John Calvin Commentary Psalms 7:14

"Behold, he travaileth with iniquity; Yea, he hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood." — Psalms 7:14 (ASV)

Behold, he shall travail. David has until now shown how great and formidable the danger was that was near him. In this verse, scoffing at the presumptuous and foolish attempts of Saul and his magnificent preparations, he declares that they had failed to accomplish their object. By the demonstrative adverb Behold, he enhances the wonder, since such a result occurred, which was, on his part, altogether unexpected.

Behold, he says, after he has travailed to bring forth wickedness, just as he had conceived mischief, at length only empty wind and vanity emerge, because God frustrated his expectations and destroyed all these wicked attempts. Iniquity and mischief are here used for every kind of violence and outrage that Saul intended to inflict upon David.

Some interpreters think that the order of the words is inverted, because travailing to bring forth is put before conceiving. But I think that the words are in their proper place if you explain them this way: Behold, he shall travail to bring forth wickedness, for he has conceived mischief. This is to say, just as he long ago devised my destruction, so he will do his utmost to put his design into execution.

David afterwards adds, he hath brought forth falsehood. This implies that Saul had been disappointed in his expectation. In the same way, Isaiah (Isaiah 26:18) speaks of unbelievers bringing forth wind when their success does not correspond to their wicked and presumptuous attempts.

Therefore, whenever we see the ungodly secretly plotting our ruin, let us remember that they speak falsehood to themselves; in other words, they deceive themselves, and will fail in accomplishing what they devise in their hearts.

If, however, we do not perceive that they are disappointed in their designs until these are about to be brought forth, let us not be discouraged, but bear it with a spirit of patient submission to the will and providence of God.