Psalm 31:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.

NIV: Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous.

NASB: Let the lying lips be speechless, Which speak arrogantly against the righteous With pride and contempt.

CSB: Let lying lips that arrogantly speak against the righteous in proud contempt be silenced.

NLT: Silence their lying lips — those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.

KJV: Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

NKJV: Let the lying lips be put to silence, Which speak insolent things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

In prior verses, David noted that his enemies were whispering plots against him (Psalm 31:13). These were probably physical threats as well as slander and lies. These caused even friends and neighbors to avoid David (Psalm 31:11–12). As part of his prayer for deliverance, David asks for God to silence these enemies (Psalm 31:17). He asks God to turn those deceitful words into silence. He wants his enemies to become like those who cannot speak.

Further, David mentions that his enemies also make arrogant attacks on other godly people. Not only did his foes hate him, but they also despised anyone who was godly. Their evil insults against David and righteous others indicate that they despised the Lord. David associates this kind of hateful speech with "pride and contempt." It is ultimately pride that causes wicked people to oppose the Lord and His people. Such arrogance places them squarely in the Devil's camp. The Devil epitomized pride by seeking to usurp God and place himself on God's throne. He said, "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High" (Isaiah 14:14). In response, God will bring the Devil "down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit" (Isaiah 14:15).

Psalm 31:14–22 comes after David expressed sorrow over persecution and abandonment. Despite hardship, David tells God he still trusts in Him. He regarded the Lord as the foundation of his confidence. David asks the Lord to be forgiving and merciful, preserving him from the enemies who have attacked him. This passage celebrates God's forgiving nature, while looking back on prior instances of rescue.

Because God has rescued him in the past, David chooses to trust the Lord even when he is in danger. Neighbors and friends may abandon him, and enemies may plot, but David is confident he will be vindicated. He also calls on others to be firm and brave as they choose to trust in God.

David mentions dangers and enemies in this psalm. He may have been referring to besieged cities such as Keilah (1 Samuel 23:1–15) or Ziklag (1 Samuel 30). Despite the plots of his enemies and abandonment by friends, David trusts in the Lord, receives an answer to his prayer, and encourages his fellow believers to love the Lord and be strong. This echoes themes also seen in Psalms 4, 25, and 71.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.