Psalm 5:9

Berean Standard Bible

For not a word they speak can be trusted; destruction lies within them. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.

King James Bible

For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

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This verse stands as a powerful indictment of the wicked, portraying a multilayered critique of the deceitful nature of those who oppose righteousness. It is not simply an observation of human fallibility but a focused denunciation of individuals whose words and inward motivations are utterly corrupt. The psalmist, David, is in a state of spiritual warfare, appealing to God for justice and discernment amid a world teeming with deceit and moral inversion.

The opening line, “There is no faithfulness in their mouth,” is immediately jarring. The word translated as “faithfulness” implies reliability, truth, and integrity. Its absence suggests that the wicked are entirely untrustworthy, particularly in their speech. Speech, in the biblical context, is often a reflection of the heart. When one’s words are devoid of truth, it points to a deeper spiritual sickness. David is not accusing these individuals of mere carelessness in speech; rather, he is describing a systematic, willful pattern of deception. Their words cannot be taken at face value, and this erosion of trust is profoundly dangerous, especially when the social order depends on the integrity of communication.

The next clause intensifies the condemnation: “their inward part is very wickedness.” This emphasizes that the corruption is not superficial or occasional, but internal and total. The phrase suggests a heart consumed by iniquity. In Hebrew poetic structure, this internal wickedness is placed in stark contrast with the external speech, forming a parallelism that underscores the duplicity of the wicked. What they project outwardly with their mouths—perhaps through flattery or misleading words—is a cover for an inward rot. David’s complaint here is not just about immoral behavior but about an existential perversion: those who project trustworthiness while concealing malevolence within.

The next metaphor is both vivid and grotesque: “their throat is an open sepulchre.” A sepulchre is a tomb, a place of decay and death. To describe someone’s throat in this way is to say that their words are like the stench emanating from a grave—death-laden, defiling, and contaminating all who come near. The metaphor connects their speech not only to corruption but to spiritual death itself. The throat, which should be the conduit of breath and life-giving speech, instead becomes the gate through which death pours forth. This image evokes a sense of danger; to engage with such individuals is to risk being tainted or harmed by their toxic influence. The metaphor also suggests the defiling nature of lies and slander, which not only reflect internal decay but also spread it to others.

Finally, David declares, “they flatter with their tongue.” This phrase rounds out the portrait of deceit. Flattery, in this context, is not a benign compliment but a manipulative tool. The tongue, an instrument of communication and even blessing, is twisted into a weapon of seduction and false assurance. The wicked do not speak plainly or with honest intentions; their language is designed to mislead, to gain advantage, to mask their true motives. Flattery may win trust, but only to betray it. In the larger context of the psalm, which contrasts the righteous who seek God’s guidance with the wicked who rebel against Him, this flattery is the counterfeit of the righteous person’s prayer—it mimics devotion but serves selfish ends.

David's use of language in this verse is not merely poetic; it serves a theological and ethical function. He is calling upon God to recognize the utter depravity of these individuals, not out of vindictiveness, but out of a desire for divine justice. These are not people simply struggling with sin; they are committed to it, defined by it, and unwilling to turn from it. Their presence in society is not neutral—they actively endanger the moral fabric of the community and oppose the flourishing of truth and righteousness.

Psalm 5:9, therefore, functions both as a lament and a warning. It articulates the anguish of the righteous who must live among the deceitful, and it points toward the need for divine intervention. It also serves to caution the reader: speech is never trivial, and the condition of the heart is inevitably revealed through the mouth. Those whose throats are likened to open graves are agents of spiritual death, and their words—though flattering—should not be trusted. In a world where truth is often manipulated, this verse remains a sobering reminder of the destructive power of deceit and the deep need for hearts transformed by God's righteousness.

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Grace and peace to you all in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

I write to you as one burdened with the weight of the truth and stirred by the Spirit to speak plainly to the household of faith. Let the Word of God be our anchor and our mirror as we reflect upon the solemn words of Psalm 5:9: “For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.” This holy verse, breathed out by the Spirit through David, opens to us the depths of human depravity and the urgency of discerning hearts in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.

