They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

They that forsake the law, praise the wicked man: they that keep it, are incensed against him.

Those forsaking the law praise the wicked, Those keeping the law plead against them.

Those who have no respect for the law give praise to the evil-doer; but such as keep the law are against him.

Those who abandon the law praise the impious. Those who guard it are inflamed against him.

They that forsake the law - He that transgresses says, in fact, that it is right to transgress; and thus other wicked persons are encouraged.

They that forsake the law praise the wicked,.... Who are like them; who forsake and transgress the law, as they do; every like loves its like; wicked men delight in sin, the transgression of the law, and in those that do it. One covetous man will bless and praise another, whom the Lord abhors, and commend his covetousness as frugality and good husbandry: one proud man will call another happy, and praise him as a man of spirit, that will not debase himself, but keep up his authority, rank, and dignity, and not condescend to men of low estates; the workers of wickedness are set up and extolled, and tempters of God, men of atheistical and deistical principles, are not only delivered from the punishment they deserve, but are commended for their bold spirits; see Psalm 10:3. Or, "every wicked man praises those that forsake the law", so Schultens;
but such as keep the law contend with them; that is, with them that forsake it and praise the wicked; they are displeased with them, and show their resentment at them; they tend with them by arguments, and endeavour to convince them of their folly and wickedness; they prove them for it, even though they may be in high places, as John the Baptist reproved Herod. The Targum is,
"they contend with them, that they may return,''
or be converted; they strive and take pains with them, to convince them and bring them to repentance, and to a change of sentiments, life, and manners.

Wicked people strengthen one another in wicked ways.

They that forsake . . . wicked--Wrongdoers encourage one another.

4 They who forsake the law praise the godless;
But they who keep the law become angry with them,
viz. the godless, for רשׁע is to be thought of collectively, as at Proverbs 28:1. They who praise the godless turn away from the revealed word of God (Psalm 73:11-15); those, on the contrary, who are true to God's word (Proverbs 28:18) are aroused against them (vid., regarding גרה, Proverbs 15:18), they are deeply moved by their conduct, they cannot remain silent and let their wickedness go unpunished; התגּרה is zeal (excitement) always expressing itself, passing over into actions (syn. התעורר, Job 17:8).

Contend - Are so far from praising them, that they severely reprove them.