Psalms 140:9

KJV

[As for] the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

KJV (with Strong's)

As for the head {H7218} of those that compass me about {H4524}, let the mischief {H5999} of their own lips {H8193} cover {H3680} them.

Complete Jewish Bible

May the heads of those who surround me be engulfed in the evil they spoke of, themselves.

Berean Standard Bible

May the heads of those who surround me be covered in the trouble their lips have caused.

American Standard Version

As for the head of those that compass me about, Let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 140:9 is a potent imprecatory prayer from David, appealing to divine justice against his adversaries. It specifically targets the ringleaders of those who maliciously oppose him, asking that the very evil and destructive words they utter would boomerang back upon them, overwhelming and silencing their malicious intentions. This verse encapsulates a plea for God's righteous judgment to manifest, ensuring that the wicked are ensnared by their own devices and that their harmful speech becomes their undoing.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 140 is a fervent lament, a desperate cry from David for deliverance from violent and deceitful enemies. It opens with an urgent plea for rescue from "evil men" and "violent men," setting a tone of immediate danger and distress, as seen in [Psalm 140:1,2](/psalms/140-1-2 "Psalm 140:1-2 - A Prayer for Deliverance from Violent Men"). Throughout the psalm, David vividly describes the malicious nature of his foes, likening their tongues to serpents and their words to poison, emphasizing the verbal nature of their attacks, as detailed in [Psalm 140:3](/psalms/140-3 "Psalm 140:3 - Poisonous Tongues of the Wicked"). He details their cunning traps and snares set for him, illustrating their deceptive strategies, as highlighted in [Psalm 140:5](/psalms/140-5 "Psalm 140:5 - Snares of the Wicked"). Amidst this distress, David consistently expresses his unwavering trust in the Lord as his strength and refuge, a recurring theme of reliance on divine protection, articulated in [Psalm 140:7](/psalms/140-7 "Psalm 140:7 - God, My Strength and Shield"). Verse 9, therefore, is a specific petition within this broader lament, focusing on the ultimate undoing of the enemy's leadership through their own destructive speech, culminating in a confident affirmation of God's justice for the afflicted and the righteous, as declared in [Psalm 140:12,13](/psalms/140-12-13 "Psalm 140:12-13 - God Upholds the Cause of the Afflicted").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While the specific historical occasion for Psalm 140 is not explicitly stated, its themes resonate with numerous periods in David's life when he faced relentless persecution from adversaries like Saul, Doeg the Edomite, or various foreign enemies. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, verbal curses and blessings were believed to possess real power, capable of affecting outcomes in the physical and spiritual realms. Malicious speech, slander, and false accusations were not merely social transgressions but were seen as acts of violence, capable of destroying a person's reputation, livelihood, or even life. Kings and leaders, like David, were particularly vulnerable to plots and conspiracies often initiated through deceptive words and secret counsel. David's plea for God to turn the "mischief of their own lips" back upon his enemies reflects a common understanding of poetic justice, where the punishment fits the crime, often mirroring the very means by which the offense was committed. This reflects a deep-seated belief in divine retribution, where God actively intervenes to uphold justice in a world often characterized by human injustice and the abuse of power.

