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Psalm 2:1,2
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? …

Psalm 21:11
For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device,which they are not ableto perform.

Psalm 36:4
He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a waythat is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

continually

Psalm 56:6
They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.

Psalm 120:7
Iam for peace: but when I speak, theyare for war.

1 Samuel 23:19-24
Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, whichis on the south of Jeshimon? …

and stir up war all day long
This phrase indicates continuous and relentless conflict instigated by the wicked. Historically, Israel faced numerous threats from surrounding nations, and this verse can be seen as a reflection of the constant state of warfare and tension. The stirring up of war can also be understood metaphorically, representing spiritual warfare and the ongoing battle between good and evil (Ephesians 6:12). The phrase "all day long" emphasizes the persistent nature of this conflict, suggesting that the wicked are unceasing in their efforts to disrupt peace. This can be connected to the New Testament's call for believers to be vigilant and prepared for spiritual battles (1 Peter 5:8).

Psalm 140:2 opens with people “who devise.” David pictures deliberate scheming, not accidental wrongdoing.

•Proverbs 6:18 says the LORD hates “a heart that devises wicked schemes,” underscoring that plotting sin is itself vile.

•Isaiah 32:7 shows a “scoundrel” who “devises wicked devices to destroy the afflicted with slander.”

Planning evil reveals a will set against God, contrasting with believers who are to “commit your way to the LORD” (Psalm 37:5).

The plotting happens “in their hearts,” the moral control center of life.

•Genesis 6:5 records that “every intent of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time.” Humanity’s fallenness is not skin-deep but heart-deep.

• Jesus echoes this inMatthew 15:19: “Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery…” Wicked actions flow from inner corruption.

Because Scripture reveals the heart as the source, salvation must transform the heart (Ezekiel 36:26), not just behavior.

Those same hearts then “stir up war,” actively provoking conflict and division.

•James 4:1 asks, “What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you?” The internal war births external warfare.

•Psalm 120:7 laments, “I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war,” mirroring David’s experience with hostile plotters.

Evil rarely stays private; it seeks company, turns relationships, communities, even nations into battlegrounds.

Their aggression is constant—“all day long.”

•Psalm 52:1 describes a tyrant whose “tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, working deceit all day long.”

•Romans 3:14-17 portrays humanity without God: “Destruction and misery lie in their wake, and the way of peace they have not known.” Continuous hostility is the natural rhythm of hearts untouched by grace.

The phrase exposes relentless pressure on the righteous, yet also implies God’s awareness—He sees every moment and will judge.

Psalm 140:2 paints a sobering portrait: intentional plotters cultivate evil deep within, ignite conflict wherever they go, and persist without rest. The verse warns believers to recognize the reality of human sinfulness, lean on God for protection, and guard their own hearts from similar seeds of malice.

Gathered together.--This translation follows the analogy ofPsalm 56:6. Others render, "dwell with wars." But it is preferable to derive from a root meaningto incite:"They are continually stirring up wars." It is the situation described inPsalm 120:7 and frequently; Israel would be at peace, but within and without are those ever trying to involve her in troubles.