Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Psalms 10:9

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"His eyes look against the poor," for he is chiefly to persecute the righteous, of whom it is said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" [Matthew 5:3] [Psalm 10:9]. "He lies in wait in a secret place, as a lion in his den." By a lion in a den, he means one in whom both violence and deceit will work. …

Exposition on Psalm 10 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

"He lies in ambush." Here the manner of ambush is set forth. And first, he sets forth the comparison: "like a lion in his den," namely, so wicked rulers oppress the poor. Prov. 28: "A roaring lion and a hungry bear: a wicked ruler over a poor people." Second, the manner of ambush itself, "he lies in ambush to seize." Prov. 12: "The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood." Or, "he lies in ambush to seize the poor man," that is, the goods of the poor through violence and fraud. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