Psalm 59 12

Psalm 59:12 kjv

For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.

Psalm 59:12 nkjv

For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, Let them even be taken in their pride, And for the cursing and lying which they speak.

Psalm 59:12 niv

For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. For the curses and lies they utter,

Psalm 59:12 esv

For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter,

Psalm 59:12 nlt

Because of the sinful things they say,
because of the evil that is on their lips,
let them be captured by their pride,
their curses, and their lies.

Psalm 59 verses

Psalm 59 12 Meaning

Psalm 59:12 is a prayer by the Psalmist, likely David, asking God to let the wicked enemies be snared and consumed by their own evil speech. It asserts a principle of divine justice: their sinful utterances—characterized by boastful pride, destructive curses, and outright lies—should become the very trap that brings about their downfall and exposure. The verse expresses a plea for the natural, righteous consequence of their wickedness to manifest, so that their own words condemn them.

Psalm 59 12 Context

Psalm 59 is a Michtam of David, specifically referring to the time when King Saul sent men to surround David's house to kill him (1 Sam 19:11). The psalm is a fervent cry for deliverance from bloodthirsty enemies who "prowl like dogs" (v. 6), lie in wait, and utter threats and arrogant boasts without regard for God (v. 7). David pleads for God to intervene, scatter his enemies, and make an example of them. This verse (v. 12) is part of David's imprecatory prayer, calling upon God to exact justice in a fitting manner, ensuring that the very tools of their wickedness—their deceitful and proud speech—become the instrument of their own destruction. It is a specific petition for divine retribution that mirrors the nature of their offense.

Psalm 59 12 Word analysis

• For the sin (בְּחֵטְא - bə·ḥêṭʼ, 'in/for the sin of'): חֵטְא (chet) implies transgression, an act that misses the mark or goes astray from God's standard. Here, it is the root cause of their malicious speech. The preposition 'in/for' signifies that their speech is their sin or the basis for it.
• of their mouth (פִּיהֶם֮ - pî·hem, 'their mouth'): פֶּה (peh) refers to the mouth, not merely as an anatomical part, but as the source and instrument of speech. It denotes the origination point of their words and thus their character.
• and the words of their lips (דְּבַר־שְׂפָתֵ֗ימוֹ - də·ḇar-śə·p̄ā·ṯê·mōw, 'word of their lips'): שְׂפָה (saphah) refers to the lips or language. This phrase emphasizes the deliberate and intentional nature of their verbal wrongdoing, not just a casual slip. דְּבַר (davar) signifies speech or words, giving specific content to the mouth's actions.
• let them even be taken (וְיִלָּכְד֣וּ - wə·yil·lā·ḵə·ḏū, 'and let them be caught/trapped'): לָכַד (lakad) means to catch, capture, or ensnare. In the Niphal (passive) form here, it expresses being caught or trapped, often in a net or snare. It signifies a consequence where escape is impossible, a divine trap.
• in their pride (בִגְאוֹנָ֑ם - ḇiḡ·’ō·nām, 'in their pride'): גָּאוֹן (ga'on) often means majesty or excellence (positively for God). Negatively, as here, it signifies arrogance, haughtiness, or presumptuous pride. Their pride often fueled their boasting, confidence in their plots, and scorn for David, becoming the very means of their downfall.
• and for cursing (וּמֵאָלָ֖ה - ū·mê·’ā·lāh, 'and from/for cursing/oath'): אָלָה (alah) refers to a curse, oath, or imprecation. It can imply a solemn, often malicious, verbal declaration against another or a false oath. In this context, it likely signifies destructive or defamatory verbal attacks against David, or breaking solemn agreements.
• and lying (וּמִכַּ֣חַשׁ - ū·miḵ·kaḥ·ša, 'and from/for lying/deceit'): כַּחַשׁ (kachash) denotes falsehood, deceit, or denial. It speaks of the specific nature of their verbal treachery: actively spreading untruths, slandering, or misleading with cunning words.
• which they speak (יְסַפֵּֽרוּן׃ - yə·sap·pê·rūn, 'they relate/speak'): סָפַר (sapar) means to count, tell, or declare. This term emphasizes their continued action of uttering these wicked words, portraying their habitual pattern of deceitful speech.

Words-Group analysis:

• "For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips": This double-expression underscores the gravity and intent of their verbal offenses. It covers both the internal wickedness (sin of mouth) and the external manifestation (words of lips). It pinpoints speech as their primary weapon against David.
• "let them even be taken in their pride": This is the core imprecation. The Psalmist prays for divine entrapment, specifying that their downfall should come from their very source of strength or confidence: their arrogance and boastful declarations. This implies poetic justice, where their hubris becomes their undoing.
• "and for cursing and lying which they speak": These two words detail the nature of their evil speech. It's not just random words but specific acts of malediction (cursing) and intentional falsehood (lying). The concluding phrase "which they speak" reiterates their active, continuous, and responsible engagement in these wicked verbal acts, justifying the requested judgment.

Psalm 59 12 Bonus section

The repetitive nature of the pleas against "mouth" and "lips" (e.g., v. 7 "their mouth pours out evil things") throughout Psalm 59 indicates that their wicked speech was a defining characteristic of David's enemies. This makes the petition in verse 12 for their words to trap them a very specific and targeted request for divine irony or fitting judgment. This isn't just punishment, but a demonstration of God's perfect justice where the sin itself carries the seed of its destruction. The spirit behind the words—their pride and malice—is as culpable as the words themselves.

Psalm 59 12 Commentary

Psalm 59:12 is a vivid appeal for God's righteous judgment against those who use their speech for evil. David, being unjustly pursued, observes his enemies' prideful boasts, malicious curses, and blatant lies. He does not seek personal revenge but rather prays that God, as the ultimate arbiter of justice, would ensure that the very instrument of their sin—their mouth and words—becomes the mechanism of their demise. This is a common theme in the Psalms, where God's justice is seen to fit the crime, often turning the enemy's own devices back upon them. It underscores the spiritual truth that speech is not neutral; it carries moral weight and divine consequence. Unchecked pride and destructive words lead to ruin, especially when God acts as the enforcer of His cosmic justice.

Examples for practical usage:

• Acknowledging that consistently hurtful or false words can damage one's reputation and relationships.
• Understanding that pride often precedes a fall, as boasting and arrogance isolate one from grace and help.
• Recognizing the biblical principle that our words have consequences, both for us and for others, and God holds us accountable for them.