The psalmist vigorously expresses his hatred for Yahweh’s enemies. The rhetorical questions in verse 21 (see Revised Standard Version) are a way of making an emphatic statement. He feels for them a perfect hatred, that is, complete hatred, without a drop of compassion or good will; and he looks upon them as his own enemies. Perfect hatred or Good News Translation‘s “total hatred” in verse 22 must often be recast to say, for example, “I hate them with all my heart, soul, stomach, throat, liver,” whichever body part represents the center of the emotions.

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 .