Psalms 9:102
Whilst the wicked man is proud, the poor is set on fire: they are caught in the counsels which they devise.
Open Psalms 9:102 in the Motif Searcher, word by word across all five texts →Show on the spiral →The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine) shown from Psalms 9:23
- Dum superbit impius, incenditur pauper : comprehenduntur in consiliis quibus cogitant.
- Septuagint (Swete) shown from Psalms 9:23
- ἐν τῷ ὑπερηφανεύεσθαι τὸν ἀσεβῆ ἐνπυρίζεται ὁ πτωχός· συνλαμβάνονται ἐν διαβουλίοις οἷς διαλογίζονται.
- Hebrew (WLC) shown from Psalms 10:2
- בְּגַאֲוַ֣ת רָ֭שָׁע יִדְלַ֣ק עָנִ֑י יִתָּפְשׂ֓וּ בִּמְזִמּ֖וֹת ז֣וּ חָשָֽׁבוּ
Haydock's commentary
Fire. With zeal (Worthington) and indignation, or rather is oppressed (Calmet) and persecuted. See Micheas iii. 3. (Haydock)
They. Houbigant would substitute "he is caught." But we may well explain this of the sinner and the unjust, ver. 3(24). (Berthier)
Indeed both are under perplexity, as the poor knows not why the wicked prosper. (Bellarmine; Menochius)
An answer is given to the complaint of the just, intimating that the wicked are caught in their own snares, (Worthington) and are not free from trouble. (Haydock)
From Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859, in the transcription made by Todd Easton and kept online by John Paul Wohlschied at johnblood.gitlab.io/haydock.
The Fathers on this verse
St Augustine Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John, Chapter I. 19-33
11. You know that certain men say sometimes, We take away sin from men, we who are holy; for if he be not holy who baptizeth, how taketh he away the sin of another, when he is a man himself full of sin? In opposition to these disputations, let us not speak our own words, let us read what John says: “Behold the Lamb of God; behold Him who taketh away the sin of the world!” Let there not be presumptuous confidence of men upon men: let not the sparrow flee to the mountains, but let it trust in the Lord; and if it lift its eyes to the mountains, from whence cometh aid to it, let it understand that its aid is from the Lord who made heaven and earth. So great is the excellence of John, that to him it is said, “Art thou the Christ?” He says, No. Art thou Elias? He says, No. Art thou a prophet? He says, No. …
St Augustine Expositions on the Book of Psalms, Psalm X
“Why, O Lord,” saith he, “hast Thou withdrawn afar off?” ( ver. 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, “Thou despisest in due seasons, in tribulations:” that is, Thou despisest seasonably, and causest tribulations to inflame men’s minds with longing for Thy coming. For that fountain of life is sweeter to them that have much thirst. Therefore he hints the reason of the delay, saying, “Whilst the ungodly vaunteth himself, the poor man is inflamed” ( ver. 2 ). Wondrous it is and true with what earnestness of good hope the little ones are inflamed unto an upright living by comparison with sinners. …