Psalm 140 8

Psalm 140:8 kjv

Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.

Psalm 140:8 nkjv

Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; Do not further his wicked scheme, Lest they be exalted. Selah

Psalm 140:8 niv

Do not grant the wicked their desires, LORD; do not let their plans succeed.

Psalm 140:8 esv

Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah

Psalm 140:8 nlt

LORD, do not let evil people have their way.
Do not let their evil schemes succeed,
or they will become proud. Interlude

Psalm 140 verses

Psalm 140 8 Meaning

Psalm 140:8 is a heartfelt prayer by David, seeking divine intervention against his wicked adversaries. It expresses a plea for God to withhold success from the plans and intentions of the malicious, specifically so that their potential achievements do not inflate their pride and lead them to boast or believe in their own power apart from God. It is an appeal for God to actively prevent the fruition of evil schemes, recognizing that their success would empower and embolden the wicked.

Psalm 140 8 Context

Psalm 140 is a fervent individual lament, attributed to David, seeking deliverance from wicked and violent adversaries. The psalm begins with an earnest cry for rescue (v. 1), detailing the nature of the enemies' malicious intentions and their deceptive, venomous speech (vv. 2-3). David describes their active plotting and ensnaring tactics (vv. 4-5). He reiterates his dependence on God alone for protection (v. 6-7). Verse 8 serves as a pivotal point, where David prays that God would not permit these enemies to succeed in their schemes, fearing that their success would only swell their pride and intensify their evil. This plea leads directly into further imprecations and expressions of confidence in God's righteous judgment against them (vv. 9-13). The historical context aligns with periods of David's life when he was relentlessly pursued by enemies, perhaps Saul or Absalom, where his physical safety and the stability of the kingdom were threatened by powerful, hostile forces.

Psalm 140 8 Word analysis

• Grant not, O LORD (אַל־תִּתֵּן יְהוָה / 'al-tittēn YHVH):
  • אַל־תִּתֵּן (ʾal-tittēn): Literally "do not give" or "do not allow." This is an emphatic negative command or plea, highlighting the direct divine intervention sought. It signifies that any success of the wicked is ultimately a permission from God, and David asks Him to withhold that permission.
  • יְהוָה (YHVH): The unpronounceable divine name, commonly rendered "LORD." It signifies God's covenant faithfulness and absolute sovereignty. The plea is addressed directly to the ultimate authority.
• the desires (מַאְוַיֵּי / maʾwayyê):
  • מַאְוַיֵּי (maʾwayyê): Refers to "desires," "longings," "ambitions," or "objects of desire." In this context, it pertains to the wicked's malicious wishes and intended outcomes of their plots. It goes beyond simple thoughts to their actively pursued objectives.
• of the wicked (רָשָׁע / rāšāʿ):
  • רָשָׁע (rāšāʿ): Denotes the "wicked" person or the "guilty." It describes one who actively disregards divine law and justice, often characterized by violent, oppressive, and deceptive behavior. The term carries moral and legal connotations of wrongdoing.
• further not (אַל־תְּפַקֵד / 'al-təfaqēd):
  • אַל־תְּפַקֵד (ʾal-təfaqēd): A negative imperative from the verb פָּקַד (pāqad), which has a broad semantic range including "to visit," "to inspect," "to attend to," "to appoint," or "to muster." Here, in the hiphil stem (causative), it means "do not cause to advance" or "do not allow to come to pass/succeed." It is a prayer for God to halt the progression of evil plans, preventing their successful execution.
• his wicked device (זִמָּמוֹ / zimmāmō):
  • זִמָּמוֹ (zimmāmō): Means "plot," "evil device," "mischievous design," or "malicious scheme." It points to the calculated, premeditated nature of the enemies' evil. The suffix "-o" indicates "his" or "their" (referring back to "the wicked").
• lest they exalt themselves (פֶּן־יָרוּמוּ / pen-yārūmū):
  • פֶּן־ (pen-): "Lest," "in order that not," indicating the negative consequence to be avoided.
  • יָרוּמוּ (yārūmū): From the verb רוּם (rūm), meaning "to be high," "to be exalted," "to rise up." Here, it refers to an increase in power, prominence, or, crucially, pride. The concern is that if their plots succeed, they will become arrogant and boastful, attributing success to themselves rather than God. This pride would further embolden them against God and His people, thus compounding their wickedness.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "Grant not... the desires of the wicked": This phrase directly appeals to God's sovereignty, acknowledging that even the wicked's potential success is dependent on His permissive will. It is a prayer that God withhold His enabling hand.
  • "further not his wicked device": This amplifies the first plea, specifying the active frustration of their pre-meditated evil plans. It shows David's desire for God to intervene concretely against the execution of hostile schemes.
  • "lest they exalt themselves": This reveals the ultimate spiritual rationale behind David's prayer. The fear is not just the physical harm the wicked might inflict, but the deeper spiritual consequence: their exaltation would lead to ungodly pride, self-glorification, and an affirmation of their sinful path, which is an affront to God's glory. This polemicizes against any worldview that grants success to wickedness or promotes self-sufficiency.

Psalm 140 8 Bonus section

The historical/cultural context of ancient Israel shows a stark contrast between reliance on the true God, Yahweh, and the polytheistic worship prevalent among surrounding nations, where success was often attributed to a pantheon of gods or human cleverness. David's prayer in Psalm 140:8 is inherently polemical against such beliefs. By asking Yahweh to "grant not" and "further not" the desires and devices of the wicked, David asserts that all power and ultimate authority to allow or hinder lies solely with the God of Israel. There is no other power, god, or human ability that can circumvent Yahweh's will. The success or failure of any plot is utterly dependent on His decree. Furthermore, the psalm concludes with a confidence that the righteous will indeed dwell in God's presence, highlighting the ultimate distinction and destiny between the upright and the wicked, contrasting divine justice with perceived worldly imbalances. The term "Selah" at the end of the verse invites the reader or listener to pause and reflect on the deep theological implications of the preceding words – the profound dependence on God, the danger of pride, and the expectation of divine justice.

Psalm 140 8 Commentary

Psalm 140:8 represents a profound insight into the spiritual warfare faced by the righteous. David understands that the success of evil is not merely a consequence of human cunning or power, but often stems from God's permission. His prayer, therefore, is not a call for God to merely protect him, but to actively frustrate the intentions and prevent the advancements of the wicked. The core concern here is not solely for David's immediate safety, but for the moral and spiritual implications of the wicked's triumph. If evil plans prosper, the perpetrators become puffed up with pride, falsely believing in their own strength and that their ways are validated. This "exaltation" would not only deepen their wickedness but also potentially undermine the faith of others who might observe such apparent success. David recognizes that allowing the wicked to achieve their "devices" ultimately dishonors God and encourages greater insolence against Him. Thus, the plea is for God to safeguard His own glory by preventing the triumph of unrighteousness, affirming divine sovereignty and justice. This principle holds true for believers today: a prayer against the success of evil is a prayer for the exaltation of God's righteous character, and against the destructive nature of pride.