Psalms 141:7

7 They will say, “As one plows and breaks up the earth, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave.”

Psalms 141:7 in Other Translations

7 Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.

7 As when one plows and breaks up the earth, so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

7 Like rocks brought up by a plow, the bones of the wicked will lie scattered without burial.

7 Like a rock pulverized by a maul, let their bones be scattered at the gates of hell.

7 As when one ploweth and cleaveth the earth, Our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

7 As someone plows and breaks up the ground, so our bones will be planted at the mouth of the grave.

7 As when one plows and breaks up the soil, [turning up rocks], so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

7 They will say, "As clumps of dirt are left from plowing up the ground, so our bones will be scattered near an open grave."

Psalms 141:7 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 141:7

Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth
Into which they were not suffered to be put, but lay unburied; or from whence they were dug up, and lay scattered about; which is to be understood of such of David's friends as fell into the hands of Saul and his men, and were slain: perhaps it may refer to the fourscore and five priests, and the inhabitants of Nob, slain by the order of Saul, ( 1 Samuel 22:18 1 Samuel 22:19 ) . Though the phrase may be only proverbial, and be expressive of the danger David and his men were in, and their sense of it, who looked upon themselves like dry bones, hopeless and helpless, and had the sentence of death in themselves, and were as it were at the mouth of the grave, on the brink of ruin; as when one cutteth and cleaveth [wood] upon the earth:
and the chips fly here and there, and are disregarded; such was their case: or as men cut and cleave the earth with the plough, and it is tore up by it, and falls on each side of it, so are we persecuted, afflicted, and distressed by our enemies, and have no mercy shown us; so the Targum,

``as a man that cuts and cleaves with ploughshares in the earth, so our members are scattered at the grave's mouth.''

The Syriac and Arabic versions understand it of the ploughshare cutting the earth.

Psalms 141:7 In-Context

5 Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

6 Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs, and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.

7 They will say, “As one plows and breaks up the earth, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave.”

8 But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign LORD; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.

9 Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers, from the snares they have laid for me.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 129:3
• 2. Numbers 16:32-33
• 3. S Numbers 16:30; Psalms 53:5