When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
When I remember these (things), I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude - rather, 'I will purposely remember these things, and will pour out my soul in (literally, upon, or with) me.' For there is no proper contrast between remembering the scornful question of the enemy (as "these things" mean in the English version) and the going with the multitude to the house of God. "These things" mean his former happiness in being privileged to take part in the worship of the sanctuary (Psalms 55:14), in contrast to his present exclusion from it. 'I will remember thee' (Psalms 42:6) thus explains 'I will remember these things' here. The futures (and these with the paragogic he (h), which expresses a deliberate effort, or striving) imply repeated and intentional recalling to the mind, and pouring out of the soul. He purposely aggravates his pain. In deep sorrow one's tendency is to call up the remembrance of better times now gone, and so to increase one's pain by brooding over the contrast (cf. Psalms 77:3). With the phrase, "I pour out my soul in (Hebrew, upon) me," cf. Job 30:16; Psalms 22:14. It implies, I will give loose rein to all my sorrow. The use of the UPON х `al (H5921)] expresses that the soul is the ruling principle in man (Koester in Hengstenberg). (Jeremiah 8:18, margin.)
I went with them to the house of God - properly, 'I advanced with the solemn step of religious processionists.' The Hebrew verb, 'edadeem (H1718), is found elsewhere only in Hezekiah's prayer (Isaiah 38:15), "I shall go softly all my years." For "with them," translate, 'advanced before them' as their leader; I moved, with measured step, heading them in procession to the house of God. Compare 2 Samuel 6:5-6; 2 Samuel 6:14-15.
With the voice of joy and praise - with such processional psalms as were customary in going up to the sanctuary: called 'songs of degrees,' or 'pilgrim songs,' (Psalms 120:1-7; Psalms 121:1-8; Psalms 122:1-9; Psalms 123:1-4; Psalms 124:1-8; Psalms 125:1-5; Psalms 126:1-6; Psalms 127:1-5; Psalms 128:1-6; Psalms 129:1-8; Psalms 130:1-8; Psalms 131:1-3; Psalms 132:1-18; Psalms 133:1-3; Psalms 134:1-3.)