Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses God directly, positioned between a plea for urgent deliverance in verse 12 and a vow of sustained hope and praise in verse 14. The speaker is invoking divine judgment against active opponents during a period of personal vulnerability.
The words — The text employs יֵבֹ֣שׁוּ (ye.Vo.shu), "may they be ashamed," and יִכְלוּ֮ (yikh.Lu), "may they come to an end," to describe the fate of the accusers. It pairs יַֽעֲט֣וּ (ya.'a.Tu), "may they cover themselves," with חֶ֭רְפָּה (Cher.pah) and וּ/כְלִמָּ֑ה (u./khe.li.Mah), meaning "reproach and ignominy," to depict the disgrace of those seeking harm.
The thread — This pattern of enemies facing public shame appears in Jeremiah 20:11, where persecutors stumble and fail, and in Psalms 71:24, which reiterates that those seeking harm will be confounded. The same curse language recurs in Psalms 109:29, where accusers are clothed with disgrace like a garment.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that opposition is subject to divine reversal rather than human defense. It requires the reader to align their posture with the preceding plea for help and the following commitment to praise, treating enemy disgrace as a factual outcome of God's intervention.
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
Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 20:11 But the LORD is with me like a fearsome warrior. Therefore, my persecutors will stumble and will not prevail. Since they have not succeeded, they will be utterly put to shame, with an everlasting disgrace that will never be forgotten.
- Psalms 71:24 My tongue will indeed proclaim Your righteousness all day long, for those who seek my harm are disgraced and confounded.
- Psalms 109:29 May my accusers be clothed with disgrace; may they wear their shame like a robe.
- 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 6:10 All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed; they will turn back in sudden disgrace.
- Psalms 40:14 May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated.
- Psalms 132:18 I will clothe his enemies with shame, but the crown upon him will gleam.”
- 1 Peter 5:5 Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”