The petition for Yahweh to punish the wicked because of their evil deeds is stated in three different ways. Requite translates the Hebrew verb “give,” used twice (lines a and c); it means here “give back” or “reward” in a bad sense, and so “punish.” The verb translated render in line d is the causative of the verb “turn,” meaning “to cause to turn,” that is, “to pay back” (see Biblia Dios Habla Hoy) or “to give” (Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible). In lines a to c three different nouns are used for what these evildoers have done: their work … their deeds … the work of their hands, which are three different ways of referring to the same thing. The psalmist’s plea comes to a climax in line d; of the translations consulted in English, Good News Translation “give them what they deserve!” is the most natural expression. The psalmist is convinced of the evil nature of his enemies and that they rightly deserve the punishment he prays for them.

Line e contains no specific reference to the evil acts they have done. However, in some languages it will be necessary to be more specific. In such languages it is possible to say, for example, “Punish them for the bad deeds they have done to people.” Line b may then be rendered “and for the evil way they have lived.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .