Verse
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Psalm 41:6

ESV And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
NIV When one of them comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it around.
NASB And when he comes to see me, he speaks empty words; His heart gathers wickedness to itself; When he goes outside, he tells it.
CSB When one of them comes to visit, he speaks deceitfully; he stores up evil in his heart; he goes out and talks.
NLT They visit me as if they were my friends, but all the while they gather gossip, and when they leave, they spread it everywhere.
KJV And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.
NKJV And if he comes to see me, he speaks lies; His heart gathers iniquity to itself; When he goes out, he tells it.

What does Psalm 41:6 mean?

The inspiration for this psalm was most likely the rebellion led by David's son, Absalom, and David's trusted advisor, Ahithophel (2 Samuel 15—18). Not only would David have to contend with open enemies, but he'd also need to watch for false friends. In this verse, he notes that some who pretend to be helpful are insincere: their words are "empty." Worse, when they leave, they maliciously spread rumors and gossip. This parallels the experience of Job; his story reminds us that some so-called-comforters are no comfort at all (Job 42:7).

Proverbs 6:16–19 records a series of sins which God especially detests. David's hypocritical visitors displayed at least four of those things: "a lying tongue," "a heart that devises wicked plans," "feet that make haste to run to evil," and "a false witness who breathes out lies." The apostle Peter urges Christians to "put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander" (1 Peter 2:1). Instead of retaining such evil traits, Christians ought to "long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it [they] may grow up into salvation" (1 Peter 2:2).
Expand
Expand
Expand
What is the Gospel?
Download the app: