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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Psalm 140:10 May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/140-10.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/2/19_Psa_140_010.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 140:10 - Rescue Me, O LORD, From Evil Men" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/psalms/140-10.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/psalms/140-10.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/psalms/">Psalms</a> > <a href="/psalms/140.htm">Chapter 140</a> > Verse 10</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad10.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/psalms/140-9.htm" title="Psalm 140:9">◄</a> Psalm 140:10 <a href="/psalms/140-11.htm" title="Psalm 140:11">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/psalms/140.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/psalms/140.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, never to rise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/140.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Let burning coals fall down on their heads. Let them be thrown into the fire or into watery pits from which they can’t escape.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/140.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/140.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/140.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/140.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Let burning coals fall upon them; Let them be cast into the fire, Into deep pits, that they rise not up again.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/140.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“May burning coals fall upon them; May they be cast into the fire, Into bottomless pits from which they cannot rise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/140.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220May burning coals fall upon them; May they be cast into the fire, Into deep pits from which they cannot rise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/140.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“May burning coals fall upon them; May they be cast into the fire, Into deep pits from which they cannot rise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/140.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />May burning coals be shaken out upon them; May He cause them to fall into the fire, Into bottomless pits from which they can never rise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/140.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“Let burning coals fall upon them; Let them be thrown into the fire, Into deep [water] pits from which they cannot rise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/140.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Let hot coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into the abyss, never again to rise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/140.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Let hot coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into the abyss, never again to rise. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/140.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Let burning coals fall upon them: Let them be cast into the fire, Into deep pits, whence they shall not rise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/140.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Dump flaming coals on them and throw them into pits where they can't climb out. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/140.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/140.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into a pit, never to rise again.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/140.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />May red-hot coals fall on them; may they be thrown into a pit and never get out. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/140.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />May burning coals fall on them; may they be cast into fire, and into miry pits, never to rise again.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/140.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/140.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />May he rain down fiery coals upon them! May he throw them into the fire! From bottomless pits they will not escape. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/140.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/140.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not again.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/140.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/140.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />They cause burning coals to fall on themselves, "" He casts them into fire, "" Into deep pits—they do not arise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/140.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> They cause to fall on themselves burning coals, Into fire He doth cast them, Into deep pits -- they arise not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/140.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Burning coals shall be shaken upon them; he shall cast them into fire, into whirlpools; they shall not rise up.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/140.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Burning coals shall fall upon them; thou wilt cast them down into the fire: in miseries they shall not be able to stand. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/140.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 139:11>Burning coals will fall upon them. You will cast them down into the fire, into miseries that they will not be able to withstand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/140.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Drop burning coals upon them; cast them into the watery pit never more to rise. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/140.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Let burning coals fall on them! Let them be flung into pits, no more to rise!<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/140.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Let burning coals fall upon them; let them fall into the fire, that they rise not up again.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/140.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And coals will come down upon them and they will fall into fire and they will not be able to rise.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/140.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Let burning coals fall upon them; Let them be cast into the fire, Into deep pits, that they rise not up again.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/140.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Coals of fire shall fall upon them on the earth; and thou shalt cast them down in afflictions: they shall not bear up <i>under them</i>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/140-10.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=17464" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/140.htm">Rescue Me, O LORD, From Evil Men</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">9</span>May the heads of those who surround me be covered in the trouble their lips have caused. <span class="reftext">10</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1513.htm" title="1513: ge·ḥā·lîm (N-mp) -- Coal. Or gacheleth; from an unused root meaning to glow or kindle; an ember.">May burning coals</a> <a href="/hebrew/4131.htm" title="4131: yå̄·mī·ṭū (V-Nifal-Imperf-3mp) -- To totter, shake, slip. A primitive root; to waver; by implication, to slip, shake, fall.">fall</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘ă·lê·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">on them;</a> <a href="/hebrew/5307.htm" title="5307: yap·pi·lêm (V-Hifil-Imperf-3ms:: 3mp) -- To fall, lie. A primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications.">may they be thrown</a> <a href="/hebrew/784.htm" title="784: bā·’êš (Prep-b, Art:: N-cs) -- A fire. A primitive word; fire.">into the fire,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4113.htm" title="4113: bə·ma·hă·mō·rō·wṯ (Prep-b:: N-fp) -- A flood, watery pit. From an unused root of uncertain meaning; perhaps an abyss.">into the miry pits,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1077.htm" title="1077: bal- (Adv) -- Not. From balah; properly, a failure; by implication nothing; usually not at all; also lest.">never</a> <a href="/hebrew/6965.htm" title="6965: yā·qū·mū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To arise, stand up, stand. A primitive root; to rise.">to rise again.</a> </span><span class="reftext">11</span>May no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/26-27.htm">Proverbs 26:27</a></span><br />He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/11-6.htm">Psalm 11:6</a></span><br />On the wicked He will rain down fiery coals and sulfur; a scorching wind will be their portion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/18-15.htm">Job 18:15-21</a></span><br />Fire resides in his tent; burning sulfur rains down on his dwelling. / The roots beneath him dry up, and the branches above him wither away. / The memory of him perishes from the earth, and he has no name in the land. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/30-33.htm">Isaiah 30:33</a></span><br />For Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its funeral pyre is deep and wide, with plenty of fire and wood. The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/38-22.htm">Ezekiel 38:22</a></span><br />I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour out torrents of rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/23-19.htm">Jeremiah 23:19</a></span><br />Behold, the storm of the LORD has gone out with fury, a whirlwind swirling down upon the heads of the wicked.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nahum/1-6.htm">Nahum 1:6</a></span><br />Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure His burning anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; even rocks are shattered before Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/34-8.htm">Isaiah 34:8-10</a></span><br />For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion. / Edom’s streams will be turned to tar, and her soil to sulfur; her land will become a blazing pitch. / It will not be quenched—day or night. Its smoke will ascend forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will ever again pass through it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/32-22.htm">Deuteronomy 32:22</a></span><br />For a fire has been kindled by My anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol; it consumes the earth and its produce, and scorches the foundations of the mountains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/20-9.htm">Revelation 20:9</a></span><br />And they marched across the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/13-41.htm">Matthew 13:41-42</a></span><br />The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. / And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_thessalonians/1-8.htm">2 Thessalonians 1:8-9</a></span><br />in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. / They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/14-10.htm">Revelation 14:10-11</a></span><br />he too will drink the wine of God’s anger, poured undiluted into the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented in fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. / And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. Day and night there is no rest for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/16-24.htm">Luke 16:24</a></span><br />So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/10-27.htm">Hebrews 10:27</a></span><br />but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Let burning coals fall on them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.</p><p class="hdg">burning coals</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/11-6.htm">Psalm 11:6</a></b></br> Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: <i>this shall be</i> the portion of their cup.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/18-13.htm">Psalm 18:13,14</a></b></br> The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail <i>stones</i> and coals of fire… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/21-9.htm">Psalm 21:9</a></b></br> Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.</p><p class="hdg">let them</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/daniel/3-29.htm">Daniel 3:29-25</a></b></br> Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/13-42.htm">Matthew 13:42,50</a></b></br> And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth… </p><p class="hdg">into keep</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/55-23.htm">Psalm 55:23</a></b></br> But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/28-10.htm">Proverbs 28:10,17</a></b></br> Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good <i>things</i> in possession… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/revelation/20-15.htm">Revelation 20:15</a></b></br> And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/132-8.htm">Arise</a> <a href="/psalms/124-3.htm">Burning</a> <a href="/psalms/109-11.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/psalms/139-21.htm">Cause</a> <a href="/psalms/120-4.htm">Coals</a> <a href="/psalms/135-6.htm">Deep</a> <a href="/psalms/118-13.htm">Fall</a> <a href="/psalms/120-4.htm">Fire</a> <a href="/psalms/106-18.htm">Flames</a> <a href="/psalms/69-2.htm">Miry</a> <a href="/psalms/119-85.htm">Pits</a> <a href="/psalms/139-21.htm">Rise</a> <a href="/psalms/140-8.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/psalms/102-10.htm">Thrown</a> <a href="/psalms/137-1.htm">Waters</a> <a href="/psalms/121-1.htm">Whence</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/proverbs/6-9.htm">Arise</a> <a href="/proverbs/6-27.htm">Burning</a> <a href="/psalms/144-6.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/psalms/140-12.htm">Cause</a> <a href="/proverbs/6-28.htm">Coals</a> <a href="/psalms/148-7.htm">Deep</a> <a href="/psalms/141-10.htm">Fall</a> <a href="/psalms/148-8.htm">Fire</a> <a href="/isaiah/13-8.htm">Flames</a> <a href="/ezekiel/47-11.htm">Miry</a> <a href="/isaiah/42-22.htm">Pits</a> <a href="/proverbs/24-16.htm">Rise</a> <a href="/psalms/141-10.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/psalms/141-6.htm">Thrown</a> <a href="/psalms/144-7.htm">Waters</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/1-7.htm">Whence</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 140</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/140-1.htm">David prays to be delivered from Saul and Doeg</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/140-8.htm">He prays against them</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/140-12.htm">He comforts himself by confidence in God</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/140.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/psalms/140.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>May burning coals fall on them;</b><br>This phrase invokes imagery of divine retribution, reminiscent of the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah (<a href="/genesis/19-24.htm">Genesis 19:24</a>). In ancient Near Eastern culture, fire often symbolized purification and judgment. The psalmist's plea for burning coals reflects a desire for God's justice against the wicked, aligning with <a href="/proverbs/25-22.htm">Proverbs 25:22</a>, where coals are a metaphor for overcoming evil with good. The imagery also connects to the altar of incense in the tabernacle, where coals were used to burn incense, symbolizing prayers ascending to God (<a href="/exodus/30.htm">Exodus 30:1-10</a>).<p><b>may they be thrown into the fire,</b><br>Fire is a recurring symbol of God's judgment throughout Scripture, as seen in the destruction of Nadab and Abihu (<a href="/leviticus/10.htm">Leviticus 10:1-2</a>) and the consuming fire on Mount Sinai (<a href="/exodus/19-18.htm">Exodus 19:18</a>). This phrase suggests a complete and consuming judgment, akin to the lake of fire described in <a href="/revelation/20-14.htm">Revelation 20:14-15</a>. The psalmist's call for the wicked to be thrown into the fire underscores the severity of divine justice and the ultimate fate of unrepentant sinners.<p><b>into the miry pits,</b><br>Miry pits evoke images of Sheol or the grave, places of entrapment and destruction (<a href="/psalms/40-2.htm">Psalm 40:2</a>). In ancient times, cisterns or pits were used as prisons or places of execution (<a href="/jeremiah/38-6.htm">Jeremiah 38:6</a>). The psalmist's reference to miry pits suggests a desire for the wicked to be ensnared and rendered powerless, similar to the fate of Korah and his followers who were swallowed by the earth (<a href="/numbers/16-31.htm">Numbers 16:31-33</a>). This imagery emphasizes the inescapable nature of divine judgment.<p><b>never to rise again.</b><br>This phrase indicates a final and irreversible judgment, echoing the fate of the wicked in <a href="/psalms/1-5.htm">Psalm 1:5</a>, where they will not stand in the judgment. It reflects the ultimate defeat and destruction of evil, as seen in the prophetic visions of <a href="/daniel/12-2.htm">Daniel 12:2</a> and <a href="/revelation/20-10.htm">Revelation 20:10</a>. The permanence of this judgment contrasts with the resurrection hope for the righteous, highlighting the psalmist's confidence in God's justice and the eventual triumph of righteousness over wickedness.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/d/david.htm">David</a></b><br>Traditionally attributed as the author of this psalm, David is expressing a plea for deliverance from evil men and seeking God's justice against his enemies.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/e/enemies_of_david.htm">Enemies of David</a></b><br>The psalm speaks against those who plot evil and violence, representing the broader theme of wickedness and opposition to God's anointed.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/b/burning_coals_and_fire.htm">Burning Coals and Fire</a></b><br>Symbolic imagery used to describe divine judgment and retribution against the wicked.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/m/miry_pits.htm">Miry Pits</a></b><br>Represents a place of destruction and entrapment, emphasizing the finality of God's judgment on the wicked.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/g/god's_justice.htm">God's Justice</a></b><br>The overarching theme of the psalm, highlighting God's role as the righteous judge who protects the innocent and punishes the wicked.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_righteous_judgment.htm">God's Righteous Judgment</a></b><br>God's justice is perfect and will ultimately prevail against all forms of wickedness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_prayer_in_adversity.htm">The Power of Prayer in Adversity</a></b><br>Like David, believers are encouraged to bring their struggles and enemies before God, trusting in His deliverance and justice.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_wickedness.htm">The Consequences of Wickedness</a></b><br>The imagery of fire and miry pits serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of living in opposition to God's will.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_timing.htm">Trust in God's Timing</a></b><br>While we may desire immediate justice, we must trust in God's perfect timing and His ultimate plan for justice.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/responding_to_enemies_with_faith.htm">Responding to Enemies with Faith</a></b><br>Believers are called to respond to enemies with faith, leaving vengeance to God and seeking to live in peace and righteousness.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_140.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 140</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_psalm_140_10_show_mercy.htm">How does calling for coals of fire upon evildoers in Psalm 140:10 align with the concept of a merciful God? