Psalm 64:3

Translations

Modern

…who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,

Traditional

Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

Literal

…who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and aim a bitter word as their arrow,

Latin

Quia exacuerunt ut gladium linguas suas; intenderunt arcum rem amaram,

Original

Hebrew

English

…who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,

Notes

Psalms 64:3

their tongues … bitter words: Liars use their words to harm others. This description might also refer to practicing magic.

Psalms 64:1–6

These verses form a prayer for rescue from bold and powerful liars.

Psalms 64:1–10

This lament speaks against the destructive plans and arrogant attitude of the wicked (Psalm 64:1–6). The psalmist prays to God and finds comfort in God's justice because the righteous judge will undo the wicked's actions. The godly will rejoice and gain wisdom as they think about God's powerful deeds.

Psalms 51:1–65:13

These psalms of David share a common theme. They reflect on the experience of evil. In Psalm 51, the psalmist admits his wrongdoing and asks for God's forgiveness. Psalms 52–64 express sorrow over specific evils David faced. A song of praise (Psalm 65) brings David's laments to an end.

Theme notes and profiles

David

Related verses

Psalm 58:7
May they vanish like water that runs off; when they draw the bow, may their arrows be blunted.
James 3:6–8
The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Jeremiah 9:3
“They bend their tongues like bows; lies prevail over truth in the land. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not take Me into account,” declares the LORD.
Psalm 57:4
My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts—with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
Isaiah 54:17
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.
Psalm 11:2
For behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrow on the string to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.
Proverbs 12:18
Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 30:14
…there is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are knives, devouring the oppressed from the earth and the needy from among men.

Psalm 64:3

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Translations

Original

Notes

Related verses

Parallels

Glossary

Topics