Discovery BoxPsalms 55:21 
Context55:21 His words are as smooth as butter, 1
but he harbors animosity in his heart. 2
His words seem softer than oil,
but they are really like sharp swords. 3
Psalms 62:9
Context62:9 Men are nothing but a mere breath;
human beings are unreliable. 4
When they are weighed in the scales,
all of them together are lighter than air. 5
Psalms 142:6
Context142:6 Listen to my cry for help,
for I am in serious trouble! 6
Rescue me from those who chase me,
for they are stronger than I am.
1 tn Heb “the butter-like [words] of his mouth are smooth.” The noun מַחְמָאֹת (makhma’ot, “butter-like [words]”) occurs only here. Many prefer to emend the form to מֵחֶמְאָה (mekhem’ah, from [i.e., “than”] butter”), cf. NEB, NRSV “smoother than butter.” However, in this case “his mouth” does not agree in number with the plural verb חָלְקוּ (kholqu, “they are smooth”). Therefore some further propose an emendation of פִּיו (piv, “his mouth”) to פָּנָיו (panayv, “his face”). In any case, the point seems to that the psalmist’s former friend spoke kindly to him and gave the outward indications of friendship.
2 tn Heb “and war [is in] his heart.”
3 tn Heb “his words are softer than oil, but they are drawn swords.”
4 tn Heb “only a breath [are] the sons of mankind, a lie [are] the sons of man.” The phrases “sons of mankind” and “sons of man” also appear together in Ps 49:2. Because of the parallel line there, where “rich and poor” are mentioned, a number of interpreters and translators treat these expressions as polar opposites, בְּנֵי אָדָם (bÿney ’adam) referring to the lower classes and בְּנֵי אִישׁ (bÿney ’ish) to higher classes. But usage does not support such a view. The rare phrase בְּנֵי אִישׁ (“sons of man”) appears to refer to human beings in general in its other uses (see Pss 4:2; Lam 3:33). It is better to understand the phrases as synonymous expressions.
5 tn The noun הֶבֶל (hevel), translated “a breath” earlier in the verse, appears again here.
6 tn Heb “for I am very low.”
