KJV: The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
ASV: The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Matthew Henry Commentary
1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
See here, 1. What continual frights those are subject to that go on in wicked ways. Guilt in the conscience makes men a terror to themselves, so that they are ready to flee when none pursues; like one that absconds for debt, who thinks every one he meets a bailiff. Though they pretend to be easy, there are secret fears which haunt them wherever they go, so that they fear where no present or imminent danger is, Ps 53:5. Those that have made God their enemy, and know it, cannot but see the whole creation at war with them, and therefore can have no true enjoyment of themselves, no confidence, no courage, but a fearful looking for of judgment. Sin makes men cowards.
Degeneres animos timor arguit-- Fear argues a degenerate soul. VIRGIL. Quos diri conscia facti mens habet attonitos-- The consciousness of atrocious crimes astonishes and confounds. JUVENAL.If they flee when none pursues, what will they do when they shall see God himself pursuing them with his armies? Job 20:24,Job 15:24. See De 28:25,Le 26:36. 2. What a holy security and serenity of mind those enjoy who keep conscience void of offence and so keep themselves in the love of God: The righteous are bold as a lion, as a young lion; in the greatest dangers they have a God of almighty power to trust to. Therefore will not we fear though the earth be removed. Whatever difficulties they meet with in the way of their duty, they are not daunted by them. None of those things move me.
Hic murus aheneus esto, nil conscire sibi-- Be this thy brazen bulwark of defence, Still to preserve thy conscious innocence. HOR.
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