Psalms 38:20(vv4–5)They who render evil for good are also adversaries to me, because I follow what is good.
Psalms 35:7(vv3–4)For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.
Psalms 69:12-13(v4)Those who sit in the gate talk about me. I am the song of the drunkards. But as for me, my prayer is to you, Yahweh, in an acceptable time.…
Luke 23:34(v4)Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.
Psalms 55:16-17(v4)As for me, I will call on God. Yahweh will save me. Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.
Show all 48 cross-references
Psalms 69:4(v3)Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. Those who want to cut me off, being my enemies wrongfully, are…
Psalms 52:4(v2)You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue.
Psalms 35:12(v4)They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul.
Psalms 120:2-3(v2)Deliver my soul, Yahweh, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. What will be given to you, and what will be done more to you, you…
Proverbs 6:17(v2)arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
Luke 6:11-12(v4)But they were filled with rage, and talked with one another about what they might do to Jesus. In these days, he went out to the mountain…
2 Samuel 17:1(v2)Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me now choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David tonight.
Psalms 31:13(v2)For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side, while they conspire together against me, they plot to take away my life.
Psalms 31:18(v2)Let the lying lips be mute, which speak against the righteous insolently, with pride and contempt.
Proverbs 12:19(v2)Truth’s lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only momentary.
Proverbs 17:13(v5)Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Jeremiah 9:5(v2)Friends deceive each other, and will not speak the truth. They have taught their tongue to speak lies. They weary themselves commiting…
John 10:32(v4)Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?”
Acts 6:13(v2)and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.
2 Corinthians 12:15(v4)I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?
Genesis 44:4(v5)When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men. When you overtake…
2 Samuel 15:3-8(v2)Absalom said to him, “Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized by the king to hear you.” Absalom said…
2 Samuel 15:31(v5)Someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel…
Psalms 35:7-12(v5)For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul. Let destruction come on him…
Psalms 35:20(v3)For they don’t speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.
Psalms 55:12-15(v5)For it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me,…
Psalms 64:3-4(v2)who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and aim their arrows, deadly words, to shoot innocent men from ambushes. They shoot at him suddenly…
Psalms 88:17(v3)They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me.
Proverbs 15:28(v2)The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
Jeremiah 9:3(v2)“They bend their tongue, as their bow, for falsehood. They have grown strong in the land, but not for truth; for they proceed from evil to…
Daniel 6:10(v4)When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his room toward Jerusalem) and he…
Matthew 26:59-62(v2)Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death; and they…
John 15:24-25(v3)If I hadn’t done among them the works which no one else did, they wouldn’t have had sin. But now they have seen and also hated both me and…
2 Samuel 15:12(vv3, 5)Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. The…
1 Samuel 19:4-5(v3)Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Don’t let the king sin against his servant, against David; because he…
1 Samuel 26:18(v3)He said, “Why does my lord pursue his servant? For what have I done? What evil is in my hand?
2 Samuel 15:31-32(v4)Someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel…
2 Samuel 16:7-8(v3)Shimei said when he cursed, “Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and wicked fellow! Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of Saul’s…
Psalms 17:11(v3)They have now surrounded us in our steps. They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.
Psalms 22:12(v3)Many bulls have surrounded me. Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
Psalms 59:3-4(v3)For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul. The mighty gather themselves together against me, not for my disobedience, nor for my sin,…
Psalms 140:3(v2)They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips.
Hosea 11:12(v3)Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. Judah still strays from God, and is unfaithful to the Holy One.
Mark 14:44-45(v5)Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I will kiss, that is he. Seize him, and lead him away safely.” When he had…
Luke 6:16(v5)Judas the son of James; and Judas Iscariot, who also became a traitor.
Luke 22:47-48(v5)While he was still speaking, behold, a multitude, and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus…
John 13:18(v5)I don’t speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen. But that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with me has…
2 Samuel 13:39(v4)King David longed to go out to Absalom; for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.
48 distinct cross-references across this passage (51 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (17 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
John Calvin1540 · Public DomainOn vv2–52 Because the mouth of the wicked David here…
2 Because the mouth of the wicked David here very plainly declares, that he was the more solicitous to obtain help from God, in consequence of justice not being found among men. And though it is probable that he was rashly and furiously assailed, nevertheless, he complains that the mouth of deceit and fraud had been opened against him, and that he was surrounded with false tongues. Whence, to those who were ignorant of his real situation, there would appear to be some plausible pretext for his being loaded with reproaches, so much so indeed, that he would not be able to evade the charge of criminality.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators1599 · Public DomainOn v4To declare that I had no other refuge, but…
To declare that I had no other refuge, but thee, in whom my conscience was at rest.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp1656 · Public DomainOn vv2–5Psa 109:2 For the mouth of the wicked and…
Psa 109:2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
Ver. 2. For the mouth of the wicked] There is nothing more easy than to wag a wicked tongue.
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They have spoken against me with a lying tongue] But with so much impudence as if it were a very truth. Socrates in his Apology, My lords, said he to the judges, I know not how you have been affected with mine accusers’ eloquence, while you heard them speak. For mine own part, I assure you that I, whom it toucheth not, was almost drawn to believe that all they said, though against myself, was true, when they scarce uttered one word of truth.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole1685 · Public DomainOn vv2–4Of the deceitful; of those who add hypocrisy and…
Of the deceitful; of those who add hypocrisy and perfidiousness to their malice.
Are opened; they speak freely, boldly, and publicly, without any fear or shame.
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Against me; or, to or with me, as this particle commonly signifies.
With a lying tongue; either,
1. With calumnies, or false and malicious reports. Or,
2. With deep dissimulation and professions of friendship and kindness.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill1763 · Public DomainOn vv2–5For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth…
For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me,.... Or "of deceit" (x) itself; most wicked and very deceitful men, who sometimes flattered and pretended friendship, as the Jews did to Christ, when they designed ill against him; though at other times their mouths were opened, and they poured out their calumnies and reproaches very freely and largely; traducing his person, and aspersing his character as a wicked man; blaspheming his miracles, as if done by the help of the devil; charging his doctrine with novelty, falsehood, and blasphemy; loading him with invidious names, as Samaritan, madman, &c. representing him as an enemy to the state, as a seditious person, and a disturber of the nation's peace; particularly their mouths were opened against him when they called for his crucifixion, and would have no denial; and especially when he was on the cross, where they gaped upon him with their mouths, and poured out their scoffs and jeers at him; see Psa 22:14.
They have spoken against me with a lying tongue, false witnesses rose up against him, and laid things to his charge he knew nothing of, and which they could not prove, Mat 26:59.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley1765 · Public DomainOn v4Adversaries - They requite my love with enmity, as…
Adversaries - They requite my love with enmity, as it is explained ver. 5.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke1810 · Public DomainOn vv2, 4Verse 2. The mouth of the wicked and -…
Verse 2. The mouth of the wicked and - the deceitful are opened against me] Many persons are continually uttering calumnies against me. Thou knowest my heart and its innocence; vindicate my uprightness against these calumniators.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson1811 · Public DomainOn v2Psa 109:2-4. The mouth of the wicked, and the…
Psa 109:2-4. The mouth of the wicked, and the mouth of the deceitful — Of those who add hypocrisy and perfidiousness to their malice; are opened against me — They speak against me freely, boldly, and publicly, without any fear or shame. They have spoken against me — Hebrew, אתי, itti, to, or with me, as this particle commonly signifies; with a lying tongue — With deep dissimulation, and professions of friendship and kindness: or, against me, with calumnies, or false and malicious reports. They compassed me with words of hatred — Which, though covered with specious pretences, proceeded from deep malice and hatred, and were designed to work my destruction. Without a cause — Without any just provocation given by me. For my love they are my adversaries — They requite my love and goodwill with enmity and mischief, Psa 109:5; but I give myself unto prayer —
Hebrew, ואני תפלה, vaani tephillah, but I prayer, that is, I am a man of prayer. Thus, I peace, is put for, I am for peace, as we render it, Psa 120:7. The sense here is, While they reproach and curse me, I pray, either, 1st, For them, as Psa 35:13; or, 2d, For himself: I do not render unto them evil for evil, but quietly commit myself and my cause to God by prayer, desiring him to plead my cause against them.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes1834 · Public DomainOn vv2–5For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth…
For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful - literally, “The mouth of wickedness, and the mouth of deceit.” This acquaints us with the nature of the wrong which had been done him. It was slander; undeserved reproach.
