Mazmur 62:4-5

62:4 They ¹  spend all their time planning how to bring him ²  down. ³ 

They love to use deceit; ⁴ 

they pronounce blessings with their mouths,

but inwardly they utter curses. ⁵  (Selah)

62:5 Patiently wait for God alone, my soul! ⁶ 

For he is the one who gives me confidence. ⁷ 

[62:4]  ¹ tn That is, the psalmist’s enemies addressed in the previous verse.

[62:4]  ² tn That is, the generic “man” referred to in the previous verse.

[62:4]  ³ tn Heb “only from his lofty place [or perhaps, “dignity”] they plan to drive [him] away.”

[62:4]  ⁴ tn Heb “they delight [in] a lie.”

[62:4]  ⁵ sn The enemies use deceit to bring down their victim. They make him think they are his friends by pronouncing blessings upon him, but inwardly they desire his demise.

[62:5]  ⁶ tn Heb “only for God be silent, my soul.” The wording is similar to that of v. 1a. Here an imperatival form, דּוֹמִּי (dommiy, “be silent”), appears instead of the noun דּוּמִיָּה (dumiyyah, “silence”). The psalmist is encouraging himself to maintain his trust in God.

[62:5]  ⁷ tn Heb “for from him [is] my hope.”