10 The soul of the godless hath its desire after evil;

     His neighbour findeth no mercy in his eyes.

The interchange of perf. and fut. cannot be without intention. Lwenstein renders the former as perf. hypotheticum: if the soul of the wicked desires anything evil...; but the רשׁע wishes evil not merely now and then, but that is in general his nature and tendency. The perf. expresses that which is actually the case: the soul of the wicked has its desire directed (write אוּתה with Munach, after Codd. and old Ed., not with Makkeph) toward evil, and the fut. expresses that which proceeds from this: he who stands near him is not spared. יחן is, as at Isaiah 26:10, Hoph. of חנן, to incline, viz., oneself, compassionately toward any one, or to bend to him. But in what sense is בּעיניו added? It does not mean, as frequently, e.g., Proverbs 21:2, according to his judgment, nor, as at Proverbs 20:8; Proverbs 6:13 : with his eyes, but is to be understood after the phrase מצא חן בּעיני: his neighbour finds no mercy in his eyes, so that in these words the sympathy ruling within him expresses itself: "his eyes will not spare his friends," vid., Isaiah 13:18.

Proverbs 21:16 Parallel Commentaries

wandereth

Proverbs 13:20 He that walks with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Psalm 125:5 As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity...

Zephaniah 1:6 And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor inquired for him.

John 3:19,20 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light...

Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift...

Hebrews 10:26,27,38 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins...

2 Peter 2:21,22 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it...

1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us...

remain

Proverbs 2:18,19 For her house inclines to death, and her paths to the dead...

Proverbs 7:26,27 For she has cast down many wounded: yes, many strong men have been slain by her...

Proverbs 9:18 But he knows not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

Ephesians 2:1 And you has he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Jude 1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water...