New English Translation
Psalms 7:12
12If a person does not repent, God sharpens his sword and prepares to shoot 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied 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.
Context of Psalms 7:12
10The Exalted God is my shield, the one who delivers the morally upright. 11God is a just judge; he is angry throughout the day. If a person does not repent, God sharpens his sword and prepares to shoot his bow. 13He prepares to use deadly weapons against him; he gets ready to shoot flaming arrows. 14See the one who is pregnant with wickedness, who conceives destructive plans, and gives birth to harmful 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, O God our deliverer! Do not be displeased with us!
- Isaiah 55:6Seek the Lord while he makes himself available; call to him while he is nearby!
- Jeremiah 31:18I have indeed heard the people of Israel say mournfully, ‘We were like a calf untrained to the yoke. You disciplined us and we learned from it. Let us come back to you and we will do so, for you are the Lord our God.
- Ezekiel 18:30“Therefore I will judge each person according to his conduct, O house of Israel, declares the sovereign Lord. Repent and turn from all your wickedness; then it will not be an obstacle leading to iniquity.
- Ezekiel 33:11Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but prefer that the wicked change his behavior and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil deeds! Why should you die, O house of Israel?’
- Matthew 3:10Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
- Acts 3:19Therefore repent and turn back so that your sins may be wiped out,
- Deuteronomy 32:41I will sharpen my lightning-like sword, and my hand will grasp hold of the weapon of judgment; I will execute vengeance on my foes, and repay those who hate me!
- Isaiah 27:1At that time the Lord will punish with his destructive, great, and powerful sword Leviathan the fast-moving serpent, Leviathan the squirming serpent; he will kill the sea monster.
- Isaiah 34:5He says, “Indeed, my sword has slaughtered heavenly powers. Look, it now descends on Edom, on the people I will annihilate in judgment.”
- Ezekiel 21:9“Son of man, prophesy and say: ‘This is what the Lord says: “‘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
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