Psalms 28:3

3 Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts.

Psalms 28:3 in Other Translations

KJV
3 Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.
ESV
3 Do not drag me off with the wicked, with the workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts.
NLT
3 Do not drag me away with the wicked— with those who do evil— those who speak friendly words to their neighbors while planning evil in their hearts.
MSG
3 Don't shove me into the same jail cell with those crooks, With those who are full-time employees of evil.
CSB
3 Do not drag me away with the wicked, with the evildoers, who speak in friendly ways with their neighbors, while malice is in their hearts.

Psalms 28:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 28:3

Draw me not away with the wicked
That is, with those who are notoriously wicked; who are inwardly and outwardly wicked; whose inward part is very wickedness, and who sell themselves and give up themselves to work wickedness: the sense is, that God would not suffer him to be drawn away, or drawn aside by wicked men, but that he would deliver him from temptation; or that he would not give him up into their hands, to be at their mercy; who he knew would not spare him, if they had him in their power; or that he might not die the death of the wicked, and perish with them; see ( Psalms 26:9 Psalms 26:10 ) ;

and with the workers of iniquity;
who make it the trade and business of their lives to commit sin; and which may be applied, not only to profane sinners, but to professors of religion, ( Matthew 7:23 ) ; since it follows,

which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief [is] in their
hearts;
hypocrites, double minded men, who have a form of godliness, but deny the power of it; pretend to religion, and have none; and speak fair to the face, but design mischief and ruin; as Saul and his servants did to David, ( 1 Samuel 18:17 1 Samuel 18:22 ) .

Psalms 28:3 In-Context

1 To you, LORD, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.
3 Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts.
4 Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back on them what they deserve.
5 Because they have no regard for the deeds of the LORDand what his hands have done, he will tear them down and never build them up again.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Psalms 12:2; S Psalms 26:4; Psalms 55:21; Psalms 26:9; Jeremiah 9:8
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