Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek [their bread] also out of their desolate places.
Let his children {H1121} be continually {H5128} vagabonds {H5128}, and beg {H7592}: let them seek {H1875} their bread also out of their desolate places {H2723}.
May his children be wandering beggars, foraging for food from their ruined homes.
May his children wander as beggars, seeking sustenance far from their ruined homes.
Let his children be vagabonds, and beg; And let them seek their bread out of their desolate places.
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Psalms 37:25
I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. -
Genesis 4:12
When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. -
Genesis 4:14
Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, [that] every one that findeth me shall slay me. -
Job 24:8
They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter. -
Job 24:12
Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly [to them]. -
Job 30:3
For want and famine [they were] solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste. -
Job 30:9
And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.
Psalm 109:10 (KJV) is a powerful and often challenging verse found within an imprecatory psalm, a type of prayer where the psalmist calls upon God to execute judgment against an enemy. This specific verse expresses a desire for the adversary's children to experience extreme hardship.
Context of Psalm 109
Psalm 109 is attributed to David, who is deeply distressed by a treacherous and deceitful enemy who has repaid his good with evil. The psalmist feels unjustly attacked and slandered, and he pours out his heart to God, seeking divine intervention. The preceding verses in this psalm contain severe curses upon the adversary, wishing for their days to be few, their office to be taken by another, and their family to suffer. This verse, Psalm 109:10, extends the desired judgment to the enemy's offspring.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew term for "vagabonds," nud (נוּד), conveys a sense of restless wandering, often associated with a curse or exile, as seen in the story of Cain (Genesis 4:12). The phrase "seek their bread" highlights extreme poverty, where even basic sustenance is hard-won from barren, ruined places. This paints a picture of complete and ongoing deprivation, a stark contrast to the blessing of provision often promised to the righteous.
Reflection and Application
Understanding Psalm 109:10 requires acknowledging the nature of imprecatory psalms as expressions of deep pain and a fervent desire for God's justice in a world where injustice often seemed to prevail. These psalms are not prescriptive commands for believers to curse their enemies, but rather raw prayers laid before a just God. For Christians, the New Testament offers a different perspective on dealing with enemies, emphasizing love and forgiveness, as taught by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:44) and by Paul, who instructs believers to leave vengeance to God (Romans 12:19). This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God is the ultimate judge, and all injustice will ultimately be addressed by Him, though His methods and timing may differ from human desires.