Psalm 28:3 kjv
Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.
Psalm 28:3 nkjv
Do not take me away with the wicked And with the workers of iniquity, Who speak peace to their neighbors, But evil is in their hearts.
Psalm 28:3 niv
Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts.
Psalm 28:3 esv
Do not drag me off with the wicked, with the workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts.
Psalm 28:3 nlt
Do not drag me away with the wicked ?
with those who do evil ?
those who speak friendly words to their neighbors
while planning evil in their hearts.
Psalm 28 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 1:1 | Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly... | Warning against association with wicked |
| Ps 26:4-5 | I have not sat with deceitful people, nor will I go in with hypocrites... | Desire for separation from the wicked |
| Ps 73:16-18 | When I thought to know this, it was too painful... till I went into the sanctuary of God... | Discernment of wicked's fate in God's presence |
| Prov 12:26 | The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor, but the way of the wicked seduces them. | The danger of the wicked's path |
| Isa 3:10-11 | Tell the righteous it will be well with them... Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with them... | God's distinct judgment for righteous and wicked |
| 1 Sam 16:7 | The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. | God's knowledge of the heart |
| Jer 17:9-10 | The heart is deceitful above all things... I the Lord search the heart and test the mind... | God sees the hidden motives of the heart |
| Heb 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword... discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. | God's Word reveals heart's true state |
| Rev 2:23 | I am He who searches the minds and hearts. I will give to each of you according to your works. | Christ's divine insight into inner man |
| Prov 26:24-26 | Whoever hates disguises it with his lips... he stores up deceit... | Deception of hypocritical speech |
| Isa 29:13 | These people draw near with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me... | Religious hypocrisy: lip service vs. heart's state |
| Jer 9:8 | Their tongue is a deadly arrow; It speaks deceit... One speaks peaceably with his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart he lays wait. | Direct echo of Ps 28:3 on deceitful speech |
| Matt 15:8 | These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. | Christ condemns outward piety without true heart |
| Matt 23:27-28 | Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs... inside full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. | Hypocrisy: outward show vs. inward corruption |
| Rom 3:13 | "Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit..." | Speech used for deceit and destruction |
| Rom 16:17-18 | Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions... For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words... deceive the hearts of the simple. | Warning against divisive, smooth talkers |
| Tit 1:16 | They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. | Actions betray true belief (profess vs. works) |
| Ps 9:16-17 | The Lord is known by the judgment He executes... The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. | God's justice upon the wicked |
| Ps 11:5-6 | The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked... He will rain coals on them... | God's judgment on the wicked |
| 2 Pet 2:9 | Then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment... | God distinguishes and judges the unrighteous |
| Ps 37:9-10 | For evildoers shall be cut off... a little while and the wicked will be no more... | Promise of the wicked's eradication |
| Mal 4:1 | For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; And all the proud... and all who do wickedly will be stubble... | Prophetic judgment on all wicked |
| 2 Cor 6:14-17 | Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers... Come out from among them and be separate... | NT call for separation from evil/unbelief |
Psalm 28 verses
Psalm 28 3 Meaning
David appeals to God for deliverance, specifically praying not to be swept away or condemned alongside the wicked, particularly those who deceptively speak of peace with others while harboring evil intentions in their hearts. This prayer expresses a fervent desire for God to distinguish the psalmist from the morally corrupt and to execute righteous judgment that reflects inner character rather than outward pretense.
Psalm 28 3 Context
Psalm 28 is a lament and prayer for deliverance by King David, expressing intense personal distress and reliance on God. David appeals to God as his rock and fortress, pleading not to be silent to his cries, lest he be counted among those who descend into the pit. Verse 3 deepens this plea by distinguishing David from a specific type of wicked person: those who employ hypocrisy and deceit. This reflects a period of great personal danger for David, likely involving political adversaries or betrayers who, while outwardly friendly or peace-seeking, harbored malicious intent. The psalm transitions from lament to confidence, demonstrating David's faith that God will indeed hear and deliver him, executing justice upon his foes. The cultural context emphasizes the significant value placed on truthfulness and integrity in covenant relationships within ancient Israel, contrasting sharply with the described treachery.
