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Psalm 64 · a question people ask

"All mankind shall be afraid" (64:9), yet "The righteous shall be glad" (64:10). How do the two fit?

In the text

The psalm puts them side by side and says what goes with each. The fear comes with telling and thinking: "All mankind shall be afraid. They shall declare the work of God, and shall wisely ponder what he has done" (64:9). It is the verb of 64:4, where the evildoers shoot "fearlessly", in Hebrew and they do not fear (tap afraid). The gladness comes with refuge and praise: "The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall take refuge in him. All the upright in heart shall praise him!" (64:10). The psalm doesn't say the righteous are not afraid, or that all mankind are glad. It sets both after God acts (64:7-8).

The verses

“to shoot innocent men from ambushes. They shoot at him suddenly and fearlessly.”
Psalm 64:4 · World English Bible
“But God will shoot at them. They will be suddenly struck down with an arrow. Their own tongues shall ruin them. All who see them will shake their heads. All mankind shall be afraid. They shall declare the work of God, and shall wisely ponder what he has done. The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall take refuge in him. All the upright in heart shall praise him!”
Psalm 64:7-10 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 64

Psalm 64: But God will shoot at them

Psalm 64 uses the same words for what the plotters do and for what happens to them. They shoot (64:4), and God shoots (64:7): one Hebrew verb. Their arrows (64:3) and God's arrow (64:7) are one word, and suddenly stands in both verses, the only two times the Psalms have it. And the tongue they sharpened like a sword (64:3) is what ruins them (64:8).

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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