In these verses the psalmist complains of his enemies, who insult and scorn him, and who plot against him. Nothing definite is said why they do this, but the context seems to imply that it was because he was so devoted to God’s law, while they disregarded it altogether. The psalmist calls his enemies the insolent, accursed ones. He thus portrays them as proud and arrogant. Their pride is the kind which rejects God’s claim to govern and control human conduct; it is a denial of God’s sovereignty over humankind, and as such deserves God’s condemnation. They are accursed, which is to say, they deserve God’s curse, God’s punishment. They wander from thy commandments (see verse 10b). In some languages it will be necessary to express accursed ones as those who receive God’s punishment for disobedience; for example, “You punish those who disobey your commands” or “You condemn those who do not obey your commands.”

The request in verse 22a is based on the psalmist’s claim (in verse 22b) that he has obeyed God’s laws: I have kept thy testimonies (see verse 2a). “Free me from their insults…” must sometimes be recast to say, for example, “Do not let them insult me and make fun of me.”

The enemies are princes, men of power and influence (see 118.9b and comment). But the psalmist knows that God will protect him and that he will be able to continue studying and obeying God’s laws. For meditate see verse 15a.

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 .