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_psalm_120_4_contradict_god's_love.htm">Psalm 120:4 – Does referring to “warrior’s sharp arrows” and “burning coals” raise contradictions with a supposedly loving and merciful God? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/do_psalm_140_9-10_and_matthew_5_44_clash.htm">Do verses like Psalm 140:9-10 contradict the New Testament teaching of loving one's enemies (e.g., Matthew 5:44)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_'heap_coals'_conflict_with_forgiveness.htm">Proverbs 25:21-22 - Does instructing believers to 'heap burning coals' on an enemy's head conflict with later biblical teachings on compassion and forgiveness?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/140.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(10) In this verse too there is a grammatical difficulty, which the margin, "Let there fall on them," instead of "Let them bring upon them," does not remove, since the subject of the next verb is third person <span class= "ital">singular. </span>The first verb is usually taken impersonally, as by the LXX., which version is actually to be followed in rendering <span class= "ital">coals of fire </span>(literally, <span class= "ital">coals accompanied with fire, </span>or, <span class= "ital">coals as fire</span>)<span class= "ital">, </span>and we get the somewhat awkward, but intelligible--<p>"Let them bring upon them coals of fire;<p>Let him cast them into pits that they rise not again.'<p>But a very slight change gives a plain grammatical sentence with the subject carried on from the last verse:<p>"Let it (mischief) bring even upon themselves coals of fire;<p>Let it cast them into pits, so that they rise no more."<p>(Burgess.)<p>The word "pits" is peculiar to the passage. Gesenius, deriving from a root meaning "to boil up," renders, "whirlpools," which, as in <a href="/psalms/66-12.htm" title="You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but you brought us out into a wealthy place.">Psalm 66:12</a>, combines "water" with "fire," as joint emblems of <span class= "ital">perils </span>that cannot be escaped. But Symmachus, Theodotion, and Jerome render "ditches," which is supported by a Rabbinical quotation, given by Delitzsch: "first of all they burned them in pits; when the flesh was consumed they collected the bones, and burned them in coffins."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/140.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 10.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Let burning coals fall upon them</span>, or, "burning coals shall be thrown upon them." <span class="cmt_word">Let them be cast</span> (or, "they shall be cast") <span class="cmt_word">into the fire, into deep pits, that they rise not up again.</span> The clauses are declaratory rather than optative. The psalmist sees the wrath of God poured out upon his enemies, who are at the same time God's enemies - they are cast into the fire prepared to receive the wicked - and plunged into deep pits whence they find it impossible to extricate themselves. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/140-10.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">May burning coals</span><br /><span class="heb">גֶּֽחָ֫לִ֥ים</span> <span class="translit">(ge·ḥā·lîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1513.htm">Strong's 1513: </a> </span><span class="str2">An ember</span><br /><br /><span class="word">fall</span><br /><span class="heb">יִמּ֥וֹטוּ</span> <span class="translit">(yim·mō·w·ṭū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4131.htm">Strong's 4131: </a> </span><span class="str2">To waver, to slip, shake, fall</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on them;</span><br /><span class="heb">עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם</span> <span class="translit">(‘ă·lê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">may they be thrown</span><br /><span class="heb">יַפִּלֵ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(yap·pi·lêm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5307.htm">Strong's 5307: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall, lie</span><br /><br /><span class="word">into the fire,</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּאֵ֥שׁ</span> <span class="translit">(bā·’êš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_784.htm">Strong's 784: </a> </span><span class="str2">A fire</span><br /><br /><span class="word">into the miry pits,</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּ֝מַהֲמֹר֗וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ma·hă·mō·rō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4113.htm">Strong's 4113: </a> </span><span class="str2">A flood, watery pit</span><br /><br /><span class="word">never</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּֽל־</span> <span class="translit">(bal-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1077.htm">Strong's 1077: </a> </span><span class="str2">A failure, nothing, not at all, lest</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to rise again.</span><br /><span class="heb">יָקֽוּמוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(yā·qū·mū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6965.htm">Strong's 6965: </a> </span><span class="str2">To arise, stand up, stand</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/140-10.htm">Psalm 140:10 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/140-10.htm">Psalm 140:10 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/140-10.htm">Psalm 140:10 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/140-10.htm">Psalm 140:10 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/140-10.htm">Psalm 140:10 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/140-10.htm">Psalm 140:10 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/140-10.htm">Psalm 140:10 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/140-10.htm">Psalm 140:10 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/140-10.htm">Psalm 140:10 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/140-10.htm">Psalm 140:10 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/140-10.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 140:10 Let burning coals fall on them (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/140-9.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 140:9"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 140:9" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/140-11.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 140:11"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 140:11" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>