18:20 Should good be paid back with evil?
Yet they are virtually digging a pit to kill me. 1
Just remember how I stood before you
pleading on their behalf 2
to keep you from venting your anger on them. 3
1 tn Or “They are plotting to kill me”; Heb “They have dug a pit for my soul.” This is a common metaphor for plotting against someone. See BDB 500 s.v. כָּרָה Qal and for an example see Pss 7:16 (7:15 HT) in its context.
2 tn Heb “to speak good concerning them” going back to the concept of “good” being paid back with evil.
3 tn Heb “to turn back your anger from them.”
sn See Jer 14:7-9, 19-21 and 15:1-4 for the idea.