Psalms 64:5

Psalms 64:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
• New International Version (NIV)They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, “Who will see it?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, "Who can see them?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)They encourage themselves in an evil matter; They talk of laying snares secretly; They say, “Who will see them?”

Context of Psalms 64:5

3They sharpen their tongues like swords. They aim bitter words like arrows 4to shoot at innocent people from their hiding places. They shoot at them suddenly, without any fear. They encourage one another in their evil plans. They talk about setting traps and say, “Who can see them?” 6They search for the perfect crime and say, “We have perfected a foolproof scheme!” Human nature and the human heart are a mystery! 7But God will shoot them with an arrow. Suddenly, they will be struck dead.

Psalms 64:5 word by word

יְחַזְּקוּ־לָ֨מוֹ׀ דָּ֘בָ֤ר רָ֗ע יְֽ֭סַפְּרוּ לִטְמ֣וֹן מוֹקְשִׁ֑ים אָ֝מְר֗וּ מִ֣י יִרְאֶה־לָּֽמוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• They encourageחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: holdH2388
• an evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
• matterדָּבָרdâbâr · word: deedH1697
• they communeסָפַרsâphar · to recountH5608
• of layingטָמַןţâman · to hideH2934
• snaresמוֹקֵשׁmôqêsh môqêsh · snareH4170
• they sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Who shall seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200

Cross-references for Psalms 64:5

• Exodus 15:9“The enemy said, ‘I’ll pursue them! I’ll catch up with them! I’ll divide the loot! I’ll take all I want! I’ll use my sword! I’ll take all they have!’
• Numbers 22:6Please come and curse these people for me, because they are too strong for me. Maybe then I’ll be able to defeat them and force them out of the country. I know that whomever you bless is blessed and whomever you curse is cursed.”
• Proverbs 1:11If they say, “Come with us. Let’s set an ambush to kill someone. Let’s hide to ambush innocent people for fun.
• Isaiah 41:6People help their neighbors and say to their relatives, “Be brave!”
• Revelation 11:10Those living on earth will gloat over the witnesses’ death. They will celebrate and send gifts to each other because these two prophets had tormented those living on earth.
• 1 Samuel 23:19Then the men of Ziph went to Saul in Gibeah. They said, “David is hiding with us in fortified camps at Horesh on the hills of Hachilah, south of Jeshimon.
• Matthew 23:15“How horrible it will be for you, experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You cross land and sea to recruit a single follower, and when you do, you make that person twice as fit for hell as you are.
• Matthew 26:3Then the chief priests and the leaders of the people gathered in the palace of the chief priest Caiaphas.
• Psalms 124:7We escaped like a bird caught in a hunter’s trap. The trap was broken, and we escaped.
• Psalms 140:5Arrogant people have laid a trap for me. They have spread out a net with ropes. They have set traps for me along the road. Selah
• Psalms 10:11He says to himself, “God has forgotten. He has hidden his face. He will never see it!”
• Psalms 59:7See what pours out of their mouths— swords from their lips! ⌞They think,⌟ “Who will hear us?”
• Psalms 94:7They say, “The Lord doesn’t see it. The God of Jacob doesn’t even pay attention to it.”
• Ezekiel 8:12God asked me, “Son of man, do you see what the leaders of the nation of Israel are doing in secret? Each of them is in the room where his god is, and each one of them is thinking, ‘The Lord doesn’t see me. The Lord has abandoned this land.’ ”

Commentaries on Psalms 64:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5They commune of laying snares - They lay snares to entrap those whom they cannot slay by open attack or private ambush.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5They encourage themselves - literally, they strengthen themselves, or make themselves strong. That is, they take counsel; they encourage each other; they urge one another forward; they suggest to each other methods by which what they purpose may be done, and by which difficulties may be overcome. This was a part of their “secret counsel” or their consultation, Psalm 64:2. In an evil matter - Margin, as in Hebrew, speech. The reference is to their purpose…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-6These verses form a prayer for rescue from bold and powerful liars.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. A sentiment here more fully presented, by depicting their deliberate malice.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 64:5

• Infidelity
• Malice
• Speaking
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Arrow
• Attend
• Psalms
• Regard
• Matter
• Psalms, Book of

Commentaries on Psalms 64

• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings