My enemies speak concerning me and Good News Translation “talk … against me” are examples of generic usage which must be made more specific in many languages; for example, “my enemies say threatening words against me” or “my enemies speak evil about me.” However, in some languages the use of the more generic level is permissible here, since the specific content of what they speak is stated in verse 11.

In verse 10b those who watch for my life means “those who want to kill me”; see the similar “watch my steps” in 56.6.

It is evidently the psalmist’s condition, probably sickness, that causes his enemies to conclude that he has been abandoned by God. For God has forsaken him, see comments on the verb “forgotten” in 9.10, and on “forsaken” in 22.1. In any case, they feel sure that God will not defend him (for verse 11c see similar expressions using the same Hebrew verb in 7.2; 50.22b), and so they plot his destruction.

In some languages it will be clearer to make the logical relation between verse 11a and 11b more explicit; for example, “Since God has abandoned him, let’s go after him” or “God has abandoned him, therefore let’s go after him….” It is possible to restructure verse 11 so that the two reason clauses are kept together and the conclusion clause placed after them; for example, “Since God has abandoned him and there is no one to rescue him, let’s … catch him.” It is also possible to reverse the order in languages which would prefer placing the conclusion before the reasons.

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 .