Bible Strands
Psalms 5:10
Declare them guilty, O God; let them fall by their own devices. Drive them out for their many transgressions, for they have rebelled against You.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses God directly, having just catalogued his enemies' deceit (v. 9) and before turning to the joy of those who trust in God (v. 11). This is a judicial plea, not a curse.
The words — הַאֲשִׁימֵם (ha'ashi'mem), "declare them guilty," is a judicial imperative from the root אשׁם (guilty, at fault). מִמּוֹעֲצוֹתֵיהֶם (mi-mo'atzo'tei-hem), "from their own counsels," ties their destruction to the schemes they devised themselves.
The thread — The motif of falling by one's own counsel appears in 2 Samuel 17:14, where Ahithophel's scheme is overtaken by Hushai's. The charge of rebellion (פְּשָׁע) against God echoes Isaiah 63:10, and Psalms 140:9 repeats the image of enemies trapped by their own words.
Why it lands — The psalmist does not take vengeance; he files a case and leaves the verdict to God. The reader is asked to notice that the plea is for justice, not for the psalmist's own hand to strike.
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
Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 63:10 But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them.
- 2 Samuel 17:14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.
- Psalms 140:9 May the heads of those who surround me be covered in the trouble their lips have caused.
- 2 Samuel 15:31 Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
- 2 Samuel 17:23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
- Psalms 31:18 May lying lips be silenced—lips that speak with arrogance against the righteous, full of pride and contempt.
- 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.
- 1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
- Psalms 35:1 Of David. Contend with my opponents, O LORD; fight against those who fight against me.
- 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.