Psalm 62 10

Psalm 62:10 kjv

Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

Psalm 62:10 nkjv

Do not trust in oppression, Nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them.

Psalm 62:10 niv

Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

Psalm 62:10 esv

Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

Psalm 62:10 nlt

Don't make your living by extortion
or put your hope in stealing.
And if your wealth increases,
don't make it the center of your life.

Psalm 62 verses

Psalm 62 10 Meaning

Psalm 62:10 powerfully cautions against relying on corrupt and material sources for security or fulfillment. It presents a threefold warning: first, against trusting in wealth gained through injustice (oppression); second, against finding value or purpose in stolen or ill-gotten gains (robbery); and third, if legitimately acquired riches grow, against setting one's heart or affection upon them. The core message emphasizes that ultimate security, hope, and true worth are found in God alone, not in any form of earthly wealth, especially not that obtained through unethical means.

Psalm 62 10 Context

Psalm 62 is a psalm of David expressing deep trust and dependence on God alone in times of severe opposition and personal danger. The psalm opens with a strong declaration that God is his sole rock, salvation, and defense, contrasting this with the deceit and schemes of his enemies (vv. 1-4). David then re-affirms this unwavering trust (vv. 5-7), urging his people to do the same by pouring out their hearts before God (v. 8). He warns against relying on men, both common and noble, as they are ultimately transient and unreliable (v. 9). Verse 10 builds directly on this, extending the warning from human weakness to the vanity and danger of placing trust in illicit wealth or even legitimately obtained riches, reinforcing the singular sufficiency of God’s power and unfailing love, as concluded in verse 11 and 12. Historically, David frequently faced betrayals and challenges, making this declaration of reliance on God amidst the temptation to secure power or wealth through corrupt means particularly significant for leaders. The cultural context involves societies where oppression and robbery were prevalent ways to amass power, challenging this pervasive worldly mindset.

Psalm 62 10 Word analysis

• Do not trust (אַל־תִּבְטְחוּ, ’al-tiv·ṭə·ḥu):

  • ’al: A strong prohibitive particle, meaning "do not," conveying a firm command.
  • tiv·ṭə·ḥu: From the verb baṭaḥ (בָּטַח), meaning "to trust," "to rely upon," "to feel secure in." This is a plural imperative, indicating the command is addressed to a collective or to all people. The prohibition is against placing one's confidence or security in the stated object.
  • Significance: This is not just about avoiding action, but about the fundamental orientation of one's heart – where one finds their source of confidence.

• in oppression (בְעֹשֶׁק, bə·‘ō·šeq):

  • bə·‘ō·šeq: From ‘ōsheq (עֹשֶׁק), meaning "oppression," "extortion," "fraud," "exploitation," "unjust gain." It refers to wealth acquired by unfair, violent, or fraudulent means, especially by abusing power or taking advantage of the vulnerable.
  • Significance: This directly condemns wealth derived from social injustice and human exploitation. It highlights that God does not bless or endorse such gain.

• nor be vain (וְאַל־תֶּהְבָּלוּ, wə·’al-teh·bā·lū):

  • wə·’al: "And do not" – another strong prohibition.
  • teh·bā·lū: From hābal (הָבָל), meaning "to be empty," "to act vainly," "to become worthless." This is the same root found extensively in Ecclesiastes (hevel, "vanity," "futility"). It suggests that pursuing or deriving satisfaction from these things will lead to emptiness and a lack of true substance.
  • Significance: It's a warning against seeking a false sense of value, significance, or fulfillment from ill-gotten wealth, emphasizing its ultimate futility.

• in robbery (בְּגָזֵל, bə·ḡā·zēl):

  • bə·ḡā·zēl: From gāzēl (גָּזֵל), meaning "robbery," "plunder," "violence," "that which is taken by force." It encompasses theft and aggressive seizure of property.
  • Significance: Condemns open criminality and any form of violently acquiring wealth.

• If riches increase (כִּי־תָנוּב חָיִל, kî-tā·nūv ḥā·yil):

  • kî: "If," "when." Introduces a conditional clause.
  • tā·nūv: From nūb (נוּב), meaning "to sprout," "to yield fruit," "to flourish," "to increase." Implies natural or even legitimate growth of wealth.
  • ḥā·yil: "Wealth," "riches," "substance," "property," also "strength" or "army." In this context, it clearly refers to material possessions.
  • Significance: This clause addresses even lawfully obtained wealth. The danger is not merely in the wealth itself but in the attitude towards it. It broadens the warning beyond illicit gains to a universal caution about materialism.

