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Psalm 140:10

Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise.

8LORD, don’t grant the desires of the wicked. Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud. Selah.
9As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise.
11An evil speaker won’t be established on the earth. Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
12I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the needy.
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← Psalm 140:9Psalm 140:11 →
Notice

Burning coals and pits from which enemies never rise confront you with a prayer for their destruction, language that can trouble a reader even while naming the weight of violence.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

What troubles you about the request that these enemies never rise again?

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How does the surrounding concern for the afflicted shape your reading of this plea for destruction?

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What difference does addressing this plea to God make when you think about retaliation?

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Connect

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
Psalm 11:6On the wicked he will rain blazing coals; fire, sulfur, and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.Both passages describe burning coals falling on the wicked, with Psalm 140 asking for the judgment Psalm 11 declares.
Psalm 21:9You will make them as a fiery furnace in the time of your anger. The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath. The fire shall devour them.Both passages use consuming fire to describe the destruction of enemies under God's judgment.
Romans 12:20Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”Both mention coals falling or heaped on enemies, though Romans commands feeding an enemy while the psalm asks for destruction.
Revelation 20:15If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.Both describe people being thrown into fire; Revelation names the book of life, which the psalm does not mention.
Revelation 21:8But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns …Both associate fire with the fate of evildoers, while Revelation names this fate as the second death.
Judges 9:20but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and from the …Both pronounce a wish for destructive fire upon others; Judges names Abimelech and the communities bound to him.
Psalm 18:13The LORD also thundered in the sky. The Most High uttered his voice: hailstones and coals of fire.Both use coals of fire in a scene of divine power, though Psalm 140 asks that they fall on enemies.
Matthew 13:50and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”Both describe people being cast into fire, with Matthew naming weeping and gnashing of teeth as the result.
Exodus 9:23–24Moses stretched out his rod toward the heavens, and the LORD sent thunder and hail; and lightning flashed down to the earth. The LORD rained hail on the land …Both passages describe danger descending from above, though Exodus recounts hail on Egypt and the psalm asks for burning coals.
Psalm 55:23But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.Both speak of destructive pits for violent people, placing their downfall within an appeal to God.
Proverbs 28:10Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he will fall into his own trap; but the blameless will inherit good.Both describe the downfall of those who do harm, though Proverbs specifies a wrongdoer falling into his own trap.
Matthew 13:42and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.Both portray being cast into fire as a terrible end; Matthew adds the language of weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Where this verse fits

Injustice and anger. sermon or Bible study notes.

What the Bible says about anger →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Pray for God to stop one act of violence

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Encouragement

This plea for the destruction of violent enemies is addressed to God; it grants no permission to harm someone, and the surrounding prayer trusts his justice for the afflicted.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 140:10. 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 140 · 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).