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Since they show no regard for the works of the LORD or what His hands have done, He will tear them down and never rebuild them.
Psalms 28:5 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB Because they don’t respect the works of Yahweh, nor the operation of his hands, he will break them down and not build them up.
  • KJV Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.
  • NKJV Because they do not regard the works of the Lord, Nor the operation of His hands, He shall destroy them And not build them up.
  • NASB Because they do not regard the works of the Lord Nor the deeds of His hands, He will tear them down and not build them up.
  • NLT They care nothing for what the Lord has done or for what his hands have made. So he will tear them down, and they will never be rebuilt!

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

Because the wicked ignore God's works, He will tear them down and not rebuild them. It states the certain ruin of those who despise God.

Overview

Their downfall flows from a settled disregard for what God has done in creation and providence. To ignore God's works is the root of their wickedness. The verse warns that persistent contempt for God leads to irreversible judgment, underscoring the urgency of repentance.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 26

  • Isa 5:12At their feasts are the lyre and harp, tambourines and flutes and wine. They disregard the actions of the LORD and fail to see the work of His hands.
  • Rom 1:28Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
  • John 12:37Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him.
  • Job 34:26–27He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,
  • Ps 92:4–6For You, O LORD, have made me glad by Your deeds; I sing for joy at the works of Your hands.
  • Ps 10:5He is secure in his ways at all times; Your lofty judgments are far from him; he sneers at all his foes.
  • 2 Sam 7:13He will build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
  • Jer 32:20–21You performed signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and You do so to this very day, both in Israel and among all mankind. And You have made a name for Yourself, as is the case to this day.
  • Rom 1:20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.
  • Jer 10:12–13The LORD made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.
  • 1 Kgs 11:38If you listen to all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight in order to keep My statutes and commandments as My servant David did, then I will be with you. I will build you a lasting dynasty just as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.
  • Isa 45:8Drip down, O heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open up that salvation may sprout and righteousness spring up with it; I, the LORD, have created it.
  • Num 23:23For there is no spell against Jacob and no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What great things God has done!’
  • Isa 22:11You built a reservoir between the walls for the waters of the ancient pool, but you did not look to the One who made it, or consider Him who planned it long ago.
  • Isa 40:26Lift up your eyes on high: Who created all these? He leads forth the starry host by number; He calls each one by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
  • Isa 45:12It is I who made the earth and created man upon it. It was My hands that stretched out the heavens, and I ordained all their host.
  • Eph 1:19–21and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength,
  • Isa 45:18For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens—He is God; He formed the earth and fashioned it; He established it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.
  • Hos 14:9Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them.
  • Ps 19:1–2For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
  • 2 Sam 7:27For You, O LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant when You said, ‘I will build a house for you.’ Therefore Your servant has found the courage to offer this prayer to You.
  • Ps 104:24How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.
  • Ps 111:2–4Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them.
  • Jer 31:4Again I will build you, and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out in joyful dancing.
  • Isa 26:9–11My soul longs for You in the night; indeed, my spirit seeks You at dawn. For when Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.
  • Ps 8:3When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place—

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (1)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Psalms videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Psalms 28:5YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on PsalmsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    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 28:5 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.