Are opened against me - Margin, “have opened;” that is, have opened themselves.
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They have spoken against me with a lying tongue - They have accused me of things which are not true; they have made false charges against me. David, as has not been uncommon with good people, was called repeatedly to this trial.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Daniel D. Whedon1874 · Public DomainOn vv3–43. Compassed… fought—Military terms; enemies surrounded and fought him…
3. Compassed… fought—Military terms; enemies surrounded and fought him with the words of falsehood and hatred. These were their weapons and their policy of war.
Without a cause—In the absence of all just ground of hostility they could deal in nothing but falsehood. Compare, in the Messianic sense of the psalm, Mat_26:59
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges1878 · Public DomainOn vv2–52. For a wicked man’s mouth, yea a mouth…
2. For a wicked man’s mouth, yea a mouth of deceit, have they opened against me:
They have spoken with me with a tongue of falsehood.
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It would be easy to smooth the style of the first line by reading ‘a mouth of wickedness’ for ‘a wicked man’s mouth’; it is only a question of vowel points in the Heb.: but the Versions support the reading of the Massoretic text, and it points at once to the leader of the gang, who has been set on by his fellows to compass the Psalmist’s ruin. The phrase they have spoken with me (R.V. to me, marg. against me) seems to be used in a forensic sense as in Psa_127:5. His enemies—there is no need to explain to God who are meant by ‘they’—are scheming to effect his ruin by groundless charges supported by false witness. The word for falsehood is that used in Exo_20:16, and frequently in Proverbs (Pro_6:19, &c.) of false witness.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers1878 · Public DomainOn vv2, 4(2) Of the deceitful.—Properly, as in margin, of deceit;…
(2) Of the deceitful.—Properly, as in margin, of deceit; consequently, to make the two expressions alike, it is proposed to read, instead of “mouth of the wicked” (properly, of a wicked man), “mouth of wickedness.” In any case the best English equivalent will be, “a wicked mouth and a deceitful mouth.” “A blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with a sword” (Whichcote).
Spoken against me.—Rather (comp. Psa_12:3), talked with me.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary1880 · Public DomainOn vv2–5For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth…
For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful; literally, of deceit the abstract for the concrete. Are opened against me; literally, hare they opened upon me (Kay, Cheyne, Revised Version). They have spoken against ms with a lying tongue. (comp. Psa_27:12 Psa_35:11) Calumny and misrepresentation are ever the portion of the children of God. David was calumniated by Saul, (1Sa_22:7-13) by Absalom, (2Sa_15:3, 2Sa_15:4) by Shimei, (2Sa_16:8) and others. One more perfect than David was even more calumniated. (Mat_11:19 Mat_12:24 Mat_26:61 Luk_23:2, etc.)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Charles H. Spurgeon1885 · Public DomainOn vv2–5Ver. 2. For the mouth of the wicked and…
Ver. 2. For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me. Wicked men must needs say wicked things, and these we have reason to dread; but in addition they utter false and deceitful things, and these are worst of all. There is no knowing what may come out of mouths which are at once lewd and lying. The misery caused to a good man by slanderous reports no heart can imagine but that which is wounded by them: in all Satan's armoury there are no worse weapons than deceitful tongues. To have a reputation, over which we have watched with daily care, suddenly bespattered with the foulest aspersions, is painful beyond description; but when wicked and deceitful men get their mouths fully opened we can hardly expect to escape any more than others.
They have spoken against me with a lying tongue. Lying tongues cannot lie still. Bad tongues are not content to vilify bad men, but choose the most gracious of saints to be the objects of their attacks. Here is reason enough for prayer. The heart sinks when assailed with slander, for we know not what may be said next, what friend may be alienated, what evil may be threatened, or what misery may be caused to us and others. The air is full of rumours, and shadows impalpable flit around; the mind is confused with dread of unseen foes, and invisible arrows. What ill can be worse than to be assailed with slander,
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"Whose edge is sharper than the sword, whose tongue
Out venoms all the worms of Nile"?
Ver. 2. For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me. Speak, says Arnobius, to thine own conscience, O man of God, thou who art following Christ; and when the mouth of the wicked and deceitful man is opened concerning thee, rejoice and be secure; because while the mouth of the wicked is opened for thy slander in the earth, the mouth of God is opened for thy praise in heaven. Lorinus.
