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.
• 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.
• 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 then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain. For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. 3When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” 4The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them.

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 his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises.
• Psalms 37:14The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.
• Psalms 64:3They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.
• Jeremiah 9:3“They make ready their tongue like a bow, to shoot lies; it is not by truth that they triumph in the land. They go from one sin to another; they do not acknowledge me,” declares the Lord.
• Psalms 21:12You will make them turn their backs when you aim at them with drawn bow.
• Psalms 10:8He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent. His eyes watch in secret for his victims;
• Psalms 64:5They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, “Who will see it?”
• Psalms 142:3When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me.
• 1 Samuel 18:21“I will give her to him,” he thought, “so that she may be a snare to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law.”
• 1 Samuel 23:9When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”
• Matthew 26:4and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.
• Acts 23:12The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
• Psalms 7:10My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.
• Psalms 32:11Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
• Psalms 64:10The righteous will rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him; all the upright in heart will glory in him!
• Psalms 94:15Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, 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