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Psalm 7:4
if I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me (yes, I have plundered him who without cause was my adversary),
2lest they tear apart my soul like a lion, ripping it in pieces, while there is no one to deliver.
3LORD, my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands,
4if I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me (yes, I have plundered him who without cause was my adversary),
5let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it; yes, let him tread my life down to the earth, and lay my glory in the dust. Selah.
6Arise, LORD, in your anger. Lift up yourself against the rage of my adversaries. Awake for me. You have commanded judgment.
Notice
The possibility of betraying peace or plundering an adversary makes this prayer searching: the speaker brings his own conduct before God while seeking rescue.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
How have you treated someone who has been at peace with you?
Write on thisWhat would it mean to place your conduct toward an adversary before God's judgment?
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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
Matthew 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,Both passages address conduct toward enemies; the psalm submits it to judgment, while Jesus commands love and prayer.
Psalm 17:3You have proved my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me, and found nothing. I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey.Both speakers place their conduct before God, with Psalm 17 describing the testing that Psalm 7's appeal accepts.
Luke 6:27“But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,Both passages concern the treatment of adversaries; Luke gives an explicit command to love enemies and do good.
1 Samuel 24:17–19He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.Both texts weigh doing good or evil to another person, with Saul acknowledging David's good treatment of him.
Psalm 55:20He raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant.Both psalms name harm against someone in a peaceful relationship, though Psalm 7 examines the speaker's own conduct.
1 Thessalonians 5:15See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good for one another and for all.Both texts address repaying others with evil; Thessalonians forbids retaliation and directs the pursuit of good for everyone.
Psalm 109:5They have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.Both psalms speak of rewarding someone with evil, examining the speaker's conduct in Psalm 7 and others' conduct in Psalm 109.
Jeremiah 18:20–21Should evil be recompensed for good? For they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from …Both prayers bring harmful repayment before God, though Jeremiah describes others' actions and Psalm 7 examines the speaker's own.
Psalm 38:20They who give evil for good are also adversaries to me, because I follow what is good.Both psalms mention adversaries and evil repayment, with Psalm 38 describing hostility toward someone who pursues good.
1 Samuel 24:7So David checked his men with these words, and didn’t allow them to rise against Saul. Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.Both passages concern conduct toward an adversary; Samuel describes restraint, while the psalm raises the question of wrongdoing.
Proverbs 17:3The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts.Psalm 7 places the speaker's conduct before God; Proverbs states that the LORD tests hearts.
1 Samuel 25:28–29Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fights the LORD’s battles. Evil will not be …Both texts address whether evil is found in a person's conduct, within words directed to or spoken about the LORD.
Where this verse fits
Work conflict. broken friendship. injustice and anger.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The surrounding prayer asks for rescue while accepting judgment if the charge is true. Seeking God's protection leaves your treatment of others open to his judgment.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 7:4. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
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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).