Psalms 40:14

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

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist speaks to God immediately after requesting urgent deliverance in the preceding verse. The moment captures a crisis where adversaries actively pursue the speaker’s destruction.

The words — The Hebrew יֵ֘בֹ֤שׁוּ (ye.Vo.shu) translates literally as "may they be ashamed," paired with יִסֹּ֣גוּ (yi.So.gu), "may they be turned back." These verbs frame the petition for divine reversal of hostile intent.

The thread — This pattern of petitioning God to reverse the fortunes of pursuers runs through Psalms 35:4, Psalms 35:26, and Psalms 71:13. Each reference repeats the structural request that those seeking harm face public disgrace and retreat.

Why it lands — The text states that enemies who pursue the speaker will face shame and retreat, leaving the outcome to divine action. A reader must acknowledge that opposing the speaker ultimately produces the pursuer’s own humiliation rather than securing justice through human means.

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

יֵ֘בֹ֤שׁוּye.Vo.shumay they be ashamed וְיַחְפְּר֨וּ׀ve./yach.pe.Ruand/ they may be abashed יַחַד֮ya.Chadaltogether מְבַקְשֵׁ֥יme.vak.Shei[those who] seek נַפְשִׁ֗יnaf.Sh/i<of> life/ my לִסְפּ֫וֹתָ֥הּli/s.Po.Ta/hto/ snatch away/ it יִסֹּ֣גוּyi.So.gumay they be turned back אָ֭חוֹר'A.chorbackwards וְיִכָּלְמ֑וּve./yi.kal.Muand/ may they be humiliated חֲ֝פֵצֵ֗יcha.fe.Tzei[the] [people] desirous of רָעָתִֽי׃ra.'a.T/iharm/ my

King James Version

Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

Cross-references

Psalms 35:4 May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.
Psalms 35:26 May those who gloat in my distress be ashamed and confounded; may those who exalt themselves over me be clothed in shame and reproach.
Psalms 71:13 May the accusers of my soul be ashamed and consumed; may those who seek my harm be covered with scorn and disgrace.
Isaiah 45:24 Surely they will say of Me, ‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’” All who rage against Him will come to Him and be put to shame.
John 18:6 When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
Psalms 9:3 When my enemies retreat, they stumble and perish before You.
Psalms 31:17 O LORD, let me not be ashamed, for I have called on You. Let the wicked be put to shame; let them lie silent in Sheol.
Psalms 70:2 May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated.
Isaiah 41:11 Behold, all who rage against you will be ashamed and disgraced; those who contend with you will be reduced to nothing and will perish.
Matthew 21:38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.’