TRV
Translation
King James Version
Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.
Complete Jewish Bible
All my enemies will be confounded, completely terrified; they will turn back and be suddenly put to shame.
Berean Standard Bible
All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed; they will turn back in sudden disgrace.
American Standard Version
All mine enemies shall be put to shame and sore troubled: They shall turn back, they shall be put to shame suddenly.
World English Bible Messianic
May all my enemies be ashamed and dismayed. They shall turn back, they shall be disgraced suddenly.
Geneva Bible (1599)
All mine enemies shall be confounded and sore vexed: they shall be turned backe, and put to shame suddenly.
Young's Literal Translation
Ashamed and troubled greatly are all mine enemies, They turn back--ashamed in a moment!
In the KJVVerse 13,996 of 31,102
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Commentary on Psalms 6 verses 8–10
8 ¶ Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.
9 The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.
10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.
What a sudden change is here for the better! He that was groaning, and weeping, and giving up all for gone (Psa 6:6, Psa 6:7), here looks and speaks very pleasantly. Having made his requests known to God, and lodged his case with him, he is very confident the issue will be good and his sorrow is turned into joy.
I. He distinguishes himself from the wicked and ungodly, and fortifies himself against their insults (Psa 6:8): Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity. When he was in the depth of his distress, 1. He was afraid that God's wrath against him would give him his portion with the workers of iniquity; but now that this cloud of melancholy had blown over he was assured that his soul would not be gathered with sinners, for they are not his people. He began to suspect himself to be one of them because of the heavy pressures of God's wrath upon him; but now that all his fears were silenced he bade them depart, knowing that his lot was among the chosen. 2. The workers of iniquity had teased him, and taunted him, and asked him, "Where is thy God?" triumphing in his despondency and despair; but now he had wherewith to answer those that reproached him, for God, who was about to return in mercy to him, had now comforted his spirit and would shortly complete his deliverance. 3. Perhaps they had tempted him to do as they did, to quit his religion and betake himself for ease to the pleasures of sin. But now, "depart from me; I will never lend an ear to your counsel; you would have had me to curse God and die, but I will bless him and live." This good use we should make of God's mercies to us, we should thereby have our resolution strengthened never to have any thing more to do with sin and sinners. David was a king, and he takes this occasion to renew his purpose of using his power for the suppression of sin and the reformation of manners, Psa 75:4; Psa 101:3. When God has done great things for us, this should put us upon studying what we shall do for him. Our Lord Jesus seems to borrow these words from the mouth of his father David, when, having all judgment committed to him, he shall say, Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity (Luk 13:27), and so teaches us to say so now, Psa 119:115.
II. He assures himself that God was, and would be, propitious to him, notwithstanding the present intimations of wrath which he was under. 1. He is confident of a gracious answer to this prayer which he is now making. While he is yet speaking, he is aware that God hears (as Isa 65:24, Dan 9:20), and therefore speaks of it as a thing done, and repeats it with an air of triumph, "The Lord hath heard" (Psa 6:8), and again (Psa 6:9), "The Lord hath heard." By the workings of God's grace upon his heart he knew his prayer was graciously accepted, and therefore did not doubt but it would in due time be effectually answered. His tears had a voice, a loud voice, in the ears of the God of mercy: The Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. Silent tears are not speechless ones. His prayers were cries to God: "The Lord has heard the voice of my supplication, has put his Fiat - Let it be done, to my petitions, and so it will appear shortly." 2. Thence he infers the like favourable audience of all his other prayers: "He has heard the voice of my supplication, and therefore he will receive my prayer; for he gives, and does not upbraid with former grants."
III. He either prays for the conversion or predicts the destruction of his enemies and persecutors, Psa 6:10. 1. It may very well be taken as a prayer for their conversion: "Let them all be ashamed of the opposition they have given me and the censures they have passed upon me. Let them be (as all true penitents are) vexed at themselves for their own folly; let them return to a better temper and disposition of mind, and let them be ashamed of what they have done against me and take shame to themselves." 2. If they be not converted, it is a prediction of their confusion and ruin. They shall be ashamed and sorely vexed (so it maybe read), and that justly. They rejoiced that David was vexed (Psa 6:2, Psa 6:3), and therefore, as usually happens, the evil returns upon themselves; they also shall be sorely vexed. Those that will not give glory to God shall have their faces filled with everlasting shame.
In singing this, and praying over it, we must give glory to God, as a God ready to hear prayer, must own his goodness to us in hearing our prayers, and must encourage ourselves to wait upon him and to trust in him in the greatest straits and difficulties.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 8–10. Public domain.
