Psalm 10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 10:1

Verse 1 1.Lord, why standest thou afar off? We here see how the prophet, seeking a remedy for his calamities, which were apparently past hope, directly addresses himself to God at the very commencement. And the rule which we should observe, when we are in trouble and sorrow, is this: We should seek comfort and solace in the providence of God; for amidst our agitations, vexations, and cares, we ought to be fully persuaded that it is his peculiar office to give relief to the wretched and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 10:2

Verse 2 2.The ungodly in his pride, etc Before uttering his prayer against the ungodly, the Psalmist briefly sets forth their wickedness in cruelly vexing the afflicted, for no other reason but because they disdain and despise them, through the pride with which they are inflated. And their cruelty is not a little enhanced from this, that, forgetful of all humanity, they contemptuously triumph over the poor and afflicted, mocking them and inflicting injuries upon them. (193) Cruelty is, indeed,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 10:3

Verse 3 3.For the ungodly praiseth himself. This verse is variously explained. Literally the reading is, For praiseth the wicked or ungodly; and it is therefore necessary to supply some word, but what word is disputed. (196) Some translate the words, ungodly and violent man, in the accusative case, thus: He praiseth the ungodly, and blesseth the violent man; because they think it strange that after “praiseth” the sentence should end abruptly, without any thing being said of who or what was... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 10:4

Verse 4 4.The ungodly, in the pride of his countenance, etc Others translate the words, The ungodly man, by reason of the violence of his anger, or, in the pride which he displays, does not inquire after God. But this partly perverts the meaning, and partly weakens the force of what David intended to express. In the first place, the word inquire, which is here put absolutely, that is, without any noun which it governs, is, according to this translation, improperly limited to God. David simply... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 10:5

Verse 5 There is a great diversity of opinion among interpreters respecting the first clause of this verse. The translators of the Septuagint version, thinking the word יחילו,yachilu, which is in the future tense, derived from the root חלל, chalal, which it is not, have rendered it, his ways are defiled. But it is agreed among the Jewish expositors, that it is derived from the root חול, chol. Many among them, however, take it actively for to put one in fear, or to put one to trouble, as if it... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 10:6

Verse 6 The Psalmist confirms these statements in the next verse, where he tells us that the persons of whom he speaks are fully persuaded in their hearts that they are beyond all danger of change. He saith in his heart, I shall not be moved from generation to generation The ungodly often pour forth proud language to this effect. David, however, only touches the hidden ulcer of their vile arrogance, which they cherish in their own breasts, and therefore he does not say what they speak with... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 10:7

Verse 7 7.His mouth is full of cursing. The scope of these four verses is this: If God intends to succor his servants, it is now a proper time for doing so, inasmuch as the lawlessness of the ungodly has burst forth to the utmost possible excess. In the first place, he complains that their tongues are full of perjuries and deceits, and that they carry or hide mischief and wrongs, it being impossible to have any dealings with them in any matter without loss and damage. The word אלה,alah, which... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 10:8

Verse 8 8.He will sit in the ensnaring places of the villages. (217) I have purposely avoided changing the verbs of the future tense into another tense, because they imply a continued act, and also because this Hebrew idiom has extended even to other languages. David, therefore, describes what ungodly men are accustomed to do. And, in the first place, he compares them to highwaymen, who lie in wait at the narrow parts of roads, and choose for themselves hiding-places from which they may fall... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 10:9

Verse 9 In the next verse, he sets forth their cruelty in a light still more aggravated, by another comparison, saying, that they thirst for their prey like lions in their dens Now, it is a step higher in wickedness to equal in cruelty wild beasts than to make havoc after the manner of robbers. It is worthy of remark, that he always joins deceits and snares with violence, in order the better to show how miserable the children of God would be, unless they were succoured by help from heaven.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 10:10

Verse 10 He again repeats all this in the tenth verse, giving a beautiful and graphic description of the very mien or gesture of such wicked men, just as if he set before our eyes a picture of them. They crouch low, says he, and cast themselves down, (220) that they may not, by their cruelty, frighten away their victims to a distance; for they would fain catch in their entanglements those whom they cannot hurt without coming close to them. We see how he joins these two things together, first... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 10:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 10:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 10:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 10:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 10:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 10:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 10:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 10:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 10:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 10:10

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