Psalm 5 9

Psalm 5:9 kjv

For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

Psalm 5:9 nkjv

For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is destruction; Their throat is an open tomb; They flatter with their tongue.

Psalm 5:9 niv

Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies.

Psalm 5:9 esv

For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.

Psalm 5:9 nlt

My enemies cannot speak a truthful word.
Their deepest desire is to destroy others.
Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
Their tongues are filled with flattery.

Psalm 5 verses

Psalm 5 9 Meaning

Psalm 5:9 powerfully describes the profound corruption of the wicked, revealing that their internal character is devoid of truth and wholly given over to destruction. This inner depravity is expressed externally through their speech, which is compared to an open grave—decaying and deadly—and characterized by deceptive flattery rather than sincerity or truth. The verse portrays a complete absence of faithfulness both in their hearts and on their lips.

Psalm 5 9 Context

Psalm 5 is a morning prayer of King David, urgently appealing to God for guidance, protection, and vindication against his wicked enemies. The psalm unfolds with a strong contrast between the righteous who seek God and the wicked who oppose Him and God’s ways. David begins by affirming God's attentiveness to the morning cries of His devout followers (v. 1-3) and His absolute hatred for evil (v. 4-6). He emphasizes God’s righteousness and purity, noting that the wicked cannot stand in God’s presence. Within this context, verse 9 meticulously describes the true, corrupt nature of these adversaries, serving to justify David’s plea for God to condemn them (v. 10). Historically, it reflects the ongoing struggle of a righteous king against those who oppose his rule and God’s established order, portraying their internal and external opposition as fundamentally antithetical to God's faithfulness.

Psalm 5 9 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, ki): A conjunction indicating causation or explanation. It introduces the reason why God should destroy those who speak lies (as stated in Psa 5:6) or why the psalmist seeks justice against them.
• no faithfulness (נְאֶמָנָה, ne'emana): Derived from aman, meaning firm, stable, reliable, true. Its negation indicates a complete absence of trustworthiness, integrity, or truthfulness. There is no foundation of honesty or fidelity within them.
• in their mouth (בְּפִיהוּ, bephihuh): "Their" is possessive for the wicked. Refers to the physical organ of speech, but contextually implies the source and expression of their communication. It highlights the direct link between their inner corruption and their verbal output.
• their inward part (קִרְבָּם, qirbam): From qerev, meaning inner part, midst, heart, intestines. In ancient Hebrew thought, this term often referred to the seat of emotions, will, thoughts, and intentions – the very core of a person’s being. It signifies a profound, inherent corruption that resides deep within.
• is very wickedness (הַוּוֹת, hawwot): From hawa, meaning to fall, ruin, be plunged in ruin. Hawwot signifies ruin, destruction, mischief, perversity, or calamity. It’s more than just simple evil; it points to an active intent towards harm, devastation, and perversion. This describes the true nature of their innermost being.
• an open sepulchre (קֶבֶר פָּתוּחַ, qevar patuach): Qever means grave or tomb. Patuach means open or opened. This is a vivid, repulsive metaphor. An open grave signifies death, decay, defilement, and the absence of life. It implies that what emanates from their throats (speech) is like the stench and corruption of a rotting corpse – vile, defiling, and deadly. This powerful image was directly quoted by Paul in Rom 3:13.
• is their throat (גְרוֹנָם, geronam): The throat, serving as the passage for breath and sound, here metaphorically represents the organ through which destructive and corrupt speech is produced. It is the conduit for the internal depravity to become external harm.
• they flatter with their tongue (יַחֲלִיקוּ לְשׁוֹנָם, yahaliqu l'shonam): Yahaliqu from chalaq, meaning to be smooth, slippery, or to flatter. L'shonam means "their tongue." This describes their method of deception. Their speech is not straightforward or honest; it is artful, smooth, seductive, and deceptive, designed to mislead, manipulate, and conceal their destructive intentions. It implies cunning and insincerity.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "For no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness." This phrase establishes the fundamental corruption of the wicked. It declares that both their external expression (mouth) and their deepest core (inward part) are entirely devoid of truth and are instead characterized by an active, destructive perversity. It points to a total, internal lack of integrity that permeates their being.
• "An open sepulchre is their throat; they flatter with their tongue." This section illustrates how the core wickedness manifests. Their throat, the channel of their speech, emits corruption akin to death. The "flattering tongue" then describes the method by which this corruption is externalized – not with honest bluntness, but with manipulative smoothness designed to conceal their malevolent nature and achieve destructive ends. These phrases underscore the dangerous nature of their communication, which promises much but delivers only ruin.

Psalm 5 9 Bonus section

The Septuagint (LXX), an ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament, renders "their inward part is very wickedness" as "their heart is vain" (κεναὶ αἱ καρδίαι αὐτῶν, kenai hai kardiai auton), further emphasizing the emptiness and lack of substance within. The contrast here with God's perfect truthfulness (Psa 5:4) is stark; while God is inherently opposed to evil, the wicked are defined by it from their core outward. The imagery of an "open sepulchre" can also evoke ancient burial practices where tombs were sealed; an open tomb suggested defilement, robbery, or a place where evil spirits might dwell, amplifying the sense of active malignity associated with their speech.

Psalm 5 9 Commentary

Psalm 5:9 lays bare the complete moral decay of the wicked, revealing an intrinsic rottenness that is both pervasive and expressed through their primary means of interaction: speech. It's a statement about total depravity from a biblical perspective, asserting that the absence of "faithfulness" (ne'emana) in their verbal output is rooted in a core of "very wickedness" (hawwot). This wickedness is not merely a weakness but an active, destructive intent at the deepest level of their being. The vivid metaphor of "an open sepulchre" for their throat profoundly communicates that their words are not only false but are actively defiling and deadly, spreading spiritual or even physical decay like a gaping tomb emits corruption. The final phrase, "they flatter with their tongue," indicates that this destructive speech is delivered with cunning, designed to deceive and ensnare, rather than being openly malicious. This makes them particularly dangerous because their destructive intent is veiled by smooth, persuasive, and insincere words. It highlights the biblical truth that outward words are often direct reflections of inward moral condition.