Beloved, do not mistake David’s lament as something far removed from us, as though it were merely an ancient complaint about a distant enemy. No, this word lives and breathes still, and it speaks not only of the wicked in David’s day, but of every age, including our own. For we dwell in a world where truth has been bartered for convenience, where sincerity is rare, and where many parade righteousness with their lips while treasuring rebellion in their hearts. Let us not be lulled into comfort by the appearance of piety, for Scripture warns us that not all who speak softly are friends of the truth, and not all who bear smiles carry peace in their souls.

“There is no faithfulness in their mouth.” How grievous is this condition, that one’s words—meant to be instruments of truth and communion—become snares and lies. We must remember, brothers and sisters, that speech is not a small matter. The tongue was created by God to bless, to build up, to confess, and to proclaim. When the mouth is emptied of faithfulness, it becomes a hollow vessel, fit only to echo falsehood. But let us not merely look outward and identify the faults of others. Let this verse be a lamp to our own path. Are our mouths marked by faithfulness? Do we speak with integrity when no one sees? Are we quick to flatter and slow to correct? The Spirit would have us examine not only what we say, but why we say it.

David goes further: “Their inward part is very wickedness.” The mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. Words are not disconnected from the inner life; they are its fruit. If there is no faithfulness in speech, there is surely rebellion within. We are reminded here that sin is not skin-deep. It does not cling to the surface like dust but infects the core of man. This should humble us all, for apart from grace, our own hearts are no different. If it were not for the Lord restraining and renewing us, we too would be full of such iniquity. Let none of us boast in our moral clarity or uprightness of speech as if it were our own doing. The heart must be daily laid bare before the Lord, searched by His Word and purified by His Spirit.

Then comes the image: “Their throat is an open sepulchre.” What a dreadful picture. Imagine the mouth as a tomb, gaping and foul, exhaling the rot of death. This is no poetic exaggeration—it is the Spirit’s estimation of deceitful speech. Words can carry the breath of life or the stench of decay. O church, understand the power of language. A lie spoken in secret can destroy a household. Flattery can corrupt a soul. Slander can turn the hearts of many against truth. Just as death spread through Adam’s one act, so too do words, when twisted, spread ruin. Consider the world around us: so many voices, so many platforms, so much speaking—and yet how little life. Are not many throats open graves, leading others to destruction while masking it with eloquence?

And what of flattery? “They flatter with their tongue.” Here, the Word exposes another form of deception—one that often masquerades as kindness. Flattery is counterfeit love. It mimics encouragement but is divorced from truth. It seeks to manipulate rather than edify. In our age of affirmation without accountability, where truth is often sacrificed on the altar of politeness, we must learn to distinguish between godly encouragement and flattery. Godly love speaks truth with grace, even when it is uncomfortable. Flattery avoids conflict, pretends agreement, and serves self-interest. Beware of those who only ever speak well of you; the wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Let us, therefore, walk as children of the light. Let our speech be seasoned with salt and grounded in truth. Let our inner lives match our outward professions. The psalmist’s words are a call not only to discern the wicked but to pursue holiness in ourselves. For the church must be a people of integrity—our mouths marked by faithfulness, our hearts ruled by righteousness, our tongues loosed for the praise of God and the building up of His people. Where the world opens its throat to speak death, may we open our mouths to proclaim life.

Yet let us not despair, even as we see the darkness around us. For Christ, the Word made flesh, came into this same world of lying tongues and wicked hearts. He alone was found faithful in all His words. No deceit was found in His mouth. He spoke as no man ever spoke, and He laid down His life for those whose speech condemned them. He bore the weight of every slander, every lie, every hollow flattery, and every malicious whisper. On the cross, the spotless One took the place of the deceitful, that we might be cleansed not only in body, but in speech and in heart. And now, risen and reigning, He sends His Spirit to purify our lips as Isaiah's were touched by the burning coal. Through Him, we can be made new. Through Him, our mouths can become fountains of blessing, not tombs of corruption.

Therefore, beloved, do not grow weary in speaking the truth. Let your words be few but full of grace. In a world where many speak death, you are called to proclaim life. In a time when flattery abounds, be honest and loving. In an age of hypocrisy, pursue sincerity with all your heart. Guard your heart, for from it flow the springs of life. And may the Lord, who is the faithful and true witness, make us to be faithful witnesses also, until He comes again in glory.