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John ChrysostomAD 407
COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 6:6
It is as if we saw someone about to fall down a cliff and stopped him with the words, “Fellow, where are you heading? A cliff lies in front of you,” just so does this author demand that the evil people reverse their course. Likewise, too, unless you were quick to restrain a galloping horse, it would soon be lost. Likewise, too, when as frequently happens the poison of some serpent spreads through the whole of the body, physicians very promptly stop its spreading further, canceling its harmful effect. In exactly the same way do we behave, very promptly checking the evil in us lest it develop further and aggravate the ailment. The wounds of sin, you see, get worse when neglected, and the effects of disease and ill health do not stop short at wounds but even bring about undying death; similarly, if we dealt with small beginnings at the outset, greater consequences would not develop.… Accordingly, let us not be indifferent to the slightest sins but suppress them with great severity.
JeromeAD 420
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON PSALM 6
He prays not against his enemies but in their behalf so that they may be changed and may blush with shame at their sins; and they may blush not briefly but forcibly; not with delay but immediately.
Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 6
"Let all mine enemies be ashamed and vexed" [Psalm 6:10]. He said above, "depart from me all you:" which can take place, as it has been explained, even in this life: but as to what he says, "let them be ashamed and vexed," I do not see how it can happen, save on that day when the rewards of the righteous and the punishments of the sinners shall be made manifest. For at present so far are the ungodly from being ashamed, that they do not cease to insult us. And for the most part their mockings are of such avail, that they make the weak to be ashamed of the name of Christ. Hence it is said, "Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me before men, of him will I be ashamed before My Father." But now whosoever would fulfil those sublime commands, to disperse, to give to the poor, that his righteousness may endure for ever; and selling all his earthly goods, and spending them on the needy, would follow Christ, saying, "We brought nothing into this world, and truly we can carry nothing out; having food and raiment, let us be therewith content;" [1 Timothy 6:7-8] incurs the profane raillery of those men, and by those who will not be made whole, is called mad; and often to avoid being so called by desperate men, he fears to do, and puts off that, which the most faithful and powerful of all physicians has ordered. It is not then at present that these can be ashamed, by whom we have to wish that we be not made ashamed, and so be either called back from our proposed journey, or hindered, or delayed. But the time will come when they shall be ashamed, saying as it is written, "These are they whom we had sometimes in derision, and a parable of reproach: we fools counted their life madness, and their end to be without honour: how are they numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints? Therefore have we erred from the way of truth, and the light of righteousness has not shined into us, nor the sun risen upon us: we have been filled with the way of wickedness and destruction, and have walked through rugged deserts, but the way of the Lord we have not known. What has pride profited us, or what has the vaunting of riches brought us? All those things are passed away like a shadow." [Wisdom 5:3-9] But as to what he says, "Let them be turned and confounded," who would not judge it to be a most righteous punishment, that they should have a turning unto confusion, who would not have one unto salvation? After this he added, "exceeding quickly." For when the day of judgment shall have begun to be no longer looked for, when they shall have said, "Peace, then shall sudden destruction come upon them." [1 Thessalonians 5:3] Now whenever it come, that comes very quickly, of whose coming we give up all expectation; and nothing makes the length of this life be felt but the hope of living. For nothing seems more quick, than all that has already passed in it. When then the day of judgment shall come, then will sinners feel how that all the life which passes away is not long. Nor will that any way possibly seem to them to have come tardily, which shall have come without their desiring, or rather without their believing. Although it can too be taken in this place thus, that inasmuch as God has heard, so to say, her groans, and her long and frequent tears, she may be understood to be freed from her sins, and to have tamed every disordered impulse of carnal affection: as she says, "Depart from me, all you that work iniquity, for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping:" and when she has had this happy issue, it is no marvel if she be already so perfect as to pray for her enemies. The words then, "Let all mine enemies be ashamed, and vexed," may have this meaning; that they should repent of their sins, which cannot be effected without confusion and vexation. There is then nothing to hinder us from taking what follows too in this sense, "let them be turned and ashamed," that is, let them be turned to God, and be ashamed that they sometime gloried in the former darkness of their sins; as the Apostle says, "For what glory had ye sometime in those things of which you are now ashamed?" [Romans 6:21] But as to what he added, "exceeding quickly," it must be referred either to the warm affection of her wish, or to the power of Christ; who converts to the faith of the Gospel in such quick time the nations, which in their idols' cause did persecute the Church.
