14:4 All those who behave wickedly 1 do not understand – 2
those who devour my people as if they were eating bread,
and do not call out to the Lord.
28:3 Do not drag me away with evil men,
with those who behave wickedly, 3
who talk so friendly to their neighbors, 4
while they plan to harm them! 5
53:4 All those who behave wickedly 6 do not understand 7 –
those who devour my people as if they were eating bread,
and do not call out to God.
125:5 As for those who are bent on traveling a sinful path, 8
may the Lord remove them, 9 along with those who behave wickedly! 10
May Israel experience peace! 11
141:4 Do not let me have evil desires, 12
or participate in sinful activities
with men who behave wickedly. 13
I will not eat their delicacies. 14
1 tn Heb “all the workers of wickedness.” See Pss 5:5; 6:8.
2 tn Heb “Do they not understand?” The rhetorical question (rendered in the translation as a positive affirmation) expresses the psalmist’s amazement at their apparent lack of understanding. This may refer to their lack of moral understanding, but it more likely refers to their failure to anticipate God’s defense of his people (see vv. 5-7).
3 tn Heb “workers of wickedness.”
4 tn Heb “speakers of peace with their neighbors.”
5 tn Heb “and evil [is] in their heart[s].”
6 tn Heb “the workers of wickedness.” See Pss 5:5; 6:8. Ps 14:4 adds כֹּל (kol, “all of”) before “workers of wickedness.”
7 tn Heb “Do they not understand?” The rhetorical question expresses the psalmist’s amazement at their apparent lack of understanding. This may refer to their lack of moral understanding, but it more likely refers to their failure to anticipate God’s defense of his people (see vv. 5-6).
8 tn Heb “and the ones making their paths twisted.” A sinful lifestyle is compared to a twisting, winding road.
9 tn Heb “lead them away.” The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive of prayer here (note the prayers directly before and after this). Another option is to translate, “the
10 tn Heb “the workers of wickedness.”
11 tn Heb “peace [be] upon Israel.” The statement is understood as a prayer (see Ps 122:8 for a similar prayer for peace).
12 tn Heb “do not turn my heart toward an evil thing.”
13 tn Heb “to act sinfully in practices in wickedness with men, doers of evil.”
14 sn Their delicacies. This probably refers to the enjoyment that a sinful lifestyle appears to offer.