Psalms 7:14

“Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.”

This verse is part of Psalm 7, which is attributed to David. It is a prayer of David, seeking God’s deliverance and justice against his enemies. In this particular verse, David vividly describes the wickedness and deceit of his adversaries.

To understand the meaning of this verse, let’s break it down:

“Behold”: This word draws attention to what follows, as if to say, “Look and see.”

“He travaileth with iniquity”: This phrase portrays the evildoer as one who labors, or struggles, with sin and wrongdoing. It suggests that wickedness consumes the thoughts and actions of the individual, and they are engrossed in sinful pursuits.

“And hath conceived mischief”: Here, David uses the metaphor of conception to illustrate the planning and scheming of his enemy. It implies that the wicked person has conceived evil intentions and is actively devising harmful actions.

“And brought forth falsehood”: The imagery of childbirth is continued in this phrase. It suggests that the efforts of the evildoer have come to fruition, resulting in the production of falsehood, lies, or deceit. The enemy’s actions bear the fruit of dishonesty and deception.

Overall, Psalm 7:14 highlights the deep-rooted wickedness and deceitfulness of David’s adversaries. It emphasises the exhaustive efforts put forth by the evildoer to bring about harm and falsehood. By vividly describing the actions of his enemies, David appeals to God’s righteous judgment and seeks His intervention and deliverance.

It’s important to note that the book of Psalms is a collection of poetic and lyrical expressions of praise, worship, thanksgiving, and lament to God. While this particular verse focuses on the actions of the wicked, the Psalms as a whole offer a rich range of emotions and experiences in the context of a relationship with God.