A Prayer for the Overthrow of the Wicked

101 Why standest thou afar off, O Jehovah? Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble? 2 In the pride of the wicked the poor is hotly pursued; Let them be taken in the devices that they have conceived. 3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, And the covetous renounceth, [yea], contemneth Jehovah. 4 The wicked, in the pride of his countenance, [saith], He will not require [it]. All his thoughts are, There is no God. 5 His ways are firm at all times; Thy judgments are far above out of his sight: As for all his adversaries, he puffeth at them. 6 He saith in his heart, I shall not be moved; To all generations I shall not be in adversity. 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression: Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity. 8 He sitteth in the lurking-places of the villages; In the secret places doth he murder the innocent; His eyes are privily set against the helpless. 9 He lurketh in secret as a lion in his covert; He lieth in wait to catch the poor: He doth catch the poor, when he draweth him in his net. 10 He croucheth, he boweth down, And the helpless fall by his strong ones. 11 He saith in his heart, God hath forgotten; He hideth his face; he will never see it.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 10:1-11

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.