Ver. 2-3. Note, first, the detractor opens his mouth, that he may pour forth his poison, and that he may devour his victim. Hence, David says, "the mouth of the wicked is opened against me." Note, secondly, the detractor is talkativeThey have spoken, etc. The mouth of the detractor is a broken pitcher leaking all over. Note, thirdly, detraction springs from hatred, "they compassed me about also with words of hatred." In Greek, ekuklwoan me, ie., as in a circle they have enclosed me. St. Climacus says, "Detraction is odii partus, a subtle disease, a fat but hidden leech which sucks the blood of charity and after destroys it." Lorinus.
Ver. 2-5. The mouth of the wicked, etc.
Vicedeformed
Itself, and ugly, and of flavour rank
To rob fair Virtue of so sweet an incense
And with it to anoint and salve its own
Rotten ulcers, and perfume the path that led
To death, strove daily by a thousand means:
And oft succeeded to make Virtue sour
In the world's nostrils, and its loathly self
Smell sweetly. Rumour was the messenger
Of defamation, and so swift that none
Could be the first to tell an evil tale.
It was Slander filled her mouth with lying words;
Slander, the foulest whelp of Sin. The man
In whom this spirit entered was undone.
His tongue was set on fire of hell; his heart
Was black as death; his legs were faint with haste
To propagate the lie his tongue had framed
His pillow was the peace of families
Destroyed, the sigh of innocence reproached,
Broken friendships, and the strife of brotherhoods.
Yet did he spare his sleep, and hear the clock
Number the midnight watches, on bis bed
Devising mischief more; and early rose
And made most hellish meals of good men's names.
Peace fled the neighbourhood in which he made
His haunts; and, like a moral pestilence,
Before his breath the healthy shoots and blooms
Of social joy and happiness decayed.
Fools only in his company were seen,
And those forsaken of God, and to themselves
Given up. The prudent man shunned him and his house
As one who had a deadly moral plague. Robert Pollok.
Ver. 2. Slander. Its causewickedness and malice. Its instrumentsdeceit and lies. Its frequencyJesus and the saints slandered. Its punishment. Our resort when tried by itprayer to God.
Psalms 109:3*
Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
The Biblical Illustrator1887 · Public DomainOn vv4–5But I give myself unto prayer.
Psa_109:4
But I give myself unto prayer.
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The universal suitability of prayer
This is the great resource of Gods children. Observe the disjunctive particle but with which the text begins. Let others do this or that (he would say), but I give myself unto prayer, or, as it stands in the original, But I--prayer; as though he meant to imply that prayer was everything to him;--I have no other resource, and I need none. What shall we do, asks the pious parent, to secure our children, who will soon be beyond the control of parental authority, and will have to encounter the snares of a world which lieth in wickedness? Give yourselves unto prayer. Let us take another case; namely, the feelings and anxieties of the junior touching the senior members of the household. Here I desire to speak a word in favour of family prayer. Give yourselves unto prayer, as Abraham did, who wherever he went, there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord. The opening of the new year calls for a review of the past, and that review is fraught with matter for humiliation. Be humbled: yet let not humiliation take the gloomy and unbelieving character of despondency. And in order to prevent this, give yourself unto prayer. (T. E. Hankinson, M.A.)
Constancy in prayer
When a pump is frequently used, but little pains are necessary to have water; the water pours out at the first stroke, because it is high. But if the pump has not been used for a long time, the water gets low, and when you want it you must pump a long while, and the water comes only after great effort. It is so with prayer; if we are instant in prayer, every little circumstance awakens the disposition to pray, and desires and words are always ready. But if we neglect prayer it is difficult for us to pray, for the water in the well gets low. (Felix Neff.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0On v4In return for my love
In return for my love
"Although I loved them"
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my love
"my love for them"
they accuse me
The word "they" refers to the people who are wicked and deceitful. You may need to make explicit that those who accuse the psalmist do so falsely. AT: "they accuse me falsely" or "they slander me"
GEBible — Godless Engineer's Bible App
John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv2–5 2 Because the mouth of the wicked David here…
2 Because the mouth of the wicked David here very plainly declares, that he was the more solicitous to obtain help from God, in consequence of justice not being found among men. And though it is probable that he was rashly and furiously assailed, nevertheless, he complains that the mouth of deceit and fraud had been opened against him, and that he was surrounded with false tongues. Whence, to those who were ignorant of his real situation, there would appear to be some plausible pretext for his being loaded with reproaches, so much so indeed, that he would not be able to evade the charge of criminality.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v4 To declare that I had no other refuge, but…
To declare that I had no other refuge, but thee, in whom my conscience was at rest.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv2–5 Psa 109:2 For the mouth of the wicked and…
Psa 109:2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
Ver. 2. For the mouth of the wicked] There is nothing more easy than to wag a wicked tongue.
