Psalms 70:2

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 70:2 is a fervent and urgent petition from the psalmist to God, pleading for the swift and decisive thwarting of his adversaries' malicious intentions. It expresses a deep reliance on divine justice, asking that those who seek to harm or destroy his life be publicly disgraced, utterly confused, and forced to retreat in shame. This prayer reflects a profound trust in God's sovereignty to intervene on behalf of the righteous, turning the schemes of the wicked back upon themselves and thereby vindicating the psalmist's faith.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 70 is a short, urgent prayer for deliverance, often categorized as an individual lament. It is strikingly similar, almost identical, to the latter part of [Psalm 40:13-17](/psalms/40-13 "Psalm 40:13-17 - A Parallel Prayer of Distress and Deliverance"), suggesting it may have been extracted from Psalm 40 for specific liturgical use or as a standalone petition in times of acute distress. The Psalm opens with an immediate cry for help ("Make haste, O God, to deliver me!") and quickly moves into a series of imprecations against enemies (vv. 2-3) and blessings for the righteous (vv. 4-5), concluding with a renewed plea for swift divine intervention. Verse 2 specifically articulates the psalmist's desire for God to bring shame and confusion upon those who actively plot his downfall, setting the tone for the urgent appeal that follows.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Attributed to David, Psalm 70 reflects a common experience of righteous individuals in ancient Israel who faced significant opposition, whether from political rivals, personal enemies, or spiritual adversaries. In the ancient Near East, public shame and confusion were potent forms of disgrace, signifying the complete failure of one's plans and the public vindication of the victim. To "seek after my soul" (or "life") was not merely a figure of speech but often indicated a literal threat to one's existence, reputation, or well-being. The cultural expectation was that God, as the righteous judge, would actively intervene in human affairs to uphold justice, protect the innocent, and punish the wicked. This prayer, therefore, aligns with a worldview where divine retribution was a tangible and expected outcome for those who maliciously sought to harm the faithful.
* **Key Themes:** Psalm 70:2 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the Psalter and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Justice and Retribution**, appealing to God's character as a righteous judge who actively intervenes against the wicked. The psalmist trusts that God will not allow evil to prevail but will instead cause the adversaries' schemes to backfire, as seen in passages like [Psalm 35:4](/psalms/35-4 "Psalm 35:4 - Prayer for the Shame of Enemies"). Secondly, it highlights the theme of **Protection and Deliverance**, as the core request is for God's swift defense against those who "seek after my soul" and "desire my hurt." This demonstrates a profound reliance on God as the ultimate refuge and defender in times of vulnerability. Thirdly, the verse speaks to the **Vindication of the Righteous**. When the enemies are "ashamed and confounded," it serves as a public demonstration of the psalmist's innocence and God's faithfulness, reinforcing the truth that God stands with His loyal servants. Finally, the urgent tone of the Psalm, particularly in this verse, emphasizes the theme of **Immediacy of Divine Action**, reflecting the psalmist's desperate need for God's swift and decisive intervention in a perilous situation. The desire for the wicked to be caught in their own traps is a recurring motif, as illustrated in [Psalm 9:15](/psalms/9-15 "Psalm 9:15 - The Wicked Fall into Their Own Pit").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Ashamed (Hebrew, _bōsh_):** This verb signifies a deep sense of disgrace, humiliation, or disappointment. It implies the failure of one's plans, expectations, or boasts, often resulting in public exposure and ignominy. In a societal context, being "ashamed" meant a loss of honor and standing. Here, it is a prayer that the enemies' malicious plots would fail so spectacularly that they would experience profound public humiliation.
* **Confounded (Hebrew, _ḥāphar_):** Closely related to _bōsh_, this word carries the nuance of being utterly confused, dismayed, or put to shame. It can also imply digging a pit and falling into it oneself, or being utterly frustrated in one's intentions. The pairing with "ashamed" intensifies the desired outcome, suggesting not just public disgrace but also internal bewilderment and the collapse of their malicious strategies.
* **Seek after my soul (Hebrew, _biqshu naphshi_):** This phrase literally means "they seek my life" or "they seek my very being." It denotes a direct, existential threat, indicating that the adversaries' intentions are not merely to annoy or inconvenience, but to cause significant, perhaps fatal, harm, or to utterly destroy the psalmist's well-being and reputation. It highlights the gravity of the danger faced.
* **Turned backward (Hebrew, _yissoghu aḥor_):** This vivid image depicts a forced retreat or a reversal of direction. It implies that the enemies' advance will be halted, their momentum broken, and their plans utterly thwarted and reversed. They will not only fail to achieve their objective but will be driven back in disarray, signifying a complete and humiliating defeat.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul":** This is a direct, urgent petition to God, expressed in the jussive mood, for divine intervention. The psalmist asks that those who actively plot to harm, destroy, or even kill him (those who "seek after my soul") would experience profound public disgrace and utter bewilderment. The "shame" implies their schemes will be exposed and fail, leading to their humiliation, while "confounded" suggests their plans will be utterly frustrated and their minds thrown into disarray. It is a prayer for their malicious intentions to backfire spectacularly.
* **"let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt":** This second clause reinforces and expands upon the first, using synonymous parallelism to intensify the plea. "Turned backward" vividly pictures a forced retreat, a complete reversal of their aggressive advance, signifying their utter defeat and disorganization. "Put to confusion" echoes "confounded," emphasizing the mental and strategic disarray that will befall them. Those who "desire my hurt" are the same malicious adversaries, and the prayer is that their malevolent will would not only be unfulfilled but would lead to their own undoing and disarray.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 70:2 is rich in **Parallelism**, a hallmark of Hebrew poetry. It primarily employs **Synonymous Parallelism**, where the second half of the verse reiterates and intensifies the thought of the first half using different but related words. For example, "ashamed and confounded" parallels "turned backward, and put to confusion," while "seek after my soul" parallels "desire my hurt." This repetition serves to emphasize the psalmist's urgent plea and the totality of the desired outcome for his enemies. The use of the **Imperative Mood** (or jussive, expressing a strong wish or command) with phrases like "Let them be..." conveys the psalmist's fervent and direct appeal to God, highlighting the urgency and conviction behind the prayer rather than a mere prediction. Furthermore, the phrase "turned backward" employs vivid **Imagery**, creating a mental picture of the enemies' retreat and defeat, adding to the dramatic effect of the petition. The verse also subtly uses **Personification** of malevolent intent, as "desire my hurt" attributes a malicious will to the adversaries, making their opposition more tangible.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 70:2, while an imprecatory prayer, is deeply rooted in a theology of divine justice and God's active involvement in human affairs. It reflects a righteous cry for God to uphold His covenant faithfulness by defending the vulnerable and frustrating the wicked. This is not a call for personal vengeance, which the New Testament explicitly forbids ([Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Leave Vengeance to God")), but rather an appeal to God's ultimate sovereignty and His character as the righteous judge. The psalmist trusts that God will ultimately expose and defeat evil, bringing about a just resolution that vindicates the innocent and demonstrates His power. Such prayers acknowledge that true justice belongs to God alone, and they express a desire for His kingdom to come and His will to be done, even if it means the defeat of those who oppose His purposes.

