Good News Translation has reversed the two verses so as to place the request last, as a logical consequence of the universal corruption depicted in verse 8. Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation have taken verse 7 as a petition, and this is the preferred interpretation; some, however (Dahood, New American Bible, New International Version, Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), take it as a statement: “You protect us….”

The two verbs protect and guard are synonymous, both used quite often in Psalms.

This generation refers to the evil people described in verse 8 (Good News Translation “such people”); as Kirkpatrick remarks, it carries an ethical sense, classifying people as either good or bad, as the case may be.

Prowl translates the common word for “go, walk”; the noun translated vileness is found only here in the Old Testament and comes from the verb meaning to be worthless, intemperate.

Exalted translates the verb meaning to be high: “evil is highly spoken of, is highly thought of” is the idea; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “everybody praises wickedness.”

Vileness is exalted (“everyone praises what is evil”) may require recasting as “speak well of the evil which people do” or “say good words about the evil deeds which people do.”

For the sons of men see verse 1 and comments at 11.4.

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 .