Psalm 125:5

5 But them that turn aside to crooked ways the Lord will lead away with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.

Psalm 125:5 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 125:5

As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways
The ways of sin, immorality, or error; which are crooked ways, not agreeing with the word of God, the rule of faith and practice. This seems to design not openly profane sinners, who have always lived in a course of sin and wickedness; but carnal professors, who, through affliction and persecution because of the word, are offended, and desert the good ways of God; and turn from the holy commandment, word, and ordinances, they have professionally embraced;

the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity;
the Targum adds,

``to hell.''

These hypocrites shall be led forth by the Lord with abandoned sinners, like malefactors to the place of execution; when he shall bid them depart from him, and they shall go into everlasting fire; and if there is any place in hell hotter than another, those shall have it; see ( Matthew 7:23 ) ( 25:41 ) ( 24:51 ) ;

[but] peace [shall be] upon Israel;
upon every true Israelite, upon the whole Israel of God; the apostle seems to have respect to this passage in ( Galatians 6:16 ) ; such shall have spiritual peace in their hearts now, and eternal peace hereafter. The words may be read either as a prayer that it might be, or as a prophecy that it should be; and may have regard unto the latter day, when all the enemies of Christ and his church shall be destroyed, and there shall be abundance of peace, so long as the moon endures, ( Psalms 72:7 ) . Aben Ezra observes, that the psalmist prays that God would remove the wicked far off, and then there would be peace in Israel; and to the same purpose Arama and Kimchi interpret it.

Psalm 125:5 In-Context

3 For the Lord will not allow the rod of sinners to be upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous should stretch forth their hands to iniquity.

4 Do good, O Lord, to them that are good, and to them that are upright in heart.

5 But them that turn aside to crooked ways the Lord will lead away with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.