Psalm 9:3 says “When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before You.” In Hebrew the words “before You” are literally, “from Your face.” It is interesting to see in scripture the differing effects that the face of God has on men:

— For the righteous, the face of God is his greatest blessing. Psalm 17:15 says that the godly one “will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake”. The face of God is his greatest source of joy, both now and for all eternity.

— but here in Psalm 9, it says the enemies of God will be turned back, and stumble, and perish — literally, “from Your face”.

That same face is the ultimate blessing for those who submit to Him and know Him, but the ultimate penalty for those who will not. Which is it for you?