King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue [is] mischief and vanity.
Complete Jewish Bible:
His mouth is full of curses, deceit, oppression; under his tongue, mischief and injustice.
Berean Standard Bible:
His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and violence; trouble and malice are under his tongue.
American Standard Version:
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression: Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
His mouth{H6310} is full{H4390} of cursing{H423} and deceit{H4820} and fraud{H8496}: under his tongue{H3956} is mischief{H5999} and vanity{H205}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Psalms 7:14
- Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
Job 20:12
- Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, [though] he hide it under his tongue;
Psalms 73:8
- They are corrupt, and speak wickedly [concerning] oppression: they speak loftily.
James 3:6
- And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
James 3:8
- But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Psalms 64:3
- Who whet their tongue like a sword, [and] bend [their bows to shoot] their arrows, [even] bitter words:
Psalms 140:3
- They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison [is] under their lips. Selah.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Psalms 10:7
Psalm 10:7, part of a larger section often categorized as Psalms 9 and 10, is attributed to King David and reflects a lament and cry for help against the wicked. This verse specifically describes the malevolent speech of the wicked, emphasizing the corruption that seems to constantly pour forth from their mouths. The themes here include the power of words to deceive and harm, as well as the duplicity of the wicked, who harbor mischief and emptiness beneath a deceptive exterior.
Historically, the Psalms were used in Jewish worship and reflect a range of human emotions and experiences, from praise and thanksgiving to lament and petition. In the context of Psalm 10, the speaker is surrounded by oppressors who seem to prosper despite their iniquity. The verse paints a vivid picture of the moral decay manifested in the words and actions of these adversaries. It speaks to the timeless struggle between righteousness and wickedness, a theme that resonates across various cultures and eras.
The verse uses strong language to convey the severity of the wicked's behavior: "cursing," "deceit," "fraud," "mischief," and "vanity." These terms suggest a comprehensive catalog of sinful speech, indicating that the wicked person's entire manner of communication is tainted. The phrase "under his tongue" implies that such behavior is not just an occasional slip but a deeply ingrained character trait, hidden from casual observation yet ever-present.
In summary, Psalm 10:7 poignantly captures the essence of the wicked individual's speech as a reflection of their inner corruption. It serves as a powerful commentary on the nature of evil, highlighting the stark contrast between the righteous and the unrighteous, and underscores the importance of integrity in speech and action within the moral framework of the Hebrew scriptures. This verse would have resonated with the ancient Israelite audience as a call to recognize and reject the deceitfulness of the wicked, and it continues to challenge readers to consider the moral implications of their own words and deeds.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6310
There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פֶּה
Transliteration: peh
Pronunciation: peh
Description: from פָּאָה; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to; accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), [idiom] eat, edge, end, entry, [phrase] file, hole, [idiom] in, mind, mouth, part, portion, [idiom] (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, tenor, [idiom] to, [phrase] two-edged, wish, word. - Strong's Number: H4390
There are 240 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָלֵא
Transliteration: mâlêʼ
Pronunciation: maw-lay'
Description: or מָלָא; (Esther 7:5), a primitive root; to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively); accomplish, confirm, [phrase] consecrate, be at an end, be expired, be fenced, fill, fulfil, (be, become, [idiom] draw, give in, go) full(-ly, -ly set, tale), (over-) flow, fulness, furnish, gather (selves, together), presume, replenish, satisfy, set, space, take a (hand-) full, [phrase] have wholly. - Strong's Number: H423
There are 52 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָלָה
Transliteration: ʼâlâh
Pronunciation: aw-law'
Description: from אָלָה; an imprecation; curse, cursing, execration, oath, swearing. - Strong's Number: H4820
There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִרְמָה
Transliteration: mirmâh
Pronunciation: meer-maw'
Description: from רָמָה in the sense of deceiving; fraud; craft, deceit(-ful, -fully), false, feigned, guile, subtilly, treachery. - Strong's Number: H8496
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תֹּךְ
Transliteration: tôk
Pronunciation: toke
Description: or תּוֹך; (Psalm 72:14), from the same base as תָּוֶךְ (in the sense of cutting to pieces); oppression; deceit, fraud. - Strong's Number: H3956
There are 115 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָשׁוֹן
Transliteration: lâshôwn
Pronunciation: law-shone'
Description: or לָשֹׁן; also (in plural) feminine לְשֹׁנָה; from לָשַׁן; the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water); [phrase] babbler, bay, [phrase] evil speaker, language, talker, tongue, wedge. - Strong's Number: H5999
There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָמָל
Transliteration: ʻâmâl
Pronunciation: aw-mawl'
Description: from עָמַל; toil, i.e. wearing effort; hence, worry, wheth. of body or mind; grievance(-vousness), iniquity, labour, mischief, miserable(-sery), pain(-ful), perverseness, sorrow, toil, travail, trouble, wearisome, wickedness. - Strong's Number: H205
There are 101 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָוֶן
Transliteration: ʼâven
Pronunciation: aw-ven'
Description: from an unused root perhaps meaning properly, to pant (hence, to exert oneself, usually in vain; to come to naught); strictly nothingness; also trouble. vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol; affliction, evil, false, idol, iniquity, mischief, mourners(-ing), naught, sorrow, unjust, unrighteous, vain, vanity, wicked(-ness). Compare אַיִן.