if I have rewarded my ally with evil, if I have plundered my foe without cause,
Parallel translations
- WEB 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),
- 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:)
- 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 24:17–19and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.
- Ps 55:20My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
- Jer 18:20–21Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for me. Remember how I stood before You to speak good on their behalf, to turn Your wrath from them.
- Ps 109:5They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
- Prov 17:3A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
- 1 Sam 26:24As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and rescue me from all trouble.”
- 1 Sam 24:7With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.
- 1 Sam 20:1Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? How have I sinned against your father, that he wants to take my life?”
- Gen 44:4They had not gone far from the city when Joseph told his steward, “Pursue the men at once, and when you overtake them, ask, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil?
- 1 Sam 19:4–5Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David; he has not sinned against you. In fact, his actions have been highly beneficial to you.
- 1 Sam 25:28–29Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the LORD will surely make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because he fights the LORD’s battles. May no evil be found in you as long as you live.
- 1 Sam 24:10–15Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’
- 1 Sam 26:9–17But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?”
- 1 Sam 22:14Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard who is honored in your house?
- 1 Sam 26:21Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave error!”
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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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