Ver.  5.  The  proud  come  not  before  Thine  eyes,  Thou  hatest
all  workers  of  iniquity.  Thej'  must  not  appear  in  His  sight ;  a
mark  of  the  deepest  abhoiTence,  taken  from  earthly  kings,  near
whom  none  are  allowed  to  come,  excepting  those  who  enjoy
their  favour.  De  Wette  falsely :  "  They  cannot  bear  Thy
presence  on  account  of  their  evil  conscience,"  instead  of :
"  Thou  wilt  not  bear-  their  presence  on  account  of  Tliy  holi-
Hab.  i.  13  is  parallel,  "  Thou  art  of  purer  eyes  than  to


ness.
behold  evil,  and  canst  not  look  on  iniquity ;  wherefore  lookest
Thou  upon  them  that  deal  treacherously,  etc."  D'PTin,  proud,
from  bbn,  to  shine,  then  "to  be  proud,"  in  Hithp.  to  boast.
From  the  parallelism  here  and  in  other  passages  with  "  evil-
doers" and  "  ungodly,"  some  would  judge  the  word  to  have  a
more  general  signification.  But  this  is  to  be  admitted  only,  in
so  far  as  pride,  together  with  covetousness  and  lust,  is  con-
sidered in  Scripture  as  one  of  the  main  roots  of  all  sinful  cor-
ruption, so  that  every  proud  and  lofty  one  is,  at  the  same  time,
an  ungodly  person,  and  a  worker  of  iniquity.  In  regard  to  the
object  aimed  at  by  this  representation  of  the  hatred  of  God
toward  the  workers  of  iniquity,  Calvin  remarks  :  "  It  is  an  ex-
cellent conclusion :  God  hates  unrighteousness,  therefore  He
will  take  rirrhteous  vengeance  on  all  unrighteous  persons."

Ver.  G.  Thou  destroyest  them  that  speak  lies ;  the  Lord  ab-


1  ;


PSALM  V.  VER.
