Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
-Warning against trust in anyone or anything except God, to whom alone belong power, mercy, and retributive justice. Verse 9. Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie - literally, 'Only vanity are the sons of men in general х 'aadaam (H120)], a lie are the sons of (even) the distinguished man' х 'iysh (H376)] (Psalms 4:2; Psalms 39:5; Psalms 39:11, end; 136:3-4). The reference is to Psalms 62:9; it is in relation to trustworthiness for one's main hope that they are "a lie" - that is, disappointing to the expectations; God alone is our ultimate "trust" and "refuge" (Psalms 62:8; Psalms 40:4). He who trusts in God is 'like a spring of water, whose waters lie not' (margin Isaiah 40:11).
To be laid in the balance, they (are) altogether (lighter) than vanity - literally, 'in the balance (they are) for going up; i:e., they must go up, as being of no weight: they all to a man (are) of Vanity (nothing)' (Isaiah 40:15; Isaiah 40:17; Isaiah 41:24). So Belshazzar in Daniel 5:27.
Verse 10. Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery. Next after trust in men comes trust in wrong, whereby the world tries to prop up its tottering greatness. Literally, 'become not nothing in robbery' -
i.e., in gain acquired by robbery. 'Whoever puts his trust in what is nothing will become nothing himself' (Hengstenberg). In the case of such the insecurity which attaches to all earthly things is aggravated by their lying under the curse of God.
If riches increase (yanub) - literally, 'sprout up' of their own accord, as distinguished from riches acquired by "oppression" and "robbery." So "the ground of the rich man (in the parable, Luke 12:15-16) brought forth plentifully."
Set not your heart upon them - (1 Timothy 6:17.)
Verse 11. God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this - i:e., more than once. Again and again, in His providential government of the world, and in His revealed Word, God repeats the lesson, if only man will hear it (Job 33:14).
That power belongeth unto God - as contrasted with 'men of low degree and high degree' when made objects of trust (Psalms 62:9); this is the ground of the precept, Psalms 62:8, "Trust in Him at all times."
Verse 12. Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy. His power (Psalms 62:11) would terrify us, were it not that His mercy comforts us. As His power assures us that He can, so His mercy or grace assures us that He will save His people.
For thou renderest to every man according to his work. God's mercy is not an indiscriminate indulgence toward all alike, but a discriminating mercy: a mercy which is altogether just and consonant with the character of the righteous God; because it is right that He should render mercy to the merciful (Matthew 5:7) and vengeance to the unmerciful oppressors (Psalms 62:3-4; Romans 2:6; and Revelation 22:12 refer to this).