Mazmur 35:20

35:20 For they do not try to make peace with others, ¹ 

but plan ways to deceive those who are unsuspecting. ² 

Mazmur 55:20

55:20 He ³  attacks ⁴  his friends; ⁵ 

he breaks his solemn promises to them. ⁶ 

Mazmur 59:3

59:3 For look, they wait to ambush me; ⁷ 

powerful men stalk ⁸  me,

but not because I have rebelled or sinned, O Lord. ⁹ 

[35:20]  ¹ tn Heb “for they do not speak peace.”

[35:20]  ² tn Heb “but against the quiet ones of the land words of deceit they plan.” The imperfect verbal forms in v. 20 highlight their characteristic behavior.

[55:20]  ³ sn He. This must refer to the psalmist’s former friend, who was addressed previously in vv. 12-14.

[55:20]  ⁴ tn Heb “stretches out his hand against.”

[55:20]  ⁵ tc The form should probably be emended to an active participle (שֹׁלְמָיו, sholÿmayv) from the verbal root שָׁלַם (shalam, “be in a covenant of peace with”). Perhaps the translation “his friends” suggests too intimate a relationship. Another option is to translate, “he attacks those who made agreements with him.”

[55:20]  ⁶ tn Heb “he violates his covenant.”

[59:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “my life.”

[59:3]  ⁸ tn The Hebrew verb is from the root גּוּר (gur), which means “to challenge, attack” in Isa 54:15 and “to stalk” (with hostile intent) in Ps 56:8.

[59:3]  ⁹ sn The point is that the psalmist’s enemies have no justifiable reason for attacking him. He has neither rebelled or sinned against the Lord.