Psalms 7:16
His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
Study Note
Study Note
'His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate' — the lex talionis principle embedded in Davidic lament expresses confidence that divine justice operates through a moral law of consequence: violence boomerangs on its perpetrator. The image of mischief 'returning' and violence 'coming down' presents moral cause-and-effect not as arbitrary punishment but as the built-in structure of a divinely ordered universe. Proverbs 26:27 ('Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein') and Psalm 9:15 ('the heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made') develop the same motif, which resurfaces in Paul's Romans 1 argument that sin carries within itself its own progressive judgment.
Other Translations
His mischief shall return upon his own head, And his violence shall come down upon his own pate.
Return doth his perverseness on his head, And on his crown his violence cometh down.
His wrongdoing will come back to him, and his violent behaviour will come down on his head.
Cross References
And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the …
The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be …
As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
David said furthermore, As the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or …
Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou …
And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust …
And the Lord shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better …
But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the …
He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.