Psalm 140:11
New International Version
May slanderers not be established in the land; may disaster hunt down the violent.

New Living Translation
Don’t let liars prosper here in our land. Cause great disasters to fall on the violent.

English Standard Version
Let not the slanderer be established in the land; let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

Berean Standard Bible
May no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence.

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

New King James Version
Let not a slanderer be established in the earth; Let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

New American Standard Bible
“May a slanderer not endure on the earth; May evil hunt a violent person violently.”

NASB 1995
“May a slanderer not be established in the earth; May evil hunt the violent man speedily.”

NASB 1977
“May a slanderer not be established in the earth; May evil hunt the violent man speedily.”

Legacy Standard Bible
May a slanderer not be established in the earth; May evil hunt the violent man speedily.”

Amplified Bible
“Do not let a slanderer be established in the earth; Let evil quickly hunt the violent man [to overthrow him and stop his evil acts].”

Christian Standard Bible
Do not let a slanderer stay in the land. Let evil relentlessly hunt down a violent man.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Do not let a slanderer stay in the land. Let evil relentlessly hunt down a violent man.

American Standard Version
An evil speaker shall not be established in the earth: Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

Contemporary English Version
Chase those cruel liars away! Let trouble hunt them down.

English Revised Version
An evil speaker shall not be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Do not let slanderers prosper on earth. Let evil hunt down violent people with one blow after another.

Good News Translation
May those who accuse others falsely not succeed; may evil overtake violent people and destroy them.

International Standard Version
Let not the slanderer become established in the land. May evil quickly hunt down the violent man.

Majority Standard Bible
May no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence.

NET Bible
A slanderer will not endure on the earth; calamity will hunt down a violent man and strike him down.

New Heart English Bible
An evil speaker won't be established in the earth. Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

Webster's Bible Translation
Let not an evil speaker be established on the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

World English Bible
An evil speaker won’t be established in the earth. Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
A talkative man is not established in the earth, "" One of violence—evil hunts to overflowing.

Young's Literal Translation
A talkative man is not established in the earth, One of violence -- evil hunteth to overflowing.

Smith's Literal Translation
A man of tongue shall not be prepared in the earth: a man of violence, evil shall hunt him to melt down the coverings.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
A man full of tongue shall not be established in the earth: evil shall catch the unjust man unto destruction.

Catholic Public Domain Version
A talkative man will not be guided aright upon the earth. Evils will drag the unjust man unto utter ruin.

New American Bible
Slanderers will not survive on earth; evil will hunt down the man of violence to overthrow him.

New Revised Standard Version
Do not let the slanderer be established in the land; let evil speedily hunt down the violent!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth; evil shall hunt the violent man to destroy him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
A talkative man will not be established in the earth and evil will hunt the evil man to destruction.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
A slanderer shall not be established in the earth; The violent and evil man shall be hunted with thrust upon thrust.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
A talkative man shall not prosper on the earth: evils shall hunt the unrighteous man to destruction.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Rescue Me, O LORD, From Evil Men
10May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again. 11May no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence. 12I know that the LORD upholds justice for the poor and defends the cause of the needy.…

Cross References
Proverbs 19:5
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.

Proverbs 19:9
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.

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 12:36-37
But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. / For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

James 3:6
The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: / haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, / a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, ...

1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:5
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Romans 1:29-32
They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, / slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. / They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. ...

2 Timothy 3:1-5
But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. / For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, / unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, ...

Psalm 101:5
Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure.

Psalm 5:9
For not a word they speak can be trusted; destruction lies within them. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.

Psalm 10:7
His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and violence; trouble and malice are under his tongue.

Psalm 52:2-4
Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit. / You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking truth. Selah / You love every word that devours, O deceitful tongue.

Psalm 55:21
His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.


Treasury of Scripture

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

let not.

an evil speaker.

Psalm 12:3,4
The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: …

Proverbs 6:17
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Proverbs 12:13
The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

evil

Psalm 7:14-16
Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood…

Psalm 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.

