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 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 put my trust; How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”? 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. 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 behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.

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 in his pride persecutes the poor; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.
• Psalms 37:14The wicked have drawn the sword And have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay those who are of upright conduct.
• Psalms 64:3Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, And bend their bows to shoot their arrows—bitter words,
• Jeremiah 9:3“And like their bow they have bent their tongues for lies. They are not valiant for the truth on the earth. For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know Me,” says the Lord.
• Psalms 21:12Therefore You will make them turn their back; You will make ready Your arrows on Your string toward their faces.
• Psalms 10:8He sits in the lurking places of the villages; In the secret places he murders the innocent; His eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless.
• Psalms 64:5They encourage themselves in an evil matter; They talk of laying snares secretly; They say, “Who will see them?”
• Psalms 142:3When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk They have secretly set a snare for me.
• 1 Samuel 18:21So Saul said, “I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall be my son-in-law today.”
• 1 Samuel 23:9When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”
• Matthew 26:4and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him.
• Acts 23:12And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
• Psalms 7:10My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart.
• Psalms 32:11Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
• Psalms 64:10The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and trust in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory.
• Psalms 94:15But judgment will return to 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