel gave: and the king will give to him according to the hand of Jehovah upon him all his seeking.
And Nehemiah, (he the Tirshatha) will say, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites causing the people to understand, To all the people this day is holy to Jehovah your God; ye shall not mourn, and ye shall not weep. For all the people weeping in their hearing to the words of the law.
The thorn shall come forth, instead of wheat, and the weed instead of barley. The words of Job were completed
And Jehovah turned back the captivity of Job in his praying for his friends: and Jehovah added all which was to Job, to the double.
But his delight is in the law of Jehovah, and in his law he will meditate day and night
Wherefore did the nations rage, and the peoples will meditate emptiness?
And I in the multitude of thy mercy will come into thy house; I will worship to thy holy temple in thy fear.
For in death none remembering thee: in hades who shall give thanks to thee?
Jehovah heard my supplication; Jehovah will receive my prayer All mine enemies shall be ashamed, they shall tremble exceedingly they shall turn back, they shall be ashamed suddenly.
Song of David which he sang to Jehovah upon the words of Cush, son of the right hand. O Jehovah my God, in thee I put My trust: save me from all pursuing me, and deliver me:
Who will give out of Zion the salvation of Israel? in Jehovah bringing back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall exult, Israel shall rejoice.
For who is God besides Jehovah? or who a rock except our God?
Unless I believed to look upon the goodness of Jehovah in the land of the living.
What the profit in my blood in my going down to the pit? shall the dust praise thee? shall it announce thy truth?
He will choose for us our inheritance, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Silence. God went up with a shout, Jehovah with the voice of a trumpet
God went up with a shout, Jehovah with the voice of a trumpet
God reigned over the nations; God sat upon his holy throne. The nobles of the peoples were gathered together, the people of the God. of Abraham: for to God the shields of the earth: he was lifted up greatly.
The nobles of the peoples were gathered together, the people of the God. of Abraham: for to God the shields of the earth: he was lifted up greatly.
With an east wind thou wilt break the ships of Tarshish.
To the overseer, to the sons of Korah: chanting. Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the World:
Praised be Jehovah God, the God of Israel, doing wonders himself alone.
They said in their heart, We will rage against them together: they burnt up all the appointments of God in the earth.
Chanting to Asaph. O God, the nations came into thine inheritance; they defiled thy holy temple; they set Jerusalem for ruins.
Pour out thy wrath upon the nations which knew thee not, and upon the kingdoms which called not upon thy name.
Also thou wilt turn hack the edge of his sword, and thou caused him not to rise up in war.
Thou didst shorten the clays of his youth: thou didst cover over him with shame. Silence.
Saying, O my God, thou wilt not take me away in the half of my days: thy years in generations of generations.
Blessed be Jehovah the God of Israel from forever and even to forever: and all the people saying, Amen. Praise ye Jah.
To the overseer, chanting to David: Deliver me, O Jehovah, from the evil man: wilt thou guard me from the man of violences
The writing to Hezekiah king of Judah in his being sick, and he will live from his sickness:
For ye shall not come forth with haste, and in flight ye shall not go; for Jehovah goes before you, and he gathering you the God of Israel. Behold, my servant shall be wise, he shall be exalted, and lifted up, and be high exceedingly.
Behold, my servant shall be wise, he shall be exalted, and lifted up, and be high exceedingly. As many were astonished at thee, his appearance being so spoiled from man, and his form from the sons of men.
As many were astonished at thee, his appearance being so spoiled from man, and his form from the sons of men. So shall he cause many nations to rejoice for him; kings shall shut their mouth; for what was not recounted to them they saw; and what they heard not, they considered.
So shall he cause many nations to rejoice for him; kings shall shut their mouth; for what was not recounted to them they saw; and what they heard not, they considered.
