The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The word "foolish" here isn't just about lacking intelligence; it points to those who are arrogant and self-displaying, even boastful. This highlights that God's judgment isn't just on actions, but on the proud, self-sufficient attitude that drives them, and such people have no standing in His holy presence.
The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Here, David is pouring out his heart to God amidst intense trouble from his enemies. He's asking God to listen and act because his adversaries are full of deceit and wickedness. The verses immediately surrounding this one highlight the contrast between the righteous who seek God and the wicked who plot evil, setting the stage for God's judgment.
Ever feel like the proud and the boastful get away with everything? This verse cuts through that feeling with a stark truth about God's perspective.
The original language for 'boastful' here (holelím) doesn't just mean someone who talks big. It carries a sense of frantic, noisy, and often self-deceptive arrogance. Think of someone putting on a dazzling, energetic show, but it's all hollow. The Psalmist says these 'shiners,' these 'self-praisers,' won't 'stand' in God's presence. This isn't about a physical posture, but about standing firm in God's favor or judgment. They can't endure His gaze; their showy sinfulness is instantly revealed and rejected. It's a powerful reminder that superficial confidence built on self-pride and sin has no lasting power with God.
Can a loving God truly 'hate'? This verse uses strong language that reveals a crucial aspect of His character and His justice.
The word 'hate' here is powerful and intentional. It's not about a fleeting emotion, but a deep, inherent opposition to evil. God's very nature is righteousness, and because of this, He fundamentally opposes everything that rebels against Him. 'Workers of iniquity' aren't just people who occasionally slip up; they are those who actively pursue and practice wrongdoing. For these individuals, God's hatred isn't a sign of His failure to love, but a testament to His perfect justice. It underscores that God will not wink at sin or allow it to persist indefinitely. This isn't meant to crush us, but to assure us that the ultimate victory belongs to righteousness, and that God is actively against all that harms His creation.
Understand the original words
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holelim · Hebrew Noun
The state of having an arrogant, prideful, or insolent spirit. It describes those who exalt themselves against God and their neighbor.
sane · Hebrew Verb
A visceral, holy aversion to sin and sinners who refuse to repent. It expresses God’s absolute moral purity and His rejection of everything that opposes His holiness.
poale aven · Hebrew Noun/Adjective phrase
Individuals who consistently perform morally wrong or harmful deeds. They are defined by their lifestyle of defiance against God's commands.
This passage echoes the sentiment that God's wrath is revealed against those who suppress the truth and practice unrighteousness, directly paralleling the psalmist's assertion that God hates evildoers.
Proverbs 6:16-19This proverb lists specific actions that the Lord hates, highlighting pride, lying, and violence, which aligns with the psalmist's general condemnation of 'all evildoers' and the 'boastful'.
Matthew 7:23Jesus declares that on the final day, He will explicitly tell those who practice lawlessness, 'I never knew you,' which strongly resonates with the idea that such individuals 'shall not stand before your eyes'.
Psalm 1:5This verse provides a direct parallel, stating that 'the wicked shall not stand in the judgment,' reinforcing the psalmist's conviction that the boastful and evildoers will not endure God's scrutiny.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9Paul describes the future judgment where those who do not obey the gospel will be punished, stating they will face 'destruction, away from the presence of the Lord,' mirroring the psalmist's insight into God's ultimate opposition to wickedness.
calvinPsalms 5:4-6: "For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee."
- For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness; [71] evil shall not dwell Smith thee. 5. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight; thou hatest all that commit iniquity. 6. Thou shalt destroy them that speak falsehood; Jehovah will abhor the blood-thirsty [72] and deceitful man.
Here David makes the malice and wickedness of his enemies an argument to enforce his prayer for th…
clarkePsalms 5:5: "The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity."
The foolish shall not stand - He is a fool and a madman who is running himself out of breath for no prize, who is fighting against the Almighty; this every wicked man does; therefore is every wicked man a fool and a madman. Thou hatest all workers of iniquity - Some sin now and then, others generally; some constantly, and some labor in it with all their might. These are the Workers of iniquity. Such eve…
The word "foolish" here isn't just about lacking intelligence; it points to those who are arrogant and self-displaying, even boastful. This highlights that God's judgment isn't just on actions, but on the proud, self-sufficient attitude that drives them, and such people have no standing in His holy presence.
Here, David is pouring out his heart to God amidst intense trouble from his enemies. He's asking God to listen and act because his adversaries are full of deceit and wickedness. The verses immediately surrounding this one highlight the contrast between the righteous who seek God and the wicked who plot evil, setting the stage for God's judgment.
Here, David is pouring out his heart to God amidst intense trouble from his enemies. He's asking God to listen and act because his adversaries are full of deceit and wickedness. The verses immediately surrounding this one highlight the contrast between the righteous who seek God and the wicked who plot evil, setting the stage for God's judgment.
"The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers." — The word "foolish" here isn't just about lacking intelligence; it points to those who are arrogant and self-displaying, even boastful. This highlights that God's judgment isn't just on actions, but o…
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Last reviewed October 2026