When he is tried, let him come forth guilty; let his prayer be counted as sin!
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's not just that the guilty person should be condemned; the truly chilling part is that even their prayers will be counted as sin. This isn't about the prayer itself being wicked, but that for someone so hardened in their ways, any plea for help becomes an offense, revealing their deep separation from God.
When he is tried, let him come forth guilty; let his prayer be counted as sin!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is a desperate cry from someone feeling utterly betrayed and attacked by enemies who are actively working against them. The psalmist isn't just asking for protection; they're detailing the severe consequences they wish upon those who are so cruelly targeting them, even extending to their families and possessions. The verses before and after this passage intensify the imprecations, depicting a complete downfall and ruin for the accusers.
Imagine facing a trial where your very plea for mercy seals your doom. This verse paints a stark picture of judgment.
This imprecation in Psalm 109 speaks of a complete and utter condemnation. It's not just about being found guilty at the end of a trial, but about a state of wickedness that is manifest from the outset.
What if the very act of reaching out to God for help actually worsened your situation?
The second part of the verse delivers a chilling blow: 'let his prayer become sin!' This isn't just about unanswered prayers; it's about prayers themselves being counted as a transgression.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
rasha' · Hebrew Adjective
A state of legal or moral fault before God. It signifies being found in violation of divine law or covenant requirements, resulting in a verdict of condemnation.
tephillah · Hebrew Noun
A petition or plea addressed to God. When associated with sin, it implies that the suppliant's life or heart is so estranged from God that even their religious acts are rejected as hypocritical or detestable.
chatta'ah · Hebrew Noun
Any transgression against the law or will of God, whether by action, thought, or failure to act. It represents a state of missing the mark of God's holiness and falling under His judgment.
This psalm's intense imprecations, while rooted in ancient legal and social customs, take on a profound theological dimension when viewed through the lens of Jesus' trial and condemnation, illustrating how even prayer can be rendered futile by a hardened, unrepentant heart.
c. 1000 BC
David's Reign as King
David, the traditional author of many Psalms, reigned as king over Israel, facing numerous enemies and internal conflicts. This period was marked by political intrigue and warfare.
c. 970 BC
Solomon's Succession
Following David's death, his son Solomon ascended the throne. The psalm's imprecations might reflect the struggles and betrayals common during this era of consolidating power and facing rivals.
c. 930 BC
Division of the Kingdom
After Solomon's death, the united kingdom of Israel split into the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah). This division led to ongoing conflict and political instability.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of its people. This event underscored the consequences of disobedience to God and the harsh realities of geopolitical power.
c. 605-586 BC
Babylonian Exile
The Southern Kingdom of Judah faced repeated invasions by the Babylonian Empire, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and the exile of its people. This was a period of profound national crisis and lament.
c. 1st Century AD— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
The New Testament applies this psalm's imprecations to Judas Iscariot and the enemies of Jesus. The context involves betrayal, false accusation, and condemnation within the Jewish legal and religious systems of the time.
This passage directly echoes the sentiment that the prayer of the wicked is an offense to God, highlighting the theme of God's rejection of insincere devotion.
Isaiah 1:15This verse shows God refusing to hear the prayers of those whose hands are full of blood, illustrating the consequence of unrighteousness on one's communion with the divine.
Luke 18:10-14The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector reveals that a prayer offered in pride and self-righteousness is not accepted, contrasting it with a humble plea that is heard, reinforcing the idea that the disposition behind prayer matters greatly.
Job 27:8-10This passage questions whether the wicked call on God in trouble or if God hears their cry, suggesting that their prayers are not heard when they are alienated from God by their sin.
Matthew 7:21-23Jesus warns that not everyone who calls 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, indicating that outward professions and prayers can be rejected if not accompanied by obedience and genuine faith.
pulpitPsalms 109:7: "When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin."
Verse 7. - When he shall be judged, let him be condemned; literally, let him go forth condemned; Let him quit the court under sentence. And let his prayer become sin. The most terrible of all the imprecations. "Let him even be unable to pray to God acceptably," and so let any prayer that he offers when he is brought low be an additional sin (comp. Proverbs 15:8; Proverbs 28:9; Isaiah 1:12-15).
clarkePsalms 109:7: "When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin."
Let him be condemned - יצא רשע yetse rasha. "Let him come out a wicked man;" that is let his wickedness be made manifest. Let his prayer become sin - Thus paraphrased by Calmet: "Let him be accused, convicted, and condemned, and let the defense which he brings for his justification only serve to deepen his guilt, and hasten his condemnation." I once more apprise the reader, that if these are not the w…
It's not just that the guilty person should be condemned; the truly chilling part is that even their prayers will be counted as sin. This isn't about the prayer itself being wicked, but that for someone so hardened in their ways, any plea for help becomes an offense, revealing their deep separation from God.
This psalm is a desperate cry from someone feeling utterly betrayed and attacked by enemies who are actively working against them. The psalmist isn't just asking for protection; they're detailing the severe consequences they wish upon those who are so cruelly targeting them, even extending to their families and possessions. The verses before and after this passage intensify the imprecations, depicting a complete downfall and ruin for the accusers.
This psalm is a desperate cry from someone feeling utterly betrayed and attacked by enemies who are actively working against them. The psalmist isn't just asking for protection; they're detailing the severe consequences they wish upon those who are so cruelly targeting them, even extending to their families and possessions. The verses before and after this passage intensify the imprecations, depicting a complete downfall and ruin for the accusers.
"When he is tried, let him come forth guilty; let his prayer be counted as sin!" — It's not just that the guilty person should be condemned; the truly chilling part is that even their prayers will be counted as sin. This isn't about the prayer itself being wicked, but that for so…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026