Psalms 11 · Verse 2

Psalms 11:2

For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
Psalms 11:2, King James Version

Psalms 11:2 in other translations

BSBFor behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrow on the string to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.
WEBFor, behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrows on the strings, that they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
ASVFor, lo, the wicked bend the bow, They make ready their arrow upon the string, That they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart;
YLTFor lo, the wicked tread a bow, They have prepared their arrow on the string, To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
DARBYFor behold, the wicked bend the bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may in darkness shoot at the upright in heart.
BBESee, the bows of the evil-doers are bent, they make ready their arrows on the cord, so that they may send them secretly against the upright in heart.
WebsterFor lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.

What does Psalms 11:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. privily--literally, "in darkness," treacherously.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow - Perhaps these are more of the words of his advisers: Every thing is ready for thy destruction: the arrow that is to pierce thy heart is already set on the bow-string; and the person who hopes to despatch thee is concealed in ambush.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Psalms 11:2 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כִּ֤יkiforH3588
הִנֵּ֪הhi.Nehthere!H2009
הָרְשָׁעִ֡יםha.re.sha.'Imthe wickedH7563
יִדְרְכ֬וּןyid.re.Khunthey bend !H1869
קֶ֗שֶׁתKe.sheta bowH7198
כּוֹנְנ֣וּko.Nuthey have preparedH3559
חִצָּ֣םchi.Tzamarrow theirH2671
עַל\־'al-onH5921
יֶ֑תֶרYe.ter[the] stringH3499
לִיר֥וֹתli.Rotto shootH3384
בְּמוֹ\־be.mov-inH1119
אֹ֝֗פֶל'O.feldarknessH652
לְיִשְׁרֵי\־le.yish.rei-to [people] upright ofH3477
לֵֽב\׃LevheartH3820

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 11:2

  • Psalms 64:3-5

    Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

  • Psalms 37:14

    The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

  • Jeremiah 9:3

    And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord.

  • Psalms 21:12

    Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.

  • Psalms 142:3

    When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.

  • Psalms 97:11

    Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

  • Psalms 10:8-9

    He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor. He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.

  • 1 Samuel 18:21

    And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.

  • Psalms 32:11

    Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

  • Psalms 7:12

    If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

  • Psalms 10:2

    The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

  • Psalms 7:10

    My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
For, lo.
10:2; 37:14; 64:3,4; Jer 9:3
make.
21:12
that.
10:8,9; 64:5; 142:3; 1Sa 18:21; 23:9; Mt 26:4; Ac 23:12-15
privily. Heb. in darkness. the upright.
7:10; 32:11; 64:10; 94:15; 97:11; 125:4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 11:1

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?

  • Psalms 11:2

    For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.

  • Psalms 11:3

    If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

Read all of Psalms 11

Psalms 11:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque he aquí, los malos flecharon el arco, apercibieron sus saetas sobre la cuerda, para asaetear en oculto á los rectos de corazón.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car voici, les méchants bandent l’arc, ils ajustent leur flèche sur la corde, pour tirer dans les ténèbres sur ceux qui sont droits de cœur.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn siehe, die Gesetzlosen spannen den Bogen, sie haben ihren Pfeil auf der Sehne gerichtet, um im Finstern zu schießen auf die von Herzen Aufrichtigen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Salvum me fac, Domine, quoniam defecit sanctus, quoniam diminutæ sunt veritates a filiis hominum.