God’s Word Translation
Psalms 7:4
4if I have paid back my friend with evil or rescued someone who has no reason to attack me—
Psalms 7:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)
- New International Version (NIV)if I have repaid my ally with evil or without cause have robbed my foe—
- English Standard Version (ESV)if I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause,
- New King James Version (NKJV)If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, Or have plundered my enemy without cause,
Context of Psalms 7:4
2Like a lion they will tear me to pieces and drag me off with no one to rescue me. 3O Lord my God, if I have done this— if my hands are stained with injustice, if I have paid back my friend with evil or rescued someone who has no reason to attack me— 5then let the enemy chase me and catch me. Let him trample my life into the ground. Let him lay my honor in the dust. Selah 6Arise in anger, O Lord. Stand up against the fury of my attackers. Wake up, my God. You have already pronounced judgment.
Read all of Psalms 7Psalms 7:4 word by word
אִם־גָּ֭מַלְתִּי שֽׁוֹלְמִ֥י רָ֑ע וָאֲחַלְּצָ֖ה צוֹרְרִ֣י רֵיקָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 7:4
- Psalms 55:20⌞My best friend⌟ has betrayed his friends. He has broken his solemn promise.
- Psalms 109:5They reward me with evil instead of good and with hatred instead of love.
- Genesis 44:4They had not gone far from the city when Joseph said to the man in charge of his house, “Go after those men at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them, ‘Why have you paid me back with evil when I was good to you?
- Proverbs 17:3The crucible is for refining silver and the smelter for gold, but the one who purifies hearts ⌞by fire⌟ is the Lord.
- Jeremiah 18:20Good should not be paid back with evil. They dig a pit to take my life. Remember how I stood in your presence and pleaded for them in order to turn your anger away from them.
- 1 Samuel 24:7So David stopped his men by saying this to them and didn’t let them attack Saul. Saul left the cave and went out onto the road.
- 1 Samuel 26:9“Don’t kill him!” David told Abishai. “No one has ever attacked the Lord’s anointed king and remained free of guilt.
- 1 Samuel 19:4So Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul. “You should not commit a sin against your servant David,” he said. “He hasn’t sinned against you. Instead, he has done some very fine things for you:
- 1 Samuel 20:1David fled from the pastures at Ramah, came to Jonathan, and asked, “What have I done? What crime am I guilty of? What sin have I committed against your father that he’s trying to kill me?”
- 1 Samuel 22:14Ahimelech asked the king, “But whom among all your officials can you trust like David? Your Majesty, he’s your son-in-law, the commander of your bodyguard. He’s honored in your own household.
- 1 Samuel 24:11My master, look at this! The border of your robe is in my hand! Since I cut off the border of your robe and didn’t kill you, you should know and be able to see I mean no harm or rebellion. I haven’t sinned against you, but you are trying to ambush me in order to take my life.
- 1 Samuel 25:28Please forgive my offense. The Lord will certainly give you, sir, a lasting dynasty, because you are fighting the Lord’s battles. May evil never be found in you as long as you live.
- 1 Samuel 26:21“My servant David,” Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back. I will not harm you again, because you valued my life today. I’ve acted like a fool and made a terrible mistake.”
Commentaries on Psalms 7:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Yea, I have delivered him - When, in the course of thy providence, thou didst put his life in my hand in the cave, I contented myself with cutting off his skirt, merely to show him the danger he had been in, and the spirit of the man whom he accused of designs against his life; and yet even for this my heart smote me, because it appeared to be an indignity offered to him who was the Lord 's anointed. This fact, and my venturing my life frequently for his…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me - If I have done evil; or if I have requited him that was friendly by some unjust and evil conduct. If I have come upon him wantonly and unprovoked, and have done him wrong. This seems to have been the substance of the accusation; and, as remarked above, it is most probable that the accuser (Cush) referred to himself. Yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy - So far is this from…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-5The psalmist declares his innocence, opening himself up to examination (Psalm 7:9).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. If I have injured my friend. yea, I have delivered, &c.--This makes a good sense, but interrupts the course of thought, and hence it is proposed to render, "if I have spoiled my enemy"--in either case (compare 1Sa 24:4-17; 31:8, 11).Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 7:4
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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