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

1I have taken refuge in the Lord. How can you say to me, “Escape to the mountains like a bird! For look, the wicked string bows; they put their arrows on bowstrings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. 3When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” 4The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord—his throne is in heaven. His eyes watch; his gaze examines everyone.

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 arrogance the wicked relentlessly pursue their victims; let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.
• Psalms 37:14The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the bow to bring down the poor and needy and to slaughter those whose way is upright.
• Psalms 64:3who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim bitter words like arrows,
• Jeremiah 9:3They bent their tongues like their bows; lies and not faithfulness prevail in the land, for they proceed from one evil to another, and they do not take me into account. This is the Lord’s declaration.
• Psalms 21:12Instead, you will put them to flight when you ready your bowstrings to shoot at them.
• Psalms 10:8He waits in ambush near settlements; he kills the innocent in secret places. His eyes are on the lookout for the helpless;
• Psalms 64:5They adopt an evil plan; they talk about hiding traps and say, “Who will see them?”
• Psalms 142:3Although my spirit is weak within me, you know my way. Along this path I travel they have hidden a trap for me.
• 1 Samuel 18:21“I’ll give her to him,” Saul thought. “She’ll be a trap for him, and the hand of the Philistines will be against him.” So Saul said to David a second time, “You can now be my son-in-law.”
• 1 Samuel 23:9When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to the priest Abiathar, “Bring the ephod.”
• Matthew 26:4and they conspired to arrest Jesus in a treacherous way and kill him.
• Acts 23:12When it was morning, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
• Psalms 7:10My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.
• Psalms 32:11Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
• Psalms 64:10The righteous one rejoices in the Lord and takes refuge in him; all those who are upright in heart will offer praise.
• Psalms 94:15for the administration of justice 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