Psalms 140:9

Psalms 140:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
• New International Version (NIV)Those who surround me proudly rear their heads; may the mischief of their lips engulf them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
• New King James Version (NKJV)“As for the head of those who surround me, Let the evil of their lips cover them;

Context of Psalms 140:9

7Jehovah, the Lord, is the strength of my salvation: thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. 8Grant not, O Jehovah, the desire of the wicked; further not his device: they would exalt themselves. Selah. [As for] the head of those that encompass me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them. 10Let burning coals fall on them; let them be cast into the fire; into deep waters, that they rise not up again. 11Let not the man of [evil] tongue be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the man of violence to [his] ruin.

Psalms 140:9 word by word

רֹ֥אשׁ מְסִבָּ֑י עֲמַ֖ל שְׂפָתֵ֣ימוֹ יְכַסֵּֽמוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Cross-references for Psalms 140:9

• Psalms 7:16His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violence shall come down upon his own pate.
• Psalms 64:8By their own tongue they are made to fall over one another: all that see them shall flee away.
• Psalms 94:23And he will bring upon them their iniquity, and will cut them off in their own evil: Jehovah our God will cut them off.
• Esther 5:14Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends to him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king that Mordecai may be hanged on it: then go in merrily with the king to the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.
• Esther 7:10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. And the king's wrath was appeased.
• Proverbs 10:6Blessings are upon the head of a righteous [man]; but the mouth of the wicked covereth violence.
• Proverbs 12:13In the transgression of the lips is an evil snare; but a righteous [man] shall go forth out of trouble.
• Proverbs 18:7A fool's mouth is destruction to him, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
• Matthew 27:25And all the people answering said, His blood [be] on us and on our children.

Commentaries on Psalms 140:9

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9As for the head of those that compass me about - Luther renders this, “The calamity which my enemies design against me must fall upon their own heads.” The passage stands in contrast with Psalm 140:7: “Thou hast covered my head,” etc. As for his own head, it had been protected in the day of battle. In reference now to the heads of his enemies - of those that compassed him about - he prays that what they had designed for “his” head might come by a just…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-13Verses 8-13 Believers may pray that God would not grant the desires of the wicked, nor further their evil devices. False accusers will bring mischief upon themselves, even the burning coals of Divine vengeance. And surely the righteous shall dwell in God's presence, and give him thanks for evermore. This is true thanksgiving, even thanks-living: this use we should make of all our deliverances, we should serve God the more closely and cheerfully. Those…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-11The psalmist prays for God’s judgment on the wicked.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. Contrasts his head covered by God (Psa 140:7) with theirs, or (as "head" may be used for "persons") with them, covered with the results of their wicked deeds (Psa 7:16).Read the comment
• Rashi on Tanakh · v. 9the desires of the wicked The wicked Esau.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 140:9

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Prayer

In the dictionaries

• Hunt
• Manasseh
• Preserve
• Papyrus
• Poison
• Psalms, Book of

Commentaries on Psalms 140

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary