Psalms 70:2

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 — David addresses God in a psalm explicitly labeled as a plea for immediate deliverance and help. He voices this petition at a moment when his life is actively threatened and his enemies are gloating.

The words — יֵבֹ֣שׁוּ (yevo.shu) translates literally as "may they be ashamed," and מְבַקְשֵ֥י (mevake.shi) means "those who seek." These terms identify the speaker's opponents as active pursuers whose efforts will culminate in disgrace and retreat.

The thread — The text runs through Psalm 35:4 and Psalm 35:26, where the same petition appears for enemies who seek the speaker's life or gloat in his distress. It also parallels Isaiah 41:11, which records the same outcome for all who rage against the speaker.

Why it lands — The text states that those who pursue harm will be turned back and humiliated, and those who gloat will be driven away by shame. It asks the reader to reject self-help or retaliation, accept the text's declaration of divine reversal, and direct their requests for justice to God alone.

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

יֵבֹ֣שׁוּye.Vo.shumay they be ashamed וְיַחְפְּרוּ֮ve./yach.pe.Ruand/ they may be abashed מְבַקְשֵׁ֪יme.vak.Shei[those who] seek נַ֫פְשִׁ֥יnaf.Sh/i<of> life/ my 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 that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.

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.
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.
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.
Psalms 109:29 May my accusers be clothed with disgrace; may they wear their shame like a robe.
John 18:6 When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
Psalms 6:10 All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed; they will turn back in sudden disgrace.
Isaiah 28:13 Then the word of the LORD to them will become: “Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line; a little here, a little there,” so that they will go stumbling backward and will be injured, ensnared, and captured.