Psalms 11:5

The Lord approves of ¹  the godly, ²  but he ³  hates ⁴  the wicked and those who love to do violence. ⁵ 

Ge 22:1; Ps 5:4,5; Ps 7:9; Ps 10:3; Ps 17:3; Ps 21:8; Ps 26:2; Ps 139:1,23,24; Pr 6:16-19; Jer 12:8; Zec 11:8; Zec 13:9; Mal 3:3; Jas 1:12; 1Pe 1:7; 1Pe 4:12

¹ tn Heb “examines,” the same verb used in v. 4b. But here it is used in a metonymic sense of “examine and approve” (see Jer 20:12).

² tn The singular form is used here in a collective or representative sense. Note the plural form “pure (of heart)” in v. 2.

³ tn Heb “his [very] being.” A נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “being, soul”) is also attributed to the Lord in Isa 1:14, where a suffixed form of the noun appears as the subject of the verb “hate.” Both there and here the term is used of the seat of one’s emotions and passions.

⁴ sn He hates the wicked. The Lord “hates” the wicked in the sense that he despises their wicked character and deeds, and actively opposes and judges them for their wickedness. See Ps 5:5.

⁵ tn Heb “the wicked [one] and the lover of violence.” The singular form is used here in a collective or representative sense. Note the plural form רְשָׁעִים (rÿsha’im, “wicked [ones]”) in vv. 2 and 6.