A third figure brings out more fully the idea implied in "falsehood," namely, the failure of evil to accomplish its doer's purpose. Crafty attempts to trap others have an ugly habit of snaring their contriver. The irony of fortune tumbles the hunter into the pitfall dug by him for his prey. The fourth figure (ver. 16) represents the incidence of his evil on the evil-doer as being certain as the fall of a stone thrown straight up, which will infallibly come back in the line of its ascent. Retribution is as sure as gravitation, especially if there is an Unseen Hand above, which adds impetus and direction to the falling weight. All these metaphors, dealing with the "natural" consequences of evil, are adduced as guarantees of _God's_ judgment, whence it is clear both that the psalmist is thinking not of some final future judgment, but of the continuous one of daily providence, and that he made no sharp line of demarcation between the supernatural and the natural. The qualities of things and the play of natural events are God's working. So the end of all is thanksgiving. A stern but not selfish nor unworthy thankfulness follows judgment, with praise which is not inconsistent with tears of pity, even as the act of judgment which calls it forth is not inconsistent with Divine love. The vindication of God's righteousness is worthily hymned by the choral thanksgivings of all who love righteousness. By judgment Jehovah makes Himself known as "most high," supreme over all creatures; and hence the music of thanksgiving celebrates Him under that name. The title "Elyon" here employed is regarded by Cheyne and others as a sign of late date, but the use of it seems rather a matter of poetic style than of chronology. Melchizedek, Balaam, and the king of Babylon (Isa. xiv. 14) use it; it occurs in Daniel, but, with these exceptions, is confined to poetical passages, and cannot be made out to be a mark of late date, except by assuming the point in question--namely, the late date of the poetry, principally nineteen psalms, in which it occurs. PSALM VIII. 1 Jehovah, our Lord, How glorious is Thy name in all the earth! Who hast set Thy glory upon the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of children and sucklings hast Thou founded a strength, Because of Thine adversaries, To still the enemy and the revengeful. 3 When I gaze on Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, Moon and stars, which Thou hast established, 4 What is frail man, that Thou rememberest him, And the son of man, that Thou visitest him? 5 For Thou didst let him fall but little short of God, And crownedst him with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him ruler over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet, 7 Sheep and oxen, all of them, And likewise beasts of the field, 8 Fowl of the heavens and fishes of the sea, Whatever traverses the paths of the seas.