Psalms 89:22

No enemy will be able to exact tribute ¹  from him; ²  a violent oppressor will not be able to humiliate him. ³ 

No enemy will subject him to tribute; no wicked man will oppress him.

"The enemy will not deceive him, Nor the son of wickedness afflict him.

His enemies will not get the best of him, nor will the wicked overpower him.

No enemy will get the best of him, no scoundrel will do him in.

The deceit of those who are against him will not overcome him; he will not be troubled by the sons of evil.

The enemy shall not outwit him, the wicked shall not humble him.

The enemy shall not outwit him, Nor the son of wickedness afflict him.

No enemy will be able to exact tribute ¹  from him; ²  a violent oppressor will not be able to humiliate him. ³ 

¹ tn Heb “an enemy will not exact tribute.” The imperfect is understood in a modal sense, indicating capability or potential.

² tn The translation understands the Hiphil of נָשַׁא (nasha’) in the sense of “act as a creditor.” This may allude to the practice of a conqueror forcing his subjects to pay tribute in exchange for “protection.” Another option is to take the verb from a homonymic verbal root meaning “to deceive,” “to trick.” Still another option is to emend the form to יִשָּׂא (yisa’), a Qal imperfect from נָאַשׂ (na’as, “rise up”) and to translate “an enemy will not rise up against him” (see M. Dahood, Psalms [AB], 2:317).

³ tn Heb “and a son of violence will not oppress him.” The imperfect is understood in a modal sense, indicating capability or potential. The reference to a “son of violence” echoes the language of God’s promise to David in 2 Sam 7:10 (see also 1 Chr 17:9).