Ruthless pragmatists hate those who adhere to godly principles. People who will use and abuse others to get their own way are convicted by the very presence of a righteous person. The heart of the righteous keeps him from harming others and prompts him to love and respect his neighbour. The bloodthirsty are convicted by the righteous because they know that righteousness has a sovereign Lord as its source and goal. The bloodthirsty hate God above all. Amongst the righteous, there is a fellowship of mutual love and concern, that more than compensates for the hate of the wicked. As blameless Stephen discovered (Acts 7:54–55), if we stand for Jesus, the world will stand against us (Psalm 2:1), but Jesus will stand for and with us.
10 Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless and seek the life of the upright.