They devise injustices, saying, “We are ready with a well-conceived plot”; For the inward thought and the heart of a person are deep.
Parallel translations
- WEB They plot injustice, saying, “We have made a perfect plan!” Surely man’s mind and heart are cunning.
- KJV They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.
- BSB They devise injustice and say, “We have perfected a secret plan.” For the inner man and the heart are mysterious.
- NKJV They devise iniquities: “We have perfected a shrewd scheme.” Both the inward thought and the heart of man are deep.
- NLT As they plot their crimes, they say, “We have devised the perfect plan!” Yes, the human heart and mind are cunning.
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
They congratulate themselves on a flawless scheme, showing how deep and cunning the human heart can be. It exposes the depth of human sinfulness.
Overview
The wicked boast that their plan is perfect, and the psalmist comments on how deep and devious the inner thoughts of man can be. This echoes the Bible's diagnosis that the heart is deceitful above all things. Such honest realism about sin underscores our need for the redemption found only in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Matt 26:59Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death;
- Jer 17:9–10The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt. Who can know it?
- Isa 29:15Woe to those who deeply hide their counsel from Yahweh, and whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, “Who sees us?” and “Who knows us?”
- Ps 5:9For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. Their heart is destruction. Their throat is an open tomb. They flatter with their tongue.
- Dan 6:4–5Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, because he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
- 1 Cor 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.
- Ps 35:11Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don’t know about.
- Prov 20:5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
- John 18:29–30Pilate therefore went out to them, and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”
- 1 Sam 25:10Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants who break away from their masters these days.
- 1 Sam 24:9David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you?’
- Ps 49:11Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.
- 1 Sam 22:9Then Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, answered and said, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
- John 19:7The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.”
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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 64:6 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.