May this be the LORD’s reward to my accusers, to those who speak evil against me.
Parallel translations
- WEB This is the reward of my adversaries from Yahweh, of those who speak evil against my soul.
- KJV Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
- ESV May this be the reward of my accusers from the LORD, of those who speak evil against my life!
- NKJV Let this be the Lord’s reward to my accusers, And to those who speak evil against my person.
- NASB May this be the reward of my accusers from the Lord, And of those who speak evil against my soul.
- NLT May those curses become the Lord’s punishment for my accusers who speak evil of me.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David sums up these petitions as the just reward from God for his slanderous accusers. He commits the matter of vengeance to the Lord.
Overview
This verse marks the close of the imprecation, naming the foes as those 'who speak evil against my soul.' By calling it 'the reward... from Yahweh,' David hands judgment to God rather than retaliating himself. This restraint anticipates the New Testament command to leave room for God's wrath (Romans 12:19).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- 2 Tim 4:14Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
- Ps 94:23He will bring upon them their own iniquity and destroy them for their wickedness. The LORD our God will destroy them.
- 1 Kgs 2:44The king also said, “You know in your heart all the evil that you did to my father David. Therefore the LORD will bring your evil back upon your head.
- Ps 21:8–12Your hand will apprehend all Your enemies; Your right hand will seize those who hate You.
- Ps 110:5–6The Lord is at Your right hand; He will crush kings in the day of His wrath.
- Ps 71:10For my enemies speak against me, and those who lie in wait for my life conspire,
- Mark 9:39“Do not stop him,” Jesus replied. “For no one who performs a miracle in My name can turn around and speak evil of Me.
- Matt 26:66–67What do you think?” “He deserves to die,” they answered.
- Luke 19:27And these enemies of mine who were unwilling for me to rule over them, bring them here and slay them in front of me.’”
- Matt 12:24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.”
- Ps 2:12Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in your rebellion, when His wrath ignites in an instant. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.
- Ps 110:1A Psalm of David. The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
- Matt 11:19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”
- 2 Sam 18:32The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom all right?” And the Cushite replied, “May what has become of the young man happen to the enemies of my lord the king and to all who rise up against you to harm you.”
- 2 Sam 17:23When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
- Ps 40:14–15May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated.
- 1 Th 2:15–16who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men,
- Ps 2:5–6Then He rebukes them in His anger, and terrifies them in His fury:
- 1 Cor 12:3Therefore I inform you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 109:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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