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Psalms 109

Psalms109

World English Bible · Public Domain

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1 God of my praise, don’t remain silent,

2 for they have opened the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of deceit against me. They have spoken to me with a lying tongue.

3 They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.

4 In return for my love, they are my adversaries; but I am in prayer.

5 They have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

6 Set a wicked man over him. Let an adversary stand at his right hand.

7 When he is judged, let him come out guilty. Let his prayer be turned into sin.

8 Let his days be few. Let another take his office.

9 Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.

10 Let his children be wandering beggars. Let them be sought from their ruins.

11 Let the creditor seize all that he has. Let strangers plunder the fruit of his labor.

12 Let there be no one to extend kindness to him, neither let there be anyone to have pity on his fatherless children.

13 Let his posterity be cut off. In the generation following let their name be blotted out.

14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by Yahweh. Don’t let the sin of his mother be blotted out.

15 Let them be before Yahweh continually, that he may cut off their memory from the earth;

16 because he didn’t remember to show kindness, but persecuted the poor and needy man, the broken in heart, to kill them.

17 Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He didn’t delight in blessing, and it was far from him.

18 He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment. It came into his inward parts like water, like oil into his bones.

19 Let it be to him as the clothing with which he covers himself, for the belt that is always around him.

20 This is the reward of my adversaries from Yahweh, of those who speak evil against my soul.

21 But deal with me, Yahweh the Lord, for your name’s sake, because your loving kindness is good, deliver me;

22 for I am poor and needy. My heart is wounded within me.

23 I fade away like an evening shadow. I am shaken off like a locust.

24 My knees are weak through fasting. My body is thin and lacks fat.

25 I have also become a reproach to them. When they see me, they shake their head.

26 Help me, Yahweh, my God. Save me according to your loving kindness;

27 that they may know that this is your hand; that you, Yahweh, have done it.

28 They may curse, but you bless. When they arise, they will be shamed, but your servant shall rejoice.

29 Let my adversaries be clothed with dishonor. Let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.

30 I will give great thanks to Yahweh with my mouth. Yes, I will praise him among the multitude.

31 For he will stand at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who judge his soul.

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Psalms 109

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 109. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.

Chapter Summary

In this chapter: David complains of his enemies. (1–5). He prophesies their destruction. (6–20). Prayers and praises. (21–31).

vv1-5

It is the unspeakable comfort of all believers, that whoever is against them, God is for them; and to him they may apply as to one pleased to concern himself for them. David's enemies laughed at him for his devotion, but they could not laugh him out of it.

vv6-20

The Lord Jesus may speak here as a Judge, denouncing sentence on some of his enemies, to warn others. When men reject the salvation of Christ, even their prayers are numbered among their sins. See what hurries some to shameful deaths, and brings the families and estates of others to ruin; makes them and theirs despicable and hateful, and brings poverty, shame, and misery upon their posterity: it is sin, that mischievous, destructive thing. And what will be the effect of the sentence, “Go, ye cursed,” upon the bodies and souls of the wicked! How it will affect the senses of the body, and the powers of the soul, with pain, anguish, horror, and despair! Think on these things, sinners, tremble and repent.

vv21-31

The psalmist takes God's comforts to himself, but in a very humble manner. He was troubled in mind. His body was wasted, and almost worn away. But it is better to have leanness in the body, while the soul prospers and is in health, than to have leanness in the soul, while the body is feasted. He was ridiculed and reproached by his enemies. But if God bless us, we need not care who curses us; for how can they curse whom God has not cursed; nay, whom he has blessed? He pleads God's glory, and the honour of his name. Save me, not according to my merit, for I pretend to none, but according to thy-mercy. He concludes with the joy of faith, in assurance that his present conflicts would end in triumphs. Let all that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to him. Jesus, unjustly put to death, and now risen again, is an Advocate and Intercessor for his people, ever ready to appear on their behalf against a corrupt world, and the great accuser.

Cross References

Psalms 109
v8Acts 1:16-26fulfillment

Directly cited by Peter as fulfilled in Judas Iscariot losing his apostolic office.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v6Zechariah 3:1allusion

Satan standing at the right hand of the accused as the official adversary and accuser.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v3John 15:25fulfillment

Jesus applies David's words ('hated me without a cause') directly to His own experience.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v5Proverbs 17:13thematic

The proverb condemning those who reward evil for good, mirroring David's specific complaint.

Supported by JFB

v8Acts 1:20quotation

Explicitly quotes the Greek equivalent of 'let another take his office' regarding Judas.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v4Luke 23:34contrast

While adversaries attack, David prays; Christ perfectly typifies this by praying for His executioners.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v6John 13:27typology

Satan entering Judas, matching the judgment of letting Satan stand at his right hand.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v18Acts 1:18typology

Judas's violent death, where his bowels gushed out, matches the curse entering his bowels.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v25Psalms 22:7thematic

Parallels the Messianic suffering of being a reproach and having onlookers shake their heads.

Supported by JFB

v4Psalms 35:12thematic

David's recurring complaint of being rewarded evil for good, seeking refuge in prayer.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v7Proverbs 28:9thematic

The proverbial parallel of a wicked man's prayer being treated as an abomination or sin.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v24Psalms 35:13thematic

David's practice of fasting and prayer in times of intense adversity and betrayal.

Supported by Matthew Poole

David's response to Shimei's cursing, trusting that the Lord will bless him instead.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v31Psalms 16:8contrast

Contrast: Satan stands at the wicked's right hand (v6), but God stands at David's.

Supported by JFB