Psalms 109:4

Psalms 109:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.
• New International Version (NIV)In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.
• English Standard Version (ESV)In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer.
• New King James Version (NKJV)In return for my love they are my accusers, But I give myself to prayer.

Context of Psalms 109:4

2Wicked people are saying bad things against me. They are telling lies about me. 3They are all round me, and they say cruel things. I have done nothing against them, but they still attack me. I have loved them, but they still accuse me. I will continue to pray for them. 5I have been kind to them, but they do bad things to me in return. I have loved them, but they hate me in return. 6Find an evil man to judge my enemy! Put somebody at his right side to accuse him!

Psalms 109:4 word by word

תַּֽחַת־אַהֲבָתִ֥י יִשְׂטְנ֗וּנִי וַאֲנִ֥י תְפִלָּֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For my loveאַהֲבָה'ahăbâh · loveH160
• they are my adversariesשָׂטַןώâţan · to opposeH7853
• prayerתְּפִלָּהtephillâh · prayerH8605

Cross-references for Psalms 109:4

• Psalms 35:7They hid a trap to catch me. There was no reason for them to do that. They even dug a deep hole for me to fall into.
• Psalms 38:20When I do good things, they do evil things to me in return! I try to do what is right, but they turn against me.
• 2 Samuel 13:39By this time, King David had stopped being so upset about Amnon's death. He wanted very much to see Absalom again.
• John 10:32Jesus said to them, ‘I have done many good things. The Father sent me to do them, and I have shown them to you. Which of those good things make you want to kill me with stones?’
• 2 Corinthians 12:15So I will be happy to give everything that I have to you. I will be happy to give myself too, because I want to help you. Perhaps I love you too much! But that should not mean that you will love me less than you should.
• Psalms 55:16But I will call to God for help. The Lord will make me safe.
• Psalms 69:12People who sit at the city gate talk about me. People who are drunk make songs to sing about me.
• 2 Samuel 15:31Someone told David that his advisor, Ahithophel, had now joined with Absalom and his men. So David prayed, ‘Lord, please cause Ahithophel to give them foolish advice.’
• Daniel 6:10Daniel heard that the king had written this new law. Then he went home. He went upstairs to his room where the windows opened in the direction of Jerusalem. He bent down on his knees and he prayed to God, and he thanked God. He did that three times every day, in the same way that he had always done before.
• Luke 6:11Then the Pharisees and the teachers of God's Law were very angry. They began to talk to each other about what they could do to Jesus.
• Luke 23:34Jesus said, ‘Father, these people do not know what they are doing. So please forgive them.’ The soldiers then picked up Jesus' clothes for themselves. They played a game to decide who would receive each piece of his clothes.

Commentaries on Psalms 109:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4For my love they are my adversaries - In their behalf I have performed many acts of kindness, and they are my adversaries notwithstanding; this shows principles the most vicious, and hearts the most corrupt. Many of the fathers and commentators have understood the principal part of the things spoken here as referring to our Lord, and the treatment he received from the Jews; and whatever the original intention was, they may safely be applied to this case…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4For my love … - As a recompence for my love; or, this is the return which I get for all the expressions of my love to them. The enemies referred to were those whom he had treated kindly; to whom he had done good. This is not uncommon in the world. It was illustrated in an eminent degree in the life of the Saviour. But I give myself unto prayer - literally, “I - prayer;” that is, I am all prayer; I continually pray. This may mean, either, that he bore…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5The psalmist shows kindness and godliness (see Psalm 35:12–14), but faces stubborn opposition and hatred.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-54-5. They return evil for good (compare Psa 27:12; Pr 17:13). I give myself unto prayer--or literally, "I (am) prayer," or, "as for me, prayer," that is, it is my resource for comfort in distress.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 109:4

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Enemy
• Fasting
• Ingratitude
• Malice
• Prayerfulness

In the dictionaries

• God
• Psalms, Book of

Commentaries on Psalms 109

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• 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
• EGW Writings