But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
Hath set apart, х hiplaah (H6395)] - cf. Exodus 33:16, "separated ... from all the people." Many manuscripts read [h-p-l-'], 'acted wonderfully toward.' The English version reading, " set apart," accords best with the following "for Himself." Compare also the parallel, Ps. 68:70-71 , "He chose David also His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds ... to feed Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance." In fighting against me, ye are fighting against the king of God's choice: God will therefore sustain my cause. Your enterprise will prove "vanity."
Him that is godly - the royal Psalmist himself: chosen out of the midst of the people for the throne, not by mere caprice, but as one that should represent godliness in the nation. Compare 1 Samuel 15:28. Samuel says to Saul concerning David, "The Lord hath rent the kingdom from thee, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine that is better than thou." also 1 Samuel 16:7. The Hebrew for "godly" [checiyd] means 'one loving toward God and toward his brethren.' Love and mercy ever in the Old Testament are made characteristic of the godly. The Psalms reflect the law, of which the essence is love to God and love to our neighbour (Leviticus 19:18; Exodus 20:6; Deuteronomy 10:12; Deuteronomy 11:13). In Psalms 16:10 the same Hebrew is applied to Christ, the Father's "Holy One;" whence it appears that God's choice of the godly David typifies His choice of the Holy One, the antitypical Son of David.
The Lord will hear when I call. Beautifully corresponding to Psalms 4:1. David's reflection that he had not taken the royal honour to himself without God's choice (Psalms 4:3), is the ground of his confidence that 'Yahweh will hear him now that he calls.'