2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises.
2 In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.
2 Full of hot air, the wicked are hot on the trail of the poor. Trip them up, tangle them up in their fine-tuned plots.
2 The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.
2 The wicked arrogantly hunt down the poor. Let them be caught in the evil they plan for others.
16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.
16 Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.
16 Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love!
16 Warm me, your servant, with a smile; save me because you love me.
16 Make Your face shine upon Your servant; Save me for Your mercies' sake.
16 Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me.
(Read Psalm 31:9-18)
David's troubles made him a man of sorrows. Herein he was a type of Christ, who was acquainted with grief. David acknowledged that his afflictions were merited by his own sins, but Christ suffered for ours. David's friends durst not give him any assistance. Let us not think it strange if thus deserted, but make sure of a Friend in heaven who will not fail. God will be sure to order and dispose all for the best, to all those who commit their spirits also into his hand. The time of life is in God's hands, to lengthen or shorten, make bitter or sweet, according to the counsel of his will. The way of man is not in himself, nor in our friend's hands, nor in our enemies' hands, but in God's. In this faith and confidence he prays that the Lord would save him for his mercies's sake, and not for any merit of his own. He prophesies the silencing of those that reproach and speak evil of the people of God. There is a day coming, when the Lord will execute judgment upon them. In the mean time, we should engage ourselves by well-doing, if possible, to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 10:2
Commentary on Psalm 10:1-11
(Read Psalm 10:1-11)
God's withdrawings are very grievous to his people, especially in times of trouble. We stand afar off from God by our unbelief, and then complain that God stands afar off from us. Passionate words against bad men do more hurt than good; if we speak of their badness, let it be to the Lord in prayer; he can make them better. The sinner proudly glories in his power and success. Wicked people will not seek after God, that is, will not call upon him. They live without prayer, and that is living without God. They have many thoughts, many objects and devices, but think not of the Lord in any of them; they have no submission to his will, nor aim for his glory. The cause of this is pride. Men think it below them to be religious. They could not break all the laws of justice and goodness toward man, if they had not first shaken off all sense of religion.