“His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.”
The description of the wicked's mouth full of cursing and deceit and oppression under his tongue establishes speech as vehicle of wickedness and harm. The progression from cursing to deceit to oppression suggests escalating forms of speech-based harm, making language the wicked's primary weapon. The mouth imagery emphasizes that wickedness flows naturally from the wicked's being, making evil speech integral to the wicked's character. This verse suggests that the problem of wickedness manifests first and most fundamentally in corrupted language.
Church Fathers on Psalms 10:7
“Why, O Lord,” says he, “have You withdrawn afar off?” Psalm 9:1. Then he who thus inquired, as if all on a sudden he understood, or as if he asked, though he knew, that he might teach, adds, “You despise in due seasons, in tribulations:” that is, You despise seasonably, and causest tribulations to inflame men's minds with longing for Your coming. For that fountain of life is sweeter to them that have much thirst. Therefore he hints the reason of the delay, saying, “Whilst…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!