Psalms 139:22 (DBY)

Passage

I hate them with perfect hatred; I account them mine enemies.

Nearby Context

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

Psalms 139:21 Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee? and do not I loathe them that rise up against thee?

Psalms 139:22 I hate them with perfect hatred; I account them mine enemies.

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

Psalms 139:24 And see if there be any grievous way in me; and lead me in the way everlasting.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "hate", "perfect", "hatred", "account", "mine", and "enemies". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "hate" and "perfect", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 21's "Do not I hate them O Jehovah..." into verse 23's "Search me O God and know my...", so "hate" and "perfect" 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 "perfect" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.