New International Version
Psalms 7:16
16The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads.
Psalms 7:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
- English Standard Version (ESV)His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.
- New King James Version (NKJV)His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The trouble they make for others backfires on them. The violence they plan falls on their own heads.
Context of Psalms 7:16
14Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment. 15Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made. The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads. 17I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.
Read all of Psalms 7Psalms 7:16 word by word
יָשׁ֣וּב עֲמָל֣וֹ בְרֹאשׁ֑וֹ וְעַ֥ל קָ֝דְקֳד֗וֹ חֲמָס֥וֹ יֵרֵֽד׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 7:16
- Psalms 36:4Even on their beds they plot evil; they commit themselves to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong.
- Psalms 37:12The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;
- 1 Samuel 23:9When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”
- 1 Samuel 24:12May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you.
- 1 Samuel 26:10As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.
- 1 Samuel 28:19The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”
- 1 Samuel 31:3The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him critically.
- 1 Kings 2:32The Lord will repay him for the blood he shed, because without my father David knowing it he attacked two men and killed them with the sword. Both of them—Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army—were better men and more upright than he.
- Esther 9:25But when the plot came to the king’s attention, he issued written orders that the evil scheme Haman had devised against the Jews should come back onto his own head, and that he and his sons should be impaled on poles.
- Malachi 2:3“Because of you I will rebuke your descendants; I will smear on your faces the dung from your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it.
Commentaries on Psalms 7:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Shall come down upon his own pate - Upon his scalp, קדקד kodkod, the top of the head. It may refer to knocking the criminal on the head, in order to deprive him of life. Had scalping been known in those days, I should have thought the reference might be to that barbarous custom.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16His mischief - The mischief which he had designed for others. Shall return upon his own head - Shall come upon himself. The blow which he aimed at others shall recoil on himself. This is but stating in another form the sentiment which had been expressed in the two previous verses. The language used here has something of a proverbial cast, and perhaps was common in the time of the writer to express this idea. And his violent dealing - Which he shows to…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. 1-17This psalm includes the following: A lament (Psalm 7:1–2): The psalmist cries out to God for help and protection from enemies. An oath of innocence (Psalm 7:3–5): The psalmist declares that he has done no wrong and maintains his integrity. A call for God's justice (Psalm 7:6–9): He asks God to act against evildoers and defend the righteous. An affirmation of God’s just kingship (Psalm 7:10–16): The psalmist praises God as a fair judge who rules the world…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-1615-16. 1Sa 18:17; 31:2 illustrate the statement whether alluded to or not. These verses are expository of Psa 7:14, showing how the devices of the wicked end in disappointment, falsifying their expectations.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 7:16
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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