1 Why do you stand far off, Yahweh? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak; They are caught in the schemes that they devise.
3 For the wicked boasts of his heart's cravings, He blesses the greedy, and condemns Yahweh.
4 The wicked, in the pride of his face, Has no room in his thoughts for God.
5 His ways are prosperous at all times; He is haughty, and your laws are far from his sight: As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them.
6 He says in his heart, "I shall not be shaken; For generations I shall have no trouble."
7 His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
8 He lies in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.
9 He lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the helpless, when he draws him in his net.
10 The helpless are crushed, they collapse, They fall under his strength.
11 He says in his heart, "God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it."
12 Arise, Yahweh! God, lift up your hand! Don't forget the helpless.
13 Why does the wicked person condemn God, And say in his heart, "God won't call me into account?"
14 But you do see trouble and grief; You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.
16 Yahweh is King forever and ever! The nations will perish out of his land.
17 Yahweh, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear,
18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, That man who is of the earth may terrify no more.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 10
Commentary on Psalms 10 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 10
Ps 10:1-18. The Psalmist mourns God's apparent indifference to his troubles, which are aggravated by the successful malice, blasphemy, pride, deceit, and profanity of the wicked. On the just and discriminating providence of God he relies for the destruction of their false security, and the defense of the needy.
1. These are, of course, figurative terms (compare Ps 7:6; 13:1, &c.).
hidest—Supply "thine eyes" or "face."
2. Literally, "In pride of the wicked they (the poor or humble, Ps 10:17; 12:5) shall be taken in the devices they (the proud) have imagined."
3. heart's—or, "soul's."
desire—that is, his success in evil.
and blesseth, &c.—he (the wicked) blesseth the covetous, he despiseth the Lord.
4. The face expresses the self-conceit, whose fruit is practical atheism (Ps 14:1).
5, 6. Such is his confidence in the permanence of his way or course of life, that he disregards God's providential government (out of sight, because he will not look, Isa 26:11), sneers at his enemies, and boasts perpetual freedom from evil.
7-10. The malignity and deceit (Ps 140:3) of such are followed by acts combining cunning, fraud, and violence (compare Pr 1:11, 18), aptly illustrated by the habits of the lion, and of hunters taking their prey. "Poor," in Ps 10:8, 10, 14, represents a word peculiar to this Psalm, meaning the sad or sorrowful; in Ps 10:9, as usual, it means the pious or meek sufferer.
8. eyes … privily—He watches with half-closed eyes, appearing not to see.
10. croucheth—as a lion gathers himself into as small compass as possible to make the greater spring.
fall by his strong ones—The figure of the lion is dropped, and this phrase means the accomplices of the chief or leading wicked man.
11. As before, such conduct implies disbelief or disregard of God's government.
12. (Compare Ps 9:19; 3:7).
the humble—(Compare Ps 10:17, and Margin.)
lift up thine hand—exert thy power.
13, 14. It is in vain to suppose God will overlook sin, however forbearing; for He carefully examines or beholds all wickedness, and will mark it by His providential (Thine hand) punishment.
14. mischief and spite—provocation and trouble of the sufferer (compare Ps 6:7; 7:14).
committeth—or, "leaves (his burden) on Thee."
15. arm—power.
till thou find none—So far from not requiting (Ps 10:11, 13), God will utterly destroy the wicked and his deeds (Ps 9:5, 6; 34:16; 37:36).
16-18. God reigns. The wicked, if for a time successful, shall be cut off. He hears and confirms the hearts of His suffering people (Ps 112:7), executes justice for the feeble, and represses the pride and violence of conceited, though frail, men (compare Ps 9:16).