Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, “Who will see it?” New Living Translation They encourage each other to do evil and plan how to set their traps in secret. “Who will ever notice?” they ask. English Standard Version They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see them?” Berean Standard Bible They hold fast to their evil purpose; they speak of hiding their snares. “Who will see them?” they say. King James Bible They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them? New King James Version They encourage themselves in an evil matter; They talk of laying snares secretly; They say, “Who will see them?” New American Standard Bible They make firm for themselves an evil purpose; They talk of setting snares secretly; They say, “Who can see them?” NASB 1995 They hold fast to themselves an evil purpose; They talk of laying snares secretly; They say, “Who can see them?” NASB 1977 They hold fast to themselves an evil purpose; They talk of laying snares secretly; They say, “Who can see them?” Legacy Standard Bible They hold fast to themselves an evil purpose; They talk of laying snares secretly; They say, “Who can see them?” Amplified Bible They encourage themselves in [their pursuit of] an evil agenda; They talk of laying snares secretly; They say, “Who will discover us?” Christian Standard Bible They adopt an evil plan; they talk about hiding traps and say, “Who will see them? ” Holman Christian Standard Bible They encourage each other in an evil plan; they talk about hiding traps and say,” Who will see them?” American Standard Version They encourage themselves in an evil purpose; They commune of laying snares privily; They say, Who will see them? Contemporary English Version They are determined to do evil, and they tell themselves, "Let's set traps! No one can see us." English Revised Version They encourage themselves in an evil purpose; they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them? GOD'S WORD® Translation They encourage one another in their evil plans. They talk about setting traps and say, "Who can see them?" Good News Translation They encourage each other in their evil plots; they talk about where they will place their traps. "No one can see them," they say. International Standard Version They concoct an evil scheme for themselves; they enumerate their hidden snares; they say, "Who will see them?" Majority Standard Bible They hold fast to their evil purpose; they speak of hiding their snares. ?Who will see them?? they say. NET Bible They encourage one another to carry out their evil deed. They plan how to hide snares, and boast, "Who will see them?" New Heart English Bible They encourage themselves in evil plans. They talk about laying snares secretly. They say, "Who will see them?" Webster's Bible Translation They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who will see them? World English Bible They encourage themselves in evil plans. They talk about laying snares secretly. They say, “Who will see them?” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThey strengthen an evil thing for themselves, "" They recount of the hiding of snares, "" They have said, “Who looks at it?” Young's Literal Translation They strengthen for themselves an evil thing, They recount of the hiding of snares, They have said, 'Who doth look at it?' Smith's Literal Translation They will strengthen to themselves an evil word: they will recount to hide snares; they said, Who shall see them. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThey will shoot at him on a sudden, and will not fear: they are resolute in wickedness. They have talked of hiding snares; they have said: Who shall see them? Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible They resolve on their wicked plan; they conspire to set snares; they say: “Who will see us?” New Revised Standard Version They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see us? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThey encourage themselves with evil speech; they plan to hide snares; they say, Who shall see us? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And their evil words prevailed, and they have conceived to bury snares and they said, "Who sees us?" OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917They encourage one another in an evil matter; They converse of laying snares secretly; They ask, who would see them. Brenton Septuagint Translation They have set up for themselves an evil matter, they have given counsel to hide snares; they have said, Who shall see them? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Hurtful Tongue…4ambushing the innocent in seclusion, shooting suddenly, without fear. 5They hold fast to their evil purpose; they speak of hiding their snares. “Who will see them?” they say. 6They devise injustice and say, “We have perfected a secret plan.” For the inner man and the heart are mysterious.… Cross References Proverbs 1:11-12 If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause, / let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. Jeremiah 18:18 Then some said, “Come, let us make plans against Jeremiah, for the law will never be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise, nor an oracle to the prophet. Come, let us denounce him and pay no heed to any of his words.” Micah 2:1 Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands. Isaiah 29:15 Woe to those who dig deep to hide their plans from the LORD. In darkness they do their works and say, “Who sees us, and who will know?” Psalm 10:8-9 He lies in wait near the villages; in ambush he slays the innocent; his eyes watch in stealth for the helpless. / He lies in wait like a lion in a thicket; he lurks to seize the oppressed; he catches the lowly in his net. Psalm 11:2 For behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrow on the string to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. Psalm 37:12 The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them, Psalm 140:2-5 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 / Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked. Keep me safe from men of violence who scheme to make me stumble. ... Proverbs 6:18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, Isaiah 32:7 The weapons of the scoundrel are destructive; he hatches plots to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just. Matthew 26:4 and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him. Mark 14:1 Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were two days away, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a covert way to arrest Jesus and kill Him. Luke 20:19-20 When the scribes and chief priests realized that Jesus had spoken this parable against them, they sought to arrest Him that very hour. But they were afraid of the people. / So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor. John 11:53 So from that day on they plotted to kill Him. Acts 23:12-15 When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. / More than forty of them were involved in this plot. / They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. ... Treasury of Scripture They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privately; they say, Who shall see them? encourage Exodus 15:9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. Numbers 22:6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. Proverbs 1:11-14 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: … matter. 