Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 14:5

5. There were they in great fear : for God is in the generation of the righteous.

(i. e.) In the place, or upon the spot, where they practised these Insolencies, God struck them with a panick fear. Or, Then (i. e.) In the height of their Tyranny and prosperous Impiety, when they seemed to have no cause for it. An Adverb of Place for an Adverb of Time, of which there want not Examples in Scripture and other Authors, as hath been noted before. Or thence, as this Particle is rendered, Gen. 2. 10. and 49. 24. Isa. 65. 20, (i. e.) From that time; or, for that Cause, as some take it, and it may be taken, Iob 35. 12. Psal. 36. 12. (i. e.) For this their contempt of God and manifest injury to Men.

From their own guilty Consciences, and the just Expectation of divine Vengeance. Heb. They feared with fear, (i. e.) Vehemently, where there was no cause of fear, as is here implied, (for they are now supposed to be in a State of Power and Tyranny) as is expressed in the Parallel place, Psal. 53. 5. Or, they shall be greatly afraid, the past Tense being put for the future Prophetically.

For they remembred what a potent Adversary they had, and therefore had cause enough to fear. Or, B[illegible: 1+ letters]t, as this Particle is taken, Gen. 45. 8. Psal. 37. 20. Eccles. 2. 10. and 6. 2. So he describes the contrary and safe Condition of the Righteous. Or, when, as it oft signifies; and so it Answers to the then in the beginning of the Verse, when God shall once appear for his People, a dreadful Horror shall seize upon their wicked Enemies.

(i. e.) Among them, with his gracious and powerful Presence to defend them, and to fight against their Enemies. Or, God is for, &c. as the Hebrew beth oft signifies, that is, God is on their side, and therefore their Enemies have great cause to tremble.

Marginal references: Heb. they feared a fear.