The Geneva Bible Translation Notes, [1599], at sacred-texts.com
(a) This song was made to comfort the faithful when their captivity would come, assuring them also of their deliverance, for which they should sing this song.
(b) God's protection and defence will be sufficient for us.
(c) Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.
(c) He assures the godly to return after the captivity to Jerusalem.
Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] (d) mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee.
(d) You have decreed so, and your purpose cannot be changed.
For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; (e) the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, [even] to the ground; he bringeth it [even] to the dust.
(e) There is no power so high that it can hinder God, when he will deliver his.
The foot shall tread it down, [even] the feet of the (f) poor, [and] the steps of the needy.
(f) God will set the poor afflicted over the power of the wicked.
Yea, in the way of thy (g) judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of [our] soul [is] to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
(g) We have constantly abode in the adversities with which you had afflicted us.
With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments [are] in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn (h) righteousness.
(h) Meaning that by afflictions men will learn to fear God.
Let favour (i) be shown to the wicked, [yet] he will not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.
(i) The wicked though God show them evident signs of his grace, will not be any better off.
LORD, [when] thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: [but] they shall see, and be ashamed for [their] (k) envy at the people; yea, the fire of thy (l) enemies shall devour them.
(k) Through envy and indignation against your people.
(l) The fire and vengeance with which you destroy your enemies.
O LORD our God, [other] (m) lords beside thee have had dominion over us: [but] by thee only will we make mention of thy name.
(m) The Babylonians, who have not governed according to your word.
[They are] (n) dead, they shall not live; [they are] deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.
(n) Meaning that the reprobate even in this life will have the beginning of everlasting death.
Thou hast increased (o) the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed [it] far [to] all the ends of the earth.
(o) That is, the company of the faithful by the calling of the Gentiles.
LORD, in trouble have they (p) visited thee, they poured out a prayer [when] thy chastening [was] upon them.
(p) That is, the faithful by the rods were moved to pray to you for deliverance.
As a woman with child, [that] draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, [and] crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy (q) sight, O LORD.
(q) That is, in extreme sorrow.
We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth (r) wind; we have not wrought any deliverance on the earth; neither have the inhabitants of (s) the world fallen.
(r) Our sorrows had no end, neither did we enjoy the comfort that we looked for.
(s) The wicked and men without religion were not destroyed.
(t) Thy dead [men] shall live, [together with] my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy (u) dew [is as] the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
(t) He comforts the faithful in their afflictions, showing them that even in death they will have life and that they would certainly rise to glory, the contrary would come to the wicked, as in (Isa 26:14).
(u) As herbs dead in winter flourish again by the rain in the springtime, so they who lie in the dust will rise up to joy, when they feel the dew of God's grace.
Come, my people, (x) enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation shall be past.
(x) He exhorts the faithful to be patient in their afflictions and to wait on God's work.
For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her (y) blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
(y) The earth will vomit and cast out the innocent blood, which it has drunk, that it may care for vengeance against the wicked.