Bible Strands
Psalms 10:5
He is secure in his ways at all times; Your lofty judgments are far from him; he sneers at all his foes.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist describes the arrogant posture of the wicked man, noting his complete disregard for divine oversight. This observation occurs within a broader lament detailing how pride systematically excludes God from the oppressor’s calculations.
The words — The Hebrew מָר֣וֹם (ma.Rom) means height or loftiness, and מִ֭שְׁפָּטֶי/ךָ (Mish.pa.tei./kha) means your judgments, together stating that God’s standards remain distant from the wicked man’s view. The phrase מִ/נֶּגְדּ֑/וֹ (mi./neg.D/o) literally places these judgments “from before him,” indicating they are actively excluded from his awareness.
The thread — The pattern of divine judgment being ignored by the proud appears in Isaiah 26:11, where God’s raised hand goes unseen, and in Psalm 12:5, where God’s intervention is triggered by the oppressed. Psalm 92:5 further contrasts human blindness with the depth of God’s works and thoughts.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to identify self-sufficiency as a structural blindness rather than a passing emotion. It demands that present confidence be weighed against the reality of unseen judgment instead of immediate circumstances.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 26:11 O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!
- Psalms 12:5 “For the cause of the oppressed and for the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will bring safety to him who yearns.”
- Psalms 92:5 How great are Your works, O LORD, how deep are Your thoughts!
- Hosea 14:9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them.
- Judges 9:27 And after they had gone out into the fields, gathered grapes from their vineyards, and trodden them, they held a festival and went into the house of their god; and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech.
- Judges 9:38 “Where is your gloating now?” Zebul replied. “You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the people you ridiculed? Go out now and fight them!”
- 2 Samuel 5:6 Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you.” For they thought, “David cannot get in here.”
- 1 Kings 20:10 Then Ben-hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if enough dust remains of Samaria for each of my men to have a handful.”
- 1 Kings 20:13 Meanwhile a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this entire great army? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand this very day, and you will know that I am the LORD.’”
- Proverbs 1:19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.