New International VersionHe loved to pronounce a curse— may it come back on him. He found no pleasure in blessing— may it be far from him.
New Living TranslationHe loved to curse others; now you curse him. He never blessed others; now don’t you bless him.
English Standard VersionHe loved to curse; let curses come upon him! He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him!
Berean Standard BibleThe cursing that he loved, may it fall on him; the blessing in which he refused to delight, may it be far from him.
King James BibleAs he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.
New King James VersionAs he loved cursing, so let it come to him; As he did not delight in blessing, so let it be far from him.
New American Standard BibleHe also loved cursing, so it came to him; And he did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him.
NASB 1995He also loved cursing, so it came to him; And he did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him.
NASB 1977He also loved cursing, so it came to him; And he did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him.
Legacy Standard BibleHe also loved cursing, so it came to him; And he did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him.
Amplified BibleHe also loved cursing, and it came [back] to him; He did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him.
Christian Standard BibleHe loved cursing—let it fall on him; he took no delight in blessing—let it be far from him.
Holman Christian Standard BibleHe loved cursing—let it fall on him; he took no delight in blessing—let it be far from him.
American Standard VersionYea, he loved cursing, and it came unto him; And he delighted not in blessing, and it was far from him.
Contemporary English Version"He cursed others. Now place a curse on him! He never wished others well. Wish only trouble for him!
English Revised VersionYea, he loved cursing, and it came unto him; and he delighted not in blessing, and it was far from him.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationHe loved to put curses [on others], so he, too, was cursed. He did not like to bless [others], so he never received a blessing.
Good News TranslationHe loved to curse--may he be cursed! He hated to give blessings--may no one bless him!
International Standard VersionHe loved to curse—may his curses return upon him! He took no delight in blessing others — so may blessings be far from him.
NET BibleHe loved to curse others, so those curses have come upon him. He had no desire to bless anyone, so he has experienced no blessings.
New Heart English BibleYes, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He did not delight in blessing, and it was far from him.
Webster's Bible TranslationAs he loved cursing, so let it come to him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThe cursing that he loved, may it fall on him; the blessing in which he refused to delight, may it be far from him.
World English BibleYes, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He didn’t delight in blessing, and it was far from him. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd he loves reviling, and it meets him, "" And he has not delighted in blessing, "" And it is far from him.
Young's Literal Translation And he loveth reviling, and it meeteth him, And he hath not delighted in blessing, And it is far from him.
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd he will love cursing, and it shall come to him: and he delighted not in praise, and it shall be far from him. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut persecuted the poor man and the beggar; and the broken in heart, to put him to death.
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd so the destitute man was pursued, with the beggar and the remorseful in heart, so as to be put to death.
New American Bible
He loved cursing; may it come upon him; he hated blessing; may none come to him.
New Revised Standard Version
He loved to curse; let curses come on him. He did not like blessing; may it be far from him.Translations from Aramaic Lamsa Bible
They loved cursing, and delighted not in blessings.
Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
They loved curses and they did not choose blessings.OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917
Yea, he loved cursing, and it came unto him; And he delighted not in blessing, and it is far from him.
Brenton Septuagint Translation
He loved cursing also, and it shall come upon him; and he took not pleasure in blessing, so it shall be removed far from him.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Song of the Slandered… 16For he never thought to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and brokenhearted, even to their death. 17The cursing thathe loved,may it fall on him;the blessingin which he refusedto delight,may it be farfrom him.18The cursing that he wore like a coat, may it soak into his body like water, and into his bones like oil.…
Cross References Proverbs 14:14The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways, but a good man is rewarded for his ways.
Proverbs 26:2Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
Proverbs 17:13If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
Matthew 7:2For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Galatians 6:7Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.
James 2:13For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Romans 12:14Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.
1 Peter 3:9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Luke 6:28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Matthew 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Romans 12:17-21Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. / If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. / Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” ...
1 Thessalonians 5:15Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
1 Corinthians 4:12We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
1 Peter 2:23When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.
Deuteronomy 30:7Then the LORD your God will put all these curses upon your enemies who hate you and persecute you.
