In verse 10 two more figures are used to represent the psalmist’s prayer for the destruction of his enemies: burning coals (see this same language in 11.6) and pits; the latter translates a word found nowhere else in the Old Testament and whose meaning is debated. It is quite probable that pits here is a reference to Sheol, the world of the dead. It is suggested that burning coals derives from the punishment that fell on Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19), while pits recalls the fate of Korah and his followers (see Num 16.32-33). In any case, the psalmist is praying for the complete destruction of his enemies. At the end of verse 10 no more to rise means never again to regain their power, or else not rise to life.

Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Bible de Jérusalem, New English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy translate verse 10 as two lines, two requests: (1) red-hot coals fall upon them, and (2) they be thrown into pits. This involves reading “coals of fire” or “burning coals” as one phrase. But King James Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New International Version, Bible en français courant, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch take the Hebrew phrase to consist of two separate semantic elements: “coals” (which goes with the preceding verb “fall upon”) and “in fire” (which goes with the following verb “be thrown”). This results in three lines, three requests: (1) coals fall upon them; (2) they be thrown into the fire; (3) (and be thrown) into pits. This is possible, and the translator should feel free to follow it. Bible en français courant translates “May burning coals fall upon them; may God make them tumble into the fire, into a pit from which they will not climb out!”

In verse 11 the slanderer translates “a man of tongue,” a phrase found nowhere else in the Old Testament. The Hebrew “become firm in the land” (see Revised Standard Version) means to “succeed,” prosper, thrive, flourish. And in verse 11b Revised Standard Version speedily translates the plural of a word found only here in the Old Testament, literally “blow upon blow.” Revised Standard Version speedily and New American Bible “abruptly” are not too probable a rendering of the Hebrew; the idea is not so much speed as intensity, the violence of the action. Bible en français courant translates “may evil relentlessly pursue the man who uses violence.” For translation suggestions concerning the use of curses, see 137.5-6.

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 .