Psalms 10:2
Psalms 10:2 in Multiple Translations
In pride the wicked pursue the needy; let them be caught in the schemes they devise.
The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
In the pride of the wicked the poor is hotly pursued; Let them be taken in the devices that they have conceived.
The evil-doer in his pride is cruel to the poor; let him be taken by the tricks of his invention.
The wicked chase down the poor with impunity. May they be trapped by the evil schemes they themselves invented.
The wicked with pride doeth persecute the poore: let them be taken in the craftes that they haue imagined.
Through the pride of the wicked, Is the poor inflamed, They are caught in devices that they devised.
In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are caught in the schemes that they devise.
The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
In the Lord I put my trust: how then do you say to my soul: Get thee away from hence to the mountain like a sparrow?
People who are proud gladly cause poor people to suffer. So cause what they do to others to happen to them! May they be caught in the same traps that they set to catch others [MET]!
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 10:2
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 10:2 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
בְּ/גַאֲוַ֣ת
רָ֭שָׁע
יִדְלַ֣ק
עָנִ֑י
יִתָּפְשׂ֓וּ
בִּ/מְזִמּ֖וֹת
ז֣וּ
חָשָֽׁבוּ
בְּ/גַאֲוַ֣ת
gaʼăvâh
H1346
pride
Prep | N-fs
רָ֭שָׁע
râshâʻ
H7563
wicked
Adj
יִדְלַ֣ק
dâlaq
H1814
to burn/pursue
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
עָנִ֑י
ʻânîy
H6041
afflicted
Adj
יִתָּפְשׂ֓וּ
tâphas
H8610
to capture
V-Niphal-Imperf-3mp
בִּ/מְזִמּ֖וֹת
mᵉzimmâh
H4209
plot
Prep | N-fp
ז֣וּ
zûw
H2098
this
Rel
חָשָֽׁבוּ
châshab
H2803
to devise
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 10:2
בְּ/גַאֲוַ֣ת
gaʼăvâh
H1346
"pride"
Prep | N-fs
Pride or majesty, describing something or someone that is impressive or arrogant, like the pride of life in 1 John. It can also mean ornament or swelling, like the swelling of the sea in Psalms.
Definition: 1) pride, majesty, a rising up 1a) a rising up, swelling (of the sea) 1b) majesty (of Israel) 1c) pride, haughtiness
Usage: Occurs in 19 OT verses. KJV: excellency, haughtiness, highness, pride, proudly, swelling. See also: Deuteronomy 33:26; Psalms 73:6; Psalms 10:2.
רָ֭שָׁע
râshâʻ
H7563
"wicked"
Adj
This word describes someone who is morally wrong, a bad person who is guilty of crime or sin against God or others. It is used to describe the wicked in biblical stories, such as in the book of Genesis.
Definition: 1) wicked, criminal 1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst) 1b) wicked (hostile to God) 1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)
Usage: Occurs in 248 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did wrong. See also: Genesis 18:23; Psalms 101:8; Psalms 1:1.
יִדְלַ֣ק
dâlaq
H1814
"to burn/pursue"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
To burn or pursue means to flame or chase after something. This word is used in the Bible to describe burning fires or hot pursuit. It can also mean to kindle or inflame something, and is often translated as burning or chase.
Definition: 1) to burn, hotly pursue 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to burn 1a2) to hotly pursue 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to kindle 1b2) to inflame Aramaic equivalent: de.laq (דְּלַק "to burn" H1815)
Usage: Occurs in 9 OT verses. KJV: burning, chase, inflame, kindle, persecute(-or), pursue hotly. See also: Genesis 31:36; Proverbs 26:23; Psalms 7:14.
עָנִ֑י
ʻânîy
H6041
"afflicted"
Adj
This word describes someone who is depressed, humble, or weak, often due to difficult circumstances, as described in the Psalms and other biblical books.
Definition: 1) poor, afflicted, humble, wretched 1a) poor, needy 1b) poor and weak 1c) poor, weak, afflicted, wretched 1d) humble, lowly
Usage: Occurs in 77 OT verses. KJV: afflicted, humble, lowly, needy, poor. See also: Exodus 22:24; Psalms 88:16; Psalms 9:13.
יִתָּפְשׂ֓וּ
tâphas
H8610
"to capture"
V-Niphal-Imperf-3mp
To capture or seize something, like in 1 Kings 13:4, where a prophet grabs the king's altar. It means to take hold of or grasp something firmly.
Definition: 1) to catch, handle, lay hold, take hold of, seize, wield 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to lay hold of, seize, arrest, catch 1a2) to grasp (in order to) wield, wield, use skilfully 1b) (Niphal) to be seized, be arrested, be caught, be taken, captured 1c) (Piel) to catch, grasp (with the hands)
Usage: Occurs in 60 OT verses. KJV: catch, handle, (lay, take) hold (on, over), stop, [idiom] surely, surprise, take. See also: Genesis 4:21; Jeremiah 2:8; Psalms 10:2.