Treasury of Scripture As he loved cursing, so let it come to him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him. Psalm 52:4,5 Thou lovest all devouring words, Othou deceitful tongue… Psalm 59:12,13For the sin of their mouthand the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lyingwhich they speak… Proverbs 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good manshall be satisfied from himself. Jump to Previous BlessingCurseCursesCursingDelightDelightedFarFoundLovedMeetethPleasurePronounceRevilingJump to Next BlessingCurseCursesCursingDelightDelightedFarFoundLovedMeetethPleasurePronounceRevilingPsalm 109 1.David complains of his slanderous enemies16.He shows their sin21.Complaining of his own misery, he prays for help29.He promises thankfulnessThe cursing that he loved, may it fall on him;This phrase reflects the principle of retributive justice, where the actions and desires of an individual return upon them. In biblical context, curses were serious invocations of divine judgment or misfortune, often reflecting the covenantal blessings and curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28. The psalmist, traditionally identified as David, is calling for the wicked man's own love of cursing to become his reality. This reflects the broader biblical theme of sowing and reaping, as seen in Galatians 6:7, where it states, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." Theologically, this can be seen as a call for divine justice, where the wicked receive the consequences of their own actions. the blessing in which he refused to delight, may it be far from him.
In contrast to the curses, blessings in the biblical sense often refer to God's favor and provision. The refusal to delight in blessings suggests a rejection of God's goodness and grace. This echoes the warnings found inProverbs 1:24-31, where wisdom is rejected, leading to calamity. The historical context of blessings and curses in Israelite society was deeply tied to their covenant relationship with God, where obedience brought blessings and disobedience brought curses. Theologically, this phrase underscores the importance of valuing and seeking God's blessings, as seen in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12), where Jesus pronounces blessings on those who embody kingdom values. The absence of delight in blessings can be seen as a spiritual blindness or hardness of heart, which ultimately leads to separation from God's favor. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidTraditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 109, David is expressing a deep lament and imprecation against his enemies. 2. Enemies of DavidThe individuals who are the subject of David's imprecations, characterized by their love of cursing and rejection of blessing. 3. GodThe ultimate judge and the one to whom David appeals for justice against his adversaries. Teaching Points The Power of WordsWords have the power to bless or curse. As believers, we are called to use our words to bless others, reflecting the character of Christ. Consequences of ActionsLoving cursing and rejecting blessing leads to spiritual and relational consequences. We must be mindful of the seeds we sow with our words and actions. The Call to BlessIn contrast to the one who loves cursing, Christians are called to be a blessing to others, even to those who may curse us, following the example of Jesus. God's JusticeTrust in God's justice and timing. While we may feel wronged, we are encouraged to leave vengeance to the Lord and focus on living righteously. Heart AttitudeExamine your heart for any delight in negativity or harm towards others. Seek to cultivate a heart that delights in blessing and goodness. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 109
In Psalm 109:17–18, does the invocation of curses contradict teachings elsewhere in Scripture promoting forgiveness?
If the psalmist is invoking literal curses in Psalm 109:9-10, how could this align with a loving God?
How can Psalm 137:9 be reconciled with a just and loving God when it seems to celebrate cruelty against children?
What do Bible verses say about happiness?(17, 18) Let.--The optatives in the English are wrong. These verses express facts, and the imprecation follows in Psalm 109:19. Render-- He loved cursing; and it comes; He delighted not in blessing; and it departs; Yea, he clothed himself in cursing as with his cloak, And it came like water into his bowels, And like oil into his bones; May it be, &c. Comp. the proverb, "Curses, like chickens, always come home to roost." The fabled shirt of Nessus, which ate into the mighty form of Hercules, has suggested itself to commentators in illustration of this image. In a good sense the same figure is a favourite one with the Hebrews. (SeeIsaiah 11:5.) . . . Verse 17. - As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him; rather, so it came upon him (Revised Version), or so it shall come upon him (LXX., Cheyne). The one of David's enemies who "loved cursing" most was Shimei ( 2 Samuel 16:5-12). As he de lighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him; rather, so it was, or so it will be, far from him.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew The cursingקְ֭לָלָה(qə·lā·lāh)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7045:Vilificationhe loved,וַיֶּאֱהַ֣ב(way·ye·’ĕ·haḇ)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 157:To have affection fmay it fall on him;וַתְּבוֹאֵ֑הוּ(wat·tə·ḇō·w·’ê·hū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 935:To come in, come, go in, gothe blessingבִּ֝בְרָכָ֗ה(biḇ·rā·ḵāh)Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1293:Benediction, prosperityhe refusedוְֽלֹא־(wə·lō-)Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noto delight in,חָפֵ֥ץ(ḥā·p̄êṣ)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2654:To incline to, to bend, to be pleased with, desiremay it be farוַתִּרְחַ֥ק(wat·tir·ḥaq)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7368:To be or become far or distantfrom him.מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃(mim·men·nū)Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4480:A part of, from, out of
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OT Poetry: Psalm 109:17 Yes he loved cursing and it came (Psalm Ps Psa.) |
