Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 10:3

"For the wicked boasteth of his heart`s desire, And the covetous renounceth, [yea], contemneth Jehovah." — Psalms 10:3 (ASV)

For the wicked boasts. —Literally, for the wicked speaks praise to the lust of his soul, which has been understood either as in the Authorized Version, “prides himself upon his evil desires;” or “prides himself in or according to his sinful wish,” as Septuagint, Vulgate, Syriac, and Chaldee. The former of these follows most naturally on Psalm 10:2.

His wiles, so successful in snaring his victim, are a cause of self-gratulation. The representation of the villain addressing his own evil passions in laudatory terms is highly poetic. So the rich fool in the parable congratulates his soul on his greed.

And blesses. —Rather, curses by a common euphemism. (Compare to 1 Kings 21:23; Job 1:5.)

The covetous —properly, robber —may either be subject or object, as also may “Jehovah”; or being a participle, may be adverbial (as Ewald). Hence we get, besides the Authorized Version and the margin, either, “the robber curses (and) despises Jehovah,” or, “he greedily (literally, robbing) curses, despises Jehovah;” the last makes a better echo to the first clause. The Septuagint and Vulgate read, “The wicked is praised; the sinner has irritated the Lord,” getting the second subject from the next verse.