But those who seek my life to destroy it will go into the depths of the earth.
Parallel translations
- WEB But those who seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
- KJV But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
- NKJV But those who seek my life, to destroy it, Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
- NASB ¶But those who seek my life to destroy it, Will go into the depths of the earth.
- NLT But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin. They will go down into the depths of the earth.
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
Those who seek to destroy David will themselves go down to the depths of the earth. It assures that his enemies' plots will recoil upon them.
Overview
David is confident that his attackers, who aim at his life, will meet ruin and death. Their destructive intent will return upon their own heads. This reflects the biblical assurance that God overturns the schemes of the wicked and vindicates those who trust him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Ps 55:15Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes.
- Ps 9:17The wicked will return to Sheol—all the nations who forget God.
- Ps 40:14May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated.
- 1 Sam 25:29And should someone pursue you and seek your life, then the life of my lord will be bound securely by the LORD your God in the bundle of the living. But He shall fling away the lives of your enemies like stones from a sling.
- Num 16:30–33But if the LORD brings about something unprecedented, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them and all that belongs to them so that they go down alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt.”
- Isa 14:19But you are cast out of your grave like a rejected branch, covered by those slain with the sword, and dumped into a rocky pit like a carcass trampled underfoot.
- Ps 86:13For great is Your loving devotion to me; You have delivered me from the depths of Sheol.
- Ezek 32:18–32“Son of man, wail for the multitudes of Egypt, and consign her and the daughters of the mighty nations to the depths of the earth with those who descend to the Pit:
- Ps 35:26May those who gloat in my distress be ashamed and confounded; may those who exalt themselves over me be clothed in shame and reproach.
- Job 40:13Bury them together in the dust; imprison them in the grave.
- Ps 55:23But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.
- Ps 38:12Those who seek my life lay snares; those who wish me harm speak destruction, plotting deceit all day long.
- Isa 14:15But you will be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.
- Ps 70:2May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated.
- Isa 14:9Sheol beneath is eager to meet you upon your arrival. It stirs the spirits of the dead to greet you—all the rulers of the earth. It makes all the kings of the nations rise from their thrones.
- Ps 35:4May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.
- Acts 1:25to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.”
- 1 Sam 28:19Moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. And the LORD will deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 63:9 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.