Psalms 7:9

May the evil deeds of the wicked ¹  come to an end! ²  But make the innocent ³  secure, ⁴  O righteous God, you who examine ⁵  inner thoughts and motives! ⁶ 

1Sa 2:9; 1Sa 16:7; 1Ch 28:9; Ps 9:5,6; Ps 10:15,18; Ps 17:3; Ps 37:23; Ps 40:2; Ps 44:21; Ps 58:6; Ps 74:10,11,22,23; Ps 139:1; Isa 37:36-38; Jer 11:20; Jer 17:10; Jer 20:12; Da 11:45; Ac 12:23; Ro 16:25; 1Th 3:13; 1Pe 5:10; Jude 1:1; Re 2:23

¹ tn In the psalms the Hebrew term רְשָׁעִים (rÿsha’im, “wicked”) describes people who are proud, practical atheists (Ps 10:2, 4, 11) who hate God’s commands, commit sinful deeds, speak lies and slander (Ps 50:16-20), and cheat others (Ps 37:21). They oppose God and his people.

² tn The prefixed verbal form is a jussive, expressing an imprecation here.

³ tn Or “the godly” (see Ps 5:12). The singular form is collective (see the plural “upright in heart” in v. 10), though it may reflect the personal focus of the psalmist in this context.

⁴ tn The prefixed verbal form expresses the psalmist’s prayer or wish.

⁵ tn For other uses of the verb in this sense, see Job 7:18; Pss 11:4; 26:2; 139:23.

⁶ tn Heb “and [the one who] tests hearts and kidneys, just God.” The translation inverts the word order to improve the English style. The heart and kidneys were viewed as the seat of one’s volition, conscience, and moral character.