Read full note →
They have spoken against me with a lying tongue] But with so much impudence as if it were a very truth. Socrates in his Apology, My lords, said he to the judges, I know not how you have been affected with mine accusers’ eloquence, while you heard them speak. For mine own part, I assure you that I, whom it toucheth not, was almost drawn to believe that all they said, though against myself, was true, when they scarce uttered one word of truth.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv2–4 Of the deceitful; of those who add hypocrisy and…
Of the deceitful; of those who add hypocrisy and perfidiousness to their malice.
Are opened; they speak freely, boldly, and publicly, without any fear or shame.
Read full note →
Against me; or, to or with me, as this particle commonly signifies.
With a lying tongue; either,
1. With calumnies, or false and malicious reports. Or,
2. With deep dissimulation and professions of friendship and kindness.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv2–5 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth…
For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me,.... Or "of deceit" (x) itself; most wicked and very deceitful men, who sometimes flattered and pretended friendship, as the Jews did to Christ, when they designed ill against him; though at other times their mouths were opened, and they poured out their calumnies and reproaches very freely and largely; traducing his person, and aspersing his character as a wicked man; blaspheming his miracles, as if done by the help of the devil; charging his doctrine with novelty, falsehood, and blasphemy; loading him with invidious names, as Samaritan, madman, &c. representing him as an enemy to the state, as a seditious person, and a disturber of the nation's peace; particularly their mouths were opened against him when they called for his crucifixion, and would have no denial; and especially when he was on the cross, where they gaped upon him with their mouths, and poured out their scoffs and jeers at him; see Psa 22:14.
They have spoken against me with a lying tongue, false witnesses rose up against him, and laid things to his charge he knew nothing of, and which they could not prove, Mat 26:59.
Read full note →
(x) "os doli", Vatablus, Cocceius; "os fraudis", Gejerus, Michaelis; so Ainsworth.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v4 Adversaries - They requite my love with enmity, as…
Adversaries - They requite my love with enmity, as it is explained ver. 5.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv2, 4 Verse 2. The mouth of the wicked and -…
Verse 2. The mouth of the wicked and - the deceitful are opened against me] Many persons are continually uttering calumnies against me. Thou knowest my heart and its innocence; vindicate my uprightness against these calumniators.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v2 Psa 109:2-4. The mouth of the wicked, and the…
Psa 109:2-4. The mouth of the wicked, and the mouth of the deceitful — Of those who add hypocrisy and perfidiousness to their malice; are opened against me — They speak against me freely, boldly, and publicly, without any fear or shame. They have spoken against me — Hebrew, אתי, itti, to, or with me, as this particle commonly signifies; with a lying tongue — With deep dissimulation, and professions of friendship and kindness: or, against me, with calumnies, or false and malicious reports. They compassed me with words of hatred — Which, though covered with specious pretences, proceeded from deep malice and hatred, and were designed to work my destruction. Without a cause — Without any just provocation given by me. For my love they are my adversaries — They requite my love and goodwill with enmity and mischief, Psa 109:5; but I give myself unto prayer —
Hebrew, ואני תפלה, vaani tephillah, but I prayer, that is, I am a man of prayer. Thus, I peace, is put for, I am for peace, as we render it, Psa 120:7. The sense here is, While they reproach and curse me, I pray, either, 1st, For them, as Psa 35:13; or, 2d, For himself: I do not render unto them evil for evil, but quietly commit myself and my cause to God by prayer, desiring him to plead my cause against them.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv2–5 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth…
For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful - literally, “The mouth of wickedness, and the mouth of deceit.” This acquaints us with the nature of the wrong which had been done him. It was slander; undeserved reproach.
