Psalm 10:5

Psalm 10:4-5
( KJV) - The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. {5} His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.

(NIV) - (4) In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. (5) His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies.

(NASB) - (4) The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are, "There is no God." (5) His ways prosper at all times; Your judgments are on high, out of his sight; As for all his adversaries, he snorts at them.

(ESV) - In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, "There is no God." (5) His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them.

(HCSB) - (4) In all his scheming, the wicked arrogantly thinks: “There is no accountability, [since] God does not exist.” (5) His ways are always secure; Your lofty judgments are beyond his sight; he scoffs at all his adversaries.

(NKJV) - (4) The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts. (5) His ways are always prospering; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; As for all his enemies, he sneers at them.

(1901-ASV) - (4) The wicked, in the pride of his countenance, saith, He will not require it. All his thoughts are, There is no God. (5) His ways are firm at all times; Thy judgments are far above out of his sight: As for all his adversaries, he puffeth at them.

(RSV) - (4) In the pride of his countenance the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, "There is no God." (5) His ways prosper at all times; thy judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them.

(NAB- Roman Catholic) - (4) The wicked man boasts, “He will not avenge it”; “There is no God,” sums up his thoughts (5) His ways are secure at all times; your judgments are far from his mind; all his foes he scorns.

(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) - (4) The wicked one according to his superciliousness makes no search; All his ideas are; “There is no God.” (5) His ways keep prospering all the time. Your judicial decisions are high up out of his range; As for all those showing hostility to him, he puffs at them.

 

Hebrew Word
The word for grievous in Psalm 10:5 is the Hebrew word “chil” which is a verb that carries with it the meaning of “having labor pains, be in pain, or writhing.” It is used 51 times in the Masoretic Text, some examples are below.

(Deu 2:25 KJV) This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee.

(Est 4:4 KJV) So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.

(Job 15:20 KJV) The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.

(Isa 13:8 KJV) And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.

 

Effect
I have included Verse 4 to give context. The beginning of verse 5 is definitely building on what was said in verse 4. The Scripture teaches that the way of the wicked is grievous and we have seen that the word which underlies it in Hebrew has only a negative meaning which includes pain and suffering. The verse is teaching that the way of the wicked is a painful, writhing way. However, when we look at the modern versions, it states exactly the opposite. It shows that the ways of the wicked are prosperous, secure, and firm. The modern versions are actually endorsing living a sinful life because it produces a prosperous life. We read nowhere in Scripture that sinful living can bring security. Security from what? Death? Pitfalls?

Now we know there are verses which teach that there is pleasure in sin for a season. (Heb 11:25 KJV) Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; This speaks of enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season, which is a short length of time, in fact, the word means “temporary.” It does not speak of the essence of the pleasure as the modern versions do. God states that the way of sin is hard and grievous, but the modern versions actually turn the meanings completely around and claim that a sinful lifestyle can give you security and prosperity. The word “chil” in the Hebrew no way intimates any definition related to security or prosperity. This is another change in the false Hebrew Text to mislead Christians. If God says that sinful living creates a grievous situation, then we better not change it to appease the religious sinners in the church. Here we see the superiority of the King James Bible to deliver God’s words instead of man’s replacement. We Reformed people are always being accused of using replacement theology, I instead see replacement theology as a great definition for the modern versions.

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