Psalm 7:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous — you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God!

NIV: Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure— you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts.

NASB: Please let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; For the righteous God puts hearts and minds to the test.

CSB: Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous. The one who examines the thoughts and emotions is a righteous God.

NLT: End the evil of those who are wicked, and defend the righteous. For you look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God.

KJV: Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

NKJV: Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.

David observes that the righteous God tests minds and hearts. He knows what every person is thinking, and He discerns the thoughts and motives of every person's heart (Psalm 139:1, 4, 23–24; 1 Samuel 16:7). In the time of Noah, the Lord "saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). David's primary purpose here is to continue asking God for judgment on those who have brought false accusations (Psalm 7:6–8).

Human judges may make mistakes, even if their intentions are good. They might sincerely be mistaken, rendering an unfair verdict and sentencing the one pronounced guilty. God, however, never makes a mistake. His judgment is always right because He is perfect. There is no trace of sin in Him. As this verse notes, God will one day end all evil, and those who honor God will be secure forever.

Jesus, the Son of God, will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:31); He is qualified to do so because He is completely righteous. Even Pilate, who consented to Jesus' crucifixion, said, "I find no guilt in this man" (Luke 23:4). The apostle Peter describes Jesus as "a lamb without blemish or spot" (1 Peter 1:19).

Psalm 7:6–11 follows the section in which David asked the Lord to vindicate him. This seems to have been a response to slander. Here, he asks God, the righteous Judge, to bring consequences to his wicked enemies. David expresses faith that God sees and is angered by sin and that the Lord serves as David's Protector.

David takes refuge in God and asks to be rescued from those seeking his life. He boldly defends himself from accusations of fraud or plunder. Rather than seek his own revenge, David calls on the Lord to execute judgment. The wicked man plots evil, is full of mischief, and gives birth to lies. However, trouble will come back to strike such a person. His sin and violence will lead to a sinful, violent end. David concludes this psalm by giving thanks and praise to the Lord.

This psalm was written by David. He prays to the Lord, the righteous Judge of the universe, to judge his wicked enemies. David may have written this psalm when he was being pursued by Saul's forces (1 Samuel 24:1–2). Themes expressed by David in 1 Samuel chapter 24 resemble those found in Psalm 7. The accusations he responds to may have come from Cush, mentioned in the psalm's title.

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.