Psalms 10:1-18 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

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Psalms 10:1. Why standest thou afar off, oh Lord? This is the prayer of David against some very wicked and neighbouring prince, who through pride and thirst for gold, was lurking like a lion, and murdering the poor. In religion he was an atheist: he said in his heart, I shall not be moved. God hath forgotten, he hideth his face; he will never call me to account for the effusion of blood. Therefore, through the pride of his countenance, he will not seek after God. In war, he was a coward, he crouched in secret places, that the poor might fall by his strong ones, the captains of his bands. In public, as in private life, he was a prince without faith, full of fraud and deceit. If any one complained of injustice, he was requited with cursing and blasphemy. What could David do but cry for help against those restless Cains that murder the earth. “Arise, oh Lord, that the man of the earth may no more oppress” the peaceful poor.

But it is not one wicked and restless tyrant only, of whom David complains; it is thousands of rich and infidel characters, who launch the reins to passion, and scorn the restraints of equity, the bonds of marriage, and the duties they owe to God. Through the pride of their countenance they despise confession, and fill up their measure, till God in anger sends them strong delusion, or the efficacy of error, that they may be damned.

Related Commentaries of Psalms 10:1

Psalms 10:1-18

1 Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

2 The wickeda in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart'sb desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.

6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall neverc be in adversity.

7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceitd and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.

9 He lieth in wait secretlye as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.

10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.

11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.

12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.f

13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.

14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committethg himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.

15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.

16 The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.

17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepareh their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.i