Psalms 109:17

The cursing that he loved, may it fall on him; the blessing in which he refused to delight, may it be far from him.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses God regarding a hostile figure who actively pursued the vulnerable, delivering a retributive prayer within a context of covenantal justice.

The words — קְלָלָה (qə.lā.lāh, "a curse") and בְּרָכָה (bə.rā.kāh, "blessing") anchor the verse, contrasting the enemy’s voluntary embrace of judgment with his rejection of divine favor.

The thread — This pattern of moral reciprocity runs through Matthew 7:2, where measured judgment mirrors the judge’s standard, and Proverbs 14:14, where a person’s inner disposition dictates their ultimate portion.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that moral choices are self-reinforcing and that divine justice operates through the very actions a person embraces or rejects.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיֶּאֱהַ֣בva/i.ye.'e.Havand/ he loved קְ֭לָלָהKe.la.laha curse וַתְּבוֹאֵ֑הוּva./te.vo.'E./huand/ it came to/ him וְֽלֹא־ve./lo'-and/ not חָפֵ֥ץcha.Fetzhe delighted בִּ֝בְרָכָ֗הbi/v.ra.Khahin/ blessing וַתִּרְחַ֥קva./tir.Chakand/ it was far מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃mi.Me./nufrom/ him

King James Version

As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.

Cross-references

Matthew 7:2 For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Proverbs 14:14 The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways, but a good man is rewarded for his ways.
Psalms 52:4 You love every word that devours, O deceitful tongue.
Psalms 59:12 By the sins of their mouths and the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride, in the curses and lies they utter.
Ezekiel 35:6 therefore as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will give you over to bloodshed and it will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, it will pursue you.
2 Thessalonians 2:10 and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.
Revelation 16:6 For they have spilled the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink, as they deserve.”