He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The most striking part of this verse is that the ungodly person isn't just saying they won't face any trouble, but rather they believe they will never be moved from their current state of prosperity, from generation to generation. This reveals their utter self-reliance and a profound delusion that their good fortune is permanent and unassailable, a stark contrast to the faithful who find their security in God, not in their own circumstances.
He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist describes the wicked person who, seeing their own prosperity and God’s apparent lack of judgment, becomes arrogant and self-assured. This individual believes their success is so assured that they will never face hardship or be moved from their privileged position, even for future generations. Their current comfort fuels a dangerous delusion of permanent security, utterly detached from any fear of divine retribution or the common human experience of adversity.
The Psalmist isn't just describing someone who says they're unshakeable; he's exposing a deep, internal conviction. What does it reveal when someone truly believes they can't be touched by trouble?
David pulls back the curtain on the ungodly person's inner monologue in Psalm 10:6. Notice the phrase, "He says in his heart." This isn't just a casual thought; it’s a settled, internal declaration. This person isn't merely acting tough; they genuinely believe they are immune to life’s storms.
A Confidence Built on Nothing
This internal boast is rooted in their present circumstances. Because they are currently experiencing prosperity, they extrapolate this into a guarantee for the future. They see no adversity now, so they conclude, "I shall not meet adversity."
This is the height of foolishness, because it ignores the reality of human existence and God's sovereignty. Their confidence is not in God, but in their own perceived stability – wealth, power, or good fortune. It’s a self-made security that is destined to crumble.
The wicked person boasts of permanence, spanning 'throughout all generations.' How does this arrogant claim stack up against God's eternal purposes?
The ungodly person's self-assurance isn't limited to their own lifetime; they project it across generations. "Throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity." This reveals a deep-seated pride and a rejection of any higher power or ultimate accountability.
A Temporal Viewpoint
Ask a follow-up
Their focus is entirely temporal. They believe their success will continue indefinitely, and so will the success of their lineage. This thinking fails to acknowledge that all of life, including the span of generations, is held within God's sovereign hand.
In contrast, the believer's hope for continuity is placed in God's faithfulness, not in an unbroken string of personal good fortune. While the wicked man trusts in his own lineage and legacy, the faithful put their trust in the God who established covenants and will bring His purposes to fruition across all time.
Understand the original words
lebhabh · Hebrew Noun
In the Old Testament, the heart is considered the inner man, the seat of the intellect, emotion, and will, representing the center of human personality and decision-making.
ra'ah · Hebrew Noun
Often translated as 'adversity' or 'evil,' this term refers to what is ethically bad, painful, or calamitous. It encompasses moral evil, suffering, and misfortune.
This passage speaks of the wicked prospering and living long lives, directly paralleling the ungodly person's belief in Psalm 10:6 that they will not face adversity.
Proverbs 1:32This proverb highlights the ultimate destruction that awaits those who are complacent in their sin, contrasting sharply with the ungodly person's self-assured declaration of never being moved.
Isaiah 22:13This verse describes people who, in the face of impending judgment, choose revelry over repentance, believing they will escape consequences, much like the ungodly person in Psalm 10:6 who dismisses God's judgments.
Luke 12:16-21The parable of the rich fool illustrates the folly of building security on material wealth and assuming unending prosperity, mirroring the deluded self-confidence of the person in Psalm 10:6.
Revelation 18:7This verse describes the ungodly city of Babylon proclaiming 'I sit as a queen and shall by no means be a widow', echoing the unshakeable confidence and claim to permanent security expressed in Psalm 10:6.
calvinPsalms 10:5-6: "His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them."
- His ways are prosperous at all times; on high are thy judgments before him; he puffeth at all his enemies. 6. He saith in his heart, I shall not be moved from generation to generation, because he is not in adversity.
There is a great diversity of opinion among interpreters respecting the first clause of this verse. The translators of the Septuagint version…
gillPsalms 10:6: "He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity."
He hath said in his heart,.... To and within himself, he thought in his own mind; for the thought is the word or speech of the mind, ; I shall not be moved; from his prosperous and happy condition, abounding: with riches and honours; from his seat of empire, over kings, princes, and the nations of the world; flattering himself that it would never be otherwise with him than it is: even "to generati…
The most striking part of this verse is that the ungodly person isn't just saying they won't face any trouble, but rather they believe they will never be moved from their current state of prosperity, from generation to generation. This reveals their utter self-reliance and a profound delusion that their good fortune is permanent and unassailable, a stark contrast to the faithful who find their security in God, not in their own circumstances.
The psalmist describes the wicked person who, seeing their own prosperity and God’s apparent lack of judgment, becomes arrogant and self-assured. This individual believes their success is so assured that they will never face hardship or be moved from their privileged position, even for future generations. Their current comfort fuels a dangerous delusion of permanent security, utterly detached from any fear of divine retribution or the common human experience of adversity.
The psalmist describes the wicked person who, seeing their own prosperity and God’s apparent lack of judgment, becomes arrogant and self-assured. This individual believes their success is so assured that they will never face hardship or be moved from their privileged position, even for future generations. Their current comfort fuels a dangerous delusion of permanent security, utterly detached from any fear of divine retribution or the common human experience of adversity.
"He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.”" — The most striking part of this verse is that the ungodly person isn't just saying they won't face any trouble, but rather they believe they will never be moved from their current state of prosper…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026