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Psalm 5 · a question people ask

"You hate all workers of iniquity" (5:5). Does God hate people?

In the text

The psalm says it plainly: "You hate all workers of iniquity" (5:5) (tap hate), and "The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man" (5:6). Another psalm says of the LORD, "his soul hates the wicked and him who loves violence" (Psalm 11:5). Proverbs says, "There are six things which the LORD hates" (Proverbs 6:16), and lists among them "a lying tongue" (Proverbs 6:17). Other verses speak another way. Through Ezekiel the Lord GOD says, "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live" (Ezekiel 33:11). And Paul writes, "But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). These verses stand side by side in Scripture, and these notes don't choose how they fit together.

The verses

“The arrogant will not stand in your sight. You hate all workers of iniquity. You will destroy those who speak lies. The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.”
Psalm 5:5-6 · World English Bible
“The LORD examines the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and him who loves violence.”
Psalm 11:5 · World English Bible
“There are six things which the LORD hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,”
Proverbs 6:16-17 · World English Bible
“Tell them, ‘“As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why will you die, house of Israel?”’”
Ezekiel 33:11 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 5

Psalm 5: In the morning

In 5:3 the Hebrew has no word for requests: the psalmist sets something in order before the LORD, with the verb of laying wood in order, then watches like a watchman. And one word, rov, stands in 5:7 and 5:10: he comes in by the abundance of God's loving kindness; the others are thrust out in the multitude of their transgressions.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions