Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
Parallel translations
- WEB Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; their minds and hearts are searched by the righteous God.
- BSB Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.
- NKJV Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.
- NASB Please let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; For the righteous God puts hearts and minds to the test.
- NLT End the evil of those who are wicked, and defend the righteous. For you look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God.
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 prays that wickedness would end and the righteous be established, for God searches every heart. The God who tests minds and hearts judges with perfect knowledge.
Overview
David longs for evil to cease and the godly to be made secure, appealing to God as the one who probes the innermost thoughts. Because God sees the heart, His judgment is flawless and cannot be deceived. This searching knowledge both warns the hypocrite and comforts the upright, who are fully known and kept by their righteous God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 27
- Jer 17:10I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
- Jer 11:20But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.
- Jer 20:12But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.
- 1 Sam 16:7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
- 1 Chr 28:9And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
- Ps 139:1O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
- Ps 44:21Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
- Ps 11:5The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
- Ps 26:2Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
- Ps 37:23The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
- Ps 10:15Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
- Rom 16:25Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
- Rev 2:23And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
- Ps 17:3Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
- Acts 12:23And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
- Ps 10:18To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
- 1 Sam 2:9He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
- Ps 58:6Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.
- Isa 37:36–38Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
- Dan 11:45And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
- 1 Th 3:13To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
- 1 Pet 5:10But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
- Ps 9:5–6Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
- Ps 40:2He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
- Ps 74:10–11O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
- Ps 74:22–23Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
- Jude 1:1Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
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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 7:9 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
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