Are opened against me - Margin, “have opened;” that is, have opened themselves.
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They have spoken against me with a lying tongue - They have accused me of things which are not true; they have made false charges against me. David, as has not been uncommon with good people, was called repeatedly to this trial.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv3–4 3. Compassed… fought—Military terms; enemies surrounded and fought him…
3. Compassed… fought—Military terms; enemies surrounded and fought him with the words of falsehood and hatred. These were their weapons and their policy of war.
Without a cause—In the absence of all just ground of hostility they could deal in nothing but falsehood. Compare, in the Messianic sense of the psalm, Mat_26:59
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv2–5 2. For a wicked man’s mouth, yea a mouth…
2. For a wicked man’s mouth, yea a mouth of deceit, have they opened against me:
They have spoken with me with a tongue of falsehood.
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It would be easy to smooth the style of the first line by reading ‘a mouth of wickedness’ for ‘a wicked man’s mouth’; it is only a question of vowel points in the Heb.: but the Versions support the reading of the Massoretic text, and it points at once to the leader of the gang, who has been set on by his fellows to compass the Psalmist’s ruin. The phrase they have spoken with me (R.V. to me, marg. against me) seems to be used in a forensic sense as in Psa_127:5. His enemies—there is no need to explain to God who are meant by ‘they’—are scheming to effect his ruin by groundless charges supported by false witness. The word for falsehood is that used in Exo_20:16, and frequently in Proverbs (Pro_6:19, &c.) of false witness.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv2, 4 (2) Of the deceitful.—Properly, as in margin, of deceit;…
(2) Of the deceitful.—Properly, as in margin, of deceit; consequently, to make the two expressions alike, it is proposed to read, instead of “mouth of the wicked” (properly, of a wicked man), “mouth of wickedness.” In any case the best English equivalent will be, “a wicked mouth and a deceitful mouth.” “A blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with a sword” (Whichcote).
Spoken against me.—Rather (comp. Psa_12:3), talked with me.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv2–5 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth…
For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful; literally, of deceit the abstract for the concrete. Are opened against me; literally, hare they opened upon me (Kay, Cheyne, Revised Version). They have spoken against ms with a lying tongue. (comp. Psa_27:12 Psa_35:11) Calumny and misrepresentation are ever the portion of the children of God. David was calumniated by Saul, (1Sa_22:7-13) by Absalom, (2Sa_15:3, 2Sa_15:4) by Shimei, (2Sa_16:8) and others. One more perfect than David was even more calumniated. (Mat_11:19 Mat_12:24 Mat_26:61 Luk_23:2, etc.)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Charles H. Spurgeon 1885 · Public Domain On vv2–5 Ver. 2. For the mouth of the wicked and…
Ver. 2. For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me. Wicked men must needs say wicked things, and these we have reason to dread; but in addition they utter false and deceitful things, and these are worst of all. There is no knowing what may come out of mouths which are at once lewd and lying. The misery caused to a good man by slanderous reports no heart can imagine but that which is wounded by them: in all Satan's armoury there are no worse weapons than deceitful tongues. To have a reputation, over which we have watched with daily care, suddenly bespattered with the foulest aspersions, is painful beyond description; but when wicked and deceitful men get their mouths fully opened we can hardly expect to escape any more than others.
They have spoken against me with a lying tongue. Lying tongues cannot lie still. Bad tongues are not content to vilify bad men, but choose the most gracious of saints to be the objects of their attacks. Here is reason enough for prayer. The heart sinks when assailed with slander, for we know not what may be said next, what friend may be alienated, what evil may be threatened, or what misery may be caused to us and others. The air is full of rumours, and shadows impalpable flit around; the mind is confused with dread of unseen foes, and invisible arrows. What ill can be worse than to be assailed with slander,
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"Whose edge is sharper than the sword, whose tongue
Out venoms all the worms of Nile"?
Ver. 2. For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me. Speak, says Arnobius, to thine own conscience, O man of God, thou who art following Christ; and when the mouth of the wicked and deceitful man is opened concerning thee, rejoice and be secure; because while the mouth of the wicked is opened for thy slander in the earth, the mouth of God is opened for thy praise in heaven. Lorinus.