Theodoret of CyrusAD 458
COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 6:8
Let those who do not see their own iniquities and yet ridicule my failings mock me no longer. I won divine favor, in fact, and am confident that through my entreaties he will overlook my faults and make me a beneficiary of his pardon.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 6:10 culminates a deeply personal penitential psalm, marking a dramatic and confident shift from David's intense lament and plea for mercy to an unwavering declaration of faith in God's righteous intervention. After pouring out his anguish over profound physical and spiritual distress, exacerbated by the malicious intent of his adversaries, David expresses a renewed assurance that the Lord has heard and accepted his prayer. This final verse is a powerful, prophetic expectation of swift divine justice, anticipating the sudden and decisive shaming and confusion of his enemies, serving as a profound testament to God's ultimate vindication of the righteous.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 6:10 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message with dramatic force. The predominant device is the Imperative Mood, expressed through the repeated "Let them..." (or "May they..."), which functions as a confident prophetic declaration rather than a mere wish. This forceful appeal to divine action demonstrates David's unwavering certainty in God's imminent response. There is also a strong element of Parallelism, specifically Synonymous Parallelism, evident in the repetition of "be ashamed." The first instance sets the stage for their humiliation, while the second, coupled with "return" and "suddenly," reinforces and intensifies the idea of their complete and abrupt disgrace. The phrase "sore vexed" also contributes to Hyperbole, conveying an extreme level of distress and terror that amplifies the severity of their impending judgment. Finally, an underlying Irony pervades the verse: the enemies sought to shame and vex David through their persecution and malicious taunts, but the tables are dramatically turned, and they themselves will experience shame and vexation by divine decree.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 6:10, though an imprecatory prayer, is deeply rooted in the biblical understanding of God's justice and sovereignty. It reflects a profound trust that God is not indifferent to suffering or wickedness, nor will He allow evil to prevail indefinitely. While the New Testament calls believers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them, the psalm reminds us that God remains the ultimate arbiter of justice. David's prayer is an appeal for God to uphold His righteous character and vindicate His servant, not an act of personal vengeance. It teaches us that we can bring our deepest hurts and desire for justice before God, trusting that He will ultimately set all things right. This verse foreshadows the eventual triumph of righteousness over evil, a theme consistently woven throughout Scripture, culminating in God's final judgment and the establishment of His eternal kingdom where justice will fully prevail.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 6:10, arising from a place of deep distress and culminating in confident faith, offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It teaches us the importance of honest, heartfelt prayer, even when our emotions are raw and our circumstances dire. David models bringing his entire being—his pain, his trust, and his fervent longing for justice—before God. While we are indeed called to love our enemies and pray for their good, this psalm reminds us that we do not have to pretend injustice doesn't exist or that it doesn't wound us deeply. Instead, we are invited to lay our burdens and our longing for righteousness at the feet of a just God, trusting that He sees, He hears, and He will act in His perfect timing and according to His perfect will. Our confidence should rest in God's ultimate sovereignty over all things, including the malicious schemes of the wicked, knowing that He will bring about vindication for His people and defeat for evil, often in ways that are swift, unexpected, and undeniable. This trust frees us from the burden of seeking personal revenge, allowing us to rest in God's righteous hand and His ultimate plan for justice.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Is this verse promoting personal vengeance or hatred towards enemies?
Answer: While the language of Psalms 6:10 is strong and expresses a desire for the enemies' downfall, it's crucial to understand it within its biblical and theological context. This is not a call for personal vengeance or hatred, which is explicitly forbidden elsewhere in Scripture (e.g., Proverbs 24:17-18). Instead, it is an appeal to God's divine justice. David, as a righteous king and God's chosen servant, is appealing for God to uphold His honor and demonstrate His sovereignty by bringing judgment upon those who oppose not just David, but implicitly, God's righteous order. It's a prayer for God to act as the ultimate judge, vindicating the righteous and defeating wickedness, rather than a license for personal retaliation. It expresses a deep trust that God will ultimately set things right and that His justice will prevail.
What does "suddenly" imply about God's intervention?
Answer: The word "suddenly" (Hebrew: regaʻ) emphasizes the unexpected, abrupt, and decisive nature of God's intervention. Derived from a root meaning "a wink (of the eyes)" or "a very short space of time," it implies that when God acts, His judgment will be swift, catching the enemies completely off guard and leaving them no time to prepare or escape their fate. This highlights God's absolute power and control, demonstrating that His timing is perfect and His actions are irresistible. For the righteous, it offers comfort and hope that their deliverance will not be indefinitely delayed, while for the wicked, it portends an inescapable and immediate consequence for their defiance. It underscores the certainty and finality of God's righteous judgment.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 6:10, with its cry for vindication and the shaming of enemies, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. David's suffering and his longing for divine justice foreshadow the ultimate suffering of the Messiah, who endured the deepest shame and vexation on the cross. Jesus, the truly righteous one, bore the full weight of sin and the malice of spiritual enemies, being "ashamed" and "sore vexed" in a way David could only partially experience. Yet, through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, Christ "returned" not in shame, but in triumph, utterly shaming and disarming the principalities and powers that sought to defeat Him (Colossians 2:15). The "suddenly" of Psalms 6:10 is powerfully echoed in the unexpected victory of the cross and the swiftness of the resurrection, which declared Jesus to be the Son of God in power (Romans 1:4). His victory ensures the ultimate defeat of sin, death, and Satan, our true spiritual enemies (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). Thus, Psalms 6:10 points beyond David's personal struggle to the cosmic triumph of Christ, who, by enduring shame, brought eternal glory and vindication to all who believe in Him (Hebrews 12:2).