Mazmur 7:14-16

7:14 See the one who is pregnant with wickedness,

who conceives destructive plans,

and gives birth to harmful lies – ¹ 

7:15 he digs a pit ² 

and then falls into the hole he has made. ³ 

7:16 He becomes the victim of his own destructive plans ⁴ 

and the violence he intended for others falls on his own head. ⁵ 

Mazmur 9:16

9:16 The Lord revealed himself;

he accomplished justice;

the wicked were ensnared by their own actions. ⁶  (Higgaion. ⁷  Selah)

Mazmur 55:23

55:23 But you, O God, will bring them ⁸  down to the deep Pit. ⁹ 

Violent and deceitful people ¹⁰  will not live even half a normal lifespan. ¹¹ 

But as for me, I trust in you.

[7:14]  ¹ tn Heb “and he conceives harm and gives birth to a lie.”

[7:14]  sn Pregnant with wickedness…gives birth to harmful lies. The psalmist metaphorically pictures the typical sinner as a pregnant woman, who is ready to give birth to wicked, destructive schemes and actions.

[7:15]  ² tn Heb “a pit he digs and he excavates it.” Apparently the imagery of hunting is employed; the wicked sinner digs this pit to entrap and destroy his intended victim. The redundancy in the Hebrew text has been simplified in the translation.

[7:15]  ³ tn The verb forms in vv. 15-16 describe the typical behavior and destiny of those who attempt to destroy others. The image of the evildoer falling into the very trap he set for his intended victim emphasizes the appropriate nature of God’s judgment.

[7:16]  ⁴ tn Heb “his harm [i.e., the harm he conceived for others, see v. 14] returns on his head.”

[7:16]  ⁵ tn Heb “and on his forehead his violence [i.e., the violence he intended to do to others] comes down.”

[9:16]  ⁶ tn Heb “by the work of his hands [the] wicked [one] was ensnared. The singular form רָשָׁע (rasha’, “wicked”) is collective or representative here (see vv. 15, 17). The form נוֹקֵשׁ (noqesh) appears to be an otherwise unattested Qal form (active participle) from נָקַשׁ (naqash), but the form should be emended to נוֹקַשׁ (noqash), a Niphal perfect from יָקַשׁ (yaqash).

[9:16]  ⁷ tn This is probably a technical musical term.

[55:23]  ⁸ tn The pronominal suffix refers to the psalmist’s enemies (see v. 19).

[55:23]  ⁹ tn Heb “well of the pit.” The Hebrew term שַׁחַת (shakhat, “pit”) is often used as a title for Sheol (see Pss 16:10; 30:9; 49:9; 103:4).

[55:23]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “men of bloodshed and deceit.”

[55:23]  ¹¹ tn Heb “will not divide in half their days.”