The “you” here is, of course, referring to the Lord.  He is said to “rebuke” the proud – the cursed.  “Rebuke” translates a Hebrew word meaning a check applied to an erring person by means of a verbal strong admonition or action.  It can be spoken by word or active by action.  The idea here is not just that they are condemned, but that they are prevented from doing their mischief.  This is not just God expressing displeasure, but it is God actively preventing the wicked form accomplishing their sinful aims and purposes.  This encompasses more then just judgment – it speaks of the frustrating of plans and purposes.

This is an excellent example of the danger of reading the meaning of an English word and not the underlying Hebrew word into a passage.  We must be careful to get at the meaning of the author, not read our own bias and intent into a passage.  What did these words mean when the human authors wrote them down?  That must be the desire of our hearts when we study the Bible.

God rebukes the “Proud”.  The noun form comes from a verb whose root meaning is “to boil” and makes reference to the furious seething of the prideful heart.  It speaks of inflated pride, swelling up and bubbling to the surface.

The proud are further identified as “cursed”.  This verb is passive and its root idea is that of binding or hemming in with obstacles that are powerless to resist.  It is used most frequently to speak of the curse of God on sinful men.  The proud are also the cursed, they are the same group.  The implication is clearly that they are cursed, in part, because of their pride and, more properly, because of what their pride moves them to do and what it demonstrates that they are.

This group is given further definition by the phrase “who do err”.  It is a participle and so conveys the idea of action in progress for us.  The verb is most often used to refer to inadvertent sin.  The Levitical law uses this word to refer to sins done in ignorance, not as an act of willful rebellion or disobedience.  This phrase actually clarifies the meaning of the verse for us.

We are not talking about deliberate sinners here.  The reference to the proud and the cursed is really only to set us up to see what David means.  This is a part of this whole section and is not meant to stand alone.

He has told us of his great desire to know the Law so hi might keep it and thus be pleasing to God.  He has acknowledged his inability and told us that this must come from God, else it does not come at all.  He has expressed his very great desire to know, truly know, the precepts of the Word.  He is now setting us up to see that he needs God to give him knowledge so that he does not inadvertently sin against His commands.  He is concerned that he not stray, ignorantly from God’s commandments.

Contained in this is the idea that, at root level, sin is sin!  Surely some sin brings greater punishment but all sin does bring punishment!  Ignorance, ultimately, does not excuse before God.  Those who sin willfully will bear greater judgment, but those who sin ignorantly will be judged.

Just to close, we note that David refers to the commandments of God once again.  This is a reference to God’s legitimate authority as Lord and Master of all and as One fit and authorized to command.  David’s concern is that he, by obedience, see to it that he is not lumped into the group that is cursed because of their incautious use of the Word and their failure to know it well enough to avoid inadvertent sin!