Who believed in our report? and to whom was the arm of Jehovah uncovered? He shall come up as a sucking child before him, and as a root out of a land of dryness: no form to him and no decoration; and we shall see him, and no appearance and we shall desire him. read more. He was despised and forsaken of men; a man of griefs and knowing affliction: and as hiding the faces from him; he was despised and we regarded him not Surely he lifted up our afflictions, and our griefs he carried them: and we reckoned him to be smitten, struck of God, and afflicted. And he being wounded for our transgressions, and crushed from our iniquities; the correction of our peace upon him, and in the marks of his stripes it was healed to us. All we as sheep went astray; we turned a man to his way; and Jehovah caused the iniquity of us all to fall upon him. He was pressed, and he was afflicted, and he will not open his mouth: he was brought as a sheep for the slaughter, and as a sheep before his shearers being dumb and he will not open his mouth. From constraint and from judgment was he taken, and his generation who shall comprehend? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he struck for them. And he will give with the unjust his grave, and with the rich in his deaths, for he did no violence, and no deceit in his mouth. And Jehovah inclined to crash him; piercing him when his soul shall be set a sacrifice for sin, he shall see seed, he shall prolong the days, and the delight of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand. And be shall see of the labor of his soul, he shall be satisfied: by his knowledge my just servant shall justify for many; and he shall bear their iniquities.. For this I will divide to him with many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; for which his soul was poured out to death, and he was numbered with transgressors; and he lifted up the sin of many, and he will supplicate for transgressors.
Pour out thy wrath upon the nations which knew thee not, and upon the families that called not upon thy name: for they ate up Jacob and consumed him, and they will finish him, and they made desolate his dwelling.
And he will burn the house of Jehovah, and the king's house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great house he burnt in fire:
And the pillars of brass which were to the house of Jehovah, and the bases, and the sea of brass which was in the house of Jehovah, the Chaldeans brake in pieces, and they will lift up their brass to Babel.
And turned your festivals into mourning, and all your songs to lamentation; and I brought up sackcloth upon all loins, and upon every head, baldness; and I set it as the mourning of an only one, and its last part as a day of bitterness.
A Prayer by Habakkuk the prophet upon songs
A Prayer by Habakkuk the prophet upon songs
Jehovah the Lord my strength, and he will set my feet as the hinds, and upon my heights he will cause me to tread. For the overseer upon my stringed instruments.
Happy the poor in spirit: for their's is the kingdom of the heavens.
And the Pharisees having been gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What seems to you about Christ? Whose son is he They say to him, David's. read more. He says to them, How then does David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit by my right, till I make thine enemies the footstool of my feet If, therefore, David calls him Lord, how is he his son And none could answer him a word, nor dared any one from that day to ask him any more.
And David himself says in the book of Psalms, the Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou from my right hand,
And he said to them, O ye unwise, and slow in heart to believe in all things which the prophets spake:
And having begun from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained clearly to them in all the writings concerning himself.
And he said to them, These the words which I spake to you, being yet with you, for all things must be completed, written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, to understand the writings, read more. And he said to them, That so has it been written, and so was it necessary for Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
For it has been written, in the book of Psalms, Let his country-house be a desert, and let none be dwelling in it: and his inspection may another take.
For David says about him, I saw beforehand the Lord before me always, for he is of my right hand, that I be not moved: For this my heart was gladdened, and my tongue was transported with joy; and yet also shall my flesh encamp in hope: read more. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hades neither wilt thou give thy sanctified one to see corruption.
And having heard, they were pricked in heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the sent, What shall we do, men, brethren?
Speaking to yourselves on harps, and songs, and spiritual odes, singing and playing on the harp in your heart to the Lord;
For which salvation the prophets sought and inquired anxiously, they having prophesied of the grace to you: Searching for whom or what time the Spirit of Christ which in them manifested, testifying beforehand the sufferings to Christ, and the glories after these. read more. To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to us they were serving these things, which now have been again proclaimed to you by them having announced the good news in the Holy Spirit sent from heaven; into which angels eagerly desire to stoop and creep.
Hastings
PSALMS
1. Title and place in Canon.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Ye shall not make to me gods of silver, and gods of gold ye shall not make to yourselves.
And the priest took with the hand from the gift its remembrance, and burnt upon the altar, and afterward he shall cause the woman to drink the water.
And Hannah will pray and say, My heart rejoiced in Jehovah, my horn was lifted up in Jehovah; my mouth was enlarged over mine enemies; for I was glad in thy salvation. None holy as Jehovah, for none beside thee: and no rock as our God. read more. Ye shall not enlarge; will ye sproud, proud? shall the impatient thing come forth from your mouth for Jehovah a God of knowledge, and doings were not made equal. The bows of the mighty being broken, and the weak were girded with strength. And those filled with bread hired themselves out; and they hungering, ceased till the barren shall bring forth seven; and she multiplying sons languished. Jehovah killing and giving life; bringing down to hades and bringing up. Jehovah dispossessing, and enriching: making low, but lifting up. Raising up the weak from the dust, he will raise up the needy from the dung-hill to sit with the noble, and he will cause them to inherit a throne of glory, for to Jehovah the castings of the earth, and he will put the habitable globe upon them. He will watch the feet of the merciful and the unjust shall be silent in darkness; for not by strength shall man prevail. Jehovah, they contending against him, shall be broken; in the heavens he will break them in pieces: Jehovah will judge the ends of the earth, and he will give strength to his king, and he will lift up the horn of his Messiah.
