Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
Parallel translations
- WEB those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war.
- BSB who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long.
- 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 36:4He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.
- Ps 56:6They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
- Ps 64:5–6They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
- Nah 1:11There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor.
- Mic 2:1–3Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.
- Ps 120:7I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
- Hos 7:6For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire.
- Prov 12:20Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
- Ps 62:3How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.
- Ps 21:11For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.
- Ps 38:12They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.
- Ps 2:1–2Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
- 1 Sam 24:11–12Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
- 1 Sam 23:19–24Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
- 1 Sam 26:1–25And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?
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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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