Psalms 27:5 (DRB)

Passage

Because they have not understood the works of the Lord, and the operations of his hands: thou shalt destroy them, and shalt not build them up.

Nearby Context

Psalms 27:3 Draw me not away together with the wicked; and with the workers of iniquity destroy me not: Who speak peace with their neighbour, but evils are in their hearts.

Psalms 27:4 Give them according to their works, and according to the wickedness of their inventions. According to the works of their hands give thou to them: render to them their reward.

Psalms 27:5 Because they have not understood the works of the Lord, and the operations of his hands: thou shalt destroy them, and shalt not build them up.

Psalms 27:6 Blessed be the Lord, for he hath heard the voice of my supplication.

Psalms 27:7 The Lord is my helper and my protector: in him hath my heart confided, and I have been helped. And my flesh hath flourished again, and with my will I will give praise to him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "understood", "works", "lord", "operations", "hands", "thou", "shalt", and "destroy". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "understood" and "works", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 4's "Give them according to their works and..." into verse 6's "Blessed be the Lord for he hath...", so "understood" and "works" 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 "understood" and "works" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.