Because of the wicked one’s arrogance the poor is persecuted. Let him be caught in the schemes that he himself has devised.
The wicked considers himself great and sees the poor as someone easy to exploit. The psalmist asks that the evil man be caught in his own schemes. This is a recurring picture of the self-destructive nature of sin. Cunning may succeed for a time, but under God’s justice it will find no lasting security. From this word the believer learns to see the pain of the poor with God’s eyes rather than ignoring it. Pride is not only an inner attitude. It often turns into oppression, injustice, and exploitation. At the same time, this prayer is not a call for personal revenge. Here judgment is entrusted to the Lord. We may ask that an evil plan fail and that the oppressor stop, while also desiring his repentance. God’s justice protects the weak and exposes the bankruptcy of pride.