Psalms 7:9

Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

Oh let the wickedness {H7451} of the wicked {H7563} come to an end {H1584}; but establish {H3559} the just {H6662}: for the righteous {H6662} God {H430} trieth {H974} the hearts {H3826} and reins {H3629}.

Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and establish the righteous; since you, righteous God, test hearts and minds.

Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.

Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish thou the righteous: For the righteous God trieth the minds and hearts.

Psalm 7:9 is a fervent prayer for divine justice, expressing a deep trust in God's perfect discernment. The psalmist, likely David, cries out for the cessation of evil and the firm establishment of the righteous, grounding this plea in the foundational truth that God meticulously examines the innermost being of every person.

Context

This verse is part of Psalm 7, a Shiggaion of David, which is a passionate and perhaps wandering song or lament. The superscription attributes it to David concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite, suggesting a time when David was falsely accused or persecuted. In this psalm, David appeals to God as his righteous judge, asserting his innocence and seeking God's intervention against his adversaries. Verse 9 encapsulates this plea, moving from personal vindication to a broader desire for universal justice, confident that God's judgment is based on truth, not outward appearance.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Judgment: The central theme is God's unwavering commitment to justice. The psalmist appeals to God as the ultimate arbiter, who will bring an end to wickedness and uphold the upright. This reflects a deep conviction in God's moral governance of the world.
  • God's Omniscience and Discernment: The phrase "trieth the hearts and reins" highlights God's perfect knowledge. He sees beyond external actions, penetrating the deepest thoughts, motives, and intentions of every individual. This truth provides comfort to the innocent and warning to the wicked.
  • The Establishment of the Just: Beyond merely punishing evil, the prayer also seeks the positive outcome of God establishing, or making firm, those who are righteous. This speaks to God's desire to bless and secure His faithful servants.
  • Prayer for Intervention: The verse is a powerful example of a believer's cry for God to act in a world often marked by injustice, trusting that God will ultimately set things right.

Linguistic Insights

  • "trieth" (Hebrew: bachan - בָּחַן): This word means to test, prove, examine, or discern. It implies a thorough and searching examination, like refining metal to separate impurities. It signifies God's precise and infallible judgment.
  • "hearts and reins" (Hebrew: lev - לֵב and kilyah - כִּלְיָה):
    • Lev (heart) traditionally denotes the seat of intellect, emotion, will, and moral character. It encompasses one's thoughts, intentions, and inner self.
    • Kilyah (reins, literally "kidneys") was anciently believed to be the seat of the deepest emotions, conscience, and innermost desires. Together, "hearts and reins" is a powerful Hebrew idiom representing the entirety of a person's inner being, their most secret thoughts, motivations, and hidden character. God sees not just what we do, but why we do it.

Related Scriptures

Practical Application

Psalm 7:9 offers profound comfort and challenge for believers today:

  • Comfort in Injustice: When faced with unfairness or the apparent triumph of evil, this verse reminds us that God sees everything. We can confidently bring our pleas for justice to Him, knowing He is a righteous judge who will ultimately right all wrongs.
  • Call to Self-Examination: The knowledge that God "trieth the hearts and reins" should lead to humble introspection. It encourages us to examine our own motives, thoughts, and deepest desires, striving for integrity and purity before God.
  • Trust in God's Timing: While we desire immediate justice, the verse encourages trust in God's perfect timing and method. His judgment is not hasty but thorough, ensuring that all things are revealed and addressed in His perfect wisdom.
  • Confidence in God's Upholding Power: For those who genuinely strive to live righteously, there is assurance that God will establish and strengthen them, even amidst adversity.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 11:20

    But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.

  • Jeremiah 17:10

    I the LORD search the heart, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.

  • Jeremiah 20:12

    But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, [and] seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.

  • 1 Samuel 16:7

    But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

  • 1 Chronicles 28:9

    And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

  • Psalms 139:1

    ¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known [me].

  • Psalms 11:5

    The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

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