Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don’t call on the LORD?
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 4. Nothing. He despises all wickedness, though done by kings, whose power he considers as the means of destruction. 1 Kennicott. 15:26. Lu. 23:9. The wicked dares not appear before an upright judge, like David. Psalms 100:2. Hebrew may be “the wicked is despised.” Saint Jerome Bible.—Those who follow the Jews, have “he thinks meanly of himself,” which is very good; but the sense of the Vulg. seems more pointed, ( Calmet.) though the other contains a noble maxim of the gospel. Bert.—Prot. “in whose eyes a vile person is contemned.” The sinner is the only person who is truly vile, in the opinion of the just, who forms not his opinion on outward appearances. Bible.—Lord. Glory is the reward of good works. Worthington.—Neighbour. This sense is conformable to the Hebrew without points, (Geneb.) and more beautiful than that of the Rabbins, “against his own interest,” (Jun.) “to do evil,” (Ainsworth) “friendship,” (Sym.) or “to afflict himself.” S. Jerom.—We find such vows strongly enforced. Numbers 30:3. Deuteronomy 23:21. Calmet.—Prot. “that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.” Bible.—It were to be wished that oaths were not necessary. Calmet.—But when they are, the Lord must be the arbiter of truth, and not idols; as by swearing, we testify that we believe God is the sovereign truth, and thus honour his name. See Leviticus 19:12. Matthew 5:33. Bible.