Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Ver. 10. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings] Redeem your own sorrows by trembling at God's judgments, while they hang in the threatenings; this is a high point of heavenly wisdom.
Ergo Dei tandem verbo subscribite reges:
Ne rapiant Stygiae vos Acherontis aquae.
These kings were not without wit and learning. Julian the apostate, for instance (who said unto the King Christ, Apostate), but they wanted, godly wisdom, and are therefore here called upon to behave themselves prudently, and to play the wise men. For as wicked men are fools in print; so, on the contrary, in our old English books a righteous man is printed a right wise man, and righteousness right wiseness. For it is the only true both wisdom, Psa 111:10 Proverbs 1:7 , and honour: for the righteous are princes in all lands, Psalms 45:16 ; yea, they are kings. Compare Mat 13:17 Luke 10:25 . Many righteous, saith the one, many kings, saith the other evangelist.
Be instructed, ye judges ] Be nurtured, ye sages; submit to Christ's discipline, acknowledge his prophetic office, here, his priestly, Psalms 2:11 , his kingly, Psalms 2:12 . Estote ligati, so Aben-Ezra rendereth it, Be ye bound, in opposition to that evil decree of theirs, Psalms 2:3, "Let us break their bonds," &c. And this they are advised to do forthwith, while it is called today. Now, therefore, before God the Father vex you, God the Son bruise you, with his iron mace.