Read
Psalm 109:28
They may curse, but you bless. When they arise, they will be shamed, but your servant shall rejoice.
26Help me, LORD, my God. Save me according to your loving kindness;
27that they may know that this is your hand; that you, LORD, have done it.
28They may curse, but you bless. When they arise, they will be shamed, but your servant shall rejoice.
29Let my adversaries be clothed with dishonor. Let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.
30I will give great thanks to the LORD with my mouth. Yes, I will praise him among the multitude.
Notice
The enemies’ curses meet God’s blessing here, while the servant’s hope for joy includes the hard expectation that those who rise against him will face shame.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What difference do you see between the enemies’ curses and God’s blessing in this verse?
Write on thisHow do you respond to the servant’s expectation that his enemies will face shame?
Write on thisWhat might trusting God’s blessing look like while hostile words are still being spoken?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Proverbs 26:2Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.Both describe a curse that fails to determine its target’s fate: Proverbs names an undeserved curse, while the psalm trusts God’s blessing.
Nehemiah 13:2because they didn’t meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them; however, our God turned the curse into …Both contrast human attempts to curse with God’s blessing; Nehemiah names Balaam’s hired opposition to Israel.
Numbers 23:20Behold, I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I can’t reverse it.Both present God’s blessing as standing against human opposition; Numbers states that the speaker cannot reverse what God has blessed.
John 16:22Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.Both look ahead to joy amid present trouble: the servant expects to rejoice, and Jesus promises his hearers joy when they see him.
Numbers 22:12God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”Both contrast cursing with God’s blessing; in Numbers, God forbids Balaam to curse the people because they are blessed.
Psalm 109:17Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He didn’t delight in blessing, and it was far from him.Cursing and blessing recur in both verses, with the enemy loving curses and the servant looking to God for blessing.
Hebrews 12:2looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the …Both speak of shame and joy, though the psalm expects enemies’ shame while Hebrews describes Jesus enduring shame himself.
Jeremiah 18:19Give heed to me, LORD, and listen to the voice of those who contend with me.Both speakers address the LORD amid opposition, naming hostile people whose voices or curses are directed against them.
Revelation 18:20“Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets, for God has judged your judgment on her.”Both connect rejoicing with adversaries being brought low, through shame in the psalm and God’s judgment in Revelation.
2 Samuel 16:5When King David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the family of Saul’s house came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out and cursed as he …Both describe hostile cursing; Samuel names Shimei as the man who came out cursing King David.
Numbers 23:23Surely there is no enchantment with Jacob; neither is there any divination with Israel. Now it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘What has God done!’Both express confidence in God’s action amid hostile threats, with curses in the psalm and enchantment and divination in Numbers.
2 Samuel 16:10–13The king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Because he curses, and because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, …Both mention hostile curses and God’s authority, though David’s response in Samuel attributes the cursing to the LORD’s command.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. work conflict. broken friendship.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The servant’s joy is still ahead when he speaks. His confidence rests in God’s blessing, even while enemies curse and their shame has yet to come.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 109:28. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
Keep goingPsalm 109 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).