Psalm 40:14
New International Version
May all who want to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.

New Living Translation
May those who try to destroy me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace.

English Standard Version
Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt!

Berean Standard Bible
May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated.

King James Bible
Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

New King James Version
Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion Who seek to destroy my life; Let them be driven backward and brought to dishonor Who wish me evil.

New American Standard Bible
May those be ashamed and humiliated together Who seek my life to destroy it; May those be turned back and dishonored Who delight in my hurt.

NASB 1995
Let those be ashamed and humiliated together Who seek my life to destroy it; Let those be turned back and dishonored Who delight in my hurt.

NASB 1977
Let those be ashamed and humiliated together Who seek my life to destroy it; Let those be turned back and dishonored Who delight in my hurt.

Legacy Standard Bible
Let those be ashamed and humiliated together Who seek my life to sweep it away; Let those be turned back and dishonored Who delight in evil against me.

Amplified Bible
Let those be ashamed and humiliated together Who seek my life to destroy it; Let those be turned back [in defeat] and dishonored Who delight in my hurt.

Christian Standard Bible
Let those who intend to take my life be disgraced and confounded. Let those who wish me harm be turned back and humiliated.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Let those who seek to take my life be disgraced and confounded. Let those who wish me harm be driven back and humiliated.

American Standard Version
Let them be put to shame and confounded together That seek after my soul to destroy it: Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor That delight in my hurt.

Contemporary English Version
Disgrace and confuse all who want me dead; turn away and disgrace all who want to hurt me.

English Revised Version
Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it: let them be turned backward and brought to dishonour that delight in my hurt.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Let all those who seek to end my life be confused and put to shame. Let those who want my downfall be turned back and disgraced.

Good News Translation
May those who try to kill me be completely defeated and confused. May those who are happy because of my troubles be turned back and disgraced.

International Standard Version
May those who seek to destroy my life be ashamed and confounded; let them be driven backwards and humiliated, particularly those who wish me evil.

Majority Standard Bible
May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated.

NET Bible
May those who are trying to snatch away my life be totally embarrassed and ashamed! May those who want to harm me be turned back and ashamed!

New Heart English Bible
Let them be put to shame and confounded together who seek after my soul to destroy it. Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt.

Webster's Bible Translation
Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

World English Bible
Let them be disappointed and confounded together who seek after my soul to destroy it. Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
They are ashamed and confounded together, "" Who are seeking my soul to destroy it, "" They are turned backward, "" And are ashamed, who are desiring my evil.

Young's Literal Translation
They are ashamed and confounded together, Who are seeking my soul to destroy it, They are turned backward, And are ashamed, who are desiring my evil.

Smith's Literal Translation
They shall be ashamed and blush together seeking my soul to take it away; they shall be turned back, and they delighting in my evil shall be ashamed.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Let them be confounded and ashamed together, that seek after my soul to take it away. Let them be turned backward and be ashamed that desire evils to me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Let them together be confounded and awed, who seek after my soul to steal it away. Let them be turned back and be in awe, who wish evils upon me.

New American Bible
May those who seek to destroy my life be shamed and confounded. Turn back in disgrace those who desire my ruin.

New Revised Standard Version
Let all those be put to shame and confusion who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire my hurt.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Let them be ashamed and confounded who seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame who wish me evil.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
They shall be ashamed and put to shame, those who seek to kill my soul; they shall turn their behind and they shall be put to shame, those who seek my affliction!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Let them be ashamed and abashed together That seek after my soul to sweep it away; Let them be turned backward and brought to confusion That delight in my hurt.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Let those that seek my soul, to destroy it, be ashamed and confounded together; let those that wish me evil be turned backward and put to shame.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
I Waited Patiently for the LORD
13Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; hurry, O LORD, to help me. 14May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated. 15May those who say to me, “Aha, aha!” be appalled at their own shame.…

Cross References
Psalm 35:4
May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.

Psalm 70:2
May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated.

Psalm 71:13
May the accusers of my soul be ashamed and consumed; may those who seek my harm be covered with scorn and disgrace.

Psalm 35:26
May those who gloat in my distress be ashamed and confounded; may those who exalt themselves over me be clothed in shame and reproach.

Psalm 109:29
May my accusers be clothed with disgrace; may they wear their shame like a robe.

Psalm 83:17
May they be ever ashamed and terrified; may they perish in disgrace.

Psalm 6:10
All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed; they will turn back in sudden disgrace.

Psalm 25:3
Surely none who wait for You will be put to shame; but those who engage in treachery without cause will be disgraced.

Psalm 31:17
O LORD, let me not be ashamed, for I have called on You. Let the wicked be put to shame; let them lie silent in Sheol.

Psalm 129:5
May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.

