Verse 28a in Hebrew has no direct object for the verbs curse and bless; Good News Translation, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch provide the direct object “me.”

Verse 28b in Hebrew is “they arose and were put to shame”; Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, New English Bible, and New American Bible follow the Septuagint. Other translations in various ways represent the Masoretic text: Bible en français courant “If they attack me, they will be made to look ridiculous”; Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “They raised themselves up, (and) this proved to be their shame”; New International Version translates “when they attack they will be put to shame.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project (“C” decision) says the Masoretic text means “they may stand up, but they will be put to shame.” The Masoretic text can make good sense in the context, if the verb “they arose” can be understood as a precative perfect (Dahood), that is, as expressing not a statement of fact but a desire: “let them arise.” This is how it is translated by New Jerusalem Bible, “let them rise up, but come to grief,” and by Dahood, “Let them rise up, only to be humiliated.” This seems to be the best way to translate this line. In languages which do not use the passive, the plea “May my persecutors be defeated” will have to be recast to say something like “God, defeat the people who persecute me.” At the end of the verse, Good News Translation “I, your servant” makes the identification explicit, that the psalmist is talking about himself.

The prayer in verse 29 is similar to those in 35.26c-d; 71.13. The figure of clothing is like that in verses 18a, 19a. For accusers in line a see verses 4 and 20.

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 .