And those singing, Heman, Asaph and Ethan, with cymbals of brass to cause to hear; And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with lyres upon Alemoth; read more. And Mattithiah and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps upon the Sheminith to shine.
And the Levites from the sons of the Kohathites, and from the sons of the Korhites, will rise up to praise to Jehovah the God of Israel with a great voice to above
The sons of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.
For in one to the first month he laid the foundation of going up from Babel, and in one to the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
Chanting of David in his fleeing from the face of Absalom his son. Jehovah, how they pressing upon me were multiplied! many rising up against me.
And Jehovah was known by the judgment he did: by the work of his hands the unjust was snared. Meditation. Silence.
And Jehovah was known by the judgment he did: by the work of his hands the unjust was snared. Meditation. Silence.
To the overseer; chanting of David. The heavens recounting the glory of God, and the firmament announcing the work of his hands. Day to day will gush out the saying, and night to night will breathe out knowledge. read more. No saying and no words without their voice being heard. Their line went forth into all the earth, and their words into the ends of the habitable globe. In them he set a tent for the sun. And he as a bridegroom coming forth from his nuptial couch, will rejoice as a strong one to run a way. From the extremity of the heavens his going forth and his circuits upon their extremities and no hiding from his heat. The law of Jehovah is blameless, turning back the soul; the testimonies of Jehovah being faithful, making wise the simple. The mandates of Jehovah are straight, rejoicing the heart: the command of Jehovah pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Jehovah being pure, standing forever: the judgments of Jehovah, truth, they were altogether just Being desirable above gold, and above much pure gold, and being sweet above honey, and the dropping of honey-combs. Also thy servant being admonished by them: in watching them much reward. Who will understand errors? acquit me from hidden things. Also withhold thy servant from arrogant things; they shall not rule over me: then shall I be blameless, and I was acquitted from much transgression. The saying of my mouth and the meditation of my heart shall be for acceptance before thee, O Jehovah, my rock and my redeemer.
The saying of my mouth and the meditation of my heart shall be for acceptance before thee, O Jehovah, my rock and my redeemer.
To David chanting. To Jehovah the earth and its fulness, the habitable globe and they dwelling in it. For he founded it upon the seas, and upon the rivers he will prepare it read more. Who will go up to the mountain of Jehovah? and who shall stand in his holy place? The blameless one of hands and the clean of heart; who lifted not up his soul to vanity, and swore not for deceit He shall receive a praise from Jehovah, and justice from God saving him. This the generation seeking him, searching out thy face O Jacob. Silence. Lift up your heads, ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye openings of eternity, and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? Jehovah strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty for war. Lift up, ye gates, your heads, and be lifted up, ye openings of eternity, and the King of glory shall come in. Who is he, this King of glory? Jehovah of armies, he is the King of glory. Silence.
To David. Jehovah my light and my saviour; of whom shall I be afraid? Jehovah the strength of my life; from whom shall I tremble? In the drawing near of those doing evil to me, to eat my flesh, adversaries and enemies to me, they were weak and fell read more. If a camp shall encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: if war shall rise up against me, in this I trust I asked one from Jehovah, I will seek it; I sat in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, to look upon the sweetness of Jehovah, and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in the booth in the day of evil: he will cover me with the covering of his tent; he will lift me up upon a rock. And now he will lift up my head over mine enemies round about me: and I will sacrifice in his tent sacrifices of rejoicing; I will sing and I will play on the harp to Jehovah. Hear my voice, O Jehovah: I will call, and pity me and answer me. My heart said to thee, Seek .ye my face; thy face, O Jehovah, I will seek. Thou wilt not cover thy face from me; thou wilt not turn away thy servant in anger: thou, wert my help; thou wilt not leave me and thou wilt not forsake me, my God saving me. For my father and my mother forsook me, and Jehovah will gather me. Teach me, O Jehovah, thy way, and lead me in a path of straitness for sake of those pressing me. Thou wilt not give me to the soul of him pressing me, for witnesses of falsehood rose up against me, and violence will blow. Unless I believed to look upon the goodness of Jehovah in the land of the living. Wait for Jehovah: be strong, and thy heart shall be strengthened: and wait for Jehovah.
