They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. Behold, they belch out with their mouth; swords _are_ in their lips; for who, _say they_, doth hear? But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them: thou shalt have all the heathen in derision. _Because of_ his strength will I wait upon thee: for God _is_ my defence. The God of my mercy shall prevent me; God shall let me see _my desire_ upon my enemies. Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O LORD our shield. _For_ the sin of their mouth, _and_ the words of their lips, let them even be taken in their pride; and for cursing and lying _which_ they speak. Consume _them_ in wrath, consume _them_, that they _may_ not _be_; and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah. And at evening let them return, _and_ let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge, if they be not satisfied. But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, I will sing: for God _is_ my defence, _and_ the God of my mercy. This Psalm is a prayer; and may be very properly understood as offered up in the person of Christ, complaining of, and prophecying concerning the Jews; on whom, on account of their denial of Christ, and their rejection of the gospel, the awful judgments of God should fall; but yet, not so as to destroy the whole nation entirely; but, in such a manner, as to make of them an example to all future nations;—that they should be scattered abroad as exiles, and left vagabonds among all nations; and should be punished by being given up to blindness, and maddened fury; so as not to be able to teach anything, or say anything, but blasphemies against Christ. And this we see fulfilled in them in reality: for all their books and commentaries are replete with the most bitter reproaches and blasphemies against Christ and his gospel. And, for this their wickedness, they suffer dreadful and unceasing punishments: for they ‘go about the city like hungry dogs,’ seeking food, and finding it not.