Psalms 10

3. And blesseth the covetous, etc. Perhaps, “And the covetous renounceth” (see note on Job 1. 5), “[yea] contemneth Jehovah”: see R.V.

4. The wicked, through the pride, etc. Or, “The wicked [saith] in his pride, He (i.e., God) will not make inquisition: ‘No God’ [are] all his thoughts”: see ver. 13; Psa. ix. 12. All sin is practical atheism.

5 grievous. The Hebrew word probably means “enduring,” or “firm” (R.V.); and describes the sinner’s false security.

7 under his tongue, etc. An allusion to the poison of serpents, which is concealed beneath their teeth: see Rom. iii. 13, 14.

9 as a lion, etc. The wicked man is compared first to a lion, and then to a hunter, to show that he employs craft as well as force.

10. His strong ones. i.e., probably, his strong claws or teeth.

12 the humble. Or, as in ver. 9, “the poor,” or, “the afflicted.”

17 prepare. Or, “establish.”

18. That the man of the earth may no more oppress. The word for “man” used here means “frail man.” The phrase indicates the essential weakness of all tyranny: “that man, which is of the earth, may be terrible no more,” R.V.: see Psa. ix. 20.