His ways are always grievous; his whole course and carriage is vexatious to all that are within his reach, but especially to the poor, who cannot right themselves; and to just and good men, whom he hateth and persecuteth. Or, His ways, i.e. his designs and enterprises, at all times are prosperous, or successful, or do bring forth; for this verb signifies, as the pains and trouble, so also the success and comfort, of child-bearing, or the bringing forth children, as Psalms 29:9 Isaiah 54:1 Jeremiah 4:31. And the accomplishment or disappointment of designs is frequently expressed by this metaphor; of which see 2 Kings 19:23 Psalms 7:14 Isaiah 59:4, &c. And this sense seems best to suit with the context. Thy judgments; either,
1. Thy laws, which are oft called judgments. Or rather,
2. Thy threatenings denounced against and punishments inflicted upon sinners. Are far above out of his sight; either,
1. He doth not feel them; thou removest them far from him; which indulgence of thine is the cause of his insolency. Or rather,
2. He doth not discern, nor regard, nor fear them, nor think of them, but goes on securely and resolvedly in his wicked courses. He hath not so much faith nor reason as to apprehend or consider them, but, like a brute beast, looks only downward to the earth, and minds not things above him. And thus it seems best to agree with the foregoing and following clauses. His devices succeed, and therefore he neither fears God's judgments, nor the power of his enemies, but fancies his happiness to be unchangeable, as it follows, Psalms 10:6. He puffeth at them, i.e. he despiseth them, being confident that he can blow them away with a breath. This is a gesture of contempt or disdain, both in Scripture, as Psalms 12:5 Zechariah 1:13, and in other authors, as in Plautus; where one speaks thus to a proud and bragging captain, Thou hast blown away whole legions with thy breath, as leaves are blown away by a wind.