Let the sighing of the prisoner Of thy poor people now in prison, or, at least, in captivity; come before thee Be taken cognizance of by thee, and be as prevalent with thee as these prayers; according to the greatness of thy power Hebrew, זרועךְ, zerognacha, of thine arm; with which no creature can contend; preserve thou those that are appointed to die Hebrew, בני תמותה, benee temutha, the children of death, that is, which were either designed for death, or were in manifest danger of it, as being wholly in the power of their cruel and barbarous enemies. Thus, “next to those who had been slain, the case of such as groaned in captivity, lying bound in chains and fetters, under sentence of death, to be inflicted at the will of their cruel and insulting conquerors, is recommended to God.” And render unto our neighbours sevenfold That is, either, 1st, Abundantly, as this phrase signifies, Isaiah 65:6-7; Jeremiah 32:18; Luke 6:38. Or, 2d, Sensibly, so that it may come home to them, and fall heavily upon them in their own persons. The reproach wherewith they have reproached thee As impotent, or unfaithful, or unmerciful to thy people. As if he had said, “As they have reproached thee with weakness, so manifest to others their weakness, who are but sinful dust and ashes; as they have endeavoured to make thee contemptible, so let the world have just cause to despise them, who have thus presumptuously offended; according as it is written, Them that honour me, I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed,”
1 Samuel 2:30. And be assured, reader, however different the appearance of things may now be, this will certainly be found true in every instance at the last day.