Psalms 10:7-17

7 (9-28) His mouth is full of cursing, and of bitterness, and of deceit: under his tongue are labour and sorrow.

8 (9-29) He sitteth in ambush with the rich, in private places, that he may kill the innocent.

9 (9-30) His eyes are upon the poor man: he lieth in wait, in secret, like a lion in his den. He lieth in ambush, that he may catch the poor man: so catch the poor, whilst he draweth him to him.

10 (9-31) In his net he will bring him down, he will crouch and fall, when he shall have power over the poor.

11 (9-32) For he hath said in his heart: God hath forgotten, he hath turned away his face, not to see to the end.

12 (9-33) Arise, O Lord God, let thy hand be exalted: forget not the poor.

13 (9-34) Wherefore hath the wicked provoked God? for he hath said in his heart: He will not require it.

14 (9-35) Thou seest it, for thou considerest labour and sorrow: that thou mayst deliver them into thy hands. To thee is the poor man left: thou wilt be a helper to the orphan.

15 (9-36) Break thou the arm of the sinner and of the malignant: his sin shall be sought, and shall not be found.

16 (9-37) The Lord shall reign to eternity, yea, for ever and ever: ye Gentiles shall perish from his land.

17 (9-38) The Lord hath heard the desire of the poor: thy ear hath heard the preparation of their heart.

Psalms 10:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 10

This psalm in the Septuagint version, and those that follow it, is a part and continuation of the preceding psalm, and makes but one with it; hence in these versions the number of the following psalms differ from others, and what is the eleventh with others is the tenth with them, and so on to the hundred fourteenth and one hundred fifteenth, which also are put into one; but in order to make up the whole number of one hundred and fifty, the hundred sixteenth and the hundred forty seventh are both divided into two; and indeed the subject of this psalm is much the same with the former. Antichrist and antichristian times are very manifestly described; the impiety, blasphemy, and atheism of the man of sin; his pride, haughtiness, boasting of himself, and presumption of security; his persecution of the poor, and murder of innocents, are plainly pointed at; nor does the character of the man of the earth agree to well to any as to him: his times are times of trouble; but at the end of them the kingdom of Christ will appear in great glory, when the Gentiles, the antichristian nations, will perish out of his land, Ps 10:1-11,16,18.