Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 2. For he flattereth himself ] He is ruled by the suggestion already mentioned; endeavours to persuade himself that he may safely follow the propensities of his own heart, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. He sins so boldly, that at last he becomes detestable. Some think the words should be thus understood: "He smootheth over in his own eyes with respect to the finding out of his iniquity, to hate it. That is, he sets such a false gloss in his own eyes upon his worst actions, that he never finds out the blackness of his iniquity; which were it perceived by him, would be hateful even to himself." - Bishop Horsley.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-4 - From this psalm our hearts should be duly affected with hatred of sin and seek satisfaction in God's loving-kindness. Here is the root of bitterness, from which all the wickedness of wicked men comes. It take rise from contempt of God, and the want of due regard to him. Also from the deceit they put upon their own souls. Let us daily beg of God to preserve us from self-flattery. Sin is very hurtful to the sinne himself, and therefore ought to be hateful; but it is not so. It is n marvel, if those that deceive themselves, seek to deceive all mankind to whom will they be true, who are false to their own souls? It is ba to do mischief, but worse to devise it, to do it with plot an management. If we willingly banish holy meditations in our solitar hours, Satan will soon occupy our minds with sinful imaginations Hardened sinners stand to what they have done, as though they coul justify it before God himself.
Original Hebrew כי3588 החליק2505 אליו413 בעיניו5869 למצא4672 עונו5771 לשׂנא׃8130
