God’s Word Translation
Psalms 54:5
5My enemies spy on me. Pay them back with evil. Destroy them with your truth!
Psalms 54:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.
- New International Version (NIV)Let evil recoil on those who slander me; in your faithfulness destroy them.
- English Standard Version (ESV)He will return the evil to my enemies; in your faithfulness put an end to them.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He will repay my enemies for their evil. Cut them off in Your truth.
Context of Psalms 54:5
3Strangers have attacked me. Ruthless people seek my life. They do not think about God. Selah 4God is my helper! The Lord is the provider for my life. My enemies spy on me. Pay them back with evil. Destroy them with your truth! 6I will make a sacrifice to you along with a freewill offering. I will give thanks to your good name, O Lord. 7Your name rescues me from every trouble. My eyes will gloat over my enemies.
Read all of Psalms 54Psalms 54:5 word by word
יָשִׁ֣יב הָ֭רַע לְשֹׁרְרָ֑י בַּ֝אֲמִתְּךָ֗ הַצְמִיתֵֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 54:5
- Psalms 31:23Love the Lord, all you godly ones! The Lord protects faithful people, but he pays back in full those who act arrogantly.
- Psalms 137:8You destructive people of Babylon, blessed is the one who pays you back with the same treatment you gave us.
- 2 Timothy 4:14Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will pay him back for what he did.
- Revelation 18:6Do to her what she has done. Give her twice as much as she gave. Serve her a drink in her own cup twice as large as the drink she served others.
- Psalms 5:8O Lord, lead me in your righteousness because of those who spy on me. Make your way in front of me smooth.
- Psalms 27:11Teach me your way, O Lord. Lead me on a level path because I have enemies who spy on me.
- Psalms 89:49Where is the evidence of your mercy, Lord? You swore an oath to David on ⌞the basis of⌟ your faithfulness.
- Psalms 143:1O Lord, listen to my prayer. Open your ears to hear my urgent requests. Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.
Commentaries on Psalms 54:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5He shall reward evil - Saul and his courtiers, instead of having God's approbation, shall have his curse. Cut them off in thy truth - Thou hast promised to save me; these have purposed to destroy me. Thy truth is engaged in my defence; they will destroy me if permitted to live: to save thy truth, and to accomplish its promises, thou must cut them off.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5He shall reward evil unto mine enemies - Margin, “those that observe me.” The original word here means literally “to twist, to twist together;” then, to press together; then, to “oppress,” or to treat as an enemy. The reference here is to those who pressed upon him as enemies, or who endeavored to crush him. The idea is that God would recompense them for this conduct, or that he would deal with them as they deserved. Cut them off in thy truth - In thy…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-7Verses 4-7 Behold, God is mine Helper. If we are for him, he is for us; and if he is for us, we need not fear. Every creature is that to us, and no more, which God makes it to be. The Lord will in due time save his people, and in the mean time he sustains them, and bears them up, so that the spirit he has made shall not fail. There is truth in God's threatenings, as well as in his promises; sinners that repent not, will find it so to their cost. David's…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-7This personal lament was caused by violent and godless people (Psalm 54:3). The psalmist prays to God and focuses on God's help (54:4). He asks God to save him from evil and judge his enemies (Psalm 54:5, 7).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. He shall ... evil--or, "Evil shall return on" (Psa 7:16) my enemies or watchers, that is, to do me evil (Psa 6:7). in thy truth--Thy verified promise.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 54:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 54
- 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
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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