He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but [he that is] perverse in his ways despiseth him.
Ver. 2. He that walketh in his uprightness, feareth the Lord.] He is "in the fear of the Lord all day long"; Pro 23:17 he walketh "in the fear of the Lord, and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost." Act 9:31 "The fear of the Lord is upon him," so that he "takes heed and does it"; 2Ch 19:7 for he knows "it shall be well with them that fear God, that fear before him." Ecc 8:12 God's "covenant was with Levi of life and peace, for the fear wherewith he feared God, and was afraid before his name." Hence "the law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with God in peace and equity, and did turn many from iniquity." Mal 2:5-6 He that truly fears God, is like unto Cato, of whom it is said, that he was homo virluti simillimus, and that he never did well that he might appear to do so, sed quia aliter facere non potuit, but because he could not do otherwise.
But he that is perverse in his ways, despiseth him.] Sets him aside, departs from his fear, dares to do that before him that he would be loath to do before a grave person. Thus David "despised God," when he defiled his neighbour's wife. 2Sa 12:9 Not but that even then he had God for his chief end; but he erred in the way, thinking he might fulfil his lust, and keep his God too (he would not forego God upon any terms), as Solomon thought to retain his wisdom, and yet to pursue his pleasures. Hence his partial and temporary apostasy - as the word here rendered "perverse" importeth; his warping and writhing from the way of righteousness - as the Septuagint a here interpret it - which was, interpretative, a "despising" of God, a saying, "He seeth it not." Psa 10:11
a σκολιαζων tortuose incedens.