Psalms 70:2 Meaning: Praying for Justice When We Want Revenge
Let them be disappointed and confounded who seek my soul. Let those who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.
Let them be put to shame and confounded That seek after my soul: Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor That delight in my hurt.
Let them be ashamed and confounded Who are seeking my soul, Let them be turned backward and blush Who are desiring my evil.
Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion that seek after my soul; let them be turned backward and confounded that take pleasure in mine adversity;
Meaning in one sentence
Psalm 70:2 prays for enemies to be ashamed. Can Christians pray this? Discover how it appeals to God’s justice, not personal vengeance.
Context
Psalm 70 is a short, urgent cry from David. The superscription calls it a reminder, maybe to stir God to act, or to remind David himself of past rescues. He is in deep trouble, with enemies closing in, and he pleads with God to hurry to his aid. Verse 2 is the heart of his request: he asks that those who seek his life be turned back in shame. This is not a new prayer; it closely echoes parts of Psalm 40, suggesting David returned to these words when new dangers arose. The psalm ends with David’s honest admission: “I am poor and needy.” This is the prayer of someone with no other hope but God.
Key Words
Three English phrases carry the weight of this verse. First, “disappointed and confounded” translate a double prayer: that the plans of enemies would fail (disappointed) and that they would be thrown into confusion (confounded). It is not a wish for random misery, it asks God to expose their schemes as hollow. Second, “seek my soul” means they are hunting for his life, literally wanting to destroy him. David is not overreacting; he is naming real danger. Third, “desire my ruin” in the Hebrew has a flavor of delighting in his hurt, as if his pain brings them pleasure. The verse asks God to protect the vulnerable by letting the wicked reap the shame they planned for him. All of this comes from a man who has no army or escape, only the conviction that God sees and will act.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse with caution because of Jesus’ command to love enemies. Some in the Reformed tradition see the imprecatory psalms as expressions of zeal for God’s honor, prayers for His kingdom to prevail over evil, not personal grudges. Others, including many Anabaptists and pacifists, treat these verses as honest human cries that can be prayed only after they are reinterpreted through the Cross: we hand our desire for justice to God and ask Him to deal with wrongs. Many early church fathers read the enemies as spiritual forces like sin and death rather than human foes. Across traditions, the common thread is that the psalmist does not take revenge himself; he places the whole matter in God’s hands and waits.
A common misunderstanding
Common misreading: “This verse gives believers permission to hate their enemies and wish harm on them.”
In fact, the psalmist does not say “I will make them ashamed.” He says “Let them be ashamed.” He is appealing to God’s justice, not taking up a weapon. Throughout the psalm, the speaker is poor, needy, and completely dependent on God. The verse is a plea for God to act, not a license for the believer to curse others in prayer.
Main takeaway: Psalm 70:2 hands the fight to God, asking Him to expose injustice while the psalmist waits in trust for His deliverance.
Questions People Ask
What does ‘confounded’ mean in Psalm 70:2?
In this context, ‘confounded’ means confused, frustrated, or thrown into disorder. David asks that the plans of his enemies would collapse and fail, leaving them without a way forward. It is not a wish for emotional distress but for God to halt their harmful schemes.
How can Christians pray Psalm 70:2 if Jesus said to love our enemies?
Jesus’ command to love enemies changes the way we pray imprecatory psalms. We no longer pray for personal vengeance, but we can still pray for God’s justice to prevail. We can ask God to stop those who harm others, to bring repentance or accountability, and to vindicate the innocent. The psalmist’s heart is not hatred but a cry for deliverance and hope in God’s righteous rule.
Who are the enemies in Psalm 70?
The psalm does not name specific people, but David faced many enemies: King Saul, foreign armies, and even his own son Absalom. The enemies are those who actively seek his life and take delight in his suffering. The psalm reflects a real crisis where David’s life was in danger.
Is Psalm 70 just a copy of Psalm 40?
Yes, Psalm 70 reuses verses from Psalm 40:13, 17 with small changes. Many scholars see it as a later adaptation for a new occasion of distress. David or another psalmist took these familiar words and used them again when trouble returned. This shows we can reuse Scripture prayers in our own urgent moments.
How does Psalm 70:2 relate to praying for justice today?
This verse reminds us that it is not wrong to cry out to God when we see injustice. We can ask Him to intervene, to expose wrongs, and to protect the vulnerable. The key is that we leave the outcome in God’s hands rather than taking revenge ourselves. It is a prayer for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done.
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