Psalms 140 · Verse 11

Psalms 140:11

Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
Psalms 140:11, King James Version

Psalms 140:11 in other translations

BSBMay no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence.
WEBAn evil speaker won’t be established on the earth. Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
ASVAn evil speaker shall not be established in the earth: Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
YLTA talkative man is not established in the earth, One of violence--evil hunteth to overflowing.
DARBYLet not the man of evil tongue be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the man of violence to his ruin.
BBELet not a man of evil tongue be safe on earth: let destruction overtake the violent man with blow on blow.
WebsterLet not an evil speaker be established on the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

What does Psalms 140:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
11. an evil speaker--or, "slanderer" will not be tolerated (Psa 101:7). The last clause may be translated: "an evil (man) He (God) shall hunt," &c.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 11 Let not an evil speaker be established - איש לשון ish lashon, "a man of tongue." There is much force in the rendering of this clause in the Chaldee גבר דמשתעי לישן תליתי gebar demishtai lishan telithai, "The man of detraction, or inflammation, with the three-forked tongue." He whose tongue is set on fire from hell; the tale-bearer, slanderer, and dealer in scandal: with the three-forked tongue; wounding three at once: his neiphbour whom he slanders; the person who receives the slander; and himself who deals in it. What a just description of a character which God, angels, and good men must detest! Let not such a one be established in the land; let him be unmasked; let no person trust him; and let all join together to hoot him out of society. "He shall be hunted by the angel of death, and thrust into hell." - Chaldee.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 140:8-13

Believers may pray that God would not grant the desires of the wicked, nor further their evil devices. False accusers will bring mischief upon themselves, even the burning coals of Divine vengeance. And surely the righteous shall dwell in God's presence, and give him thanks for evermore. This is true thanksgiving, even thanks-living: this use we should make of all our deliverances, we should serve God the more…

Read the full comment on Psalms 140:8-13 →

Psalms 140:11 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אִ֥ישׁ'isha person ofH376
לָשׁוֹן֮la.shOntongueH3956
בַּל\־bal-notH1077
יִכּ֪וֹןyi.Konlet him be establishedH3559
בָּ֫אָ֥רֶץba.'A.retzin the landH776
אִישׁ\־'ish-a person ofH376
חָמָ֥סcha.MasviolenceH2555
רָ֑עRa'troubleH7451
יְ֝צוּדֶ֗נּוּye.tzu.De.nulet it hunt himH6679
לְמַדְחֵפֹֽת\׃le.mad.che.Fotfor blowsH4073

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 140:11

  • Psalms 34:21

    Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

  • Proverbs 18:21

    Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

  • Isaiah 3:11

    Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

  • Proverbs 13:21

    Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

  • Proverbs 17:20

    He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

  • Psalms 7:14-16

    Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

  • Psalms 9:16

    The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

  • Proverbs 12:13

    The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

  • Psalms 12:3-4

    The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

  • Proverbs 6:17

    A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Let not, etc. or, Let not an evil speaker a wicked man of violence be established in the earth: let him be hunted to his overthrow.
an evil speaker. Heb. a man of tongue.
12:3,4; Pr 6:17; 12:13; 17:20; 18:21
evil.
7:14-16; 9:16; 34:21; Pr 13:21; Isa 3:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 140:10

    Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

  • Psalms 140:11

    Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

  • Psalms 140:12

    I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.

Read all of Psalms 140

Psalms 140:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El hombre deslenguado no será firme en la tierra: el mal cazará al hombre injusto para derribarle.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Que des charbons ardents tombent sur eux! Fais-les tomber dans le feu, dans des eaux profondes, et qu’ils ne se relèvent pas!
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der Mann von böser Zunge möge nicht feststehen im Lande; der Mann der Gewalttat-das Böse möge ihn jagen bis zum Sturz!