Psalm 65:3

3 The words of transgressors have overpowered us; but do thou pardon our sins.

Psalm 65:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 65:3

Iniquities prevail against me
Or, "are mightier than I" {h}; this may be understood either of the iniquities of others, his enemies; their "words of iniquities" ^F9 or iniquitous words, as in the Hebrew text; their calumnies, reproaches, false charges, and accusations, which prevailed against David in Saul's court; or rather his own iniquities, inward lusts, indwelling sins, as well as open transgressions, which he considers as his enemies, as numerous and powerful, too mighty for him, which warred against him, and sometimes got the better of him, and threatened him with utter ruin and destruction; but amidst all this he spies atonement and pardon through the blood and sacrifice of Christ, as follows;

[as for] our transgressions, thou shall purge them away;
not only his own, but others, which Christ has done by the sacrifice of himself; and when his blood is applied to the conscience of a sensible sinner, it purges it from all his sins, ( Hebrews 1:3 ) ( 9:14 ) ; it may be rendered, "thou shall expiate them", or "make atonement for them" ^F11; which Christ, our propitiation, has done: this was the work appointed him, which he undertook, came into the world to do, and has performed, ( Daniel 9:24 ) ( Hebrews 2:17 ) ( 9:26 ) ; or "thou shalt cover them"; with the blood and righteousness of Christ; or forgive them for the sake of them, ( Psalms 32:1 Psalms 32:2 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 (ynm) "prae me", Muis, Michaelis.
F9 (tnwe yrbd) "verba iniquitatum", Montanus, Vatablus, Gejerus, Michaelis; so Ainsworth.
F11 (Mrpkt) "propitiaberis", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus; "expiabis", Vatablus, Gejerus, Michaelis.

Psalm 65:3 In-Context

1 Praise becomes thee, O God, in Sion; and to thee shall the vow be performed.

2 Hear my prayer; to thee all flesh shall come.

3 The words of transgressors have overpowered us; but do thou pardon our sins.

4 Blessed is he whom thou hast chosen and adopted; he shall dwell in thy courts; we shall be filled with the good things of thy house; thy temple is holy.

5 Thou art wonderful in righteousness. Hearken to us, O God our Saviour; the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are on the sea afar off:

6 who dost establish the mountains in thy strength, being girded about with power;

7 who troublest the depth of the sea, the sounds of its waves.

8 The nations shall be troubled, and they that inhabit the ends of the earth shall be afraid of thy signs; thou wilt cause the outgoings of morning and evening to rejoice.

9 Thou hast visited the earth, and saturated it; thou hast abundantly enriched it. The river of God is filled with water; thou hast prepared their food, for thus is the preparation of it.

10 Saturate her furrows, multiply her fruits; the crop springing up shall rejoice in its drops.

11 Thou wilt bless the crown of the year because of thy goodness; and thy plains shall be filled with fatness.

12 The mountains of the wilderness shall be enriched; and the hills shall gird themselves with joy.

13 The rams of the flock are clothed with wool, and the valleys shall abound in corn; they shall cry aloud, yea they shall sing hymns.