Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.
Ver. 1. Woe to them that devise iniquity] Or, labour, affliction, vanity, a lie. The Hebrew word Aven is of large use; applied to all kinds of sin which causeth pain, sorrow, and misery; and here in particular to covetousness, that root of all evil to a man's self and others, 1 Timothy 6:9,10. Our prophet flings a woe at it, as doth likewise Habakkuk, Habakkuk 2:9, calling it an evil covetousness, as the prophet Isaiah tells us, that for the iniquity of his covetousness God was wroth with Israel and smote him, Isaiah 57:17. The world counts it a light offence; and casts a cloak of good husbandry over it, 1 Thessalonians 2:5. But this disguise will serve such no better than that which Ahab once put on and perished. "Let no man deceive you with vain words" (those plastered words, πλαστοις λογοις, 2 Peter 2:3, used by bell's proctors): "for because of these things" (sc. fornication, covetousness, &c., those peccadillos as they are counted) "cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience," Ephesians 5:6. For what reason? They devise iniquity, cogitant quasi coagitant, they plot and plough mischief, being men of wicked devices, Proverbs 14:2, talking again to themselves, as that covetous wretch did, Luke 12:17, beating their brains about their worldly projects, and resting no more, no, not upon their beds by night (a time and place appointed for rest, when men should together with their clothes put off their cares, and compose themselves to sleep, that nurse of nature, and sweet parenthesis), than one doth upon a rack or bed of thorns.
Thus they work evil upon their beds] They work hard at it, having the devil for their taskmaster, who shall therefore also be their paymaster. He hath their souls here as in a sling, 1 Samuel 25:29, violently tossed about and restless; they are his drudges and dromedaries, driven about by him at his pleasure, 2 Timothy 2:26, wholly acted and agitated by him, Ephesians 2:2, having as many lords as lusts, wherewith their hearts are night and day exercised, 2 Peter 2:14, without intermission. See this in Felix, who at the same instant trembled and coveted a bribe; in Ahab, who, sick of Naboth's vineyard, laid him down upon his bed, but rested not, 1 Kings 21:4. His heart did more afflict and vex itself with greedy longing for that bit of earth than the vast and spacious compass of a kingdom could counter comfort.
When the morning is light they practise it] And so they lose no time, being up and at it by peep of day; when others are fast asleep, and so more easily surprised and circumvented by them. The morning is the most precious part of the day; and should be employed to better purpose. But "wickedness proceedeth from the wicked, as saith the proverb of the ancients," 1 Samuel 24:13, and as they like not to have God in their heads, Psalms 10:4, nor hearts, Psalms 14:1, so neither in their words, Psalms 12:4, nor ways, Titus 1:16, but the contrary; surely Satan is rightly called the god of this world; because as God at first did but speak the word and it was done, so, if the devil do but hold up his finger, give the least hint, they are ready pressed to practise.
Because it is in the power of their hand] The Vulgate hath it, Because their hand is against God; and, indeed, the same word El signifieth God and power. The Seventy render it, Because they have not lifted up their hands to God (an exercise proper and fit for the morning, Psa 5:4). The Tigurine, Quia viribus pollent, They have strength enough to do it. Their hand is to power (so the original hath it), that is, saith Calvin, quantum possunt, tantum audent, they dare do their utmost, they will try what they can do; their hand is ever ready to rake and scrape together commodity; neither can they be hindered either by the fear of God or any respect to righteousness. Nihil cogitant quod non idem patrare ausint. (De Monachis, Lutherus).