John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. Why dost thou show me iniquity, and cause [me] to behold grievance ? etc.] That is, wicked men, and such as give a great deal of trouble vexation, and grief to others, by their rapine and oppression; suggesting that he could not turn his eyes any where, but such persons presented themselves to his view; and that their wicked actions were performed by them openly and publicly, in the sight of all, without any shame or fear. So the Targum, “why do I see oppressors, and behold those that do the labour of falsehood?” For spoiling and violence [are] before me ; in my sight and presence, though a prophet, and notwithstanding all my remonstrances, exhortations, and reproofs; such were the hardness, obstinacy, and impudence of this people; to such a height and pitch of iniquity were they arrived, as to regard not the prophets of the Lord. The Targum is, “spoilers and robbers are before me:” or, “against me” f16 , as in the text; these sins were committed against him, he was injuriously used himself; or they were done to others, contrary to his advice and persuasion: and there are [that] raise up strife and contention ; in the kingdom, in cities, in families; in one man, brother, friend, and neighbour, against another; which occasion lawsuits, and in them justice is not done, as follows. It may be rendered, and “there shall be [and] is [a man] of strife”; so Japhet: “and he shall raise up contention”; one man given to strife will and does use great contention in communities, civil and religious.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-11 - The servants of the Lord are deeply afflicted by seeing ungodliness an violence prevail; especially among those who profess the truth. No ma scrupled doing wrong to his neighbour. We should long to remove to the world where holiness and love reign for ever, and no violence shall be before us. God has good reasons for his long-suffering towards bad men and the rebukes of good men. The day will come when the cry of sin wil be heard against those that do wrong, and the cry of prayer for thos that suffer wrong. They were to notice what was going forward among the heathen by the Chaldeans, and to consider themselves a nation to be scourged by them. But most men presume on continued prosperity, or tha calamities will not come in their days. They are a bitter and hast nation, fierce, cruel, and bearing down all before them. They shal overcome all that oppose them. But it is a great offence, and the common offence of proud people, to take glory to themselves. The closing words give a glimpse of comfort.
Original Hebrew למה4100 תראני7200 און205 ועמל5999 תביט5027 ושׁד7701 וחמס2555 לנגדי5048 ויהי1961 ריב7379 ומדון4066 ישׂא׃5375
