who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long.
Parallel translations
- WEB those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war.
- KJV Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
- NKJV Who plan evil things in their hearts; They continually gather together for war.
- NASB Who devise evil things in their hearts; They continually stir up wars.
- NLT those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long.
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's enemies devise mischief in their hearts and continually stir up conflict. It exposes the inward wickedness behind their hostility.
Overview
The trouble David faces springs from the heart, the wellspring of evil plans and ceaseless strife. This diagnosis shows that outward violence has inward roots in sin. Scripture traces all such evil to the corrupt heart, which only God can renew (Jeremiah 17:9; Ezekiel 36:26).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Ps 36:4Even on his bed he plots wickedness; he sets himself on a path that is not good; he fails to reject evil.
- Ps 56:6They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps while they wait to take my life.
- Ps 64:5–6They hold fast to their evil purpose; they speak of hiding their snares. “Who will see them?” they say.
- Nah 1:11From you, O Nineveh, comes forth a plotter of evil against the LORD, a counselor of wickedness.
- Mic 2:1–3Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands.
- Ps 120:7I am in favor of peace; but when I speak, they want war.
- Hos 7:6For they prepare their heart like an oven while they lie in wait; all night their anger smolders; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
- Prov 12:20Deceit is in the hearts of those who devise evil, but the counselors of peace have joy.
- Ps 62:3How long will you threaten a man? Will all of you throw him down like a leaning wall or a tottering fence?
- Ps 21:11Though they intend You harm, the schemes they devise will not prevail.
- Ps 38:12Those who seek my life lay snares; those who wish me harm speak destruction, plotting deceit all day long.
- Ps 2:1–2Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
- 1 Sam 24:11–12See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
- 1 Sam 23:19–24Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon?
- 1 Sam 26:1–25Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?”
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 140:2 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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