People who reject what’s good are compared to useless thorns—dangerous, unwanted, and impossible to handle safely. David uses the word belial (Hebrew: בְּלִיַּעַל, bĕliya‘al), meaning “worthless” or “lawless,” to describe those who live with no regard for what’s right. In the ancient world, thorns were burned because they couldn’t be used for anything productive. This pushes back against the idea that everyone’s choices are equally valuable or harmless—some ways of living actually cause pain to others and can’t just be ignored. For someone who’s been hurt by others’ actions, this verse validates that harm is real and not all behavior is neutral. If you’ve ever felt stung by someone’s cruelty or disregard, this image says you’re not imagining it—some things really are destructive, and it’s okay to keep your distance from them.