Psalm 11:2 For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.

◄ Psalm 11:2 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.

English Standard Version
for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;

New American Standard Bible
For, behold, the wicked bend the bow, They make ready their arrow upon the string To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.

King James Bible
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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For look, the wicked string the bow; they put the arrow on the bowstring to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.

International Standard Version
Look, the wicked have bent their bow and placed their arrow on the string, to shoot from the darkness at the upright in heart.

American Standard Version
For, 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;

Douay-Rheims Bible
For, lo, the wicked have bent their bow; they have prepared their arrows in the quiver; to shoot in the dark the upright of heart.

Darby Bible Translation
For 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.

Young's Literal Translation
For lo, the wicked tread a bow, They have prepared their arrow on the string, To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.

Cross References

Psalm 7:12
If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he has bent his bow, and made it ready.

Psalm 10:8
He sits in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places does he murder the innocent: his eyes are privately set against the poor.

Psalm 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.

Psalm 64:3
Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

Psalm 64:4
That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

Psalm 125:4
Do good, O LORD, to those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

11:1-7 David's struggle with, and triumph over a strong temptation to distrust God, and betake himself to indirect means for his own safety, in a time of danger. - Those that truly fear God and serve him, are welcome to put their trust in him. The psalmist, before he gives an account of his temptation to distrust God, records his resolution to trust in Him, as that by which he was resolved to live and die. The believer, though not terrified by his enemies, may be tempted, by the fears of his friends, to desert his post, or neglect his work. They perceive his danger, but not his security; they give him counsel that savours of worldly policy, rather than of heavenly wisdom. The principles of religion are the foundations on which the faith and hope of the righteous are built. We are concerned to hold these fast against all temptations to unbelief; for believers would be undone, if they had not God to go to, God to trust in, and future bliss to hope for. The prosperity of wicked people in their wicked, evil ways, and the straits and distresses which the best men are sometimes brought into, tried David's faith. We need not say, Who shall go up to heaven, to fetch us thence a God to trust in? The word is nigh us, and God in the word; his Spirit is in his saints, those living temples, and the Lord is that Spirit. This God governs the world. We may know what men seem to be, but God knows what they are, as the refiner knows the value of gold when he has tried it. God is said to try with his eyes, because he cannot err, or be imposed upon. If he afflicts good people, it is for their trial, therefore for their good. However persecutors and oppressors may prosper awhile, they will for ever perish. God is a holy God, and therefore hates them. He is a righteous Judge, and will therefore punish them. In what a horrible tempest are the wicked hurried away at death! Every man has the portion of his cup assigned him. Impenitent sinner, mark your doom! The last call to repentance is about to be addressed to you, judgement is at hand; through the gloomy shade of death you pass into the region of eternal wrath. Hasten then, O sinner, to the cross of Christ. How stands the case between God and our souls? Is Christ our hope, our consolation, our security? Then, not otherwise, will the soul be carried through all its difficulties and conflicts.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

2. privily—literally, "in darkness," treacherously.