Psalms 139:21 (ASV)

Passage

Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

Nearby Context

Psalms 139:19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: Depart from me therefore, ye bloodthirsty men.

Psalms 139:20 For they speak against thee wickedly, And thine enemies take [thy name] in vain.

Psalms 139:21 Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

Psalms 139:22 I hate them with perfect hatred: They are become mine enemies.

Psalms 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "hate", "jehovah", "thee", "grieved", "rise", and "against". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "hate" and "jehovah", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "For they speak against thee wickedly And..." into verse 22's "I hate them with perfect hatred They...", so "hate" and "jehovah" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "hate" and "jehovah" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.