Psalm 5 · a question people ask
"Hold them guilty, God. Let them fall" (5:10). How can a prayer ask for that?
The verse speaks to God and asks God to act: "Hold them guilty, God. Let them fall by their own counsels. Thrust them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against you" (5:10). It asks that they fall "by their own counsels", and it gives its reason in its last words. It follows the psalm's charge against them, which is about their words: "For there is no faithfulness in their mouth" (5:9). And right after it the psalm turns to others: "But let all those who take refuge in you rejoice" (5:11). Psalm 5 is not the only psalm that prays against enemies, and Christians read these prayers in more than one way. The chapter on Psalm 109 sets out the main readings, each resting on its verses, and chooses none. These notes don't choose either.
The verses
“For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. Their heart is destruction. Their throat is an open tomb. They flatter with their tongue. Hold them guilty, God. Let them fall by their own counsels. Thrust them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against you. But let all those who take refuge in you rejoice. Let them always shout for joy, because you defend them. Let them also who love your name be joyful in you.”
“For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. God of my praise, don’t remain silent, for they have opened the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of deceit against me. They have spoken to me with a lying tongue. They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause. In return for my love, they are my adversaries; but I am in prayer. They have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.”