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Psalm 10:13

ESV Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, "You will not call to account"?
NIV Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, "He won’t call me to account"?
NASB Why has the wicked treated God disrespectfully? He has said to himself, 'You will not require an account.'
CSB Why has the wicked person despised God? He says to himself, "You will not demand an account."
NLT Why do the wicked get away with despising God? They think, 'God will never call us to account.'
KJV Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
NKJV Why do the wicked renounce God? He has said in his heart, “You will not require an account.

What does Psalm 10:13 mean?

Those who understand God's goodness (Psalm 9:1–2) and His justice (Psalm 9:7–8) sometimes struggle to understand why others are so committed to opposing the Lord. Here, David questions why wicked people "renounce" God, using a Hebrew term which implies despising, blaspheming, and contempt (Psalm 10:3). These evil ones don't just decline to honor God, they hate Him. At the same time, they refuse to consider that He will hold them accountable for their sin (Psalm 10:11).

Of course, such reasoning on the part of the wicked is unfounded. God does see sin, and He judges it (Hebrews 4:13). In Numbers 32:23 the Lord announces, "Be sure your sin will find you out." Work pays wages, and in the same way sin brings consequences. Romans 6:23 states, "For the wages of sin is death."

Death because of sin comes in three ways. Ephesians 2:1–2 reflects on the believers' past life, stating, "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked." Spiritual death is separation from God in this life. Secondly, physical death is also part of sin's wages. Hebrews 9:27 says "it is appointed for man to die once." This death separates the body from the soul. Finally, there is eternal death: separation from God forever in the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14 calls this death, "the second death." Sin never pays less than what sinners deserve.
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