Psalm 35:20
New International Version
They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land.

New Living Translation
They don’t talk of peace; they plot against innocent people who mind their own business.

English Standard Version
For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they devise words of deceit.

Berean Standard Bible
For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful schemes against those who live quietly in the land.

King James Bible
For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

New King James Version
For they do not speak peace, But they devise deceitful matters Against the quiet ones in the land.

New American Standard Bible
For they do not speak peace, But they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

NASB 1995
For they do not speak peace, But they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

NASB 1977
For they do not speak peace, But they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

Legacy Standard Bible
For they do not speak peace, But they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

Amplified Bible
For they do not speak peace, But they devise deceitful words [half-truths and lies] against those who are quiet in the land.

Christian Standard Bible
For they do not speak in friendly ways, but contrive fraudulent schemes against those who live peacefully in the land.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For they do not speak in friendly ways, but contrive deceitful schemes against those who live peacefully in the land.

American Standard Version
For they speak not peace; But they devise deceitful words against them that are quiet in the land.

Contemporary English Version
They say hurtful things, and they lie to people who want to live in peace.

English Revised Version
For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful words against them that are quiet in the land.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They do not talk about peace. Instead, they scheme against the peaceful people in the land.

Good News Translation
They do not speak in a friendly way; instead they invent all kinds of lies about peace-loving people.

International Standard Version
For they do not speak peace; they devise clever lies against the peaceful people of the land.

Majority Standard Bible
For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful schemes against those who live quietly in the land.

NET Bible
For they do not try to make peace with others, but plan ways to deceive those who are unsuspecting.

New Heart English Bible
For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

Webster's Bible Translation
For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

World English Bible
For they don’t speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
For they do not speak peace, "" And against the quiet of the land, "" They devise deceitful words,

Young's Literal Translation
For they speak not peace, And against the quiet of the land, Deceitful words they devise,

Smith's Literal Translation
For they will not speak peace: and against the quiet of the land they will purpose words of deceits.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For they spoke indeed peaceably to me; and speaking in the anger of the earth they devised guile.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For indeed, they spoke peacefully to me; and speaking with passion to the earth, they intended deceit.

New American Bible
They speak no words of peace, but against the quiet in the land they fashion deceitful speech.

New Revised Standard Version
For they do not speak peace, but they conceive deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Against the meek of the earth, they devise mischievous things.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they do not speak peace, and they conceive deceit against the meek of the Earth.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For they speak not peace; But they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For to me they spoke peaceably, but imagined deceits in their anger.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Contend with My Opponents
19Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause, nor those who hate me without reason wink in malice. 20For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful schemes against those who live quietly in the land. 21They gape at me and say, “Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen!”…

Cross References
Proverbs 6:14
With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.

Proverbs 6:18
a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil,

Jeremiah 9:8
Their tongues are deadly arrows; they speak deception. With his mouth a man speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him.

Psalm 38:12
Those who seek my life lay snares; those who wish me harm speak destruction, plotting deceit all day long.

Psalm 41:7
All who hate me whisper against me; they imagine the worst for me:

Psalm 55:21
His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.

Psalm 64:3-4
who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows, / ambushing the innocent in seclusion, shooting suddenly, without fear.

Psalm 140:2-3
who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long. / They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah

Proverbs 12:20
Deceit is in the hearts of those who devise evil, but the counselors of peace have joy.

Proverbs 24:2
for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.

Isaiah 59:4
No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case honestly. They rely on empty pleas; they tell lies; they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.

Matthew 12:34
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.

Mark 7:21-22
For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, / greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.

Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.


