Psalm 140:10

Translations

Modern

May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again.

Traditional

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

Literal

Let burning coals fall upon them; let them be cast into the fire, into deep pits, never to rise up again!

Latin

Cadent super eos carbones; in ignem dejicies eos: in miseriis non subsistent.

Original

Hebrew

English

May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again.

Notes

Psalms 140:10

The psalmist asks for burning coals to fall on his enemies and for them to be thrown into the miry pits, so that they cannot attack again. This language hints at the New Testament teachings on hell (see Matthew 5:22, 29–30; 10:28; 18:9; Mark 9:43–47; Luke 12:5; James 3:6; 2 Peter 2:4).

Psalms 140:9–11

The psalmist prays for God’s judgment on the wicked.

Psalms 140:1–13

In this personal lament, the psalmist describes God's enemies and their evil plans. He prays for the Lord's protection and rescue, trusting in God's strength and justice. He predicts that fire will judge the evil (Psalm 140:9–11) and that he will be proven right and live in the Lord's presence (140:13).

Psalms 138:1–145:21

In this final group of psalms of David, psalms of praise and wisdom (Psalms 138–139, 145) form a frame around five psalms of lament (Psalms 140–144).

Theme notes and profiles

David

Related verses

Psalm 11:6
On the wicked He will rain down fiery coals and sulfur; a scorching wind will be their portion.
Psalm 21:9
You will place them in a fiery furnace at the time of Your appearing. In His wrath the LORD will engulf them, and the fire will consume them.
Revelation 20:15
And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 21:8
But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
Matthew 13:42
And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Psalm 120:4
Sharp arrows will come from the warrior, with burning coals of the broom tree!
Psalm 55:23
But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.
Exodus 9:23–24
So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt.
Matthew 13:50
…and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Proverbs 28:17
A man burdened by bloodguilt will flee into the Pit; let no one support him.
Genesis 19:24
Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens.
Psalm 18:13–14
The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded—hailstones and coals of fire.

Glossary

Coal Imprecatory Psalms Music Persecution Psalms, Book of

Topics

Afflictions and Adversities: Prayer In Prayer: Imprecatory

Psalm 140:10

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