Isaiah 41:11
Behold, all who rage against you will be ashamed and disgraced; those who contend with you will be reduced to nothing and will perish.

Isaiah 45:24
Surely they will say of Me, ‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’” All who rage against Him will come to Him and be put to shame.

Jeremiah 17:18
Let my persecutors be put to shame, but do not let me be put to shame. Let them be terrified, but do not let me be terrified. Bring upon them the day of disaster and shatter them with double destruction.

Job 8:22
Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”

Proverbs 3:35
The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame.


Treasury of Scripture

Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

Let them be ashamed.

Psalm 31:17,18
Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave…

Psalm 35:4,26
Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt…

Psalm 70:2,3
Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt…

that

Matthew 21:38-41
But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance…

driven

Psalm 9:3
When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.

John 18:6
As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

Acts 9:4-6
And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? …

Jump to Previous
Abashed Adversity Altogether Ashamed Backward Confounded Confusion Delight Desire Desiring Destroy Disappointed Disgrace Dishonor Dishonored Driven Evil Foolish Humiliated Hurt Life Pleasure Ruin Seek Seeking Shame Snatch Soul Sweep Together Trouble Turned Wish
Jump to Next
Abashed Adversity Altogether Ashamed Backward Confounded Confusion Delight Desire Desiring Destroy Disappointed Disgrace Dishonor Dishonored Driven Evil Foolish Humiliated Hurt Life Pleasure Ruin Seek Seeking Shame Snatch Soul Sweep Together Trouble Turned Wish
Psalm 40
1. The benefit of confidence in God
6. Obedience is the best sacrifice
11. The sense of David's evils inflames his prayer














May those who seek my life
This phrase reflects a plea for divine intervention against adversaries. The Hebrew root for "seek" is "בקש" (baqash), which implies an intense pursuit or desire. In the historical context of David's life, he often faced enemies who sought his life, such as King Saul. This plea is not just for personal safety but also for the preservation of God's anointed. It underscores the reality of spiritual warfare, where believers are often pursued by forces that seek to undermine their faith and mission.

be ashamed and confounded
The words "ashamed" and "confounded" come from the Hebrew roots "בוש" (bosh) and "כלם" (kalam), respectively. "Bosh" conveys a sense of public disgrace, while "kalam" suggests being overwhelmed with confusion. This is a call for God to turn the plans of the wicked back upon themselves, causing them to experience the very shame and confusion they intended for the righteous. It reflects a biblical principle that God often uses the schemes of the wicked to bring about their downfall, as seen in the accounts of Haman in Esther and the enemies of Daniel.

may those who wish me harm
The phrase "wish me harm" is rooted in the Hebrew "חפץ רע" (chaphets ra), which means to delight in or desire evil against someone. This highlights the malicious intent of the psalmist's enemies. In a broader spiritual sense, it represents the forces of evil that delight in the downfall of God's people. The psalmist's prayer is for protection against such malevolent desires, trusting in God's justice to prevail.

be repelled and humiliated
The terms "repelled" and "humiliated" are derived from the Hebrew "סוג" (sug) and "חפר" (chapher). "Sug" means to turn back or retreat, while "chapher" implies being disgraced or put to shame. This is a request for God to actively thwart the plans of the wicked, causing them to retreat in defeat and experience the humiliation they sought to impose on the psalmist. It is a reminder of the ultimate victory of righteousness over evil, as God promises to protect and vindicate His people.

Verse 14. - Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward, and put to shame, that wish me evil. The remainder of the psalm from this point is detached later on in the Psalter, and becomes a separate psalm - the seventieth. Whether the detachment was the work of David or another, is uncertain. The differences between the two versions are slight (see the comment on Psalm 70.). The present verse repeats almost exactly Psalm 35:4 and 26. It is again repeated, with slight variations, in Psalm 71:13.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
May those who seek
מְבַקְשֵׁ֥י (mə·ḇaq·šê)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after

my life
נַפְשִׁ֗י (nap̄·šî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

be ashamed
יֵ֘בֹ֤שׁוּ (yê·ḇō·šū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 954: To pale, to be ashamed, to be disappointed, delayed

and confounded;
וְיַחְפְּר֨וּ ׀ (wə·yaḥ·pə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2659: To blush, to be ashamed, disappointed, to shame, reproach

may those who wish
חֲ֝פֵצֵ֗י (ḥă·p̄ê·ṣê)
Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2655: Delighting in, having pleasure in

me harm
רָעָתִֽי׃ (rā·‘ā·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

be repelled
יִסֹּ֣גוּ (yis·sō·ḡū)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5472: To move away, backslide

and humiliated.
וְיִכָּלְמ֑וּ (wə·yik·kā·lə·mū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3637: To wound, to taunt, insult


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OT Poetry: Psalm 40:14 Let them be disappointed and confounded together (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 40:13
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