Psalms 28:4
Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.
Original Language Analysis
תֵּ֣ן
Give
H5414
תֵּ֣ן
Give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
1 of 12
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
כְּפָעֳלָם֮
them according to their deeds
H6467
כְּפָעֳלָם֮
them according to their deeds
Strong's:
H6467
Word #:
3 of 12
an act or work (concretely)
וּכְרֹ֪עַ
and according to the wickedness
H7455
וּכְרֹ֪עַ
and according to the wickedness
Strong's:
H7455
Word #:
4 of 12
badness (as marring), physically or morally
כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה
them after the work
H4639
כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה
them after the work
Strong's:
H4639
Word #:
6 of 12
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
יְ֭דֵיהֶם
of their hands
H3027
יְ֭דֵיהֶם
of their hands
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
7 of 12
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
תֵּ֣ן
Give
H5414
תֵּ֣ן
Give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
8 of 12
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
הָשֵׁ֖ב
render
H7725
הָשֵׁ֖ב
render
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
10 of 12
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
Cross References
Revelation 22:12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.2 Timothy 4:14Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:Revelation 18:6Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.Psalms 5:10Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.Psalms 62:12Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.Psalms 103:10He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.Romans 11:22Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.Ezekiel 38:10Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:Ezra 9:13And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;
Historical Context
Israel's law established lex talionis (eye for eye)—proportional justice. These prayers invoke that principle, asking God to judge wickedness appropriately. They trust divine justice rather than seeking personal revenge.
Questions for Reflection
- How do imprecatory psalms balance with Jesus' command to love enemies?
- What role does trust in God's justice play in relinquishing personal vengeance?
Analysis & Commentary
The imprecatory prayer 'Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert' asks for just retribution. Reformed theology defends imprecatory psalms as prayers for justice, not personal vengeance. These prayers align with God's justice—evil must be punished. They anticipate final judgment when God will render to each according to their deeds (Rom. 2:6). The repetition emphasizes just recompense.