Mazmur 55:20

55:20 He ¹  attacks ²  his friends; ³ 

he breaks his solemn promises to them. ⁴ 

Mazmur 89:34

89:34 I will not break ⁵  my covenant

or go back on what I promised. ⁶ 

[55:20]  ¹ sn He. This must refer to the psalmist’s former friend, who was addressed previously in vv. 12-14.

[55:20]  ² tn Heb “stretches out his hand against.”

[55:20]  ³ 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]  ⁴ tn Heb “he violates his covenant.”

[89:34]  ⁵ tn Or “desecrate.”

[89:34]  ⁶ tn Heb “and what proceeds out of my lips I will not alter.”