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Almighty and Most Holy God, Father of lights, in whom there is no shadow or turning, we come before You with trembling hearts and yet with boldness, for the blood of Jesus speaks better things than the blood of Abel. We lift our voices not as those who come in presumption, but as children redeemed by grace, washed in the crimson flow, and drawn near by the eternal cords of lovingkindness. You, O Lord, are the God of truth, and in You there is no deceit. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face. You love what is pure and upright, and You abhor the lies of the wicked and the duplicity of the deceitful.

O Sovereign Lord, we meditate on the words of Your servant David, who cried out in anguish over the perversion of the ungodly: “There is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.” And Lord, we confess that such wickedness is not far from us, for it once dwelled in us, and at times, even now, tries to rise again. Apart from Your grace, we too are tempted to speak without truth, to flatter without sincerity, to wound with words or withhold truth out of fear or pride. You see all things, even the hidden corners of the soul, and we do not come to hide but to be exposed, to be healed, to be sanctified by Your Word and Spirit.

Cleanse our hearts, O God, for if the inward part is wicked, then no outward display can please You. Tear down the altars of hypocrisy and self-exaltation. Make truth dwell not only on our lips but in our innermost being. Let our speech be born of purity, not of performance; of love, not of self-preservation. Deliver us from the love of flattering lips and smooth speech that veils rebellion. Let us never be among those who speak peace with their tongues while plotting evil in their hearts. Strip away every layer of falsehood, every mask we wear before men, and bring us into the glorious liberty of the sons of God, whose consciences are clear, whose words are pure, and whose hearts are undivided before You.

Have mercy on this generation, O God. We live in a time where lies are baptized in fine language, and flattery is mistaken for love. Our culture feeds on image and appearance, but You look upon the heart. Raise up a people who tremble at Your Word, who speak with the gravity of those who will give account for every idle word. Teach us to bridle our tongues, not by willpower, but by the fire of the Spirit and the fear of the Lord. Let our mouths be fountains of living water, not tombs of corruption. Let our lips be sanctified for praise, for intercession, for truth-speaking, and for edification.

Lord Jesus, You who are the Word made flesh, in whom there was no deceit, we fix our eyes upon You. When reviled, You did not revile in return; when accused, You opened not Your mouth. Yet when the time came, You spoke as no man ever spoke. Your words were Spirit and life, and even now they pierce to the division of soul and spirit. May we abide in You so deeply that our speech reflects Your nature. May Your truth dwell in us richly, so that our lips may be faithful witnesses to the gospel we profess. Forgive us for every careless word, every calculated lie, every time we’ve withheld the truth to preserve ourselves rather than to glorify You.

Holy Spirit, Helper and Comforter, tame the untamable tongue. You who hovered over the chaos in the beginning and brought forth order—hover now over our disordered hearts and bring the fruit of self-control, kindness, and truth. Let our yes be yes and our no be no. Let us not be seduced by the approval of man, but let us live and speak for the audience of One. When tempted to flatter, give us courage to speak truth in love. When tempted to curse, give us grace to bless. When tempted to remain silent in the face of evil, give us holy boldness to declare what is right and just.

O Lord, how great is Your mercy toward us, that You did not leave us to perish in our lies, but You sent the Truth Himself to rescue us from the father of lies. May our lives be a testimony to Your transforming power. May those who hear us speak marvel not at our eloquence but at our integrity. Let no corrupt communication proceed from our mouths, but only that which is good for building up, that it may give grace to those who hear. Make our tongues instruments of peace and not of war, of healing and not of harm, of gospel proclamation and not self-glory.

We long, O God, to be found blameless in Your sight—not by our own righteousness, but clothed in the righteousness of Christ. May our words reflect that clothing. May our speech testify to the reality that we have been with Jesus. Let Your Church shine as a city on a hill not only through what we do, but by how we speak—in truth, in gentleness, in purity, in power. Guard our hearts, guard our tongues, and keep us from the way of the wicked, whose throats are open graves.

Now unto You, O King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory and dominion forever. Sanctify us through and through, and let our whole spirit, soul, and body—including our tongues—be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. You who call us are faithful, and You will do it.

In the matchless name of Jesus Christ, the Faithful and True, we pray. Amen.