Psalms 64:5

5 They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, “Who will see it^[a] ?”

Read Chapter Compare

PREVIOUS Psalms 64:4 NEXT Psalms 64:6

Psalms 64:5 in Other Translations

KJV

5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

ESV

5 They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, "Who can see them?"

NLT

5 They encourage each other to do evil and plan how to set their traps in secret. “Who will ever notice?” they ask.

MSG

5 They keep fit doing calisthenics of evil purpose, They keep lists of the traps they've secretly set. They say to each other, "No one can catch us,

CSB

5 They encourage each other in an evil plan; they talk about hiding traps and say, "Who will see them?"

Psalms 64:5 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 64:5

They encourage themselves [in] an evil matter
Or "strengthen him" ^F3; 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 ( Psalms 10:11 Psalms 10:14 ) .

FOOTNOTES:

F3 (wml wqzhy) "firmant illi", Muis.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Psalms 64:5 In-Context

3 They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.

4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent; they shoot suddenly, without fear.

5 They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, “Who will see it ?”

6 They plot injustice and say, “We have devised a perfect plan!” Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.

7 But God will shoot them with his arrows; they will suddenly be struck down.

Cross References 2

1. Psalms 91:3; Psalms 119:110; Psalms 140:5; Psalms 141:9
2. S Job 22:13; Psalms 10:11

Footnotes 1

[a]. Or "us"