And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.
Parallel translations
- WEB Pay back to our neighbors seven times into their bosom their reproach with which they have reproached you, Lord.
- BSB Pay back into the laps of our neighbors sevenfold the reproach they hurled at You, O Lord.
- NKJV And return to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom Their reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord.
- NASB And return to our neighbors seven times as much into their lap Their taunts with which they have taunted You, Lord.
- NLT O Lord, pay back our neighbors seven times for the scorn they have hurled at you.
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
The psalmist asks God to repay the neighbors sevenfold for their reproach. He seeks full divine justice for insults against the Lord.
Overview
The plea for 'seven times' repayment seeks complete justice, noting that the reproach was ultimately aimed at the Lord Himself. The wrong done to God's people was an affront to God. While the psalm leaves judgment in God's hands, the gospel also opens the way for enemies to repent and find mercy in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Jer 32:18Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,
- Gen 4:15And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
- Lev 26:21And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.
- Lev 26:28Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.
- Ps 74:18–22Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.
- Luke 6:38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
- Prov 6:31But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
- Ps 44:16For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.
- Isa 65:5–7Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
- Ps 74:10O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 79:12 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.