* [Psalm 35:4](/psalms/35-4 "Psalm 35:4 - Prayer for the Shame of Enemies")
* [Psalm 9:15](/psalms/9-15 "Psalm 9:15 - The Wicked Fall into Their Own Pit")
* [Psalm 109:29](/psalms/109-29 "Psalm 109:29 - Shame and Confusion for Adversaries")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 70:2 offers a profound model for believers facing opposition, injustice, or malicious intent in their lives. It teaches us that when confronted with those who "seek after our soul" or "desire our hurt," our first and most powerful response is to turn to God in urgent prayer. Instead of succumbing to fear, despair, or the temptation for personal retaliation, we are invited to boldly bring our distress and the actions of our adversaries before the Lord. This prayer is an act of profound trust, acknowledging God's ultimate control over all circumstances, including the plans of the wicked. It is righteous to pray that evil schemes would fail, that those who plot harm would be frustrated, and that God's justice would be manifest, not out of a desire 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 that God will ultimately bring justice and reveal truth, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to His faithful ones.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Psalm 70:2 shape your understanding of prayer when facing opposition or injustice in your life?**
* **In what ways can we pray for the thwarting of evil plans without harboring personal vengeance or ill will towards our adversaries?**
* **How does trusting in God's ultimate justice and sovereignty bring peace when confronted with malicious intent from others?**

### FAQ

**Is it wrong for a Christian to pray for their enemies to be ashamed or confounded?**

Answer: While the New Testament calls believers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them ([Matthew 5:44](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies")), the imprecatory prayers in the Psalms, including Psalm 70:2, are not necessarily contradictory. These prayers are appeals to God's righteous justice, not expressions of personal vengeance. They reflect a desire for evil to be stopped, for God's honor to be vindicated, and for the protection of the innocent. In the biblical worldview, God is a just judge who actively intervenes in human affairs. Praying for the shame and confusion of adversaries is a recognition that their wicked schemes must be frustrated for God's will to prevail and for righteousness to be upheld. It is a plea for God to act as the ultimate arbiter of justice, which can sometimes involve the defeat and discrediting of those who oppose His purposes.

**How does this verse relate to New Testament teachings on loving enemies?**

Answer: Psalm 70:2 and New Testament teachings on loving enemies ([Matthew 5:44](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies"); [Romans 12:19-21](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19-21 - Do Not Avenge Yourselves")) address different facets of a believer's response to evil. Loving enemies means not seeking personal revenge, actively doing good to them, and desiring their ultimate repentance and salvation. Psalm 70:2, on the other hand, is a prayer for divine justice against active, malicious harm. It acknowledges that evil must be confronted by God's power. These are not mutually exclusive. We can love our enemies by desiring their good, while simultaneously praying that God would thwart their destructive plans and bring their malicious intentions to nothing, thereby protecting the innocent and upholding His righteousness. The shame and confusion prayed for in the Psalm can even serve as a means by which the wicked are brought to repentance or prevented from causing further harm, ultimately serving a redemptive purpose in God's sovereign plan.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 70:2 finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the righteous One who faced the ultimate opposition, with enemies who truly "sought after His soul" and "desired His hurt," culminating in His crucifixion. Yet, in God's divine plan, the very act intended to destroy Him—the cross—became the means by which His adversaries were "turned backward, and put to confusion." The powers of darkness, sin, and death thought they had triumphed, but through Christ's death and glorious resurrection, God "made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")). The ultimate scheme of evil was utterly shamed and confounded, leading not to Christ's defeat, but to His eternal victory and the salvation of all who believe. Jesus, as the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), became the definitive demonstration of God's justice against sin and evil, fulfilling the psalmist's cry for vindication. Believers, united with Christ, share in this triumph; though we may face opposition in this world, our ultimate vindication and victory over all spiritual adversaries are secured in Him, for [He has overcome the world](/john/16-33 "John 16:33 - Jesus Has Overcome the World").

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 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.