When their rulers are thrown down from the cliffs, the people will listen to my words, for they are pleasant.
Parallel translations
- WEB Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock. They will hear my words, for they are well spoken.
- KJV When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
- NKJV Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the cliff, And they hear my words, for they are sweet.
- NASB Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock, And they hear my words, for they are pleasant.
- NLT When their leaders are thrown down from a cliff, the wicked will listen to my words and find them true.
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
When the wicked judges fall, the people will heed David's well-spoken words. It anticipates the vindication of truth once evil rulers are overthrown.
Overview
This verse is difficult and variously interpreted, but it broadly pictures the downfall of corrupt leaders and the eventual hearing of David's righteous words. The fall of unjust authority opens the way for truth to be received. Faithful readers see here a foreshadowing of God's overturning of all unjust powers under Christ's righteous reign.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 2 Chr 25:12and the army of Judah also captured 10,000 men alive. They took them to the top of a cliff and threw them down so that all were dashed to pieces.
- 2 Sam 5:1–3Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.
- 1 Sam 31:1–8Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
- 2 Sam 1:17–27Then David took up this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan,
- 2 Sam 2:4–6Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.”
- 1 Chr 13:2And he said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if this is of the LORD our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our brothers in all the land of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites in their cities and pasturelands, so that they may join us.
- Ps 45:2You are the most handsome of men; grace has anointed your lips, since God has blessed you forever.
- Luke 4:22All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked.
- 1 Chr 11:1–3Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.
- 2 Sam 23:1These are the last words of David: “The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man raised on high, the one anointed by the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel:
- 1 Chr 10:1–7Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
- 1 Chr 12:38All these men of war, arrayed for battle, came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. And all the rest of the Israelites were of one mind to make David king.
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 141:6 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.