English Standard Version
Psalms 7:12
12If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow;
Psalms 7:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
- New International Version (NIV)If he does not relent, he will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow.
- New King James Version (NKJV)If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword; He bends His bow and makes it ready.
- New Living Translation (NLT)If a person does not repent, God will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow.
Context of Psalms 7:12
10My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. 11God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow; 13he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts. 14Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies.
Read all of Psalms 7Psalms 7:12 word by word
אִם־לֹ֣א יָ֭שׁוּב חַרְבּ֣וֹ יִלְט֑וֹשׁ קַשְׁתּ֥וֹ דָ֝רַ֗ךְ וַֽיְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 7:12
- Psalms 85:4Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us!
- Isaiah 55:6"Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;
- Jeremiah 31:18I have heard Ephraim grieving, 'You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined, like an untrained calf; bring me back that I may be restored, for you are the Lord my God.
- Ezekiel 18:30"Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin.
- Ezekiel 33:11Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
- Matthew 3:10Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
- Acts 3:19Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
- Deuteronomy 32:41if I sharpen my flashing sword and my hand takes hold on judgment, I will take vengeance on my adversaries and will repay those who hate me.
- Isaiah 27:1In that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea.
- Isaiah 34:5For my sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; behold, it descends for judgment upon Edom, upon the people I have devoted to destruction.
- Ezekiel 21:9"Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord, say: "A sword, a sword is sharpened and also polished,
Commentaries on Psalms 7:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12If he turn not - This clause the Syriac adds to the preceding verse. Most of the versions read, "If ye return not." Some contend, and not without a great show of probability, that the two verses should be read in connection, thus: "God is a just Judge; a God who is provoked every day. If (the sinner) turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready." This, no doubt, gives the sense of both.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12If he turn not - If the wicked person does not repent. in the previous verse the psalmist had said that God is angry with the wicked every day; he here states what must be the consequence to the wicked if they persevere in the course which they are pursuing; that is, if they do not repent. God, he says, cannot be indifferent to the course which they pursue, but he is preparing for them the instruments of punishment, and he will certainly bring destruction…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-17Verses 10-17 David is confident that he shall find God his powerful Saviour. The destruction of sinners may be prevented by their conversion; for it is threatened, If he turn not from his evil way, let him expect it will be his ruin. But amidst the threatenings of wrath, we have a gracious offer of mercy. God gives sinners warning of their danger, and space to repent, and prevent it. He is slow to punish, and long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-13sword … bow … deadly weapons … arrows with fire: As the Divine Warrior, God attacks to defend himself and his people.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 12-1312-13. They are here distinctly pointed out, though by changing the person, a very common mode of speech, one is selected as a representative of wicked men generally. The military figures are of obvious meaning.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 7:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 7
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries