Psalm 64:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads.

NIV: He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.

NASB: So they will make him stumble; Their own tongue is against them; All who see them will shake their heads.

CSB: They will be made to stumble; their own tongues work against them. All who see them will shake their heads.

NLT: Their own tongues will ruin them, and all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.

KJV: So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.

NKJV: So He will make them stumble over their own tongue; All who see them shall flee away.

This verse returns to two common themes in the book of Psalms. The first is that of evil men suffering the consequences of their own plots (Psalm 5:10; 7:16; Proverbs 29:6). Rather than defeating David through their careful planning (Psalm 64:5–6), their conspiracies fail and bring them judgment. The second theme is that of what is sometimes called a "cautionary tale," or "making an example of" someone. The downfall of the wicked serves as a warning about the consequences of defying God (Psalm 40:3; 52:6–7; 58:10–11; 64:9).

Second Peter 3:9 teaches that the Lord "is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." Before sending the flood on an evil world, God waited many years to give humans opportunity to repent (Genesis 6:1–8). Before leading the Hebrews into Canaan, He waited generations (Exodus 1:1, 7; 12:40). The patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived as travelers, providing a witness to the one, true God (Hebrews 11:13–22). The full force of God's judgment awaits the end of time, when God convenes the great white throne judgment. Unrepentant sinners throughout history will assemble before Him and will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11–15).

Psalm 64:7–10 follows descriptions of David's enemies and their plans. Now, he reveals the result: that God will turn plots against the plotters and make them fearful examples for the rest of the world. Psalm 64 ends with the theme of the Lord's retributive justice and how God's people should respond to it.

David prays for rescue from his enemies. He accuses them of slanderous and evil words, aimed at his own destruction. These men think they are hidden and that their plots will not be uncovered. Yet David trusts that the Lord will expose evil and make an example of these wicked attackers. This is cause for all believers to trust in God and praise Him.

Unlike some psalms which mention God's judgment on David's enemies, this psalm is not explicitly connected to any moment in David's life. Themes of ambush, conspiracy, and lies suggest his experiences with both Saul (1 Samuel 19:11) and Absalom (2 Samuel 15:13–14). This song repeats themes common to David's writing, such as his faith that God will expose his enemies and make examples of them to the world (Psalm 40:3; 52:6–7; 58:10–11).

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.