Psalms 59:12
For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.
Psalms 59:12
This line condemns the enemies’ “the sin of their mouth” and “the words of their lips” as acts deserving divine judgment. In the psalmist’s context, words—curse, lies, slander—were potent weapons that could ruin reputations and incite violence. The psalmist attributes their criminal speech to pride, a common biblical motif: hubris that refuses to acknowledge God’s sovereignty. The call to “let them be taken in their pride” suggests a reversal of fortunes where the very thing that feeds their power becomes their trap. The stanza sits within a broader plea for God’s intervention, balancing justice with mercy. The person praying is not seeking personal advantage but aims that the integrity of the community and the reputation of God’s people be protected from deceptive talk. The poetry of the psalm uses vivid imagery to communicate how hate-filled speech can boomerang back onto the speaker.
Theologically, this verse emphasizes the moral weight of words and the accountability of speech before God. It reinforces the biblical conviction that “the tongue can set the course of a day” (James 3). Prideful speech reveals an interior disorder that opposes God’s truth, and divine judgment is framed as ensuring truth reigns. It also upholds the justice motif: God is the guardian who sorts the righteous from the lying. The psalmist trusts that God can confound the proud by exposing their words and turning their schemes against them, thereby validating the integrity of the faithful.
In modern life, we face verbal warfare—slander, rumors, and hostile rhetoric. This verse invites discernment: do not respond in kind, but entrust outcomes to God’s justice. Practice truthful, kind speech even when others lie about you. When dealing with misrepresentation at work or on social media, document facts, seek mediation, and avoid public flame wars. If you find yourself tempted to retaliate with sharp words, pause and reframe your response around constructive truth-telling. A practical exercise: create a personal “watchword” for conversations—choose a blessing-laden, truth-telling approach rather than sarcasm. Remember the call to humility; pride often fuels hostile speech, while mercy can disarm hostility over time.
Cross-References: Proverbs 16:18; James 3:5-6; Psalm 34:13-14; Isaiah 54:17; Romans 3:7-8