Psalm 28 3 Word analysis
- Do not drag me away (לֹא תִּמְשְׁכֵנִי - lo' timshecheni): "Lo'" is a strong negation, expressing a fervent plea. "Timshecheni" from mashakh implies a forcible pulling or drawing, like being drawn into judgment or shared fate. The psalmist fears being forcibly swept into the same condemnation as the wicked, not just mere association.
- with the wicked (עִם־רְשָׁעִים - im-resha'im): "Resha'im" are those who are legally and morally guilty, hostile to God's ways, and characterized by injustice. David desires clear distinction from their spiritual and ethical path, and their ultimate destiny of divine judgment.
- with those who do evil (וְעִם־פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן - v'im-po'alei aven): "Po'alei aven" refers to "workers of iniquity" or "practitioners of wickedness." Aven can denote trouble, mischief, deceit, or moral depravity, emphasizing actions rooted in internal corruption and often leading to harm.
- who speak peace (הַדְּבָרִים שָׁלוֹם - had'varim shalom): "Had'varim" is a participle, indicating ongoing action: "those who are speaking." "Shalom" means wholeness, well-being, or peace. The use of this deeply significant word, coupled with subsequent "malice," highlights the profound irony and deception, suggesting a false front of goodwill.
- with their neighbors (עִם־רֵעֵיהֶם - im-re'ehem): "Re'ehem" refers to companions, friends, or close associates. The deception is directed not at strangers but at those they should genuinely care for, making the betrayal more heinous and insidious and violating the core of covenant community.
- while malice is in their hearts (וְרָעָה בִּלְבָבָם - v'ra'ah bil'vavam): "Ra'ah" signifies moral evil, wickedness, or misfortune. "Bil'vavam" (in their heart) emphasizes that the source of their deceit lies deep within their moral core. In Hebrew thought, the heart is the seat of intellect, will, and emotion, implying their true nature is corrupt and their intentions are inherently destructive, contrary to their words. This exposes their complete hypocrisy.
Psalm 28 3 Bonus section
This verse encapsulates a crucial biblical theme: God’s absolute knowledge of the human heart, distinguishing Him from human judges who can only observe external actions. The term aven (iniquity) when describing the actions of the wicked often carries a connotation of worthlessness or futility, indicating that their deceitful practices ultimately lead to spiritual emptiness and divine condemnation. David's plea also reflects a universal human yearning for justice when facing betrayal. In Jewish thought, the ability to discern a person's true intent behind their words is considered a mark of wisdom, aligning with the prophetic emphasis on inner righteousness over external observance. The very act of asking God to "not drag me away" highlights David's implicit trust that God possesses the power to isolate the righteous from the consequences of the wicked, showcasing divine justice and preservation. This echoes the concept of spiritual separation fundamental to the life of a believer in both Old and New Testaments.
Psalm 28 3 Commentary
Psalm 28:3 unveils the profound tension between appearance and reality in human relationships and before God. David’s urgent prayer to not be "dragged away" with the wicked reflects a spiritual consciousness that understood God’s impending judgment for those living in hypocrisy. The description "who speak peace with their neighbors while malice is in their hearts" pinpoints a particularly insidious form of wickedness – insincerity and betrayal masquerading as goodwill. This behavior is detestable to God, who always looks beyond outward show to the true condition of the heart (1 Sam 16:7). David, seeking refuge in God's righteousness, desires a clear demarcation, spiritually and providentially, between himself and such treacherous individuals. The verse underscores that genuine peace comes from integrity of heart, not mere verbal declaration. It is a powerful plea for divine discernment and justice, recognizing that true evil is often cloaked in superficial benevolence.