Treasury of Scripture

For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

For

Psalm 120:5-7
Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar! …

but

Psalm 31:13
For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

Psalm 36:3,4
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good…

Psalm 38:12
They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.

quiet

Matthew 12:19,24
He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets…

1 Peter 2:22,23
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: …

Jump to Previous
Accusations Conceive Deceit Deceitful Designing Devise Evil Live Matters Ones Peace Peaceably Quiet Quietly Speak Words
Jump to Next
Accusations Conceive Deceit Deceitful Designing Devise Evil Live Matters Ones Peace Peaceably Quiet Quietly Speak Words
Psalm 35
1. David prays for his own safety, and his enemies' confusion
11. He complains of their wrongful dealing
22. Thereby he incites God against them














For they do not speak peace
The phrase "speak peace" in Hebrew is "דַּבְּרוּ שָׁלוֹם" (dabbĕrû shālôm). The word "peace" (שָׁלוֹם, shālôm) is rich in meaning, encompassing not just the absence of conflict but also completeness, welfare, and harmony. In the context of ancient Israel, peace was a sign of God's favor and blessing. The psalmist laments that his adversaries do not promote this divine peace. Instead, their words are void of the harmony and goodwill that should characterize relationships among God's people. This highlights the deep betrayal and moral corruption of those who oppose the righteous.

but they devise deceitful schemes
The Hebrew word for "devise" is "חָשַׁב" (ḥāšab), which means to think, plan, or calculate. This indicates a deliberate and premeditated effort to cause harm. "Deceitful schemes" translates from "דְּבָרִים מִרְמָה" (dĕbārîm mirmāh), where "מִרְמָה" (mirmāh) means deceit or treachery. The psalmist is emphasizing the malicious intent of his enemies, who are not merely passive in their opposition but actively plotting harm. This reflects a broader biblical theme of the wicked plotting against the righteous, as seen throughout the Psalms and Proverbs.

against those who live quietly in the land
The phrase "live quietly" comes from the Hebrew "רִגְעֵי אֶרֶץ" (rig'ê 'ereṣ), suggesting a lifestyle of peace, contentment, and integrity. The "land" (אֶרֶץ, 'ereṣ) often refers to the Promised Land, a place of divine inheritance and blessing for the Israelites. Those who "live quietly" are the faithful, who abide by God's commandments and seek to live in harmony with others. The psalmist contrasts their peaceful existence with the hostility of the wicked, underscoring the injustice of the situation. This serves as a reminder of the spiritual battle between good and evil, and the call for believers to trust in God's justice and protection.

(20) Quiet in the land.--For the construction, comp. Isaiah 23:8 : "The honourable of the earth." They are evidently the pious Jews who wished to preserve their national life and religion against foreign influence and intervention, and certainly among them were Levites.

Verse 20. - For they speak not peace. Once more the language of complaint. David's enemies, though they have driven him from the court, and made him a fugitive and a wanderer, were not yet satisfied. They did not speak him peace. They continued to scheme against him. But they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land. David, if let alone, was willing enough to have remained "quiet in the land." He was a fugitive and an outlaw; but, could he have obtained a safe refuge - the cave of Adullam, or any other - would gladly have remained peacefully within it. But his enemies would not allow him to remain quiet. They stirred up the jealousy and hatred of Saul by false tales, and caused him to be "hunted upon the mountains" (1 Samuel 26:20).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

they do not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

speak
יְדַ֫בֵּ֥רוּ (yə·ḏab·bê·rū)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

peace,
שָׁל֗וֹם (šā·lō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace

but devise
יַחֲשֹׁבֽוּן׃ (ya·ḥă·šō·ḇūn)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 2803: To think, account

deceitful
מִ֝רְמוֹת (mir·mō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4820: Deceit, treachery

schemes
דִּבְרֵ֥י (diḇ·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

against
וְעַ֥ל (wə·‘al)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

those who live quietly
רִגְעֵי־ (riḡ·‘ê-)
Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7282: Restful, peaceable

in the land.
אֶ֑רֶץ (’e·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land


Links
Psalm 35:20 NIV
Psalm 35:20 NLT
Psalm 35:20 ESV
Psalm 35:20 NASB
Psalm 35:20 KJV

Psalm 35:20 BibleApps.com
Psalm 35:20 Biblia Paralela
Psalm 35:20 Chinese Bible
Psalm 35:20 French Bible
Psalm 35:20 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Psalm 35:20 For they don't speak peace but they (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 35:19
Top of Page
Top of Page