The Book of the Psalms, A new translation with explanatory notes, by J.

J. Stewart Perowne, D.D.  The translation recognizes that the Psalms are

poetry and sets out the lines as such.  The comments are to the point and

each Psalm is prefaced by an introduction that supplies helpful and

suggestive particulars.  The following is the note on Psalm 1:1 and will

serve as a sample.

`The structure of the verse is very exact, the parallelism in each

member being carefully preserved: a kind of climax has also been

noticed in the choice of expressions.  Thus we have, first, three

degrees of habit in the verbs, "walked", "stood", "sat", next, three

degrees of evil character: "the wicked" described as passionate or

restless (Isa. 57:20; Job 3:17); or perhaps simply as unrighteous, the

false; "the sinners", as the active habitual doers of iniquity; "the

mockers" (Prov. 21:24), who make an open scoff, and blaspheme: lastly,

those degrees of openness in the evil doing, the "counsel" referring

apparently to hidden design (Job 21:16; 22:18; Jer. 7:24); "the way" to

public life; "the seat" (so the LXX, as in 1 Sam. 20:18,25), or perhaps

"assembly" (as 107:32, Jer. 15:17) "concessors", to a deliberate

confederacy in wickedness'.

The second Edition runs into some 680 pages.

Another suggestive work is:

The Psalms Chronologically arranged, an amended version with historical

introductions and explanatory notes by Four Friends, published 1876.  The

Preface says:

`The Editors believe that much force will be added to the moral and

religious lessons of the Psalter by an examination of the time and

circumstance in which the several Psalms were written; that much light

will be gained from an endeavour to attain the point of view of the

writers, and that each Psalm so looked at will in most cases tell its

own tale'.

From all time, and among all classes, the Psalms have been pre-

eminently used for their devotional and experimental character, and we must

not omit one or two works that are of service in this respect.

Among many of great value, we think of Bridge's Exposition of Psalm

119, as illustrative of the character and exercises of Christian experience.

Eighteenth edition 1846.  The intention of the writer is expressed in the

preface thus:

`The writer is free to confess, that his main design in the study of

this Psalm was to furnish a correct standard of Evangelical sincerity

for the habitual scrutiny of his own heart; and if, in course of this

Exposition, any suggestion should be thrown out, to call attention of

his fellow -Christians to this most important, but alas! too much

neglected duty, he will have reason to "rejoice in the day of Christ

that he has not run in vain, neither laboured in vain"`.

Two other books of a devotional nature are before us, Christ on the

Cross, an exposition of the Twenty -second Psalm and The Lord our Shepherd,

an exposition of the Twenty -third Psalm, both by the Rev. John Stevenson.