Psalms 17:14 - Exposition

From men which are thy hand, O Lord ; rather, from men , by thy hand , as in the margin of the Authorized Version, and in the text of the Revised Version. From men of the world; i.e. men who are altogether worldly, whose views, aspirations, hopes, longings, are bounded by this life—the "children of this world," as our Lord expressed it ( Luke 16:8 ). Which have their portion in this life; i.e. who have here all that they will ever receive, and all that they care to receive . And whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure; rather, with thy stores — the good things that thou makest the earth to produce. There seems to be some allusion here to the frequent worldly prosperity of the ungodly (comp. Job 12:6 ; Job 21:7-13 ; Psalms 73:3-12 ). They are full of children (so Job 21:8 , Job 21:11 ; Job 27:14 ). And leave the rest of their substance to their babes (comp. Psalms 49:10 ). No doubt this is often the case; but the ill-gotten gains handed on by the wicked to their children seldom prosper (see Job 27:14-17 ).