The psalmist's last words are immortal. "A heart broken and crushed, O God, Thou wilt not despise." But they derive still deeper beauty and pathos when it is observed that they are spoken after confession has been answered to his consciousness by pardon, and longing for purity by at least some bestowal of it. The "joy of Thy salvation," for which he had prayed, has begun to flow into his heart. The "bones" which had been "crushed" are beginning to reknit, and thrills of gladness to steal through his frame; but still he feels that with all these happy experiences contrite consciousness of his sin must mingle. It does not rob his joy of one rapture, but it keeps it from becoming careless. He goes safely who goes humbly. The more sure a man is that God has put away the iniquity of his sin, the more should he remember it; for the remembrance will vivify gratitude and bind close to Him without whom there can be no steadfastness of spirit nor purity of life. The clean heart must continue contrite, if it is not to cease to be clean. The liturgical addition implies that Jerusalem is in ruins. It cannot be supposed without violence to come from David. It is not needed in order to form a completion to the psalm, which ends more impressively, and has an inner unity and coherence, if the deep words of ver. 17 are taken as its close. PSALM LII. 1 Why boastest thou in wickedness, O tyrant? God's loving-kindness lasts always. 2 Destructions does thy tongue devise; Like a sharpened razor, thou framer of deceit! 3 Thou lovest evil rather than good; A lie rather than speaking righteousness. Selah. 4 Thou lovest all words that swallow men up, Thou deceitful tongue! 5 So God shall break thee down for ever, Shall lay hold of thee and drag thee out of the tent, And root thee out of the land of the living. Selah. 6 And the righteous shall see and fear, And at him shall they laugh. 7 "See! the man that made not God his stronghold, And trusted in the abundance of his wealth, And felt strong in his evil desire." 8 But I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the loving-kindness of God for ever and aye. 9 I will give Thee thanks for ever, for Thou hast done [this]: And I will wait on Thy name before Thy favoured ones, for it is good.