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Psalm 91:8
You will only look with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked.
6nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that wastes at noonday.
7A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you.
8You will only look with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked.
9Because you have made the LORD your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,
10no evil shall happen to you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
Notice
“Recompense” makes this promise of shelter sobering: amid the surrounding destruction, the person who takes refuge in God is told they will witness judgment on the wicked.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What troubles or steadies you about the promise of seeing the wicked receive recompense?
Write on thisHow does the surrounding language of refuge shape your reading of this 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
Psalm 37:34Wait for the LORD, and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.Both passages promise that the person trusting the LORD will see judgment on the wicked.
Proverbs 3:25–26Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes;Both passages describe destruction involving the wicked, with assurance for the person addressed.
Psalm 92:11My eye has also seen my enemies. My ears have heard of the wicked enemies who rise up against me.Both passages speak of seeing with one's eyes and mention the wicked; Psalm 92 identifies them as enemies.
Malachi 1:5Your eyes will see, and you will say, “The LORD is great—even beyond the border of Israel!”Both passages promise that eyes will see; Malachi connects that sight with declaring the LORD's greatness.
Psalm 58:10–11The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,Both describe witnessing judgment on the wicked; Psalm 58 adds rejoicing and the violent image of feet washed in blood.
Isaiah 3:11Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them, for the deeds of their hands will be paid back to them.Both speak of recompense for the wicked; Isaiah makes explicit that their own deeds are paid back to them.
Proverbs 29:16When the wicked increase, sin increases; but the righteous will see their downfall.Both promise that the downfall of the wicked will be seen by those distinguished from them.
Hebrews 2:2For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty,Both passages speak of wrongdoing receiving a penalty, expressed as recompense in the psalm and just punishment in Hebrews.
Psalm 54:7For he has delivered me out of all trouble. My eye has seen triumph over my enemies.Both connect deliverance with seeing what happens to adversaries, described as the wicked in Psalm 91 and enemies in Psalm 54.
Deuteronomy 6:22and the LORD showed great and awesome signs and wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his house, before our eyes;Both emphasize events witnessed with human eyes; Deuteronomy identifies the witnessed events as the LORD's signs and wonders in Egypt.
Exodus 14:30Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.Both pair safety with witnessed destruction; Exodus names Israel's rescue and the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore.
Revelation 14:10he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the …Both describe punishment witnessed by others; Revelation specifies torment under God's wrath in the presence of angels and the Lamb.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. fear for the future.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The promise speaks to someone sheltered by YHWH amid destruction. You are given no task of carrying out vengeance here; judgment belongs to the God who provides refuge.
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).