The actions of all people, the righteous and the wicked, are examined, tested (the same verb as in verse 4) by Yahweh; his attitude toward “the lawless” (literally “the one who loves violence”; same word as in 7.16b) is expressed by “his nefesh hates” (see the verb in 5.5). The LORD tests must often be expressed as “The LORD decides the case of the good and the wicked people,” “The LORD judges both the good and the wicked,” or “The LORD looks at the deeds of the good and the wicked to know how they are.”

By joining and the wicked to line b, the verse in Hebrew may be interpreted differently: “He examines the good; but the wicked and the lawless his soul hates” (Kirkpatrick, American Standard Version, Moffatt, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, Bible en français courant); Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation are like New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, New American Bible, Zürcher Bibel, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy. One cannot be dogmatic, but it seems that the interpretation followed by Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation is preferable.

In verse 5 line b raises the intensity of God’s testing the wicked (and the righteous) by saying that he hates the wicked, who are now called “lovers of violence.” The translation should not give the impression that two different groups are implied.

Him that loves violence: This generic singular phrase is plural in meaning, “all who love violence,” that is, all who break the law, who attack and injure others.

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 .