Psalm 10

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 10:2

(2) The wicked.—Better, in the pride of the wicked, the sufferer burns. (So LXX., Aquila, Symmachus, and Vulg.) Not to be taken of indignation felt by the sufferers, but literally of the afflictions they endure. The Authorised Version rendering of the next clause takes the wicked as the subject of the verb; but it preserves the parallelism better, and is more in accordance with the rest of the psalm (Psalms 10:8-10), to understand it of the “humble,” the singular changing to the plural in the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 10:3

(3) For the wicked boasteth.—Literally, for the wicked speaketh praise to the lust of his soul, which has been understood either as in the Authorised Version, “prides himself upon his evil desires;” or “prides himself in or according to his sinful wish,” as LXX., Vulg., Syriac, and Chaldee. The former of these follows most naturally on Psalms 10:2. His wiles, so successful in snaring his victim, are a cause of self-gratulation. The representation of the villain addressing his own evil passions... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 10:4

(4) The wicked.—The Authorised Version has quite missed the meaning of this verse. Translate, the wicked in his haughtiness (literally, height of his nostril. Comp. the common expression, ‘to turn up one’s nose at a person’) saith He will not requite it (i.e., punish; comp. Psalms 10:13). There is no God in all his thought. (Comp. Psalms 14:1; Psalms 53:1.) read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 10:5

(5) His ways are always grievous.—Better, his enterprises always succeed. This meaning is obtained from Job 20:21, “nothing escaped his covetousness, therefore his prospering shall not last,” and from the cognate of the verb “strength.” Perhaps, however, “his ways are always strong” implies only the bold and reckless course with which a tyrant pursues his end. (Comp. Psalms 73:12.)Thy judgments . . . .—Literally, a height thy judgments far above him. (Comp. Psalms 36:6.)Puffeth—i.e., in scorn.... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 10:6

(6) I shall not.—The meaning of the verse is clear, but the construction is involved. Literally, I shall not be moved to generation and generation, which not in evil. The LXX. and Vulg. omit the relative altogether. The best rendering is, “I shall never be moved at any time: I who am without ill.” read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 10:7

(7) Cursing and deceit.—From the connection of cursing with deceit (comp. Hosea 4:2, “swearing and lying “), we must understand perjury. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 10:8

(8) In lurking places . . .—i.e., in ambush.Villages.—Properly, enclosed spaces, but then, like our “town” (ton, an enclosure), for any collection of dwellings; and in Leviticus 25:31, “an unwalled place”; applied also to a nomadic encampment (Genesis 25:16).Privily set.—Literally, hid: i.e., watched secretly.The poor.—The Hebrew word, occurring three times in this psalm (Psalms 10:10; Psalms 10:14), is peculiar to it. The root idea is darkness; hence here, by an easy transition, obscure,... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 10:9

(9) Lieth in wait.—A confusion of metaphor. The wicked is first, the lion watching for his prey, and then the hunter snaring animals. “Poor,” here—better, afflicted (see Psalms 9:12). Translate, in his hiding-place he lurks, as a lion in his lair, lurks to seize a sufferer, seizes a sufferer, drawing him into his net. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 10:10

(10) By his strong ones.—Possibly, by his strong claws, recurring to the metaphor of the lion. Some (Jerome, Perowne, and apparently Syriac), instead of “croucheth,” render “is crushed,” making the sufferer its subject. There is a various reading to the text, but in either case the image of the beast gathering himself together for a spring is admissible. Or, keeping the primary sense of darkness, render, he crouches and skulks, and lies darkly down in his strong places. This avoids the anomaly... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 10:11

(11) Hideth.—Better, hath hidden. read more

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 10:2

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 10:3

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 10:4

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 10:5

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 10:6

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 10:7

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 10:8

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 10:9

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 10:10

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 10:11

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