1 Samuel 23:19-23 Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? … Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Matthew 26:3,4 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, … of laying snares [heb. Psalm 124:7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Psalm 140:5 The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah. Who Psalm 10:11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it. Psalm 59:7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear? Psalm 94:7 Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. Jump to Previous Commune Converse Encourage Evil Fast Hiding Hold Holes Laying Matter Nets Plans Privily Purpose Recount Secret Secretly Snares Strengthen Strong Talk Themselves ThinkingJump to Next Commune Converse Encourage Evil Fast Hiding Hold Holes Laying Matter Nets Plans Privily Purpose Recount Secret Secretly Snares Strengthen Strong Talk Themselves ThinkingPsalm 64 1. David prays for deliverance, complaining of his enemies7. He promises himself to see such an evident destruction of his enemies, 10. as the righteous shall rejoice at it. They hold fast to their evil purpose; This phrase highlights the determination and persistence of the wicked in their plans. Biblically, this reflects the nature of sin as described in Genesis 6:5, where the thoughts of man's heart were only evil continually. The Hebrew word for "hold fast" suggests a strong grip or commitment, indicating that these individuals are not easily swayed from their intentions. This mirrors the stubbornness of Pharaoh in Exodus, who repeatedly hardened his heart against God's commands. Theologically, it underscores the concept of total depravity, where human nature is inclined towards sin without divine intervention. they speak of hiding their snares. “Who will see them?” they say. Persons / Places / Events 1. David- Traditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 64, David is expressing his concerns about the wicked and their secretive plots against the righteous. 2. The Wicked - The individuals who are plotting evil and setting snares, as described in this verse. 3. The Righteous - Implicitly present as the targets of the wicked's schemes, representing those who follow God's ways. 4. Snares - Metaphorical traps set by the wicked to ensnare the righteous, symbolizing deceit and hidden dangers. 5. God - Although not directly mentioned in this verse, God is the ultimate judge and protector who sees all hidden actions. Teaching Points The Deceptive Nature of EvilEvil often operates in secrecy, believing it can escape detection. As Christians, we must be vigilant and discerning, recognizing that God sees all hidden motives and actions. The Futility of Hidden Sin The wicked may believe their actions are unseen, but Scripture assures us that God is aware of all. This should encourage us to live transparently and righteously, knowing that nothing is hidden from God. Trust in God's Justice While the wicked may plot in secret, we can trust that God will ultimately bring justice. This assurance allows us to remain steadfast in our faith, even when facing hidden adversities. The Importance of Integrity As followers of Christ, we are called to live with integrity, avoiding deceit and hidden agendas. Our lives should reflect the light of Christ, standing in contrast to the darkness of secretive evil.(5) They encourage themselves.--Literally, they strengthen for themselves an evil thing (or "word," margin, LXX., and Vulg.,) which evidently means that they take their measures carefully, and are prepared to carry them out resolutely. They commune . . .--Better, they calculate how they may lay snares privily. The conspirators carefully and in secret go over every detail of their plot. Who shall see them?--Literally, who shall look to them? which seems at first glance to mean, "who will see the snares?" but this is weak. It may be equivalent to, "who is likely to see us?" the question being put indirectly. But in 1Samuel 16:7, the expression, "looketh on," implies "regard for," which may possibly be the meaning here, "who careth for them?" Verse 5. - They encourage themselves in an evil matter; or, in an evil scheme - the plan of making David unpopular, and then raising the standard of open revolt against him (2 Samuel 15:1-12). They commune of laying snares privily. The ungodly continually set traps for the righteous, who are so simple that they often fall into them. We do not know the exact proceedings of his enemies against David at the time, the narrative of 2 Samuel 15 being so brief; but it was probably by some trickery that David was induced to quit the stronghold of Jerusalem, and so yield the seat of government, and many other advantages, to his rival. They say, Who shall see them? (comp. Psalm 10:11; Psalm 59:7; Psalm 94:7). It is an inveterate folly for men to imagine, either that God will not see their actions, or that he will pay no heed to them. A spurious humility is brought into play in the latter case - How can it be supposed that God will note the doings of such worms as men?Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew They hold fastיְחַזְּקוּ־ (yə·ḥaz·zə·qū-) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer to their evil רָ֗ע (rā‘) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7451: Bad, evil purpose; דָּ֘בָ֤ר (dā·ḇār) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause they speak יְֽ֭סַפְּרוּ (yə·sap·pə·rū) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5608: To count, recount, relate of hiding לִטְמ֣וֹן (liṭ·mō·wn) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 2934: To hide, conceal their snares. מוֹקְשִׁ֑ים (mō·wq·šîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4170: A bait or lure, a snare “Who מִ֣י (mî) Interrogative Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix will see יִרְאֶה־ (yir·’eh-) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7200: To see them?” לָּֽמוֹ׃ (lā·mōw) Preposition | third person masculine plural Strong's Hebrew they say. אָ֝מְר֗וּ (’ā·mə·rū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 559: To utter, say Links Psalm 64:5 NIVPsalm 64:5 NLT Psalm 64:5 ESV Psalm 64:5 NASB Psalm 64:5 KJV Psalm 64:5 BibleApps.com Psalm 64:5 Biblia Paralela Psalm 64:5 Chinese Bible Psalm 64:5 French Bible Psalm 64:5 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Psalm 64:5 They encourage themselves in evil plans (Psalm Ps Psa.) |
    |