They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easily missed is the deep irony: the enemies' greatest ambition is to pull someone down from a height, yet they themselves delight in what is low and deceitful – "lies." Their mouths offer blessings, but their hearts are filled with curses, revealing a profound inner hollowness behind their attempts to gain power.
They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is describing the relentless and deceitful schemes of his enemies, who are plotting to depose him from his high position. These adversaries take pleasure in spreading falsehoods and offer outward blessings and words of loyalty while harboring secret malice and curses in their hearts. This betrayal and deception are the backdrop against which the psalmist will later affirm his unwavering trust in God alone.
Have you ever felt like people are plotting against you, even when they seem friendly? This verse reveals the destructive aim behind such behavior.
The psalmist describes his enemies' singular focus: 'They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.'
The Aim of Conspiracy
This isn't just casual gossip; it's a deliberate strategy. The original Hebrew suggests they are 'consulting' or 'plotting' with a specific, malicious goal. Their entire effort is geared towards removing someone from a place of honor, influence, or stability.
More Than Just Competition
This goes beyond healthy competition or disagreement. It’s about actively seeking to dismantle someone’s standing, status, or even their very well-being. It reveals a deep-seated desire to see another person fall.
Words can build up or tear down. What happens when mouths speak blessings, but hearts hold curses? This verse exposes a dangerous spiritual dynamic.
The verse starkly contrasts outward actions with inward intentions: 'They delight in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse.'
The Allure of Deception
'They delight in falsehood' tells us that lies aren't just a tool, but a source of pleasure for these individuals. They find satisfaction in deception, manipulation, and untruth.
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The Hypocrisy of the Mouth
This delight in falsehood manifests in a profound hypocrisy. They offer public 'blessings' – words of affirmation, loyalty, or good wishes – but their inner reality is the opposite. Their hearts are filled with curses, ill will, and malice.
This isn't just a neutral observation; it’s a condemnation of a spirit that operates in deep contradiction, using sacred or positive language to mask destructive intent.
Understand the original words
kazab · Hebrew Noun
Deception, lies, or things that are vain and lack substance. It contrasts with the truth and reliability of God.
barak · Hebrew Verb
To invoke divine favor or speak well of someone. In this context, it highlights hypocritical speech that lacks sincerity of heart.
qalal · Hebrew Verb
To call upon evil or judgment upon someone. It represents a malevolent desire or speech that is antithetical to God's commandment to love others.
This psalm resonates with the intense personal betrayal David experienced during Absalom's rebellion, where trusted advisors and even his own son plotted to usurp his God-given throne using deceit and flattery.
c. 1030 BC
Saul's Reign and David's Rise
Saul, the first king of Israel, becomes increasingly paranoid about the rising popularity of David, whom God has anointed as the future king. This creates a climate of political intrigue and danger for David.
c. 1020-1015 BC
David in Hiding
David flees from Saul, living as a fugitive. He gathers a following and narrowly escapes capture multiple times, experiencing firsthand the plots and treachery of Saul's court.
c. 1015 BC
Death of Saul
Saul dies in battle, paving the way for David to eventually ascend to the throne as king of Judah and later all of Israel.
c. 1010 BC
David Anointed King of All Israel
David is finally recognized as the king over all the tribes of Israel, establishing his reign from Jerusalem.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
Absalom's Rebellion
Absalom, David's own son, leads a massive rebellion, seducing the hearts of the people with smooth words and false promises, forcing David to flee Jerusalem.
c. 1000 BC
David's Exile from Jerusalem
David is forced to leave his capital city and his throne due to Absalom's successful coup. This period is marked by deep personal betrayal and political crisis.
c. 1000 BC
Suppression of Absalom's Rebellion
The rebellion is ultimately crushed, but the conflict results in immense bloodshed and David's deep personal grief over the death of Absalom.
This passage shows King Saul's escalating plots to bring David down, mirroring the Psalmist's enemies who 'only plan to thrust him down from his high position.'
2 Samuel 15:1-6Absalom's public declarations of loyalty and blessings, while secretly plotting to usurp David's throne, perfectly illustrates the deceptive 'bless with their mouths, but inwardly curse' that David experienced.
Jeremiah 9:8This verse speaks of people whose 'tongues are deadly arrows' and who speak 'peacefully to their neighbors, but harbor malice in their hearts,' echoing the duplicity described in Psalms 62:4.
Matthew 26:48-50Judas's betrayal, marked by a deceptive greeting ('Greetings, Rabbi!') before handing Jesus over, is a stark example of the treacherous 'blessing with the mouth' that conceals inward malice.
John 8:44Jesus calls the devil 'a murderer from the beginning' and 'a liar and the father of lies,' aligning with the Psalmist's description of enemies who 'delight in falsehood.'
ellicottPsalms 62:4: "They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah."
(4) Their mouth. —Literally, his mouth. They bless each with his mouth, &c Excellency.—Rather, height, carrying on the metaphor of preceding verse.
calvinPsalms 62:3-6: "How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence."
- How long will ye continue mischief against a man? [411] ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and a fence which has been struck. 4. Yet they consult to cast him down from his elevations: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, and curse inwardly. Selah. 5. Nevertheless, my soul, be thou silent before God: for…
What's easily missed is the deep irony: the enemies' greatest ambition is to pull someone down from a height, yet they themselves delight in what is low and deceitful – "lies." Their mouths offer blessings, but their hearts are filled with curses, revealing a profound inner hollowness behind their attempts to gain power.
The psalmist is describing the relentless and deceitful schemes of his enemies, who are plotting to depose him from his high position. These adversaries take pleasure in spreading falsehoods and offer outward blessings and words of loyalty while harboring secret malice and curses in their hearts. This betrayal and deception are the backdrop against which the psalmist will later affirm his unwavering trust in God alone.
The psalmist is describing the relentless and deceitful schemes of his enemies, who are plotting to depose him from his high position. These adversaries take pleasure in spreading falsehoods and offer outward blessings and words of loyalty while harboring secret malice and curses in their hearts. This betrayal and deception are the backdrop against which the psalmist will later affirm his unwavering trust in God alone.
"They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah" — What's easily missed is the deep irony: the enemies' greatest ambition is to pull someone down from a height, yet they themselves delight in what is low and deceitful – "lies." Their mouths offer b…
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Last reviewed October 2026