Psalm 34:21
Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

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Destruction Disaster Earth Established Evil Hunt Hunted Hunteth Overflowing Overtake Overthrow Ruin Safe Slanderer Slanderers Speaker Speedily Talkative Thrust Tongue Violence Violent Won't
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Destruction Disaster Earth Established Evil Hunt Hunted Hunteth Overflowing Overtake Overthrow Ruin Safe Slanderer Slanderers Speaker Speedily Talkative Thrust Tongue Violence Violent Won't
Psalm 140
1. David prays to be delivered from Saul and Doeg
8. He prays against them
12. He comforts himself by confidence in God














May no slanderer
The term "slanderer" in Hebrew is "לָשׁוֹן" (lashon), which literally means "tongue." In the biblical context, it refers to someone who uses their words to harm others, spreading falsehoods and deceit. The tongue is a powerful tool, and the Bible frequently warns against its misuse (James 3:5-6). In ancient Israel, slander was not just a personal offense but a communal threat, as it could disrupt the social fabric and lead to injustice. The psalmist's plea is for a society where truth prevails and malicious speech finds no foothold.

be established in the land
The phrase "be established" comes from the Hebrew "קוּם" (qum), meaning to rise or stand firm. The psalmist desires that those who spread lies and deceit should not find stability or success in the community. In a broader sense, this reflects a longing for a society grounded in righteousness and truth, where evil cannot take root. The "land" here symbolizes the covenant community of God's people, a place meant to reflect God's justice and holiness.

may calamity hunt down
"Calamity" in Hebrew is "רָעָה" (ra'ah), often translated as evil or disaster. The imagery of calamity "hunting down" the wicked is vivid, suggesting an inevitable and relentless pursuit. This reflects the biblical principle of divine justice, where evil deeds ultimately lead to their own downfall (Proverbs 11:5). The psalmist trusts that God's justice will prevail, and those who perpetrate violence will face the consequences of their actions.

the man of violence
The "man of violence" is described by the Hebrew word "חָמָס" (chamas), which denotes not just physical violence but also oppression and injustice. This term is often used in the Old Testament to describe the actions of those who exploit and harm others for personal gain. The psalmist's prayer is for divine intervention against such individuals, emphasizing God's role as the defender of the oppressed and the upholder of justice. This reflects a deep trust in God's sovereignty and His ultimate authority over human affairs.

(11) An evil speaker.--Literally, as in LXX. and Vulg., a man of tongue; (Comp. Ecclesiasticus 8:3; Job 11:2.) margin," man of lips." It is hardly possible to resist the suggestion that some particular person, noted for the loudness or violence of his speech, was intended.

Evil shall hunt . . .--Comp. Proverbs 13:21 and Horace, Odes iii. 2, Conington's translation:

"Though vengeance halt, she seldom leaves

The wretch whose flying step she hounds.'

To overthrow.--The Hebrew is a noun, formed from a root meaning "to thrust," and literally means either to destruction or with hasty pursuit. Some render "with successive thrusts;" but this is hardly a hunting figure.

Verse 11. - Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth; literally, a man of tongue shall not be established is the land - a man, i.e., of pretence and seeming, who talks grandly, but effects nothing. Such a one shall not obtain permanent establishment as a power in the land. Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him; literally, to destructions - a plural of completeness.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
May no slanderer
אִ֥ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

be established
יִכּ֪וֹן (yik·kō·wn)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3559: To be erect

in the land.
בָּ֫אָ֥רֶץ (bā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

May calamity
רָ֑ע (rā‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

hunt down
יְ֝צוּדֶ֗נּוּ (yə·ṣū·ḏen·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6679: To lie alongside, to catch an animal, to victual

the man
אִישׁ־ (’îš-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

of violence.
חָמָ֥ס (ḥā·mās)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2555: Violence, wrong, by meton, unjust gain


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OT Poetry: Psalm 140:11 An evil speaker won't be established (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 140:10
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