Psalms 43:1

Judge me&c. An appeal to God the Judge to do him justice and vindicate his innocence by delivering him from the power of his insolent foes. For the language cp. Psalms 7:8; Psalms 26:1; Psalms 35:1; Psalms 35:24.

against an ungodly nation Lit. from, i. e. by delivering me from, a nation without lovingkindness; heathen destitute of all feeling of humanity. For the meaning of châsîdsee notes on Psalms 4:3; Psalms 12:1; and Appendix, Note 1.

the deceitful and unjust man The leader of the heathen, who had distinguished himself by treachery and malignity, may be meant. But it is better to understand the words collectively as a further description of the -inhuman nation" in general, men of deceit and malignity.