Psalm 21:1-9

1 Au maître-chantre. Psaume de David.

2 Éternel, le roi se réjouit de ta puissance, et quelle allégresse lui donne ton salut!

3 Tu lui as accordé le désir de son cœur, et ne lui as pas refusé la prière de ses lèvres. (Sélah.)

4 Car tu l'as prévenu par des bénédictions excellentes; tu as mis sur sa tête une couronne d'or fin.

5 Il te demandait la vie; tu la lui as donnée, une longue durée de jours, à perpétuité, à jamais.

6 Sa gloire est grande par ta délivrance; tu le revêts de splendeur et de majesté.

7 Car tu fais de lui l'objet de tes bénédictions pour toujours, tu le combles de joie en ta présence.

8 Le roi met sa confiance en l'Éternel, et par la bonté du Très-Haut, il ne sera point ébranlé.

9 Ta main atteindra tous tes ennemis, ta droite atteindra ceux qui te haïssent.

Psalm 21:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David. This psalm was either written by David; and therefore called a "psalm of David"; or it was written, as it may be rendered, "for David," by some other person, on account of his victories and triumphs; or rather "concerning David" {s}; that is, concerning the Messiah, the son of David, as Kimchi says some expound it; or concerning the Messiah, who is called David, Ezekiel 37:24; and Jarchi observes, that their Rabbins interpret it of the Messiah; but, says he, it is right to explain it, moreover, of David himself, for an answer to the heretics (Christians) who err in it; and various passages in this psalm are by the Jewish writers understood of the Messiah; as "the King," in Psalm 20:1 is in the Targum called the King Messiah; Psalm 21:4 is in the Talmud applied {t} to him; Psalm 21:3 are in Zohar {u}, and in the Midrashes {w}, interpreted of him; and many Christian writers understand the whole of him; which is right: though Theodoret thinks it was penned on the account of the health of King Hezekiah, and his restoration from his disease; which is not likely.

{s} dwdl "pro Davide, vel de Davide," Vatablus. {t} T. Bab. Succah, fol. 52. 1. Vid. Nachman. disput. "cum fratre Paulo," p. 36. Ed. Wagenseil. {u} In Numb. fol. 68. 3. 4. {w} Midrash Tillim apud Viccars. in loc. & in Galatin. l. 3. c. 9. Bemidbar Rabba, fol. 212. 4. & 218. 1.