Psalm 62

{1} Truly my soul waiteth upon God:
from him cometh my salvation.
{2} He only is my rock and my salvation;
he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

{3} How 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.
{4} They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies:
they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly.

This Hebrew in this segment apparently gives some difficulty to translators, because there is a significant variance between the KJV and the more modern translations. In verse three, the NRSV takes this line: “How long will you assail a person, will you batter your victim, all of you, as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence?” Note that it is not “You will be slain or battered,” but “Will you slay.” The object of their hatred was a man weakened, like a tottering fence.

Verse four then follows this line: “Their only plan is to bring down a person of prominence. They take pleasure in falsehood; they bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse.” They have no plan of their own, they only want to bring down a prominent man.

{5} My soul, wait thou only upon God;
for my expectation is from him.
{6} He only is my rock and my salvation:
he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
{7} In God is my salvation and my glory:
the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

{8} Trust in him at all times; ye people,
pour out your heart before him:
God is a refuge for us.

After so many disasters in 2005, this last is especially affecting. People who fled from disasters found refuge in strange cities, and often in churches. This a real world example of how God is a refuge. He does it through people who hold true to his name.

{9} Surely 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.

This is a curious verse in that the words “low degree” do not appear to be in the Hebrew and yet every translation has some version of it. But the Hebrew says that “The sons of Adam” are but a breath. Elsewhere, “every man at his best state is altogether vanity. (Psalm 39:5) Hence, the sons of Adam are a breath, and highborn men are a lie.

{10} Trust not in oppression,
and become not vain in robbery:
if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

This would be a really tough admonition to follow, but some people manage to do so, even when riches increase. They remain generous, finding ways to give.

{11} God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this;
that power belongeth unto God.
{12} Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy:
for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

There seems a little contradiction in that last verse, for in my experience, God not rendering to me according to my works was a mercy.
 

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