Ps. 10 THE ARGUMENT This Psalm contains David’s complaint unto God against his malicious enemies, especially those of his own people, whose wicked and deceitful practices he here describes, and then commits his cause to God, and begs his help against them.

Why standest thou afar off, like one that neither sees, nor hears, nor regards me, nor intendest any help for me? Thyself, or, thy face, out of Ps. 10:11, which did sometimes shine upon me; or, thine eyes, by comparing this with Prov. 28:27, Isa. 1:15.

In his pride; through pride of heart; which makes him forget God, Ps. 10:4, and despise the poor, and oppress others, either because they oppose or dislike his wicked courses, or that he may have more fuel for his pride or ambition. Or, in his exaltation.

Boasteth, or glorieth, or praiseth, or pleaseth himself. Of his heart’s desire; or, in, or concerning, or because of the desire, or concupiscence, or lust of his heart, or soul; which word is added to note the vehemency and fervency of it. He glorieth in his very lusts, which are his shame, Phil.

Through the pride; by which he scorns to stoop to God, or to own any superior, and makes himself and his own lusts his only rule, and his last end, and is full of self-confidence, and a conceit of his own self-sufficiency and unchangeable felicity, as is hated, Ps. 10:6.

His ways are always grievous; his whole course and carriage is vexatious to all that are within his reach, but especially to the poor, who cannot right themselves; and to just and good men, whom he hateth and persecuteth. Or, His ways, i.e.

He hath said in his heart; he thinketh or persuadeth himself. I shall not be moved; or, removed, to wit, from my place and happy state. For I shall never be in adversity; or, because I am not in adversity, therefore I never shall be in it. His present prosperity makes him secure for the future.

Of cursing; either, 1. Of oaths and blasphemies against God. Or, 2. Of reviling and execration of other men, especially those that are good; or those that stand in his way, and hinder his wicked designs. Or rather, 3. Of oaths and imprecations against himself, of which this word is used, Num.

In the lurking places of the villages; not within the villages, which is not a fit place for lurking; but about them, in the ways bordering upon them, or leading to them, as robbers use to do.

As a lion in his den, where he lurks and waits for prey. He doth catch, or snatch, or seize upon, to wit, with violence, and to devour or destroy him. When he draweth him; or, by drawing him; or, after he hath drawn him. He layeth snares for him, and when he takes him, tears him in pieces.

Like a lion, (for he continues the same metaphor,) which gathereth himself together, and lies close upon the ground, partly that he may not be discovered, and partly that he may more suddenly, and surely, and fiercely lay hold upon his prey.

God hath forgotten, to wit, the poor, Ps. 10:10; or the humble, which we are taught to supply out of Ps. 10:12, where he saith, forget not the humble. He forgets and neglects all their oppressions and prayers, and doth not avenge their cause, as he hath said he would do; nor execute judgments upon…

Lift up thine hand, to rescue the poor, and to smite their oppressors with a hand stretched out and lifted up, that the blow maybe the greater: compare Ex. 7:5, Isa. 5:25, Isa. 9:12;c. Forget not the humble; show by thy appearance for their vindication that thou dost remember and regard them.

The sense is either, 1. What is the cause of his contempt of God? To which question the next words give an answer, Thy connivance makes him secure. Therefore show thyself. Or, 2. Why dost thou by giving them impunity suffer and occasion them to despise thee? Do so no longer.

Thou hast seen it; or, but thou hast seen it, and therefore they are horribly mistaken, as they will find to their cost. For; or, surely, as this particle is oft used, as Job 8:6, Ps. 73:18. Thou beholdest; not as an idle spectator, but with an eye of observation and vindication, as it follows.

Break thou; or, Thou wilt break. For it may be either a prayer or a prophecy. The arm, i.e. his strength, the instrument of violence and mischief. Seek out his wickedness; search for it so strictly, and punish these wicked atheists so severely. Till thou find none, i.e.

The Lord is King; to whom it belongs to protect his subjects. Therefore thou wilt save the humble, and punish the oppressors. For ever and ever; therefore his people’s case is never desperate, seeing he ever lives and reigns to help them, and therefore he will help them in his time sooner or later.

Thou hast heard the desire of the humble; and therefore wilt still do it, being unchangeable and the same for ever. Thou wilt prepare, or direct, or fit, by thy grace and good Spirit, either that they may so pray as thou wilt hear, or that they may be made fit to receive the mercies which they…

To judge, i.e. to defend them, and give sentence for them, and against their enemies, as this word is used, Deut. 32:36, Ps. 7:8, Ps. 135:14. The man of the earth, i.e.