Dost thou stand afar off, O guide? Dost thou hide thyself in times of trouble? The wicked in their pride do persecute the poor, let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. For wickedness boasteth of its heart's desire, and blesseth covetousness, which thou abhorrest. Wickedness, through the pride of its countenance, will not seek after divinity, divinity is not in all its thoughts.
Its ways are always grievous, thy judgments are far above out of its sight, as for all its enemies, it puffeth at them. It hath said in its heart, I shall not be moved for I shall never be in adversity. Its mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud, under its tongue is mischief and vanity.
Text Notes
- Except for the 2nd verse, this psalm's long passage on wickedness is again abstract in form. Thus, the focus remains on the nature of wickedness rather than seeing others as our personal enemies.
Reflection
Why, indeed, does it seem that our guide is so far from us during times of trouble? Part of our problem is our religious indoctrination: we have over anthropomorphized God. As we mature in faith, we realize the real nature of divinity within us. This presence is subtle, but powerful! To ignore the best within each human being is to not seek after divinity. And, that is genuine wickedness. May my life be free of deceit and fraud. Integrity found in self respect. That's something worth celebrating!
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