Psalm 10 2

Psalm 10:2 kjv

The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

Psalm 10:2 nkjv

The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.

Psalm 10:2 niv

In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises.

Psalm 10:2 esv

In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.

Psalm 10:2 nlt

The wicked arrogantly hunt down the poor.
Let them be caught in the evil they plan for others.

Psalm 10 verses

Psalm 10 2 Meaning

Psalm 10:2 vividly portrays the unbridled arrogance of the wicked as they relentlessly pursue and oppress the vulnerable. It details their fervent, often cunning, efforts to trap the poor and afflicted for their own gain. The verse concludes with a powerful imprecation, a prayer or declaration that the wicked would fall into the very schemes and traps they meticulously devised for others, reflecting a desire for divine justice to manifest itself in a direct, retributive manner.

Psalm 10 2 Context

Psalm 10 forms a lament alongside Psalm 9, often considered a unified whole due to thematic and linguistic similarities. Psalm 10 itself opens with a direct appeal to God concerning His perceived absence and silence in the face of rampant evil (Ps 10:1). This verse (10:2) immediately sets the scene by detailing the specific nature of the wickedness causing such distress – the active, prideful oppression of the vulnerable. It establishes the central conflict between the arrogant oppressor and the helpless victim, laying the groundwork for the psalmist's subsequent detailed descriptions of the wicked person's character and his fervent plea for God's intervention and justice. Historically, such social injustice was a persistent problem in ancient Israel and the broader Ancient Near East, where the powerful often exploited the poor, widows, and orphans, contrasting sharply with YHWH's laws championing justice and protection for the vulnerable.

Psalm 10 2 Word analysis

• In arrogance (בְּגֵאוּת - bəgêʼûṯ):
  • Word Level: From the root ga'avah, meaning "pride," "majesty," or "haughtiness." Here it specifically denotes an inflated self-importance and a disregard for God and man, characteristic of the oppressor. It signifies an overbearing pride that fuels their destructive actions.
  • Significance: This pride is not just an attitude but the very fuel of their actions. It makes them feel immune to consequence and superior to those they harm. It stands in direct opposition to the humility and dependence on God characteristic of the righteous.
• the wicked (רָשָׁע - rāshāʿ):
  • Word Level: Singular form, representing 'the wicked one' or a type/class of person defined by their lawlessness and antagonism towards God and His people. It refers to someone morally corrupt, guilty, and hostile to divine principles.
  • Significance: Not merely 'bad people,' but those whose actions consistently go against God's righteousness and seek to exploit or harm others. This singular use highlights the psalmist's specific focus on an archetype of an oppressor.
• hotly pursue (יִדְלְקוּ - yidləqû):
  • Word Level: From dālaq, meaning "to burn," "kindle," "to pursue hotly," "to glow with anger or ardor." It conveys intense, relentless, even burning eagerness in their pursuit. It's an aggressive, energetic chase, not a casual observation.
  • Significance: This verb implies active, passionate malevolence. Their pursuit is not accidental but purposeful and vehement, indicating their deep-seated desire to afflict. It paints a picture of merciless, fiery chase.
• the afflicted (עָנִי - ʻāniy):
  • Word Level: Refers to the "poor," "afflicted," "humble," "lowly," "needy." It often denotes not just economic poverty but also social vulnerability, oppression, and a reliance on God due to their helplessness.
  • Significance: These are the victims of injustice, often lacking means, power, or influence to defend themselves. In the biblical worldview, God has a special concern for the ʻāniy, and their oppression is a direct affront to His justice.
• let them be caught (יִתָּפְשׂוּ - yittāp̄əśû):
  • Word Level: Passive imperative/jussive of tāpaś, meaning "to catch," "seize," "grasp." The passive voice conveys "let them be seized/caught," while the jussive expresses a wish, prayer, or command.
  • Significance: This is a call for divine intervention and retributive justice. The psalmist desires that the wicked, who are so effective at trapping others, would themselves be caught by an unseen, righteous force – God Himself.
• in the schemes (בִּמְזִמּוֹת - bimzimmôṯ):
  • Word Level: From mezimmāh, meaning "plot," "device," "counsel," often carrying a negative connotation of wicked intentions or malicious plans. It implies premeditation and calculated evil.
  • Significance: The wicked do not act randomly but with cunning deliberation. These are intricate, calculated plans designed to exploit and destroy. The prayer is that these very detailed plans become the undoing of their architects.
• they have devised (זוּ חָשָׁבוּ - zū ḥāšāḇû):
  • Word Level: Ḥāšab means "to think," "calculate," "devise," "plan." "Zu" is a relative pronoun ("that which"). This highlights the intentionality and intellectual effort put into their malicious plans.
  • Significance: This phrase emphasizes the deliberate and malevolent intelligence behind the wicked's actions. Their actions are not spontaneous but are the result of careful, malicious planning. It accentuates the justice of their falling into the very traps they prepared.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the afflicted": This phrase captures the nature of the aggressor (arrogant, wicked), their intensity (hotly pursue), and their chosen victim (the afflicted). It underlines the unjust power dynamic where the proud, strong oppressor targets the weak and vulnerable with zealous determination, reflecting a worldview where personal power dictates rights.
• "let them be caught in the schemes they have devised": This expresses the core plea for divine justice, specifically imprecatory justice where the punishment fits the crime. It's a call for the wicked's own cunning plans, meticulously thought out for others' downfall, to boomerang and become their personal undoing, illustrating the principle of "sowing and reaping." This showcases a belief in God's moral order, where wickedness does not ultimately triumph.

Psalm 10 2 Bonus section

The concept of the wicked being caught in their own traps is a recurring motif in the Psalms and Wisdom literature, strongly emphasizing retributive justice (lex talionis) in a spiritual sense. It underscores a covenantal worldview where God upholds moral order; actions have consequences, particularly malicious ones against the righteous and poor. This divine counteraction serves not only as punishment for the wicked but also as vindication for the righteous who entrust their cause to the Lord. The psalmist's direct address ("let them be caught") reflects an earnest petition for God's active involvement, a deep conviction that only divine power can thwart such determined human evil. It stands as a theological polemic against the perceived impunity of oppressors and reassures believers in God's ultimate justice, even when His presence feels hidden (Ps 10:1). This also echoes prophetic warnings about pride leading to destruction, suggesting a fundamental principle of spiritual economics: those who elevate themselves will be humbled.

Psalm 10 2 Commentary

Psalm 10:2 presents the oppressive behavior of the wicked not as an incidental act, but as a deliberate and characteristic pattern driven by pride and a relentless zeal. The psalmist describes a systematic targeting of the weak and vulnerable. The verb "hotly pursue" implies a burning intensity in their malicious efforts, a calculated zeal that contrasts sharply with divine justice. Their oppression is not chaotic but a product of carefully "devised schemes," showcasing their cunning and malevolence. The heart of the verse, however, is the prayer that these meticulously crafted traps and plans will ensnare their own architects. This reflects a fundamental belief in the moral order of God's universe: what one plans for others' harm will ultimately return upon them. It's a cry for a justice that reverses the oppressor's ascendancy, bringing relief to the suffering and affirming God's ultimate sovereignty over human evil. For practical usage, this verse can serve as a lament in times of oppression, a prayer for divine retribution against systematic injustice, or an affirmation of trust that God will ultimately cause the plans of the wicked to fail and consume them. For instance, when facing deceitful colleagues, unfair bosses, or those who scheme to bring others down, this verse voices the plea for their own cunning to be their downfall.