Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.
Parallel translations
- WEB Consider my enemies, for they are many. They hate me with cruel hatred.
- BSB Consider my enemies, for they are many, and they hate me with vicious hatred.
- ESV Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.
- NKJV Consider my enemies, for they are many; And they hate me with cruel hatred.
- NASB Look at my enemies, for they are many, And they hate me with violent hatred.
- NLT See how many enemies I have and how viciously they hate 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 asks God to consider his many enemies who hate him with violent hatred. He brings the reality of fierce opposition before God.
Overview
David draws God's attention to the multitude of his foes and the cruelty of their hatred. He does not seek personal revenge but entrusts his cause to God. This pattern of laying enmity before the Lord rather than retaliating anticipates Christ, who when reviled did not revile in return but committed himself to the One who judges justly.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- Ps 86:14O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.
- Ps 143:3For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
- Ps 38:19But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
- Ps 57:4My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
- Ps 140:11Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
- Ps 52:2Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
- Ps 140:1Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;
- Luke 22:2And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.
- Ps 3:1–2Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
- Ps 27:12Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
- Ps 56:2Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
- Ps 140:4Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
- Luke 23:5And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.
- Ps 18:48He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
- Ps 27:2When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
- 2 Sam 17:2–4And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:
- Ps 11:5The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
- 2 Sam 16:11And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.
- Luke 23:21–23But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.
- Ps 138:7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
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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 25:19 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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