Read
Psalm 21:11
For they intended evil against you. They plotted evil against you which cannot succeed.
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.
10You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from among the children of men.
11For they intended evil against you. They plotted evil against you which cannot succeed.
12For you will make them turn their back, when you aim drawn bows at their face.
13Be exalted, LORD, in your strength, so we will sing and praise your power.
Notice
The failed plots in this royal song stand within a scene of fierce judgment, where YHWH’s strength defeats intended evil.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What distinction do you see between intending evil and having the power to make it succeed?
Write on thisWhat do you find hardest to read in the judgment surrounding these failed plots?
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
Psalm 33:10The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing. He makes the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect.Both passages describe plans coming to nothing, with Psalm 33 naming the LORD as the one who defeats the nations’ counsel.
Job 5:12He frustrates the plans of the crafty, so that their hands can’t perform their enterprise.Both describe evil plans failing: the psalm declares that plots cannot succeed, and Job describes the crafty unable to carry out their plans.
Psalm 10:2In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are caught in the schemes that they devise.Both describe wicked schemes ending in failure, with Psalm 10 showing the plotters caught in their own schemes.
Proverbs 19:21There are many plans in a man’s heart, but the LORD’s counsel will prevail.Both distinguish human planning from its outcome, locating decisive strength in the LORD rather than in those making plans.
Nahum 1:9What do you plot against the LORD? He will make a full end. Affliction won’t rise up the second time.Both set hostile plotting within a declaration of judgment, where the LORD’s action brings opposition to an end.
Psalm 2:1Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing?Both describe futile plotting, with Psalm 2 naming nations and peoples as those devising a vain thing.
Jeremiah 11:18–19The LORD gave me knowledge of it, and I knew it. Then you showed me their doings.The overlap is limited to human deeds or intentions; Jeremiah’s supplied words describe the LORD revealing deeds, without stating their outcome.
Psalm 31:13For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side, while they conspire together against me, they plot to take away my life.Both name deliberate plots against someone, though Psalm 31 describes a threatened life without declaring the plot’s failure in this line.
Isaiah 7:6–7Both describe enemies planning harm; Isaiah names Judah as the target and records their plan to install another king.
Isaiah 8:9–10Make an uproar, you peoples, and be broken in pieces! Listen, all you from far countries: dress for battle, and be shattered! Dress for battle, and be …Both announce the defeat of hostile efforts, with Isaiah describing peoples preparing for battle and being shattered.
Matthew 2:16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in …Both passages describe deliberate evil; Matthew records Herod carrying out a massacre, while the psalm declares the plots unsuccessful.
Proverbs 24:8One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.Both name plotting evil as deliberate wrongdoing, with Proverbs identifying the person who devises such plans as a schemer.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. fear for the future. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
These words do not promise that every harmful plan will fail before anyone suffers. The king’s confidence rests on YHWH’s strength, which evil cannot overthrow.
Now put it in your words.
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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).