Two words in this verse occur only here in the Old Testament: the word translated the desires and the one translated plot. What the psalmist’s enemies want, of course, is the psalmist’s ruin or death. It is fairly certain that the singular the wicked is collective; it does not refer to a single individual, as Revised Standard Version translates.

It should be noted that verse 8 in Hebrew has one more word, “they will rise,” after which comes the closing Selah. So King James Version “lest they exalt themselves. Selah.” Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation (also Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Bible en français courant) include this verb form in the next verse (see below).

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 .