* **Key Themes:** This verse significantly contributes to several overarching themes within the Psalms and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Justice and Retribution**, articulating a profound desire for God to intervene and ensure that the wicked face the consequences of their own malevolent actions and words. It highlights the principle that evil deeds, particularly those rooted in malicious speech, often boomerang upon the perpetrator, a concept echoed throughout wisdom literature, such as in [Proverbs 26:27](/proverbs/26-27 "Proverbs 26:27 - The Pit and the Stone"). Secondly, the verse emphasizes the **Power and Peril of Speech**. David repeatedly highlights the destructive nature of his enemies' words, portraying them as weapons, as seen in [Psalm 57:4](/psalms/57-4 "Psalm 57:4 - My Soul is Among Lions"). This serves as a stark reminder that words are not inert; they carry immense power, and destructive speech can ultimately lead to one's own downfall, aligning with the wisdom found in [Proverbs 18:21](/proverbs/18-21 "Proverbs 18:21 - The Power of the Tongue"). Finally, it reinforces the theme of **God as the Ultimate Avenger**. Rather than resorting to personal revenge, David appeals directly to God, entrusting his cause to the divine Judge. This aligns with the broader biblical teaching that vengeance belongs to the Lord, as articulated in [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Vengeance is the Lord's"). This reliance on God's justice is a hallmark of the righteous throughout the Psalter, such as in [Psalm 7](/psalms/7 "Psalm 7 - A Prayer for Justice").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Head (Hebrew, _rôʼsh'_):** This term (H7218) primarily signifies the literal head, but more profoundly, it denotes the leader, chief, or principal figure. In this context, it refers to the ringleader or the most prominent among David's adversaries, the instigators of the malicious plots. David is not merely praying against a nameless multitude but specifically targeting the masterminds and key figures of the opposition, indicating a desire for the source of the evil to be neutralized and for the leadership of the wicked to be dismantled.
* **Mischief (Hebrew, _ʻâmâl'_):** Derived from a root implying toil or wearing effort, _ʻâmâl'_ (H5999) carries a strong connotation of trouble, wickedness, injurious toil, or perverseness. It describes not just harmless talk, but speech that is actively designed to cause harm, indicating malicious intent, suffering, or the fruit of wickedness. It points to the destructive, painful, and burdensome nature of the words uttered by the enemies, emphasizing their corrupt and injurious purpose.
* **Cover (Hebrew, _kâçâh'_):** This primitive root (H3680) properly means to plump, fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy), conceal, or overwhelm. In this verse, the imagery suggests that the "mischief of their own lips" will not merely affect them but will completely engulf, overwhelm, or bury them. It implies a total and inescapable consequence, where their own evil words become a shroud or a flood that smothers and destroys them, indicating a complete reversal of their intended harm and a full measure of divine judgment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"[As for] the head of those that compass me about":** This clause identifies the primary target of David's imprecation: the leaders or chief instigators among his enemies. The phrase "compass me about" (from H4524, _mêçab'_) vividly portrays the adversaries as surrounding David, indicating a state of being besieged or encircled by hostile forces. This suggests both numerical superiority and strategic encirclement, highlighting the psalmist's vulnerability. David's focus on the "head" implies a desire for the source of the opposition and its leadership to be directly confronted by divine judgment.
* **"let the mischief of their own lips":** This is the core of David's petition and the instrument of divine retribution. He is not asking for external harm to befall them, but for the very "mischief" (wickedness, injurious words, malicious intent) that originates from "their own lips" (their speech, their counsel, their curses, their false accusations) to be the instrument of their downfall. This highlights the self-destructive nature of evil speech and the principle of poetic justice. The "lips" symbolize not just vocal utterances but also the source of their wicked plots and deceptive counsel.
* **"cover them":** This concluding phrase signifies the desired outcome and the powerful imagery of judgment. The "mischief" emanating from their lips is to "cover" or overwhelm them. This powerful imagery suggests that their own evil words will become their undoing, engulfing them entirely. It implies that their destructive speech will not only fail to harm David but will instead become a blanket of judgment, a flood of consequences, or a suffocating shroud that smothers and silences them, preventing further malice and bringing about their just retribution.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 140:9 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its fervent plea for justice. The most prominent is **Imprecation**, where the psalmist invokes divine judgment or calamity directly upon his enemies. This is a direct prayer for God to act decisively against the wicked. **Metaphor** and **Imagery** are also central, particularly in the striking phrase "let the mischief of their own lips cover them." Here, the "mischief" (evil words, plots, malicious intent) is metaphorically depicted as a tangible substance or force—like a blanket, a flood, or a shroud—that can "cover" or overwhelm, creating a vivid mental image of the enemies being suffocated, buried, or consumed by their own wickedness. This powerful imagery also embodies **Poetic Justice**, where the punishment perfectly mirrors the crime; the very instrument of their intended harm (their malicious lips and the words they utter) becomes the means of their destruction. There is also a subtle but potent element of **Irony**, as the words intended to destroy David ultimately boomerang, leading to the destruction or downfall of the speakers themselves.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully articulates a foundational biblical principle: the self-destructive nature of wickedness and the certainty of divine justice. It reflects the theological conviction that God is not merely a passive observer of human affairs but an active upholder of righteousness who will ultimately repay evil. David's prayer is not an act of personal vengeance, but a surrender of the cause to God, trusting that the Lord's perfect justice will ensure that the wicked are ensnared by their own devices. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative where God's character as a righteous judge is consistently revealed, promising vindication for the oppressed and retribution for the oppressor, often through the very means by which they sought to inflict harm. It underscores the divine principle that what one sows, one will also reap.

* [Psalm 7:15](/psalms/7-15 "Psalm 7:15 - The Wicked Fall into Their Own Pit")
* [Proverbs 1:31](/proverbs/1-31 "Proverbs 1:31 - Consequences of Rejecting Wisdom")
* [Galatians 6:7](/galatians/6-7 "Galatians 6:7 - Sowing and Reaping")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the imprecatory nature of this psalm can be challenging for modern readers, it offers profound lessons for believers navigating a world often marked by injustice and malicious opposition. David's prayer serves as a powerful model for how to respond when faced with relentless adversaries: rather than succumbing to despair or seeking personal revenge, we are called to bring our grievances directly to God. This verse encourages us to trust implicitly in God's perfect justice, believing that He sees every injustice and will, in His sovereign timing and wisdom, bring about righteous judgment. It reminds us that our ultimate vindication comes from the Lord, freeing us from the burden of retaliation and allowing us to focus on living righteously and loving our enemies. Furthermore, the verse serves as a potent warning about the destructive power of our own words. Just as the "mischief of their own lips" was to "cover them," so too can our own negative, critical, or destructive speech ultimately bring ruin upon ourselves or those around us. It calls us to cultivate speech that builds up, encourages, and speaks truth in love, recognizing the profound impact of every word we utter and striving for words that bring life, not death.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does entrusting our desire for justice to God free us from the burden of personal revenge and empower us to love our enemies?**
* **In what ways might the "mischief of our own lips" manifest in our lives or relationships today, and how can we guard against it?**
* **What practical steps can we take to ensure our words are a source of life and blessing, rather than harm, reflecting the character of Christ?**

### FAQ
**Is it appropriate for Christians to pray imprecatory psalms like Psalm 140:9?**

Answer: Imprecatory psalms, while initially unsettling, are part of the inspired Word of God and reflect raw human emotion in the face of profound injustice. For Christians, these prayers are not licenses for personal vengeance but expressions of a deep longing for God's righteous justice to prevail. They remind us that God is a just judge who will ultimately right all wrongs. When we pray such psalms, we are aligning ourselves with God's ultimate desire for justice, entrusting the execution of that justice to Him alone, rather than taking it into our own hands. They teach us to bring our pain and anger to God, trusting His perfect timing and methods, as seen in [Romans 12:19-21](/romans/12-19-21 "Romans 12:19-21 - Vengeance Belongs to God"). These psalms also serve as a prophetic declaration of God's future judgment upon all evil.

**What does "let the mischief of their own lips cover them" mean in practical terms?**

Answer: This phrase is a powerful poetic expression of divine retribution. It means that the evil words, plots, and malicious intentions that the enemies articulate will ultimately become their undoing. Their own destructive speech will backfire, leading to their downfall, exposure, or ruin. It suggests that their words, intended to harm David, will instead become a trap or a shroud that overwhelms and silences them. This concept is echoed in other wisdom literature, such as [Proverbs 26:27](/proverbs/26-27 "Proverbs 26:27 - He Who Digs a Pit Will Fall Into It") and [Psalm 9:15-16](/psalms/9-15-16 "Psalm 9:15-16 - The Nations are Trapped in Their Own Devices"), where the wicked fall into the very pit they dug for others. It emphasizes that evil, particularly that expressed through malicious speech, carries inherent self-destructive consequences, often through God's providential reversal of their plans.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 140:9 finds its ultimate fulfillment and transformation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While David prayed for his enemies' words to cover them, Christ, the ultimate Davidic King and Suffering Servant, willingly allowed the "mischief" and malicious words of His enemies to "cover" Him on the cross. The false accusations, the shouts of "Crucify him!" ([Luke 23:21](/luke/23-21 "Luke 23:21 - Crucify Him!")), and the mocking insults hurled by passersby ([Matthew 27:39](/matthew/27-39 "Matthew 27:39 - Those Who Passed By Hurled Insults")) were indeed the "mischief of their lips" that seemed to overwhelm Him. However, in a profound and paradoxical reversal of the imprecation, Christ's suffering under these words was not His defeat but the very means by which He triumphed over sin, death, and the powers of darkness. His silence before His accusers, as prophesied in [Isaiah 53:7](/isaiah/53-7 "Isaiah 53:7 - He Was Led Like a Lamb to the Slaughter"), demonstrated a divine patience and submission to the Father's will that far surpassed David's plea for retribution. Ultimately, the "head" of those who compassed Him about, Satan himself, was decisively defeated by Christ's sacrificial love and resurrection, not by a direct imprecation of words but by the power of the cross ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")). Through Christ, the principle of divine justice is perfectly upheld, not merely by the wicked being covered by their own words, but by the Lamb of God taking away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), offering forgiveness even to those whose lips uttered the most profound mischief against Him ([Luke 23:34](/luke/23-34 "Luke 23:34 - Father, Forgive Them")). Thus, the longing for justice in Psalm 140:9 is met in Christ's redemptive work, where evil is overcome by good, and divine judgment is perfectly executed through grace and truth, securing eternal victory for His people.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 7:16

His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

Proverbs 18:7

A fool's mouth [is] his destruction, and his lips [are] the snare of his soul.

Proverbs 12:13

¶ The wicked is snared by the transgression of [his] lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

Psalms 94:23

And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; [yea], the LORD our God shall cut them off.

Proverbs 10:6

¶ Blessings [are] upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

Psalms 64:8

So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.

Proverbs 10:11

¶ The mouth of a righteous [man is] a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.