if I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me (yes, if I have delivered him who without cause was my adversary),
Parallel translations
- KJV If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)
- BSB if I have rewarded my ally with evil, if I have plundered my foe without cause,
- NKJV If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, Or have plundered my enemy without cause,
- NASB If I have done evil to my friend, Or have plundered my enemy for no reason,
- NLT if I have betrayed a friend or plundered my enemy without cause,
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 protests that he has not repaid evil to friends or wronged even his enemies without cause. He affirms a clear conscience before God.
Overview
Continuing his oath, David maintains that he has done no treachery, even sparing those who were his foes—likely an allusion to his mercy toward Saul. His integrity is the ground on which he asks God to judge his case. This pattern of refusing evil for evil anticipates the way of Christ, who, when reviled, did not revile in return (1 Peter 2:23).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 1 Sam 24:17–19He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.
- Ps 55:20He raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant.
- Jer 18:20–21Shall evil be recompensed for good? For they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.
- Ps 109:5They have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
- Prov 17:3The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Yahweh tests the hearts.
- 1 Sam 26:24Behold, as your life was respected today in my eyes, so let my life be respected in Yahweh’s eyes, and let him deliver me out of all oppression.”
- 1 Sam 24:7So David checked his men with these words, and didn’t allow them to rise against Saul. Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
- 1 Sam 20:1David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? What is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?”
- Gen 44:4When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men. When you overtake them, ask them, ‘Why have you rewarded evil for good?
- 1 Sam 19:4–5Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Don’t let the king sin against his servant, against David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you;
- 1 Sam 25:28–29Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For Yahweh will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fights Yahweh’s battles. Evil will not be found in you all your days.
- 1 Sam 24:10–15Behold, today your eyes have seen how Yahweh had delivered you today into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you; but I spared you; and I said, I will not stretch out my hand against my lord; for he is Yahweh’s anointed.
- 1 Sam 26:9–17David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against Yahweh’s anointed, and be guiltless?”
- 1 Sam 22:14Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, “Who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, and is taken into your council, and is honorable in your house?
- 1 Sam 26:21Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David; for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes today. Behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.”
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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 7:4 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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