Psalm 5:9 is David’s description of wicked people as seen through their speech. He says their words are not trustworthy, their hearts are bent toward ruin, and their flattery hides something dangerous. David wrote this in a time of threat from enemies, and he is speaking to the LORD, asking God to see clearly what is happening around him.
For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. Their heart is destruction. Their throat is an open tomb. They flatter with their tongue.
Psalm 5:9 (WEB)
What Psalm 5:9 Means
The verse begins with “no faithfulness in their mouth.” David is saying that what these people say cannot be relied on. Their promises are empty, and their words cannot be trusted to match what they intend. The phrase points to a pattern of dishonesty rather than a single lie.
Next comes “their heart is destruction” and “their throat is an open tomb.” These are vivid images. The heart is the center of intention and desire, and David says theirs is set on harm. The open throat, like a grave with its mouth wide, suggests that their speech carries death and decay, words that consume and destroy the people who hear them. The verse ends with “they flatter with their tongue,” meaning their pleasant words are a mask over hostile purposes.
Psalm 5:9 does not promise that these people will be immediately exposed or defeated. It describes the situation as David sees it and brings it to God. The verse is a lament and a plea for justice, and it leaves the outcome in God’s hands, as the following verses make clear.
The Context of Psalm 5:9
Psalm 5 is traditionally attributed to David and belongs to the psalms of lament, where a person in danger takes their case to God in the morning. The psalm is written in the first person, and David speaks as someone surrounded by people who want to harm him. Verse 8 asks God to lead him “because of my enemies,” which shows that the description in verse 9 is part of a larger appeal for protection.
The verses just before and after frame the verse well. Verse 6 says God will destroy those who speak lies, and verse 10 asks God to hold them guilty for their rebellion. Verses 11 and 12 turn toward those who trust God, promising joy and favor for the righteous. Because of this structure, Psalm 5:9 reads as a contrast: the speech of the wicked is set against the faithfulness of God, who defends those who take refuge in him.
Key Phrases in Psalm 5:9
Proverbs 12:22
Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who do the truth are his delight.
(WEB)
This verse says that lying lips are an abomination to the LORD while those who act faithfully delight him. It sharpens the contrast in Psalm 5:9 between faithless speech and the faithfulness God values, and it shows that God’s concern for truthful words runs throughout Scripture.
Psalm 55:21
His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
(WEB)
In this psalm David describes a friend who speaks smoothly while his heart is set on war. The image of smooth words hiding hostility matches the flattery named in Psalm 5:9, and it shows how betrayal of this kind wounds deeply.
A Short Prayer From Psalm 5:9
Lord, you see what is hidden in people’s hearts, even when their words are smooth and their promises are empty. I bring before you the people who speak to me with pleasant words while working against what is good. Keep my own speech honest and faithful, and do not let me answer deceit with more deceit. Lead me in your righteousness, as David asked, and help me trust that you defend those who take refuge in you. Amen.
