Read
Psalm 140:11
An evil speaker won’t be established on the earth. Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
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.
13Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name. The upright will dwell in your presence.
Notice
Evil becomes the hunter in this prayer against violent enemies, a harsh reversal that challenges the apparent security of people who harm others.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
Where do you see harmful speech gaining the foothold this verse says it cannot keep?
Write on thisWhat would entrusting this judgment to God mean for your response to violence?
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
James 4:11Don’t speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge …Both treat harmful speech as serious wrongdoing: the psalm declares the evil speaker’s downfall, while James forbids speaking against a brother.
Psalm 140:1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Deliver me, LORD, from evil men. Preserve me from violent men:The opening plea seeks protection from violent men; verse 11 declares that evil will hunt the violent man down.
Proverbs 13:21Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.Both picture disaster as a pursuer, with misfortune following sinners and evil hunting the violent man.
Psalm 18:48He rescues me from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man.Both name the violent man as a threat, with one declaring his overthrow and the other praising God for deliverance.
Psalm 34:21Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.Both describe evil bringing destruction upon those who practice wickedness.
Numbers 32:23“But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out.Both portray wrongdoing as something whose consequences catch up with the person responsible.
Proverbs 18:21Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.Both connect speech with grave consequences, linking the tongue’s power with the evil speaker’s lack of lasting security.
Proverbs 13:2By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful crave violence.Both mention speech and violence, though Proverbs contrasts good fruit from lips with the unfaithful person’s craving for violence.
Proverbs 17:20One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.Both connect corrupt speech with ruin: the deceitful tongue brings trouble, and the evil speaker will not be established.
Isaiah 3:11Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them, for the deeds of their hands will be paid back to them.Both declare disaster for the wicked, describing harm returning upon those responsible for it.
Lamentations 4:18They hunt our steps, so that we can’t go in our streets. Our end is near. Our days are fulfilled, for our end has come.Both use hunting language, though Lamentations describes people hunted by enemies, while the psalm describes evil hunting the violent man.
Genesis 6:11The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.Both speak of violence on the earth; Genesis describes its spread, while the psalm declares the violent man’s overthrow.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. fear for the future.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
This prayer seeks the overthrow of violent people. It entrusts judgment to God without giving a timetable; the next verse affirms his justice for the afflicted and needy.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 140:11. 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).