בִּ/מְזִמּ֖וֹת
mᵉzimmâh
H4209
"plot"
Prep | N-fp
This Hebrew word means a plan or plot, which can be either good or evil. It appears in the Bible as a device, discretion, or intent. In the KJV, it is translated as a wicked device or witty invention.
Definition: 1) purpose, discretion, device, plot 1a) purpose 1b) discretion 1c) devices (evil)
Usage: Occurs in 19 OT verses. KJV: (wicked) device, discretion, intent, witty invention, lewdness, mischievous (device), thought, wickedly. See also: Job 21:27; Proverbs 3:21; Psalms 10:2.
ז֣וּ
zûw
H2098
"this"
Rel
Similar to H2097, this word is used to identify something, as in Exodus 32:1 where the people say 'this is your god'. It's a way of saying 'this' or 'that', often to point out a specific thing or person.
Definition: demons pron 1) this, such rel pron 2) (of) which, (of) whom
Usage: Occurs in 15 OT verses. KJV: that, this, [idiom] wherein, which, whom. See also: Exodus 15:13; Psalms 32:8; Psalms 9:16.
חָשָֽׁבוּ
châshab
H2803
"to devise"
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
To devise means to think or plan something, often in a clever way. In the Bible, it can mean to plot or contrive, as seen in the story of David and Goliath.
Definition: : count/regard_as 1) to think, plan, esteem, calculate, invent, make a judgment, imagine, count 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to think, account 1a2) to plan, devise, mean 1a3) to charge, impute, reckon 1a4) to esteem, value, regard 1a5) to invent 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be accounted, be thought, be esteemed 1b2) to be computed, be reckoned 1b3) to be imputed 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to think upon, consider, be mindful of 1c2) to think to do, devise, plan 1c3) to count, reckon 1d) (Hithpael) to be considered
Usage: Occurs in 122 OT verses. KJV: (make) account (of), conceive, consider, count, cunning (man, work, workman), devise, esteem, find out, forecast, hold, imagine, impute, invent, be like, mean, purpose, reckon(-ing be made), regard, think. See also: Genesis 15:6; Psalms 35:4; Psalms 10:2.
Study Notes — Psalms 10:2
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 10:2 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 10:2
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 10:2
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 10:2
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 10:2
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 10:2
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 10:2
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 10:2
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 10:2
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 10:2
- Sermons on Psalms 10:2
Context — The Perils of the Pilgrim
1Why, O LORD, do You stand far off? Why do You hide in times of trouble?
2In pride the wicked pursue the needy; let them be caught in the schemes they devise.
3For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. 4In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 59:12 | By the sins of their mouths and the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride, in the curses and lies they utter. |
| 2 | Psalms 36:11 | Let not the foot of the proud come against me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. |
| 3 | Psalms 7:16 | His trouble recoils on himself, and his violence falls on his own head. |
| 4 | Proverbs 5:22 | The iniquities of a wicked man entrap him; the cords of his sin entangle him. |
| 5 | Psalms 31:18 | May lying lips be silenced— lips that speak with arrogance against the righteous, full of pride and contempt. |
| 6 | Psalms 119:122 | Ensure Your servant’s well-being; do not let the arrogant oppress me. |
| 7 | Isaiah 10:12–13 | So when the Lord has completed all His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the fruit of his arrogant heart and the proud look in his eyes. For he says: ‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, for I am clever. I have removed the boundaries of nations and plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their rulers. |
| 8 | Psalms 140:5 | The proud hide a snare for me; the cords of their net are spread along the path, and lures are set out for me. Selah |
| 9 | Psalms 119:69 | Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep Your precepts with all my heart. |
| 10 | Psalms 119:85 | The arrogant have dug pits for me in violation of Your law. |
Psalms 10:2 Summary
This verse is talking about how people who are wicked and proud often try to take advantage of those who are poor or weak. The Bible is saying that these people should be caught in their own traps, and that God will ultimately bring justice. This reminds us to be humble and kind to those in need, as Jesus taught in Matthew 25:31-46, and to trust in God's sovereignty, as seen in Romans 8:28. We can apply this to our lives by being mindful of our own attitudes and actions, and by praying for God's justice to be upheld in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for the wicked to pursue the needy in pride?
This refers to the arrogant and self-righteous attitude of those who take advantage of the vulnerable, as seen in Psalms 10:2, and is condemned by God, as stated in Proverbs 21:13 and Isaiah 10:1-2.
Why does the verse say let them be caught in the schemes they devise?
This is a prayer for God's justice, that the wicked would be trapped by their own evil plans, similar to the principle found in Psalms 7:15-16 and Proverbs 26:27.
Is this verse saying that God is responsible for the wicked being caught in their schemes?
While God is sovereign, this verse is more about the natural consequences of sin, as seen in Galatians 6:7-8, and the prayer of the righteous for God's justice to be upheld, as in Psalms 35:1-8.
How can we apply this verse to our lives today?
We can apply this verse by recognizing the importance of humility and compassion towards the needy, as taught in Matthew 25:31-46 and James 1:27, and praying for God's justice to be upheld in the world, as in Psalms 10:1-18.
Reflection Questions
- How do I respond when I see the wicked prospering and the needy suffering, and what can I do to help?
- In what ways can I demonstrate humility and compassion towards those in need, as opposed to the proud and self-righteous attitude of the wicked?
- What are some schemes or plans that I have devised in my own life, and how can I ensure that they are not motivated by pride or a lack of faith in God?
- How can I pray for God's justice to be upheld in the world, and what does that look like in my own community?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 10:2
The wicked in [his] pride doth persecute the poor,.... The "poor" is the good and gracious man, who is commonly poor in this world's things, and is sensibly poor in spirit, or sensible of his
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 10:2
The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 10:2
In his pride; through pride of heart; which makes him forget God, , 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. This is the use that he makes of that power and authority to which thou hast advanced him, to persecute those whom he should protect and cherish. He seems to point at Saul or his courtiers. Doth persecute with great fervency and burning fury, as the word signifies. The poor, to wit, me, who am through their tyranny poor, and destitute, and miserable, and therefore the more proper object for thy compassion, and others who favour my righteous cause.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 10:2
Psalms 10:2 The wicked in [his] pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.Ver. 2. The wicked in his pride doth persecute, &c.] Heb. hotly pursueth (εμπυριζεται. Chrysost.), and that out of his pride, the true cause of persecution, whatever else is pretended. And this is fitly here alleged, and urged as an argument to move God to make haste. See Deuteronomy 32:27 : The saints fare the better for the insolence and outrage of their enemies, whose ruin is thereby accelerated, and somewhat God will do the sooner for his people, lest the enemy exalt himself, Psalms 140:8, and say, Our hand is high, the Lord hath not done this. Let them be taken in the devices, &c.] As all persecutors are sure to be in which regard Tertullian well adviseth Scapula, Si nobis non parcis, tibi parce; si non tibi, Carthagini: If thou wilt not spare us Christians, yet spare thyself; or if not thyself, yet thy city Carthage, which else will smart and smoke for thy cruelty.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 10:2
(2) The wicked.—Better, in the pride of the wicked, the sufferer burns. (So LXX., Aquila, Symmachus, and Vulg.) Not to be taken of indignation felt by the sufferers, but literally of the afflictions they endure. The Authorised Version rendering of the next clause takes the wicked as the subject of the verb; but it preserves the parallelism better, and is more in accordance with the rest of the psalm (Psalms 10:8-10), to understand it of the “humble,” the singular changing to the plural in the subject when supplied: “they (the sufferers) are taken (the verb is in the present) in the plot which they (the wicked) have devised.”
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 10:2
Verse 2. The wicked in his pride] On no principle of nature or reason can we account for a wicked man persecuting a humble follower of God because of his religion. The devil hates godliness; and the wicked man hates it also, because the devil is in his heart.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 10:2
2. The general sense of the first clause is that given by R.V.: In the pride of the wicked the poor is hotly pursued; or possibly, is consumed, by fear, anxiety, and distress. In the second clause there is a double ambiguity. The verb taken may be rendered as a wish or as a statement of fact; and its subject may be the ‘wicked’ or the ‘poor.’ Hence either, as A.V., let them (the wicked) be taken in the devices that they have imagined: or, as LXX, Vulg., R.V. marg.: they (the poor) are taken in the devices that they (the wicked) have imagined. With the first rendering comp. Psalms 7:15-16, Psalms 9:16 : but the second is on the whole preferable. It gives a good parallelism to the first line of the verse; and a further description of the wrongs of the poor suits the context better than a parenthetical cry for retribution.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 10:2
The wicked in his pride - Margin: “In the pride of the wicked he doth.” The margin is a literal translation of the Hebrew; but the sense is the same.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 10:2
2. Wicked—The man who breaks law and departs from right with knowledge and of set purpose. The term is used five times in the psalm.
Sermons on Psalms 10:2
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Communion of Saints by Paris Reidhead | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the theme of the communion of saints, as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 13:14. He emphasizes that what one shares is a reflection of what one is |
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Pride and Shame or Humility and Wisdom by Bob Hoekstra | Bob Hoekstra preaches on the importance of walking in humility rather than pride to receive God's grace and wisdom. Those who walk in pride end up with shame, as seen in the wicked |
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Pride by J.C. Philpot | J.C. Philpot delivers a powerful sermon on the detestable nature of pride and arrogance, highlighting how pride is deeply rooted in the human heart and is considered the 'sin of si |
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Setting Fire to Satan's Harvest by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on Psalm 59 and the power of God to consume the wicked. He emphasizes the importance of righteous individuals in changing a nation and calls on |
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Righteousness Imputed and Imparted by Bill McLeod | In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal story about a woman who felt restless and missed her husband when he was gone. She couldn't sleep and in her desperation, she knelt by |
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It’s Tempting by Ed Wrather | Ed Wrather emphasizes the importance of resisting temptation by drawing parallels to the story of Cain and Abel, highlighting how giving in to temptation can lead to destructive co |
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The Biblical Theology of the Tongue by Mack Tomlinson | This sermon delves into the biblical theology of the tongue, emphasizing the power of words to either speak truth or error, highlighting the struggle with words that we all face. I |