Bible Strands
Psalms 125:5
But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses the covenant community of Israel, concluding a poem that contrasts the secure trust of the upright with the fate of the rebellious. This final declaration directly follows a plea for God to reward the morally upright in the preceding verse.
The words — The Hebrew מַטִּים (maṭṭîm) denotes those who "turn aside," while עַקַלְקַלּוֹת (ʿaqalqallōṯ) literally means "twistings" or "crooked paths." Together they describe a deliberate departure from straight conduct.
The thread — The motif of crooked paths appears in Isaiah 59:8 and Proverbs 2:15, where moral deviation is linked to a lack of justice and devious ways. The closing benediction "Peace be upon Israel" echoes the same liturgical formula found in Psalm 128:6.
Why it lands — The text states that God will remove those who adopt crooked conduct alongside evildoers, then pronounces peace on Israel. It requires a reader to choose between upright living and twisted paths, recognizing that divine judgment and communal peace are tied to that choice.
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
King James Version
As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 59:8 The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their tracks. They have turned them into crooked paths; no one who treads on them will know peace.
- Proverbs 2:15 whose paths are crooked and whose ways are devious.
- Psalms 128:6 that you may see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!
- Psalms 40:4 Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, who has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
- Galatians 6:16 Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, even to the Israel of God.
- Psalms 101:3 I will set no worthless thing before my eyes. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.
- Matthew 7:23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’
- John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.
- Philippians 2:15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world
- 1 Chronicles 10:13 So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance,