Revised Literal Translation
Psalms 140:9
9As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
Psalms 140:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
- New International Version (NIV)Those who surround me proudly rear their heads; may the mischief of their lips engulf them.
- English Standard Version (ESV)As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
- New King James Version (NKJV)“As for the head of those who surround me, Let the evil of their lips cover them;
Context of Psalms 140:9
7O Yhwh the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. 8Grant not, O Yhwh, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah. As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them. 10Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again. 11Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
Read all of Psalms 140Psalms 140:9 word by word
רֹ֥אשׁ מְסִבָּ֑י עֲמַ֖ל שְׂפָתֵ֣ימוֹ יְכַסֵּֽמוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Psalms 140:9
- Psalms 7:16His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
- Psalms 64:8So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.
- Psalms 94:23And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, Yhwh our God shall cut them off.
- Esther 5:14Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.
- Esther 7:10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.
- Proverbs 10:6Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
- Proverbs 12:13The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.
- Proverbs 18:7A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
- Matthew 27:25Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
Commentaries on Psalms 140:9
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9As for the head of those that compass me about - Luther renders this, “The calamity which my enemies design against me must fall upon their own heads.” The passage stands in contrast with Psalm 140:7: “Thou hast covered my head,” etc. As for his own head, it had been protected in the day of battle. In reference now to the heads of his enemies - of those that compassed him about - he prays that what they had designed for “his” head might come by a just…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-13Verses 8-13 Believers may pray that God would not grant the desires of the wicked, nor further their evil devices. False accusers will bring mischief upon themselves, even the burning coals of Divine vengeance. And surely the righteous shall dwell in God's presence, and give him thanks for evermore. This is true thanksgiving, even thanks-living: this use we should make of all our deliverances, we should serve God the more closely and cheerfully. Those…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-11The psalmist prays for God’s judgment on the wicked.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. Contrasts his head covered by God (Psa 140:7) with theirs, or (as "head" may be used for "persons") with them, covered with the results of their wicked deeds (Psa 7:16).Read the comment
- Rashi on Tanakh · v. 9the desires of the wicked The wicked Esau.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 140:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 140
- 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
Revised Literal Translation — © 2018 Michael W. Jones, Sr. — GPL
Commentaries