Psalms 21:11

Yes, ¹  they intend to do you harm; ²  they dream up a scheme, ³  but they do not succeed. ⁴ 

Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed;

Though they intended evil against You And devised a plot, They will not succeed.

Although they plot against you, their evil schemes will never succeed.

All their evil schemes, the plots they cook up, have fizzled--every one.

For their thoughts were bitter against you: they had an evil design in their minds, which they were not able to put into effect.

If they plan evil against you, if they devise mischief, they will not succeed.

For they intended evil against You; They devised a plot which they are not able to perform .

Yes, ¹  they intend to do you harm; ²  they dream up a scheme, ³  but they do not succeed. ⁴ 

¹ tn Or “for.”

² tn Heb “they extend against you harm.” The perfect verbal forms in v. 11 are taken as generalizing, stating factually what the king’s enemies typically do. Another option is to translate with the past tense (“they intended…planned”).

³ sn See Ps 10:2.

⁴ tn Heb “they lack ability.”