Psalms 141:5

“Let the righteous smite me, [it shall be] a kindness, etc.] Or, “smite me in kindness”f1893. In love; in a loving and friendly manner, which makes reproofs the more agreeable and effectual. Not the righteous God, as Arama; though he does sometimes smite his people for their sins, (<235717>Isaiah 57:17); that is, reproves, corrects, and chastises them, and that in love and for their good; and therefore such smitings and corrections should be taken in good part by them, and received as fatherly chastisements, and as instances of his paternal care of them, and love to them; but rather righteous and good men; who, when there is occasion for it, should reprove and rebuke one another; but then it…”

“Let the righteous smite me - This verse is exceedingly difficult and obscure (compare the margin); and there have been almost as many different opinions in regard to its meaning as there have been commentators on the psalm. A large number of these opinions may be seen in Rosenmuller in loc. DeWette explains it, “I gladly suffer anything that is unpleasant from my friends, that may be for my good; but the wickedness of my enemies I cannot endure.” The Septuagint and Latin Vulgate render it, “Let a righteous man correct me with mercy, and he will work convictions in me; but let not the oil of a sinner (for this shall still be my prayer) anoint my head at their pleasure.” “Thompson’s…”

“Smite - By reproofs. Break - Not hurt, but heal and greatly refresh me. Calamities - In the calamities of those righteous persons who reproved him. When they came into such calamities as those wherein he was involved he would pity them and pray for them. Psalms 141:6”

“the righteous: Sa1 25:31-34; Sa2 12:7-13; Ch2 16:7-10, Ch2 25:16; Pro 6:23, Pro 9:8, Pro 9:9; Pro 15:5, Pro 15:22, Pro 19:25, Pro 25:12, Pro 27:5, Pro 27:6; Gal 2:11-14, Gal 6:1; Rev 3:19 smite: etc. or, smite me kindly and reprove me; let not their precious oil break my head, etc for yet my: Psa 51:18, Psa 125:4; Mat 5:44; Ti2 1:16-18; Jam 5:14-16 Psalms 141:6”

“Thus far the Psalm is comparatively easy of exposition; but now it becomes difficult, yet not hopelessly so. David, thoroughly conscious of his sins against God and of his imperfection as a monarch, says, in opposition to the abuse which he is now suffering, that he would gladly accept any friendly reproof: "let a righteous man smite in kindness and reprove me - head-oil (i.e., oil upon the head, to which such reproof is likened) shall my head not refuse." So we render it, following the accents, and not as Hupfeld, Kurtz, and Hitzig do: "if a righteous man smites me, it is love; if he reproves me, an anointing of the head is it unto me;" in connection with which the designation of the…”