Psalms 7:4

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 7:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (Yea, I have delivered him that without cause was mine adversary;)” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (Yea, I have delivered him that without cause was mine adversary;)
Psalms 7:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 7

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (Yea, I have delivered him that without cause was mine adversary;)

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Show me thy ways, O Lord, etc.] Either those which the Lord himself took and walked in; as those of creation and providence, in which he has displayed his power, wisdom, and goodness; and which are desirable to be known by his people, and require divine instruction and direction; and particularly his ways of grace, mercy, and truth, and the methods he has taken for the salvation of his people, both in eternity and in time; or those ways which he orders and directs his people to walk in; namely, the paths of duty, the ways of his worship and ordinances; a greater knowledge of which good men desire to have, as well as more grace to enable them to walk more closely and constantly in them; teach…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“If I have injured my friend. yea, I have delivered, &c.--This makes a good sense, but interrupts the course of thought, and hence it is proposed to render, "if I have spoiled my enemy"--in either case (compare Sa1 24:4-17; Sa1 31:8, Sa1 31:11).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me - If I have done evil; or if I have requited him that was friendly by some unjust and evil conduct. If I have come upon him wantonly and unprovoked, and have done him wrong. This seems to have been the substance of the accusation; and, as remarked above, it is most probable that the accuser (Cush) referred to himself. Yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy - So far is this from being true, that the very reverse is true. So far from taking advantage of another that was at peace with me, and depriving him of his just rights by fraud or force, it is a fact that I have rescued from impending danger the man that was at…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Deliver - When it was in my power to destroy him, as Sa1 24:2-6. Psalms 7:6”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“If I: Psa 55:20, Psa 109:5; Gen 44:4; Pro 17:3; Jer 18:20, Jer 18:21 I have: Sa1 24:7, Sa1 24:10, Sa1 24:11, Sa1 26:9-17, Sa1 26:24 without: Sa1 19:4, Sa1 19:5, Sa1 20:1, Sa1 22:14, Sa1 24:11-15, Sa1 24:17-19, Sa1 25:28, Sa1 25:29, Sa1 26:21 Psalms 7:5”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification