10 They dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death, Being bound in affliction and iron; 11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, They fell down, and there was none to help. 14 He brought them out of darkness, and the shadow of death, And brake their bands in sunder. 15 O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men ! 16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, 17 And cut the bars of iron in sunder. Foolish men, because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted. 18 Their soul abhorred all manner of meat; And they drew near unto the gates of death. 19 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, And he delivered them out of their distresses. 20 He sent his word, and healed them, And delivered them from their destruction. 21 O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men! 22 And let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare his works with rejoicing. 23 They that go down to the sea in ships, That do business in great waters, 24 These see the works of the Lord, And his wonders in the deep. 25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, Which lifteth up the waves thereof. 26 They mount up to the heaven; They go down again to the depths; Their soul is melted because of trouble. 27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wit's end. 28 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, And he bringeth them out of their distresses. 29 He maketh the storm a calm, So that the waves are still. 30 The mariners are glad, because they be quiet; So he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 31 O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men! 32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, And praise him in the assembly of the elders. 33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, And the water-springs into dry ground; 34 A fruitful land into barrenness, For the wickedness of them that dwell therein. 35 Again, he turneth the wilderness into a standing wa ter, And dry ground into water-springs; 36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, And they build a city for habitation, 37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, Which may yield fruits of increase. 38 He blesseth them, so that they are multiplied greatly, And suffereth not their cattle to decrease. 39 When they are minished and brought low through oppression, Affliction, and sorrow, 40 He poureth contempt upon princes, And causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way. 41 Yet raiseth he the poor from their affliction, And increaseth their families like a flock. 42 The righteous see it, and rejoice, And all iniquity shall stop her mouth. 43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, Even he shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord. Ver. 40. Contempt upon princes," &c. The princes of the land were especially selected by the conquerors to be carried into captivity. See 2 Kings xxiv. 14; Lam. iv. 20; v. 12. —“Where there is no way." The shifting sands of the desert obliterate the track of the pilgrim, so that there is no trodden path or way. Ver. 42. "All iniquity shall stop her mouth." This refers to the insolent and malignant neighbors of the Israelites, who triumphed in their calamity, the Edomites, Philistines, &c. See Ps. lxxix. 12, and note. NEHEMIAH. As we have compared Ezra to Moses, we may find a parallel for Nehemiah in Joseph. Like Joseph, he was an exile, at the court of a foreign king, and like him, he enjoyed the favor of his sovereign, and used his power for the benefit of his countrymen. Thirteen years after Ezra had joined the colony, intelligence reached Nehemiah that the returned exiles were not prosperous. The colony had not strength enough to command the respect of its neighbors. Deeply impressed with this sad news, he sought and obtained permission from the king to go to Jerusalem, and rebuild it. He carried letters to the royal governors to render him needed assistance, and supply him with timber from the king's forests. By his energy and perseverance the walls were rebuilt, in spite of the open and disguised hostility of the neighboring tribes. But he rendered another service to his countrymen more important still. The law of Moses enjoined that all debtors should be released every seventh year. See Deut. xv. It appears that this merciful provision had been evaded by the creditors, and the people groaned under the burden of debt. Nehemiah appealed to the patriotism and the religious fidelity of the creditors, and induced them to consent to the discharge of the debtors, waiving the rights which they probably had under the laws of the Persian empire, of which they formed a part; but rendering only the due obedience to the law of Moses, which debtors and creditors alike professed to regard as of supreme authority. This measure of Nehemiah restored harmony between the different classes of the community, and united all in efforts for the general good. Neh. v. PSALMS CXI. AND CXV. 1 RETURN UNDER EZRA AND NEHEMIAH. PSALM CXI. PRAISE ye the Lord! I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, gation. 2 The works of the Lord are great, Sought out by all that have pleasure therein. 3 His deeds are honorable and glorious, And his righteousness endureth for ever. 4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered; The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion. 5 He giveth meat unto them that fear him; He will ever be mindful of his covenant. 6 He showed his people the power of his works, 8 They stand fast for ever and ever, |