To the overseer, to the servant of Jehovah: to David. A song of transgression to the unjust one in the midst of my heart, no fear of God before his eyes. For he made smooth to himself in his eyes, to find his iniquity to hate. read more. The words of his mouth vanity and deceit: he ceased to be circumspect, to do good. He will purpose vanity upon his bed; he will set himself upon a way not good; he will not reject evil O Jehovah, thy mercy is in the heavens; thy faithfulness even to the clouds. Thy justice as the mountains of God; thy judgments a great deep: man and cattle thou wilt save, O Jerhovah
Thy justice as the mountains of God; thy judgments a great deep: man and cattle thou wilt save, O Jerhova How precious thy mercy, O God! and the sons of man shall put their trust in the shadow of thy wings. read more. They shall satiate from the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt give them to drink the torrent of thy delights. For with thee the fountain of life: in thy light we shall see light Draw out thy mercy to those knowing thee, and thy justice to the upright of heart The foot of pride shall not come to me, and the hand of the unjust shall not move me. There they working vanity fell: they were thrust down, and they shall not be able to rise.
Be gracious, O Jehovah, to deliver me: hasten, O Jehovah, to help me. They shall be ashamed and blush together seeking my soul to take it away; they shall be turned back, and they delighting in my evil shall be ashamed. read more. They shall be made desolate for the reward of their shame, they saying to me, Aha! aha! All they seeking thee shall rejoice and be glad in thee: they loving thy salvation shall say, Jehovah shall be magnified. And I am poor and needy, Jehovah will think upon me: thou my help and my deliverer; thou will not delay, O my God.
Praised be Jehovah God of Israel, from forever and even to forever. Amen and Amen.
Why wilt thou be bowed down, O my soul? and be disturbed upon me? Hope upon God, for yet shall I praise him for the salvation of his face.
Why wilt thou be bowed down, O my soul? and why wilt thou be disturbed upon me? Hope upon God, for yet shall I praise him, the salvation of my face and my God.
Why wilt thou be bowed down, O my soul? and why wilt thou be disturbed upon me? hope upon God, for yet shall I praise him, the salvation of my face, and my God.
Do Zion good in thy good will: thou wilt build the walls of Jerusalem.
My heart was prepared, O God, my heart was prepared: I will sing and play on the harp.
My heart was prepared, O God, my heart was prepared: I will sing and play on the harp. Awake, my glory; awake, lyre and harp: I shall awake early.
Awake, my glory; awake, lyre and harp: I shall awake early. I will praise thee, O Jehovah, among the peoples: I will play on the harp to thee among the nations.
I will praise thee, O Jehovah, among the peoples: I will play on the harp to thee among the nations. For great even to the heavens thy mercy, and even to the clouds, thy truth.
For great even to the heavens thy mercy, and even to the clouds, thy truth. Be thou exalted over the heavens, O God: over all the earth, thy glory.
Be thou exalted over the heavens, O God: over all the earth, thy glory.
So that thy beloved ones shall be delivered, save with thy right hand and answer us.
So that thy beloved ones shall be delivered, save with thy right hand and answer us. God spake in his holy place; I will rejoice, I will divide the shoulder, and I will measure the valley of booths.
God spake in his holy place; I will rejoice, I will divide the shoulder, and I will measure the valley of booths. Gilead to me, and Manasseh to me; and Ephraim the strength of my head; Judah my judge.
Gilead to me, and Manasseh to me; and Ephraim the strength of my head; Judah my judge. Moab the pot of my washing; over Edom I will cast out my shoe: for me, Philistia shouted for joy.
Moab the pot of my washing; over Edom I will cast out my shoe: for me, Philistia shouted for joy. Who will bring me to the city of fortification? who guided me even to Edom?
Who will bring me to the city of fortification? who guided me even to Edom? Wilt not thou, O God? thou didst cast us off, and wilt thou not go forth, O God, with our armies?
Wilt not thou, O God? thou didst cast us off, and wilt thou not go forth, O God, with our armies? Give to us help from straits, for vain the salvation of man.
Give to us help from straits, for vain the salvation of man. In God we will do strength and he will tread down our adversaries.
In God we will do strength and he will tread down our adversaries.
Praised be Jehovah God, the God of Israel, doing wonders himself alone. And praised be the name of his glory forever; and his glory shall fill all the earth. Amen and Amen.
Thou didst cause to cease from his cleansing, and his throne thou didst cast it down to the earth. Thou didst shorten the clays of his youth: thou didst cover over him with shame. Silence. read more. How long, O Jehovah, wilt thou hide thyself forever? Shall thy wrath burn as fire? Remember me what is life: wherefore in vain didst thou create all the sons of man? What man shall live and not see death? Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of hades? Silence. Where thy former mercies, O Jehovah, thou didst sware to David in thy faithfulness? Remember, O Jehovah, the reproach of thy servants; I lifted up in my bosom all the multitudes of peoples; Which thine enemies reproached, O Jehovah; which they reproached the heels of thy Messiah. Blessed be Jehovah forever. Amen and Amen.
Blessed be Jehovah forever. Amen and Amen.
Upon a ten stringed instrument, and upon the lyre; with the murmurs upon the harp.
Thou wilt arise, thou wilt compassionate Zion: for the time to compassionate her for the appointment came.
For Jehovah built Zion, he was seen in his glory
Save us, O Jehovah our God, and gather us from the nations to confess to thy holy name, to boast in thy praise Blessed be Jehovah the God of Israel from forever and even to forever: and all the people saying, Amen. Praise ye Jah.
And he gathered them from the lands, from the sunrisings and from the west, from the north and from the sea.
Song of ascensions. In Jehovah turning back the returning of we were as those dreaming.
By the rivers of Babel, there we sat down: also we wept in our remembering Zion.
Jehovah builds Jerusalem: he will collect together the outcasts of Israel.
The writing to Hezekiah king of Judah in his being sick, and he will live from his sickness:
The writing to Hezekiah king of Judah in his being sick, and he will live from his sickness: I said in the quiet of my days, I shall go to the gates of hades: I was missed the remainder of my years. read more. I said, I shall not see Jah Jah, in the land of the living: I shall no more behold man with the inhabitants of the place of rest. Mine age removed, and was carried away from me as a shepherd's tent: I rolled together as a weaver my life: from the thread he will cut me off: from the day even to the night thou wilt finish me. I set till the morning, as the lion thus will he break all my bones: from the day even to the night thou wilt finish me. As the twittering swallow so shall I chirp: I shall murmur as the dove: mine eyes languished for height: O Jehovah, oppression is to me; be surety for me. What shall I speak? and he said to me, and he did: I shall go slowly all my years upon the bitterness of my soul. O Jehovah, upon these they shall live, and for all of these the life of my spirit: and thou wilt heal me and cause me to live. Behold, for peace bitterness, to me bitterness: and thou didst cleave to my soul from the pit of destruction: and thou didst cast all my sin behind my back For not hades shall praise thee, death celebrate: they going down to the pit shall not hope for thy truth. The living; the living, he shall praise thee, as from me this day the father to the sons shall make known for thy truth. Jehovah to save me; and striking my stringed instruments all the days of our life for the house of Jehovah.
Thus said Jehovah, As the new wine will be found in the cluster, and he will say, Thou shalt not destroy it, for a blessing in it: thus will I do for sake of my servant, to not destroy them all.
A Prayer by Habakkuk the prophet upon songs
Jehovah the Lord my strength, and he will set my feet as the hinds, and upon my heights he will cause me to tread. For the overseer upon my stringed instruments.
And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord. And my Spirit rejoiced in God my Saviour. read more. For he looked upon the humiliation of his servant; for, behold, from now shall all generations deem me happy For the powerful one has done great things for me; and his name holy. And his mercy to generations of generations to those fearing him. He has done strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thought of their heart. he has pulled down the powerful from thrones, and lifted up the He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he sent away empty. He succored Israel his servant, remembering mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abram, and his seed forever.
Praised the Lord God of Israel; for he reviewed and he has made a redemption for his people, And he raised up a horn of salvation to us in the house of David, his servant; read more. As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, from forever: Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all hating us; To do mercy with our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant: The oath which he sware to Abraham our father, To give to us, fearlessly, delivered from the hands of our enemies, To serve him in sanctity and justice before him all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation to his people, in remission of their sins. Through the bowels of mercy of our God; by which the rising of the sun of sublimity has reviewed us, To shine forth to those in darkness and sitting in the shadow of death, to direct our feet in the way of peace.
And David himself says in the book of Psalms, the Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou from my right hand,
And he said to them, These the words which I spake to you, being yet with you, for all things must be completed, written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me.
And there was the festival of inauguration among the Jerusalemites, and it was winter..
For it has been written, in the book of Psalms, Let his country-house be a desert, and let none be dwelling in it: and his inspection may another take.
Morish
This word occurs in the O.T. only in connection with the Psalms of David and those in the Book of Psalms. David is called "the sweet psalmist of Israel." 2Sa 23:1. There can be no doubt that in connection with the 'singers,' and the praising God with instruments, the Psalms were used. We read "sing psalms unto him," "Make a joyful noise unto him with psalms," etc. In N.T. days, for a time at least, the Psalms of David may have been sung by believers, but there were also hymns and spiritual songs, and it is to be remarked that in the singing at the institution of the Lord's supper a hymn (?????) is spoken of, not a psalm (??????). See PASSOVER. The latter Greek word (besides the occurrences which refer to the Book of Psalms) is found in 1Co 14:26; Eph 5:19; Col 3:16.
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And these the last words of David. The declaration of David, son of Jesse, and the declaration of the man raised up for the Messiah of the God of Jacob, and the sweet songs of Israel.
Therefore, what is it brethren when ye come together, every one of you has a Psalms, has teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretatior. Let all things be for the building of the house.
Speaking to yourselves on harps, and songs, and spiritual odes, singing and playing on the harp in your heart to the Lord;
Let the word of Christ dwell in, you richly; teaching and reminding one another in all wisdom, playing with harps, and songs, and spiritual odes, with grace singing in your hearts to the Lord.
Watsons
PSALMS. The book of Psalms is a collection of hymns, or sacred songs, in praise of God, and consists of poems of various kinds. They are the productions of different persons, but are generally called the Psalms of David, because a great part of them was composed by him, and David himself is distinguished by the name of the Psalmist. We cannot now ascertain all the Psalms written by David, but their number probably exceeds seventy; and much less are we able to discover the authors of the other Psalms, or the occasions upon which they were composed. A few of them were written after the return from the Babylonian captivity. The titles prefixed to them are of very questionable authority; and in many cases they are not intended to denote the writer but refer only to the person who was appointed to set them to music. David first introduced the practice of singing sacred hymns in the public service of God; and it was restored by Ezra. The authority of the Psalms is established not only by their rank among the sacred writings, and by the unvaried testimony of ages, but likewise by many intrinsic proofs of inspiration. Not only do they breathe through every part a divine spirit of eloquence, but they contain numberless illustrious prophecies that were remarkably accomplished, and are frequently appealed to by the evangelical writers. The sacred character of the whole book is established by the testimony of our Saviour and his Apostles, who, in various parts of the New Testament, appropriate the predictions of the Psalms as obviously apposite to the circumstances of their lives, and as intentionally composed to describe them. The veneration for the Psalms has in all ages of the church been considerable. The fathers assure us, that in the earlier times the whole book of Psalms was generally learned by heart; and that the ministers of every gradation were expected to be able to repeat them from memory. These invaluable Scriptures are daily repeated without weariness, though their beauties are often overlooked in familiar and habitual perusal. As hymns immediately addressed to the Deity, they reduce righteousness to practice; and while we acquire the sentiments, we perform the offices of piety; while we supplicate for blessings, we celebrate the memorial of former mercies; and while in the exercise of devotion, faith is enlivened by the display of prophecy. Josephus asserts, and most of the ancient writers maintain, that the Psalms were composed in metre. They have undoubtedly a peculiar conformation of sentences, and a measured distribution of parts. Many of them are elegiac, and most of David's are of the lyric kind. There is no sufficient reason however to believe, as some writers have imagined, that they were written in rhyme, or in any of the Grecian measures. Some of them are acrostic; and though the regulations of the Hebrew measure are now lost, there can be no doubt, from their harmonious modulation, that they were written with some kind of metrical order; and they must have been composed in accommodation to the measure to which they were set. (See Poetry of the Hebrews.) The Hebrew copies and the Septuagint version of this book contain the same number of Psalms; only the Septuagint translators have, for some reason which does not appear, thrown the ninth and tenth into one, as also the one hundred and fourteenth and one hundred and fifteenth, and have divided the one hundred and sixteenth and one hundred and forty-seventh each into two.
It is very justly observed by Dr. Allix, that, "although the sense of near fifty Psalms be fixed and settled by divine authors, yet Christ and his Apostles did not undertake to quote all the Psalms they could, but only to give a key to their hearers, by which they might apply to the same subjects the Psalms of the same composure and expression." With regard to the Jews, Bishop Chandler very pertinently remarks, that "they must have understood David, their prince, to have been a figure of Messiah. They would not otherwise have made his Psalms part of their daily worship; nor would David have delivered them to the church to be so employed, were it not to instruct and support them in the knowledge and belief of this fundamental article. Were the Messiah not concerned in the Psalms, it would have been absurd to celebrate twice a day, in their public devotions, the events of one man's life, who was deceased so long ago, as to have no relation now to the Jews and the circumstances of their affairs; or to transcribe whole passages from them into their prayers for the coming of the Messiah." Upon the same principle it is easily seen that the objections, which may seem to lie against the use of Jewish services in Christian congregations, may cease at once. Thus it may be said, Are we concerned with the affairs of David and of Israel? Have we any thing to do with the ark and the temple? They are no more. Are we to go up to Jerusalem, and to worship on Sion? They are desolated, and trodden under foot by the Turks. Are we to sacrifice young bullocks according to the law? The law is abolished, never to be observed again. Do we pray for victory over Moab, Edom, and Philistia; or for deliverance from Babylon? There are no such nations, no such places in the world. What then do we mean, when, taking such expressions into our mouths, we utter them in our own persons, as parts of our devotions, before God? Assuredly we must mean a spiritual Jerusalem and Sion; a spiritual ark and temple; a spiritual law; spiritual sacrifices; and spiritual victories over spiritual enemies; all described under the old names, which are still retained, though "old things are passed away, and all things are become new," 2Co 5:17. By substituting Messiah for David, the Gospel for the law, the church Christian for that of Israel, and the enemies of the one for those of the other, the Psalms are made our own. Nay, they are with more fulness and propriety applied now to the substance, than they were of old to the "shadow of good things then to come," Heb 10:1. For let it not pass unobserved, that when, upon the first publication of the Gospel, the Apostles had occasion to utter their transports of joy, on their being counted worthy to suffer for the name of their Lord and Master, which was then opposed by Jew and Gentile, they brake forth into an application of the second Psalm to the transactions then before their eyes, Ac 4:25. The Psalms, thus applied, have advantages which no fresh compositions, however finely executed, can possibly have; since, beside their incomparable fitness to express our sentiments, they are at the same time memorials of, and appeals to, former mercies and deliverances; they are acknowledgments of prophecies accomplished; they point out the connection between the old and new dispensations, thereby teaching us to admire and adore the wisdom of God displayed in both, and furnishing while we read or sing them, an inexhaustible variety of the noblest matter that can engage the contemplations of man.
Very few of the Psalms, comparatively, appear to be simply prophetical, and to belong only to Messiah, without the intervention of any other person. Most of them, it is apprehended, have a double sense, which stands upon this ground and foundation, that the ancient patriarchs, prophets, priests, and kings, were typical characters, in their several offices, and in the more remarkable passages of their lives, their extraordinary depressions and miraculous exaltations foreshowing him who was to arise as the head of the holy family, the great prophet, the true priest, the everlasting king. The Israelitish polity, and the law of Moses, were purposely framed after the example and shadow of things spiritual and heavenly; and the events which happened to the ancient people of God were designed to shadow out parallel occurrences, which should afterward take place in the accomplishment of man's redemption, and the rise and progress of the Christian church, (See Prophecy.) For this reason, the Psalms composed for the use of Israel, and by them accordingly used at the time, do admit of an application to us, who are now "the Israel of God," Ga 6:16, and to our Redeemer
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Having said by the mouth of David thy servant, That why were the nations insolent, and did the people practise vain things
So that if any in Christ, a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all have become new.
And as many as walk by this model, place upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
For the law having a shadow of good things about to be, not the same image of the things, with these sacrifices which they bring in yearly in continuance never can render perfect them coming thereto.