Psalms 70:2

Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.

Let them be ashamed {H954}{H8799)} and confounded {H2659}{H8799)} that seek {H1245}{H8764)} after my soul {H5315}: let them be turned {H5472}{H8735)} backward {H268}, and put to confusion {H3637}{H8735)}, that desire {H2655} my hurt {H7451}.

May those who seek my life be disgraced and humiliated. May those who take pleasure in doing me harm be turned back and put to confusion.

May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated.

Let them be put to shame and confounded That seek after my soul: Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor That delight in my hurt.

Context

Psalm 70 is a short, urgent prayer for deliverance, often considered a cry for help in a time of distress. It is almost identical to the latter part of Psalm 40:13-17, suggesting it may have been extracted for liturgical use or as a standalone petition. Attributed to David, it reflects a common theme in the Psalms: a righteous individual facing opposition and seeking God's swift intervention against those who wish them harm. This verse specifically addresses the plea for the enemies to be put to shame.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Retribution: The psalmist appeals to God's character as a righteous judge, asking Him to deal with the adversaries. It's a prayer for God's justice to be manifest, where those who plot evil are met with the failure of their own schemes.
  • Protection and Deliverance: The core request is for divine protection from those who "seek after my soul" and "desire my hurt." This highlights a deep reliance on God as the ultimate defender in times of vulnerability.
  • Vindication of the Righteous: When the enemies are "ashamed and confounded," it serves as a vindication of the psalmist's innocence and trust in God, demonstrating that God stands with His faithful ones.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "ashamed" (bōsh) implies a sense of disgrace, humiliation, or disappointment, often associated with the failure of one's plans or expectations. "Confounded" (ḥāphar) carries a similar meaning of confusion or being put to shame, suggesting that their malicious intentions will backfire on them. The phrase "seek after my soul" (biqshu naphshi) literally means to seek one's life, indicating an intention to harm or even kill, not just annoy. "Turned backward" (yissoghu aḥor) vividly pictures their plans being utterly thwarted and reversed.

Practical Application

For believers today, Psalm 70:2 offers a model for prayer when facing opposition, injustice, or malicious intent from others. While we are called to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44) and not to seek personal vengeance (Romans 12:19), this verse expresses a heartfelt plea for God's divine intervention. It teaches us to:

  • Bring Our Distress to God: Instead of succumbing to fear or despair, we can boldly bring our concerns and the actions of our adversaries before God.
  • Trust in God's Sovereignty: This prayer acknowledges God's ultimate control over all circumstances, including the plans of the wicked. We trust that He will ultimately bring justice and reveal truth.
  • Pray for the Thwarting of Evil: It is righteous to pray that evil plans would fail and that those who plot harm would be frustrated, not for their eternal damnation, but for the cessation of their destructive actions and the protection of the innocent. This aligns with the broader biblical principle of God's righteous judgment against evil.
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.

  • Psalms 35:26

    Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify [themselves] against me.

  • Psalms 35:4

    Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.

  • John 18:6

    As soon then as he had said unto them, I am [he], they went backward, and fell to the ground.

  • Psalms 71:13

    Let them be confounded [and] consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered [with] reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.

  • Psalms 109:29

    Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.

  • Isaiah 41:11

    Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.

  • Psalms 6:10

    Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return [and] be ashamed suddenly.

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