Psalm 64:5
 Psalm 64:5 
New International Version (©2011)
They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, "Who will see it?"

New Living Translation (©2007)
They encourage each other to do evil and plan how to set their traps in secret. "Who will ever notice?" they ask.

English Standard Version (©2001)
They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see them?”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
They hold fast to themselves an evil purpose; They talk of laying snares secretly; They say, "Who can see them?"

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
They encourage each other in an evil plan; they talk about hiding traps and say," Who will see them?"

International Standard Version (©2012)
They concoct an evil scheme for themselves; they enumerate their hidden snares; they say, "Who will see them?"

NET Bible (©2006)
They encourage one another to carry out their evil deed. They plan how to hide snares, and boast, "Who will see them?"

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
And their evil words prevailed, and they have conceived to bury snares and they said, “Who sees us?”

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
They encourage one another in their evil plans. They talk about setting traps and say, "Who can see them?"

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they talk of laying snares secretly; they say, Who shall see them?

American King James Version
They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privately; they say, Who shall see them?

American Standard Version
They encourage themselves in an evil purpose; They commune of laying snares privily; They say, Who will see them?

Douay-Rheims Bible
They will shoot at him on a sudden, and will not fear: they are resolute in wickedness. They have talked of hiding snares; they have said: Who shall see them?

Darby Bible Translation
They encourage themselves in an evil matter, they concert to hide snares; they say, Who will see them?

English Revised Version
They encourage themselves in an evil purpose; they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

Webster's Bible Translation
They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who will see them?

World English Bible
They encourage themselves in evil plans. They talk about laying snares secretly. They say, "Who will see them?"

Young's Literal Translation
They strengthen for themselves an evil thing, They recount of the hiding of snares, They have said, 'Who doth look at it?'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

64:1-6 The psalmist earnestly begs of God to preserve him from disquieting fear. The tongue is a little member, but it boasts great things. The upright man is the mark at which the wicked aim, they cannot speak peaceably either of him or to him. There is no guard against a false tongue. It is bad to do wrong, but worse to encourage ourselves and one another in it. It is a sign that the heart is hardened to the greatest degree, when it is thus fully set to do evil. A practical disbelief of God's knowledge of all things, is at the bottom of every wickedness. The benefit of a good cause and a good conscience, appears most when nothing can help a man against his enemies, save God alone, who is always a present help.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 5. - They encourage themselves in an evil matter; or, in an evil scheme - the plan of making David unpopular, and then raising the standard of open revolt against him (2 Samuel 15:1-12). They commune of laying snares privily. The ungodly continually set traps for the righteous, who are so simple that they often fall into them. We do not know the exact proceedings of his enemies against David at the time, the narrative of 2 Samuel 15 being so brief; but it was probably by some trickery that David was induced to quit the stronghold of Jerusalem, and so yield the seat of government, and many other advantages, to his rival. They say, Who shall see them? (comp. Psalm 10:11; Psalm 59:7; Psalm 94:7). It is an inveterate folly for men to imagine, either that God will not see their actions, or that he will pay no heed to them. A spurious humility is brought into play in the latter case - How can it be supposed that God will note the doings of such worms as men?


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

They encourage themselves in an evil matter,.... Or "strengthen him" (c); that is, Saul, by making use of arguments and reasonings to induce him to go on in his wicked persecution of David; or they strengthened and hardened themselves in their wickedness, as Saul's courtiers and the enemies of Christ did, and as all wicked men do, when they observe the sentence against them is not speedily executed, Ecclesiastes 8:11;

they commune of laying snares privily; that is, they conversed together, and consulted how to lay snares for the perfect man in the most private manner, that they might entrap him and destroy him;

they say, who shall see them? either the snares laid, or the persons that laid them? None; no, not even God himself; see Psalm 10:11.

(c) "firmant illi", Muis.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

5. A sentiment here more fully presented, by depicting their deliberate malice.


Psalm 64:5 Parallel Commentaries

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Hear My Voice in My Complaint
4That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. 5They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privately; they say, Who shall see them? 6They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep. …

Job 22:13 Yet you say, 'What does God know? Does he judge through such darkness?
Psalm 10:11 He says to himself, "God will never notice; he covers his face and never sees."
Psalm 140:5 The arrogant have hidden a snare for me; they have spread out the cords of their net and have set traps for me along my path.
Psalm 141:9 Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers, from the snares they have laid for me.
Jeremiah 36:24 The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes.