They utter and speak - יביאו yabbiu , their hearts get full of pride and insolence; and then, from the abundance of such vile hearts, the mouth speaks; and the speech is of hard things, threatening which they are determined to execute, boastings of their power, authority, etc. read more
They break in pieces thy people - This was true af the Babylonians. Nehuchadnezzar slew many; carried the rest into captivity; ruined Jerusalem; overturned the temple; sacked, pillaged, and destroyed all the country. read more
They slay the widow - Nebuchadnezzar carried on his wars with great cruelty. He carried fire and sword every where; spared neither age, sex, nor condition. The widow, the orphan, and the stranger, persons in the most desolate condition of life, were not distinguished from others by his ruthless sword. read more
The Lord shall not see - This was either the language of infidelity or insult. Indeed, what could the Babylonians know of the true God? They might consider him as the God of a district or province, who knew nothing and did nothing out of his own territories. read more
Understand, ye brutish - These are the same expressions as in Psalm 92:6 ; (note), on which see the note. read more
He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? - This is allowed to be an unanswerable mode of argumentation. Whatever is found of excellence in the creature, must be derived from the Creator, and exist in him in the plenitude of infinite excellence. God, says St. Jerome, is all eye, because he sees all; he is all hand, because he does all things; he is all foot, for he is every where present. The psalmist does not say, He that planted the ear, hath he not an ear? He that formed the eye, hath... read more
He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? - You, who are heathens, and heathens of the most abandoned kind. He that teacheth man knowledge - We here supply shall not he know? But this is not acknowledged by the original, nor by any of the Versions. Indeed it is not necessary; for either the words contain a simple proposition, "It is he who teacheth man knowledge," or this clause should be read in connection with Psalm 94:11 ; : "Jehovah, who teacheth man knowledge,... read more
Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest - תיסרנו teyasserennu , whom thou instructest; and teachest him out of thy law. Two points here are worthy of our most serious regard: God gives knowledge to man: gives him understanding and reason. He gives him a revelation of himself; he places before that reason and understanding his Divine law. This is God's system of teaching; and the human intellect is his gift, which enables man to understand this teaching. We perhaps may add a third... read more
That thou mayest give him rest - He whom God instructs is made wise unto salvation; and he who is thus taught has rest in his soul, and peace and confidence in adversity. read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 94:3
How long shall the wicked triumph? - The wicked are often in prosperity; and this only shows us of how little worth riches are in the sight of God, when he bestows them on the most contemptible of mortals. But their time and prosperity have their bounds. read more