Psalms 11:5

5 The Lord tests those who do right, but he hates the wicked and those who love to hurt others.

Psalms 11:5 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 11:5

The Lord trieth the righteous
As gold is tried in the fire, by afflictive providences; hereby he tries their graces, their faith, and patience, their hope, and love, and fear; and, by so doing, expresses his love to them, since this is all for their good: and therefore, when he suffers the wicked to go great lengths in persecuting and distressing them, this should not weaken, their confidence in him; he still loves them, and loves when he rebukes and chastises them;

but the wicked, and him that loveth violence, his soul hateth;
that is, such who live in a course of sin and wickedness, and who not only do injury to the persons, characters, and properties of men, but love it, and delight therein, and also take pleasure in them that do the same: these God has a continued and inward aversion to; sin and wickedness being the abominable thing his righteous soul hates: and he shows his hatred to them, by not chastising them now, as he does his own people, but reserving everlasting punishment for them hereafter; see ( Proverbs 13:24 ) .

Psalms 11:5 In-Context

3 When all that is good falls apart, what can good people do?"
4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord sits on his throne in heaven. He sees what people do; he keeps his eye on them.
5 The Lord tests those who do right, but he hates the wicked and those who love to hurt others.
6 He will send hot coals and burning sulfur on the wicked. A whirlwind is what they will get.
7 The Lord does what is right, and he loves justice, so honest people will see his face. For the director of music. Upon the sheminith. A psalm of David.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.