Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 10:5

"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." — Psalms 10:5 (ASV)

His ways are always grievous - His paths; his manner of life; his conduct toward God; his dealings with men. The word rendered “are grievous,” יחילוּ yāchiylû, has been variously rendered. The Latin Vulgate renders it, “His ways are defiled.” So does the Septuagint. Coverdale renders it, “His ways are always filthy.” Professor Alexander, “His ways are firm.” So DeWette, “Es gelingen seine Wege.” Horsley, “His ways are confident.” This variety in interpretation arises from the ambiguity of the original word, חול chûl. The meaning of this word, as given by Gesenius, is to turn around, to twist, to whirl; and therefore:

1. To dance;
2. To be whirled, or twisted upon anything;
3. To twist oneself with pain, or to be in pain;
4. To bear or bring forth;
5. To tremble, to quake;
6. To be strong or stable, as things twisted are.

Therefore, he translates this passage, “his ways are firm, or stable, that is, all his affairs prosper.” But it seems plain to me that this is not the idea in the mind of the psalmist. He is not dwelling on the prosperity of the wicked, or on the result of his conduct, but on his character. In the previous verses, he had stated some of the traits in his character, and the subsequent verses continue the description; therefore, it is natural that we should expect to find some special feature of his character referred to here, and not an allusion to the stability of his affairs.

It seems to me, therefore, that the exact idea here is that his ways, or his modes of feeling and conduct, were always perverse, forced, and hard; that there was always something tortuous and unnatural about him; that he was not straightforward and honest; that he did not see things as they are, and did not act in a plain and upright manner.

Thy judgments - Your laws; or, the principles of your government.

Are far above out of his sight - They are out of the range of his vision. He does not see them. His thoughts grovel on the earth, and he is never elevated in his views so as to see the great principles of truth.

As for all his enemies, he puffeth at them - He treats them with contempt and scorn, as if he had no fear of them, or as if he were entirely confident of his own ability to overcome them. This is an illustration of his pride and self-confidence, for it is the characteristic of the proud and self-confident to boast in this manner. The word rendered “puffeth” means to breathe, to blow; and the idea here is that he acted as though he could sweep them away with a breath.