Psalms 11:2

Psalms 11:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
• New International Version (NIV)For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.
• English Standard Version (ESV)for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
• New King James Version (NKJV)For look! The wicked bend their bow, They make ready their arrow on the string, That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.

Context of Psalms 11:2

1In the Lord I take refuge [and put my trust]; How can you say to me, “Flee like a bird to your mountain; For look, the wicked are bending the bow; They take aim with their arrow on the string To shoot [by stealth] in darkness at the upright in heart. 3If the foundations [of a godly society] are destroyed, What can the righteous do?” 4The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes see, His eyelids test the children of men.

Psalms 11:2 word by word

כִּ֤י הִנֵּ֪ה הָרְשָׁעִ֡ים יִדְרְכ֬וּן קֶ֗שֶׁת כּוֹנְנ֣וּ חִצָּ֣ם עַל־יֶ֑תֶר לִיר֥וֹת בְּמוֹ־אֹ֝֗פֶל לְיִשְׁרֵי־לֵֽב׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For, lo, the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
• bendדָּרַךְdârak · to treadH1869
• bowקֶ֫שֶׁתqesheth · bowH7198
• they make readyכּוּןkûn · to establish: prepareH3559
• their arrowחֵץchêts · arrowH2671
• upon the stringיֶ֫תֶרyether · cordH3499
• that they may privilyבְּמוֹbemô · in/at/byH1119
• that they may privilyאֹ֫פֶל'ôphel · darknessH652
• shootיָרָאyârâh yârâ' · to shootH3384
• at the uprightיָשָׁרyâshâr · uprightH3477
• in heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820

Cross-references for Psalms 11:2

• Psalms 10:2In pride and arrogance the wicked hotly pursue and persecute the afflicted; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.
• Psalms 37:14The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow To cast down the afflicted and the needy, To slaughter those who are upright in conduct [those with personal integrity and godly character].
• Psalms 64:3Who have sharpened their tongues like a sword. They aim venomous words as arrows,
• Jeremiah 9:3“They bend their tongue like their bow; [Their] lies and not truth prevail and grow strong in the land; For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know and understand and acknowledge Me,” says the Lord.
• Psalms 21:12For You will make them turn their backs [in defeat]; You will aim Your bowstring [of divine justice] at their faces.
• Psalms 10:8He lurks in ambush in the villages; In hiding places he kills the innocent; He lies in wait for the unfortunate [the unhappy, the poor, the helpless].
• Psalms 64:5They encourage themselves in [their pursuit of] an evil agenda; They talk of laying snares secretly; They say, “Who will discover us?”
• Psalms 142:3When my spirit was overwhelmed and weak within me [wrapped in darkness], You knew my path. In the way where I walk They have hidden a trap for me.
• 1 Samuel 18:21Saul said, “I will give her to him so that she may become a snare (bad influence, source of trouble) to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David for a second time, “You shall be my son-in-law today.”
• 1 Samuel 23:9But David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”
• Matthew 26:4and plotted together to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill Him.
• Acts 23:12Now when day came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath (curse), saying that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
• Psalms 7:10My shield and my defense depend on God, Who saves the upright in heart.
• Psalms 32:11Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous [who actively seek right standing with Him]; Shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
• Psalms 64:10The righteous will rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him; All the upright in heart will glory and offer praise.
• Psalms 94:15For judgment will again be righteous, And all the upright in heart will follow it.

Commentaries on Psalms 11:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2For, lo, the wicked bend their bow - Perhaps these are more of the words of his advisers: Every thing is ready for thy destruction: the arrow that is to pierce thy heart is already set on the bow-string; and the person who hopes to despatch thee is concealed in ambush.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2For, lo, the wicked bend their bow - These are to he regarded as the words of the persons referred to in the previous verse, who had advised the persecuted psalmist to flee to the mountains. In this verse reasons are suggested for that advice. The reasons are, that the enemy was preparing for an attack, and that at an unexpected moment the attack would be made unless he should effect his escape. Apprised of the danger, he might now make good his escape…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2The wicked live in the shadows and create gloom for the godly (Psalms 82:5; 139:11; 143:3; Proverbs 4:19).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. privily--literally, "in darkness," treacherously.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 11:2

• Arrow
• Persecution

In the dictionaries

• Arrow
• Heart
• Naioth
• Rain
• Try
• Cord
• Papyrus
• Privy; Privily
• Psalms, Book of
• Withes, Withs, Green

Commentaries on Psalms 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings