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Psalm 64:3-5
New English Translation
Psalm 64:3-5
New English Translation
3 They[a] sharpen their tongues like swords;
they aim their arrows, a slanderous charge,[b]
4 in order to shoot down the innocent[c] in secluded places.
They shoot at him suddenly and are unafraid of retaliation.[d]
5 They encourage one another to carry out their evil deed.[e]
They plan how to hide[f] snares,
and boast,[g] “Who will see them?”[h]
Footnotes
- Psalm 64:3 tn Heb “who.” A new sentence was started here in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Psalm 64:3 tn Heb “a bitter word.”
- Psalm 64:4 tn The psalmist uses the singular because he is referring to himself here as representative of a larger group.
- Psalm 64:4 tn Heb “and are unafraid.” The words “of retaliation” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
- Psalm 64:5 tn Heb “they give strength to themselves, an evil matter [or “word”].”
- Psalm 64:5 tn Heb “they report about hiding.”
- Psalm 64:5 tn Heb “they say.”
- Psalm 64:5 tn If this is a direct quotation (cf. NASB, NIV), the pronoun “them” refers to the snares mentioned in the previous line. If it is an indirect quotation, then the pronoun may refer to the enemies themselves (cf. NEB, which is ambiguous). Some translations retain the direct quotation but alter the pronoun to “us,” referring clearly to the enemies (cf. NRSV).
New English Translation (NET)
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