Let them curse, but You bless; When they arise, let them be ashamed, But let Your servant rejoice.
Parallel translations
- WEB They may curse, but you bless. When they arise, they will be shamed, but your servant shall rejoice.
- KJV Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.
- BSB Though they curse, You will bless. When they rise up, they will be put to shame, but Your servant will rejoice.
- ESV Let them curse, but you will bless! They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad!
- NASB They will curse, but You bless; When they arise, they will be ashamed, But Your servant will be glad.
- NLT Then let them curse me if they like, but you will bless me! When they attack me, they will be disgraced! But I, your servant, will go right on rejoicing!
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
Though his enemies curse him, David trusts that God will bless, and that the foes will be shamed while God's servant rejoices. He rests in the reversal God will bring.
Overview
David sets human cursing against divine blessing and is confident which prevails. The contrast between the shamed wicked and the rejoicing servant reflects the certain outcome of God's justice. It echoes the assurance that no curse can ultimately stand against those whom God blesses (Numbers 23:8; Romans 8:31).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Num 23:20Behold, I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I can’t reverse it.
- John 16:22Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
- Ps 109:17Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He didn’t delight in blessing, and it was far from him.
- Heb 12:2looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Num 22:12God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people; for they are blessed.”
- 2 Sam 16:10–13The king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Because he curses, and because Yahweh has said to him, ‘Curse David;’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’”
- Isa 65:13–16Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh, “Behold, my servants will eat, but you will be hungry; behold, my servants will drink, but you will be thirsty. Behold, my servants will rejoice, but you will be disappointed;
- Num 23:23Surely there is no enchantment with Jacob; Neither is there any divination with Israel. Now it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘What has God done!’
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 109:28 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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