• do not set your heart (אַל־תָּשִׁיתוּ לֵב, ’al-tā·šî·ṭū lêv):

  • ’al-tā·šî·ṭū: From šît (שִׁית), "to set," "to place," "to put." A prohibitive command.
  • lêv: "Heart." In Hebrew thought, the heart is not merely the seat of emotions but the entire inner person—intellect, will, desires, affections, and core being.
  • Significance: This is the deepest warning. It's not just about what one does with wealth, but where one's affections and security ultimately rest. Placing the heart on riches means making them one's ultimate object of trust and desire, thereby displacing God.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Do not trust in oppression, nor be vain in robbery": These two phrases directly condemn any gain that is unrighteous, forcefully acquired, or causes suffering to others. They present a clear moral and spiritual boundary. Trusting in such means or finding fulfillment in them is labeled as vain/futile, aligning with the emptiness (hevel) found in the pursuit of worldly things apart from God. This speaks against the prevalent societal practices of exploitation and plunder.
• "If riches increase, do not set your heart on them": This expands the warning to include any form of increasing wealth, even that legitimately acquired. It highlights the subtle danger of material prosperity itself becoming an idol or a source of ultimate reliance. The issue isn't possessing wealth, but wealth possessing the heart, directing affections, security, and identity away from God. This universalizes the application of the warning to all who might experience financial growth.

Psalm 62 10 Bonus section

The repeated "Do not" (’al) in this verse emphasizes the absolute nature of the prohibitions. This isn't a suggestion, but a command that requires an internal shift in worldview. In ancient Near Eastern contexts, powerful individuals or states often derived their prestige and sense of security from accumulated wealth, often acquired through conquest, tribute, or forced labor. Psalm 62:10 serves as a strong counter-narrative to these worldly empires, establishing a divine principle for God's people: their security is spiritual, rooted in His character and not in worldly resources or methods, particularly those of the oppressors around them. The verse implicitly advocates for righteousness and justice as the foundational elements of true prosperity for individuals and nations in God's eyes, contrasting them sharply with the empty pursuit of corrupt wealth.

Psalm 62 10 Commentary

Psalm 62:10 is a vital counter-cultural declaration, especially relevant in any society where wealth and power are primary drivers. David, from his own experience of human fallibility and treachery (referenced in previous verses), moves to instruct on the correct source of security. He first outright condemns two distinct categories of illicit wealth: "oppression" (‘ōsheq), representing insidious and abusive acquisition (like fraudulent schemes or exploiting the poor), and "robbery" (gāzēl), representing open and violent taking of property. The imperative "Do not trust" (from baṭaḥ) underscores that one's fundamental security and reliance must never be placed in such corrupt means. Furthermore, "nor be vain" (from hābal) points to the utter futility and emptiness of deriving satisfaction, identity, or purpose from these dark sources; they are inherently lacking in true worth, like a fleeting breath.

The verse then adds a critical, nuanced warning: "If riches increase, do not set your heart on them." This acknowledges that not all wealth is ill-gotten. Prosperity can come through diligent work, inheritance, or divine blessing. However, the danger remains. The prohibition here is not against having riches, but against allowing them to captivate the "heart" (lēv) – the very core of one's being, including one's will, desires, intellect, and affections. When one's heart is set on riches, they become an idol, displacing God as the ultimate source of trust, joy, and security. This often leads to an overreliance on possessions, anxiety over losing them, or an insatiable craving for more. The psalm, read in full, continually points to God as the sole "rock," "salvation," and "strong refuge." Therefore, entrusting one's life to material wealth, whether tainted or clean, fundamentally contradicts a life of singular devotion to the Most High. The ultimate principle is that security and true riches reside only in God’s unfailing power and mercy.

Examples:

• A business person rejecting profit through exploitative labor (oppression) or shady dealings (robbery), prioritizing ethical practice.
• An individual blessed with increased income not allowing material possessions to become their primary focus or source of confidence, but rather continuing to trust in God for all things.