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 Living Translation (NLT)They encourage each other to do evil and plan how to set their traps in secret. “Who will ever notice?” they ask.

Context of Psalms 64:5

3Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, And bend their bows to shoot their arrows—bitter words, 4That they may shoot in secret at the blameless; Suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear. They encourage themselves in an evil matter; They talk of laying snares secretly; They say, “Who will see them?” 6They devise iniquities: “We have perfected a shrewd scheme.” Both the inward thought and the heart of man are deep. 7But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; Suddenly they shall be wounded.

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 15:9The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, My hand shall destroy them.’
• Numbers 22:6Therefore please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
• Proverbs 1:11If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
• Isaiah 41:6Everyone helped his neighbor, And said to his brother, “Be of good courage!”
• Revelation 11:10And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
• 1 Samuel 23:19Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding with us in strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
• Matthew 23:15“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
• Matthew 26:3Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
• Psalms 124:7Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; The snare is broken, and we have escaped.
• Psalms 140:5The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; They have spread a net by the wayside; They have set traps for me. Selah
• Psalms 10:11He has said in his heart, “God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see.”
• Psalms 59:7Indeed, they belch with their mouth; Swords are in their lips; For they say, “Who hears?”
• Psalms 94:7Yet they say, “The Lord does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob understand.”
• Ezekiel 8:12Then He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the 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