Ps 54:10

“divide their tongue Divide it so that no one should pay them heed. And Menachem (p. 142) interpreted פלג as an expression of division. Destroy (Defey or defay in Old French, destroy, defais in modern French,) like (Lam. 2:8): “He did not restrain his hand from destroying (מבלע).” So did Menachem interpret it [p. 46]. for I have seen violence and strife in the city through them.”

“"Day and night." Here he shows in particular. In every city there are three things: namely, walls that surround it, the central habitation, and the public squares. And the Philosopher distinguishes three classes of men. By walls are understood the rulers and magnates of the city, who protect the people as walls protect the city. Prov. 25: "Like a city open and without surrounding walls," etc. Is. 62: "Upon your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen," that is, rulers and governors. Is. 1: "Your princes are faithless." And "by day," namely by executing malice, "by night," by plotting. Or "by day" in prosperity, "by night" in adversity. Hence he says, "Iniquity will surround them upon its walls," that is, the injustice of the rulers will surround the city of the world, as walls surround a city. The center of this city is the people, in which there is "toil in its midst and injustice" -- as regards the evil they do -- and thus eagerness for evil, when he says, "toil imposed." Jer. 9: "They labored to act unjustly." Wis. 5: "We wearied ourselves in the way of iniquity." And the very species of evil: "and injustice." And this is understood passively, of the injustice they suffer from the prelates, and "toil imposed." The public squares are the public places, and there are those who carry out public offices, such as merchants, among whom there is manifest injustice, such as through usury. Ps. (14): "He who did not give his money for usury." And therefore he says, "Usury did not depart from its squares." Likewise hidden things; hence he says, "and deceit."”

“Cast down. Hebrew, “swallow up,” as the earth did Dathan. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “drown.” (Haydock) — Tongues, as at Babel, that they may not know how to proceed. (Calmet) — Hebrew, “swallow up….the torrent of their tongue.” (Bate.) — Pallag, means also to “divide.” Absalom was accordingly infatuated by David’s friend, 2 Kings xv. 31., and xvii. 7. (Menochius) — City of Hebron, or even of Jerusalem, which caused the king to leave no garrison in it. The city was still more abandoned in our Saviour’s regard. (Calmet) — Contradiction. Their counsels agree not. They have their troubles, yet will not amend; but strive to oppress the poor. (Worthington)”