John Calvin Commentary Psalms 125:5

"But as for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, Jehovah will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel." — Psalms 125:5 (ASV)

But those who turn aside into their crooked paths, etc. As the participle המטים, hammattim, is in the Hiphil conjugation, it should, according to the rules of grammar, be translated in an active sense—those who cause to turn aside; but since it is not uncommon for verbs in that conjugation to be taken in a neuter sense, the version I have followed is probably the correct one.

Still, as the active signification is not less appropriate, I would leave the reader freely to exercise his own judgment. The meaning is that God does not always connive at the wickedness of those who, while boasting of a hollow and counterfeit profession, wander here and there according to their own lust, or even corrupt the simple and draw them into the same excess of sinning with them.

I have no doubt that the Psalmist here speaks of hypocrites, who are so hardened by temporary impunity as to claim for themselves a place among the holiest of men, because God exercises forbearance towards them. Not only do we see the good mingled with the bad in the world, but we also behold on the barn-floor of the Lord the wheat lying hidden under the chaff and refuse.

In this dubious and confused situation, the bad are elated with pride, as if they were among the best of God’s servants. We ought therefore to pray that God would drag them into the light and, with the workers of iniquity, thrust them down into the punishment which they have deserved.

The consequence is that peace, which the Prophet desires may be the privilege of Israel. He does not speak generally of all the race of Abraham according to the flesh; he rather wishes that the Church of God may be purged of hypocrites who occupy a place in her, until God lifts up his hand to judgment.

On this account, I have said that the peace of the Church springs from this—that God, while executing his just vengeance upon feigned and counterfeit Israelites who rend and tear in pieces her bowels, gathers together the upright in heart and openly shows by his blessing the fatherly love which he bears towards them.