_The Psalmist complaineth to God of the outrage of the wicked: he prayeth for remedy: he professeth his confidence._ _PSALMS 10:1. WHY STANDEST THOU,_ &C.— Neither the author nor the particular occasion of this Psalm are certainly known; but it is, as Bishop Patrick observes, a most lively descripti... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WICKED BOASTETH OF HIS HEART'S DESIRE— _For the wicked applaudeth himself upon the desire of his soul, and the greedy of gain blesseth himself._ Mudge. Others read the latter clause, _And the covetous blasphemeth, and contemneth the Lord._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WICKED, &C.— _The wicked in the haughtiness of his looks saith, God will never_ {_require:_ / _inquire:_} _all his thoughts are without God._ The Psalmist in this verse has given us the true character of the ungodly of this world. By a long disuse of devotion, and open neglect of divine worship,... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS WAYS ARE ALWAYS GRIEVOUS— _"Are always inclined to mischief. Thy judgments,_ the vengeance and punishment with which thou threatenest those sorts of crimes, _are far above,_ as if they rested above in the heavens, and would never come down upon earth, _out of his sight:" i.e._ he never represent... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS EYES ARE PRIVILY SET AGAINST THE POOR— {_Are watching_ / _Lay wait_} _for the poor._ It may be proper to observe, once for all, that the word _poor_ in the Psalms is not applied to those only who are distressed in their outward circumstances, but also to the poor in spirit; to the humble and aff... [ Continue Reading ]
HE LIETH IN WAIT— _He lurketh in ambush, as a lion in his den; he lurketh to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, by drawing him into his net._... [ Continue Reading ]
HE CROUCHETH— As a lion lies down, and is couchant; by that means to secure himself of his prey, or to fit himself to seize it. This, says the Jewish Arabic translator, is a description of the fashion of a lion; for, when he means to leap, he first coucheth, that he may gather himself together; then... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE DOTH THE WICKED, &C.— We may collect from hence, that there were two kinds of infidels at the time this psalm was written; one of which made God a sort of Epicurean deity, and supposed him not to concern himself with the moral government of the world; the other altogether denied his being.... [ Continue Reading ]
BREAK THOU THE ARM OF THE WICKED— i.e. "Deprive them of all _power_ to do mischief." Mudge renders the next clause, _Seek out his wickedness,_ &c.—_Pursue his wickedness, so that thou find none left:_ properly, "Sit in judgment upon it, so that there be none left to be found: till there remains noth... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU WILT PREPARE THEIR HEART— _Thou wilt strengthen their heart:_ Psalms 10:18. _Thine ear will listen to judge the fatherless and oppressed; the poor creature of the land shall no longer live in terror._ This translation is equally suited to the original as the Vulgate, and much more easy and inte... [ Continue Reading ]