7 His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue.
7 His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.
7 They carry a mouthful of hexes, their tongues spit venom like adders.
7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity.
7 Their mouths are full of cursing, lies, and threats. Trouble and evil are on the tips of their tongues.
13 For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
13 For I hear many whispering, "Terror on every side!" They conspire against me and plot to take my life.
13 For I hear the whispering of many-- terror on every side!-- as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.
13 The street-talk gossip has me "criminally insane"! Behind locked doors they plot how to ruin me for good.
13 For I hear the slander of many; Fear is on every side; While they take counsel together against me, They scheme to take away my life.
13 I have heard the many rumors about me, and I am surrounded by terror. My enemies conspire against me, plotting to take my life.
(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.
4 Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
4 They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear,
4 Poison, lethal rattlesnake poison, drips from their forked tongues -
4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent; They are like the deaf cobra that stops its ear,
4 They spit venom like deadly snakes; they are like cobras that refuse to listen,
(Read Psalm 58:1-5)
When wrong is done under the form of law, it is worse than any other; especially it is grievous to behold those who profess to be children of God, joining together against any of his people. We should thank the Lord for merciful restraints; we should be more earnest in seeking renewing grace, more watchful over ourselves, and more patient under the effects of fallen nature in others. The corruption of their nature was the root of bitterness. We may see in children the wickedness of the world beginning. They go astray from God and their duty as soon as possibly they can. And how soon will little children tell lies! It is our duty to take pains to teach them, and above all, earnestly to pray for converting grace to make our children new creatures. Though the poison be within, much of it may be kept from breaking forth to injure others. When the Saviour's words are duly regarded, the serpent becomes harmless. But those who refuse to hear heavenly wisdom, must perish miserably, for ever.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 10:7
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.