John Calvin Commentary Psalms 9:17

"The wicked shall be turned back unto Sheol, Even all the nations that forget God." — Psalms 9:17 (ASV)

The wicked shall be turned into hell. Many translate the verb in the optative mood, Let the wicked be turned into hell, as if it were an imprecation. But, in my judgment, David here rather confirms himself and all the godly regarding the future, declaring that whatever the wicked may attempt, it will have a disastrous end for themselves.

By the word turn, he means that the outcome will be far different from what they imagine, for it implies a tacit contrast between the height of their presumption and the depth of their fall. Because they have no fear of God, they exalt themselves above the clouds. Then, as if they had "made a covenant with death," according to the language of Isaiah, (Isaiah 28:15), they become all the more arrogant and presumptuous.

But when we see them raging without fear of danger, the prophet warns us that their madness carries them headlong, so that, eventually, they fall into the grave, from which they thought themselves to be far away. Here, then, is described to us the sudden and unexpected change by which God, when he pleases, restores order to things that were in confusion.

Therefore, when we see the wicked soaring high without any fear, let us, with the eyes of faith, behold the grave that is prepared for them. Let us rest assured that the hand of God, although unseen, is very near. It can turn them back in the middle of their course as they aim for heaven and make them tumble into hell in a moment.

The meaning of the Hebrew word שאולה, sheolah, is debatable, but I have not hesitated to translate it as hell. I do not criticize those who translate it as the grave, but it is certain that the prophet means something more than common death. Otherwise, he would be saying nothing more about the wicked here than what would also happen to all the faithful along with them.

So, although he does not speak in express terms of eternal destruction, but only says, They shall be turned into the grave, yet, under the metaphor of the grave, he intimates that all the ungodly will perish, and that the presumption with which, by every unlawful means, they elevate themselves to trample righteousness underfoot and to oppress the innocent, will bring ruin and perdition upon them.

It is true that the faithful also descend into the grave, but not with such terrifying violence that plunges them into it without hope of coming out again. Far from it; even when confined in the grave, they already dwell in heaven by hope.