Condemn them, O God. Let them fall by their own counsels. Because of their many transgressions, drive them away, for they rebelled against You.
David entrusts judgment to God. He does not devise a plan to take personal revenge, but asks that the Lord examine their deeds with righteousness. The phrase “Let them fall by their own counsels” shows the self-destructive nature of sin. An evil scheme often carries within itself the seed of its own downfall. David’s chief concern is not only the harm done to him. He sees that their rebellion is directed against God. Such prayers must be understood in the light of divine justice and not as permission for personal hatred. Christ teaches believers to love their enemies and to pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44). That love does not mean calling evil good. We can at the same time pray for the sinner’s repentance and for the stopping of injustice. Final judgment belongs to the Lord, who judges with His perfect knowledge and righteousness.