Bible Strands
Psalms 62:4
They fully intend to cast him down from his lofty perch; they delight in lies; with their mouths they bless, but inwardly they curse. Selah
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses a hostile group actively plotting against him, then shifts his focus inward to his own soul. The threat occurs within a moment of sustained pressure where the speaker faces coordinated opposition.
The words — יָעֲצ֣וּ (ya.'a.Tzu) means they have planned, and יִרְצ֪וּ (yir.Tzu) means they are pleased with. Together they describe a deliberate, satisfied conspiracy to destroy the speaker.
The thread — This pattern of deceptive speech and hidden malice appears in Psalms 55:21, Psalms 28:3, and Psalms 5:9. Each reference tracks the same movement from outward blessing to inward destruction.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition of the gap between spoken words and actual intent. It requires the reader to stop trusting verbal assurances and anchor hope solely in God.
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
They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
Cross-references
- Psalms 55:21 His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.
- Psalms 28:3 Do not drag me away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors while malice is in their hearts.
- Psalms 5:9 For not a word they speak can be trusted; destruction lies within them. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.
- Romans 7:22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law.
- Romans 1:32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.
- Revelation 22:15 But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
- Psalms 52:3 You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking truth. Selah
- John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
- John 11:47 Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs.
- Acts 4:16 “What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it.