Psalm 10 13

Psalm 10:13 kjv

Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.

Psalm 10:13 nkjv

Why do the wicked renounce God? He has said in his heart, "You will not require an account."

Psalm 10:13 niv

Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, "He won't call me to account"?

Psalm 10:13 esv

Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, "You will not call to account"?

Psalm 10:13 nlt

Why do the wicked get away with despising God?
They think, "God will never call us to account."

Psalm 10 verses

Psalm 10 13 Meaning

Psalm 10:13 expresses the psalmist's profound distress and rhetorical question regarding the wicked's contempt for God. It highlights the wicked person's internal conviction that God neither sees nor will call them to account for their actions, leading to their open defiance and arrogant behavior. Their perceived impunity is the very basis for their scorn of the Divine, illustrating a core belief in divine indifference or absence of judgment.

Psalm 10 13 Context

Psalm 10 is a heartfelt lament and a passionate prayer from the psalmist, likely David, observing the flourishing of the wicked while the righteous suffer. It directly follows Psalm 9, forming a larger poetic unit contrasting the just God who judges nations (Ps 9) with the wicked man who seems to escape justice (Ps 10). The chapter graphically describes the arrogant, predatory behavior of the wicked, who persecute the poor and oppressed (vv. 2, 8-9), speaking boastfully and denying God's presence or action. Verse 13 encapsulates the core theological offense of the wicked: their internal conviction that God is oblivious or indifferent, thus emboldening their malicious actions without fear of retribution. The "why" question expresses the psalmist's perplexed grief and fervent plea for divine intervention against this blatant blasphemy.

Psalm 10 13 Word analysis

• Why (לָמָּה, lamah): This interrogative opens the verse, functioning not as a search for information but as an outcry of protest and pain. It challenges divine inaction from the perspective of human observation of injustice, urging God to vindicate His name and righteousness. It mirrors other "why" questions in Psalms (e.g., Ps 22:1, Ps 44:23-24) where the suffering righteous appeals to God's character.
• doth the wicked (רָשָׁע, rasha): Refers to a person characterized by unrighteousness, guilt, and moral rebellion against God's law. In Psalms, rasha is the antithesis of the righteous, often depicted as arrogant, deceitful, oppressive, and heedless of divine commands. Their identity is defined by their ethical stance against God.
• contemn (נֵאֵץ, nie'ets): A strong verb meaning to scorn, despise, blaspheme, treat with contempt, or reject. It implies an active and willful act of disrespect and irreverence towards something holy or authoritative. The wicked person's contempt for God is not merely neglect but an active renunciation and an insult to His character and power.
• God (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): The plural form of God, commonly used throughout the Old Testament to refer to the supreme Being, the Creator, and the Judge. By despising "Elohim," the wicked reject the very ultimate authority and moral standard of the universe.
• he hath said in his heart (אָמַר בְּלִבּוֹ, amar b'libbo): This phrase denotes an internal, settled conviction or reasoned thought, not necessarily an outward declaration. The "heart" (לֵב, lev) in Hebrew thought is the seat of intellect, will, and emotion – the innermost being. Thus, the wicked's disbelief is deeply ingrained and central to their character, forming the basis of their actions.
• Thou wilt not require it (לֹא תִדְרֹשׁ, lo tidrosh): This is the core of the wicked's delusion and contempt. Tidrosh comes from the root דָּרַשׁ (darash), meaning "to seek," "to search," "to require," "to call to account," or "to demand restitution/punishment." The wicked's internal conviction is that God will not investigate their deeds, will not call them to account, and will not demand recompense for their wickedness. They believe they are above divine justice.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Why doth the wicked contemn God?": This poignant question sets the stage, revealing the psalmist's perplexity and grief over the blatant disrespect shown towards the Almighty by the unrighteous. It underscores the seeming paradox of God's patient endurance in the face of human audacity. The contempt is rooted in the perceived inaction of God, making this not just a moral offense but a theological one.
• "he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.": This clause reveals the intellectual and moral error underlying the wicked's contempt. Their actions stem from an internal, self-serving theological construct: God is either unaware, uncaring, or unable to intervene. This "word in the heart" is a fundamental rejection of God's omniscience, omnipotence, and particularly, His attribute of divine justice and moral governance over creation. It implies a sense of absolute impunity that fuels their arrogance.

Psalm 10 13 Bonus section

• The problem presented in Psalm 10:13—the wicked prospering while despising God without immediate consequence—is a recurring theme throughout Scripture (e.g., Job, Ps 73, Hab 1-2). This delay in divine retribution is often misinterpreted by the wicked as evidence of God's non-existence or apathy, but the Bible consistently teaches that it is a manifestation of God's patience, offering space for repentance (2 Pet 3:9), even as His ultimate judgment is certain and unavoidable.
• This verse can be seen as a microcosm of humanity's fall from grace: the desire to be "like God," deciding right and wrong, and operating independently of His requirement for justice and holiness (Gen 3:5).
• In contrast to the wicked's declaration, the righteous understand that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Ps 111:10), founded on the acknowledgment that God does see and will require an account for every deed. This fear fosters humility and prompts obedience, standing in direct opposition to the wicked's arrogant impunity.

Psalm 10 13 Commentary

Psalm 10:13 offers profound insight into the spiritual state of the wicked. Their contempt for God isn't merely a lack of reverence but an active "scorn" or "renunciation," born from a deliberate conviction: "God will not call me to account." This internal pronouncement is a practical form of atheism, where God's existence as an active, righteous Judge is effectively denied, allowing the wicked to operate without moral restraint. The psalmist's "why" question is not ignorance, but a passionate appeal to God to manifest His justice and shatter the wicked's delusion of impunity. It highlights the problem of evil: why does God allow such brazen defiance and oppression when His character demands justice? This verse serves as a sober reminder that true wickedness originates in the heart, in a fundamental rejection of divine authority and accountability, paving the way for external acts of injustice.