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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)The wicked are stringing their bows and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings. They shoot from the shadows at those whose hearts are right.

Context of Psalms 11:2

1In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, "Flee like a bird to your mountain, 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; 3if the foundations 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 man.

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 hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.
• Psalms 37:14The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright;
• Psalms 64:3who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows,
• Jeremiah 9:3They bend their tongue like a bow; falsehood and not truth has grown strong in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me, declares the Lord.
• Psalms 21:12For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows.
• Psalms 10:8He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;
• Psalms 64:5They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, "Who can see them?"
• Psalms 142:3When my spirit faints within me, you know my way! In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me.
• 1 Samuel 18:21Saul thought, "Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." Therefore Saul said to David a second time, "You shall now be my son-in-law."
• 1 Samuel 23:9David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. And he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here."
• Matthew 26:4and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.
• Acts 23:12When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till 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, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
• Psalms 64:10Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!
• Psalms 94:15for justice will return to the 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