Psalms 62 — with JFB Commentary
The King James text with the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary (1871, public domain) directly beneath the verses it explains. Verses without a JFB note stand alone.
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1Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
PSALM 62
Psa 62:1-12. To Jeduthun--(See on Psa 39:1, title). The general tone of this Psalm is expressive of confidence in God. Occasion is taken to remind the wicked of their sin, their ruin, and their meanness.
1. waiteth--literally, "is silent," trusts submissively and confidently as a servant.
2He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
2. The titles applied to God often occur (Psa 9:9; 18:2).
be greatly moved--(Psa 10:6). No injury shall be permanent, though devised by enemies.
3How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.
3. Their destruction will come; as a tottering wall they already are feeble and failing.
bowing wall shall ye be--better supply "are." Some propose to apply these phrases to describe the condition of "a man"--that is, the pious suffer: thus, "Will ye slay him," &c.; but the other is a good sense.
4They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
4. his excellency--or, elevation to which God had raised him (Psa 4:2). This they try to do by lies and duplicity (Psa 5:9).
5My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
5-6. (Compare Psa 62:1, 2).
6He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
5-6. (Compare Psa 62:1, 2).
7In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
7. rock of my strength--or strongest support (Psa 7:10; 61:3).
8Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
8. pour out your heart--give full expression to feeling (1Sa 1:15; Job 30:16; Psa 42:4).
ye people--God's people.
9Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
9. No kind of men are reliable, compared with God (Is 2:22; Jr 17:5).
altogether--alike, one as the other (Psa 34:3).
10Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
10. Not only are oppression and robbery, which are wicked means of wealth, no grounds of boasting; but even wealth, increasing lawfully, ought not to engross the heart.
11God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
11. once; twice--(as in Job 33:14; 40:5), are used to give emphasis to the sentiment. God's power is tempered by His mercy, which it also sustains.
12Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.
12. for thou renderest--literally, "that Thou renderest," &c., connected with "I heard this," as the phrase--"that power," &c. [Psa 62:11]--teaching that by His power He can show both mercy and justice.