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Psalm 63:9
But those who seek my soul to destroy it shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
7For you have been my help. I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.
9But those who seek my soul to destroy it shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
10They shall be given over to the power of the sword. They shall be jackal food.
11But the king shall rejoice in God. Everyone who swears by him will praise him, for the mouth of those who speak lies shall be silenced.
Notice
Those who seek the singer’s life face death themselves, a stark turn after his words about being held up by God.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What is hard for you to read in this prediction of the attackers’ death?
Write on thisHow does God’s sustaining hand in verse 8 shape your reading of the threat in verse 9?
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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 55:15Let death come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is among them, in their dwelling.Both passages describe enemies descending into death, though Psalm 55 asks for it and Psalm 63 declares it will happen.
Psalm 40:14Both name people who seek to destroy the speaker’s soul and describe their defeat, with death specified in Psalm 63.
Psalm 9:17The wicked shall be turned back to Sheol, even all the nations that forget God.Both describe a descent into the realm of death for people identified by their evil or destructive intent.
Ephesians 4:9Now this, “He ascended”, what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?Both use the phrase “the lower parts of the earth,” though Ephesians speaks of Christ’s descent and the psalm of attackers’ fate.
1 Samuel 25:29Though men may rise up to pursue you and to seek your soul, yet the soul of my lord will be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD your God. He will sling …Both speak of enemies seeking someone’s life and anticipate those enemies being cast away or brought down.
Matthew 12:40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the huge fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.Both use language of being within the earth, though Matthew speaks of the Son of Man and Psalm 63 of enemies.
Psalm 86:13For your loving kindness is great toward me. You have delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol.Both connect the soul with the depths of death, though Psalm 86 describes deliverance and Psalm 63 the attackers’ descent.
Isaiah 14:19But you are cast away from your tomb like an abominable branch, clothed with the slain who are thrust through with the sword, who go down to the stones of the …Both depict death through downward movement into the earth; Isaiah adds the disgrace of a body cast away from its tomb.
Numbers 16:30–33But if the LORD makes a new thing, and the ground opens its mouth, and swallows them up with all that belong to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then …Both describe people going down into the earth, with Numbers specifying the ground opening to swallow those who despised the LORD.
Job 40:13Hide them in the dust together. Bind their faces in the hidden place.Both use imagery of people consigned beneath the surface, with Job speaking of dust and a hidden place.
Isaiah 14:9Sheol from beneath has moved for you to meet you at your coming. It stirs up the departed spirits for you, even all the rulers of the earth. It has raised up …Both portray death as a destination below, with Isaiah describing the departed awaiting another arrival in Sheol.
Isaiah 14:15Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the pit.Both declare that those addressed or described will be brought down into the depths of death.
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
The singer expects his attackers to die; this is no license for personal revenge. His confidence rests in God, whose right hand holds him up amid the threat.
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).