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: “Flee to your mountain like a bird? Wicked people bend their bows. They set their arrows against the strings to shoot in the dark at people whose motives are decent. 3When the foundations ⌞of life⌟ are undermined, what can a righteous person do?” 4The Lord is in his holy temple. The Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes see. They examine Adam’s descendants.

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 10:2The wicked person arrogantly pursues oppressed people. He will be caught in the schemes that he planned.
• Psalms 37:14Wicked people pull out their swords and bend their bows to kill oppressed and needy people, to slaughter those who are decent.
• Psalms 64:3They sharpen their tongues like swords. They aim bitter words like arrows
• Jeremiah 9:3They use their tongues like bows that shoot arrows. Lies and dishonesty rule the land. They go from one evil thing to another, and they don’t know me,” declares the Lord.
• Psalms 21:12They turn their backs ⌞and flee⌟ because you aim your bow at their faces.
• Psalms 10:8He waits in ambush in the villages. From his hiding places he kills innocent people. His eyes are on the lookout for victims.
• Psalms 64:5They encourage one another in their evil plans. They talk about setting traps and say, “Who can see them?”
• Psalms 142:3When I begin to lose hope, you ⌞already⌟ know what I am experiencing. ⌞My enemies⌟ have hidden a trap for me on the path where I walk.
• 1 Samuel 18:21Saul thought, “I’ll give her to David. She will trap him, and the Philistines will get him.” So he said to David a second time, “You will now be my son-in-law.”
• 1 Samuel 23:9When David learned that Saul was planning to harm him, he told the priest Abiathar, “Bring the ephod.”
• Matthew 26:4They made plans to arrest Jesus in an underhanded way and to kill him.
• Acts 23:12In the morning the Jews formed a conspiracy. They asked God to curse them if they ate or drank anything before they had killed Paul.
• Psalms 7:10My shield is God above, who saves those whose motives are decent.
• Psalms 32:11Be glad and find joy in the Lord, you righteous people. Sing with joy, all whose motives are decent.
• Psalms 64:10Righteous people will find joy in the Lord and take refuge in him. Everyone whose motives are decent will be able to brag.
• Psalms 94:15The decisions of judges will again become fair, and everyone whose motives are decent will pursue justice.

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