Ver. 2-3. Note, first, the detractor opens his mouth, that he may pour forth his poison, and that he may devour his victim. Hence, David says, "the mouth of the wicked is opened against me." Note, secondly, the detractor is talkativeThey have spoken, etc. The mouth of the detractor is a broken pitcher leaking all over. Note, thirdly, detraction springs from hatred, "they compassed me about also with words of hatred." In Greek, ekuklwoan me, ie., as in a circle they have enclosed me. St. Climacus says, "Detraction is odii partus, a subtle disease, a fat but hidden leech which sucks the blood of charity and after destroys it." Lorinus.
Ver. 2-5. The mouth of the wicked, etc.
Vicedeformed
Itself, and ugly, and of flavour rank
To rob fair Virtue of so sweet an incense
And with it to anoint and salve its own
Rotten ulcers, and perfume the path that led
To death, strove daily by a thousand means:
And oft succeeded to make Virtue sour
In the world's nostrils, and its loathly self
Smell sweetly. Rumour was the messenger
Of defamation, and so swift that none
Could be the first to tell an evil tale.
It was Slander filled her mouth with lying words;
Slander, the foulest whelp of Sin. The man
In whom this spirit entered was undone.
His tongue was set on fire of hell; his heart
Was black as death; his legs were faint with haste
To propagate the lie his tongue had framed
His pillow was the peace of families
Destroyed, the sigh of innocence reproached,
Broken friendships, and the strife of brotherhoods.
Yet did he spare his sleep, and hear the clock
Number the midnight watches, on bis bed
Devising mischief more; and early rose
And made most hellish meals of good men's names.
Peace fled the neighbourhood in which he made
His haunts; and, like a moral pestilence,
Before his breath the healthy shoots and blooms
Of social joy and happiness decayed.
Fools only in his company were seen,
And those forsaken of God, and to themselves
Given up. The prudent man shunned him and his house
As one who had a deadly moral plague. Robert Pollok.
Ver. 2. Slander. Its causewickedness and malice. Its instrumentsdeceit and lies. Its frequencyJesus and the saints slandered. Its punishment. Our resort when tried by itprayer to God.
Psalms 109:3*
Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv4–5 But I give myself unto prayer.
Psa_109:4
But I give myself unto prayer.
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The universal suitability of prayer
This is the great resource of Gods children. Observe the disjunctive particle but with which the text begins. Let others do this or that (he would say), but I give myself unto prayer, or, as it stands in the original, But I--prayer; as though he meant to imply that prayer was everything to him;--I have no other resource, and I need none. What shall we do, asks the pious parent, to secure our children, who will soon be beyond the control of parental authority, and will have to encounter the snares of a world which lieth in wickedness? Give yourselves unto prayer. Let us take another case; namely, the feelings and anxieties of the junior touching the senior members of the household. Here I desire to speak a word in favour of family prayer. Give yourselves unto prayer, as Abraham did, who wherever he went, there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord. The opening of the new year calls for a review of the past, and that review is fraught with matter for humiliation. Be humbled: yet let not humiliation take the gloomy and unbelieving character of despondency. And in order to prevent this, give yourself unto prayer. (T. E. Hankinson, M.A.)
Constancy in prayer
When a pump is frequently used, but little pains are necessary to have water; the water pours out at the first stroke, because it is high. But if the pump has not been used for a long time, the water gets low, and when you want it you must pump a long while, and the water comes only after great effort. It is so with prayer; if we are instant in prayer, every little circumstance awakens the disposition to pray, and desires and words are always ready. But if we neglect prayer it is difficult for us to pray, for the water in the well gets low. (Felix Neff.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v4 In return for my love
In return for my love
"Although I loved them"
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my love
"my love for them"
they accuse me
The word "they" refers to the people who are wicked and deceitful. You may need to make explicit that those who accuse the psalmist do so falsely. AT: "they accuse me falsely" or "they slander me"
translationWords
love
slander
pray
evil
good
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v4 109:4-5 The psalmist’s acts of kindness and godliness (see…
109:4-5 The psalmist’s acts of kindness and godliness (see 35:12-14) have only met with stubborn opposition and expressions of hatred.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.