What does Psalm 11:5 mean?

At times, God may bring tests and trials to good people to test them: to prove the genuineness of their faith. This does not come in the form of temptation to sin (James 1:13; 1 Corinthians 10:13). It can, however, come in ways that challenge our trust in God and His involvement in the situation. David's troubles and God's response strengthened his reliance on the Lord (Psalm 3:4).

The apostle Peter explains that the testing of believers is designed to show the genuineness of their faith. Peter writes that "the tested genuineness of your [the believer's] faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:7). The story of Job shows clearly that the Lord allows trials to make the believer better, not bitter. The Lord allowed Satan to afflict Job, and so Job underwent the loss of livestock, children, and his health. But when the trials lifted, Job's perspective of the Lord was clearer and his rewards were many (Job 42).

In contrast, the hardship God sends to those who hate or reject Him is aimed at breaking them. That pain is meant to either turn them to repentance (2 Peter 3:9) or prove their total depravity and sinfulness (Proverbs 29:1). Echoing other parts of Scripture, this verse notes that God hates both evil and those who perpetuate violence (Proverbs 6:16–19). Classic examples of this are the pharaoh of the book of Exodus (Exodus 1:22), and the Herod of Jesus' infancy (Mathew 2:16), both of whom murdered infants and were subsequently destroyed (Exodus 14:30–31; Matthew 2:19–20).