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Psalm 6:10 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
¹⁰All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;
they shall turn back and be put to shame suddenly.

This verse is a prayer for God to bring shame and trouble upon the psalmist’s enemies. It suggests that these enemies will be quickly and decisively defeated and will be made to feel ashamed and embarrassed as a result. The psalmist is asking God to intervene on their behalf and bring about a swift and decisive victory over their enemies.

It is important to note that the Bible teaches believers to pray for their enemies and to treat them with kindness and love rather than seeking revenge or seeking to harm them. This verse should not be taken as a justification for seeking harm or seeking revenge against others. Instead, it should be understood as a prayer for God to bring about justice and righteousness in a situation where the psalmist may have been wronged or mistreated.

All my enemies shall be ashamed. Be so brought to see their folly that they shall be ashamed of their conduct. The wish is that they might be brought to see their own guilt—a wish certainly which it is right to cherish in regard to all evil-doers.

And greatly troubled. Comp. Ps. 5:10. The same Hebrew word is used here, which occurs in verses 2, 3, and rendered vexed. It is a word that denotes trouble, trembling, and consternation and the meaning here is that the psalmist prayed that they might be confounded or disconcerted in their plans—a prayer which is certainly proper in regard to all the purposes of the wicked. No one should desire that the purposes of the wicked should prosper, not desire. This is to desire that they may be foiled and overcome in their schemes. This must be the wish of every good man.

They shall turn back. Turn back, or be turned back; that is, let them be repulsed and compelled to turn back from their present object.

And be put to shame suddenly. Heb., “In a moment;” instantaneously. He desired that there might be no delay but that their discomfiture might be accomplished at once. As it was right to pray that this might occur, so it was right to pray that it might occur without delay, or as speedily as possible. The sooner the plans of sinners are confounded, the better.

By Albert Barnes and Edward D. Andrews