Psalm 28 4

Psalm 28:4 kjv

Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.

Psalm 28:4 nkjv

Give them according to their deeds, And according to the wickedness of their endeavors; Give them according to the work of their hands; Render to them what they deserve.

Psalm 28:4 niv

Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back on them what they deserve.

Psalm 28:4 esv

Give to them according to their work and according to the evil of their deeds; give to them according to the work of their hands; render them their due reward.

Psalm 28:4 nlt

Give them the punishment they so richly deserve!
Measure it out in proportion to their wickedness.
Pay them back for all their evil deeds!
Give them a taste of what they have done to others.

Psalm 28 verses

Psalm 28 4 Meaning

Psalm 28:4 is a petition from David, crying out to the Lord for divine justice against those who have acted wickedly. It expresses a prayer that God would deal with the unrighteous according to their harmful actions and evil schemes. The verse directly links their impending downfall to their wilful disregard for the "works of the LORD," implying that their spiritual blindness and active opposition to God's ways are the very reasons they deserve destruction without restoration. This is an imprecatory prayer, seeking God's righteous recompense for the sake of His own glory and justice.

Psalm 28 4 Context

Psalm 28 is a Davidic psalm, deeply personal yet carrying broader theological implications. In the preceding verses (1-3), David appeals to the Lord as his "rock" and "strength," crying out against those who speak peace while harboring evil intentions. He fears being dragged down with them to the pit. Verse 4 shifts from an appeal for personal deliverance to a petition for divine judgment against these specific "evildoers." It reflects David's righteous indignation and his conviction that God is just and will not allow the wicked to escape. The subsequent verses in Psalm 28 affirm David's confidence in God's answer and conclude with praise, moving from lament and imprecation to trust and hope, advocating for the people of God. The historical context for David might involve specific moments of betrayal or political adversaries who feigned loyalty while plotting harm.

Psalm 28 4 Word analysis

• Repay them (Hebrew: גְּמֻלָם, gĕmulām from גָּמַל, gamal): This verb means "to deal fully with," "to requite," "to ripen." It carries the connotation of a fitting or deserved return, whether for good or evil. Here, it denotes retribution, emphasizing that the consequence is an appropriate response to their actions.
• According to their deeds (כְּפׇעֳלָם, kĕfo'ālām): The word po'al refers to actions, work, or accomplishments. This phrase ensures the precision of God's justice, meaning the repayment will be exact and proportional to the wickedness they have committed.
• And according to the evil of their practices (וְכָרׇע מַעֲלְלֵיהֶם, vĕkhārāʿ maʿalălêhem): Maʿalĕl signifies deep, ingrained practices, often used for evil acts. It points beyond a single deed to a consistent pattern of conduct. The emphasis is on the inherent evil (רָע, raʿ) within their sustained actions.
• According to the work of their hands (וּמַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם, u maʿăśēh yĕdêhem): Maʿaśeh denotes the outcome or product of labor. "Work of their hands" is a common biblical idiom for the tangible results of human effort, planning, or scheming. This reinforces personal responsibility and accountability for what they actively devise and carry out.
• Bring back their recompense upon them (הָשֵׁב גְּמוּלָם לָהֶם, hāšēv gĕmûlām lāhem): This is a strong, intensifying reiteration. Hāšēv (return) further underscores the idea that their own evil actions will be the very instrument or cause of their judgment. It is a full cycle, where their deeds boomerang back upon them.
• For they do not regard the works of the Lord (כִּי לֹא הֵבִינוּ אֶל פְּעֻלֹּת יְהוָה, kî lōʾ hēḇînû ʾel pĕʿullōṯ Yahweh): This clause provides the foundational reason for the plea for judgment.
  • "Do not regard" (לֹא הֵבִינוּ, lo hevinu): Havin means to understand, perceive, consider deeply, give heed. It implies a willful refusal or inability to comprehend the divine significance of God's actions. It is not mere ignorance but active disregard or defiance.
  • "Works of the Lord" (פְּעֻלֹּת יְהוָה, pĕʿullōṯ Yahweh): This refers to God's active involvement in the world – His acts of creation, providence, deliverance (e.g., the Exodus), the establishment of covenants, His revealed will in the Torah, and His ultimate justice in history. They choose to be blind to His manifest power and righteous rule.
• Or the work of His hands (וְעַל מַעֲשֵׂה יָדָיו, vĕʿal maʿăśēh yāḏāw): This phrase echoes the earlier "work of their hands," creating a stark contrast. The wicked's "work of their hands" brings judgment, while they utterly dismiss "the work of His hands." This refers to God's creative and sustaining activity, demonstrating His sovereignty and omnipotence.
• He will tear them down and not build them up (יֶהֶרְסֵם וְלֹא יִבְנֵם, yeharsem vĕlo yivneem): This is a prophetic statement of irreversible divine judgment.
  • "Tear down" (יֶהֶרְסֵם, yeharsem from הָרַס, haras): To destroy, break down, ruin completely. It speaks of violent and definitive demolition.
  • "And not build them up" (וְלֹא יִבְנֵם, vĕlo yivneem from בָּנָה, banah): This negates any possibility of reconstruction, recovery, or future hope. It signifies total and permanent desolation, a stark contrast to God's promises of building up His faithful.

Psalm 28 4 Bonus section

The imprecatory nature of this verse highlights a profound biblical truth: God is a God of justice, not just mercy. Such prayers are not expressions of personal hatred but appeals to divine righteousness in the face of persistent, unrepentant evil that disregards God himself. They affirm that cosmic justice is necessary for true peace and the establishment of God's kingdom. While the New Testament emphasizes love for enemies (Matt 5:44), it also acknowledges the reality of divine judgment (Rom 12:19), indicating that ultimate justice remains with the Lord. The permanent destruction ("tear them down and not build them up") contrasts sharply with God's covenantal promises to "build up" His people and their house, illustrating the different destinies for those who acknowledge God versus those who defy Him. This demonstrates the critical distinction between temporary judgment and final, irrecoverable separation from God's favor.

Psalm 28 4 Commentary

Psalm 28:4 is a powerful expression of faith in God's distributive justice. David is not seeking personal vendetta but appealing to the Lord as the righteous Judge of all the earth. The core principle articulated is lex talionis – "an eye for an eye," but applied spiritually and divinely, where one receives a recompense commensurate with their actions. The verse posits that the ultimate root of the wicked's downfall is their wilful spiritual blindness and moral apathy, evidenced by their failure to acknowledge or respond to God's visible actions in history and creation ("works of the Lord" and "work of His hands"). Because they disregard the very foundation of righteous governance and existence, God's just response is to ensure their complete and irreversible destruction, dismantling them without any hope of reconstruction or recovery. This serves as a stark warning: denying God's active involvement and rightful claim over creation and human affairs inevitably leads to severe and eternal consequences.