Translation commentary on Psalm 35:20 - 35:21

The psalmist’s enemies do not speak peace, which means either “do not speak in a friendly way” (Good News Translation; see New English Bible “No friendly greeting do they give”; Bible en français courant “not a single courteous word”) or else “they do not seek peace” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), that is, do not try to be at peace with others.

Instead, they tell lies against those who are quiet in the land. This expression occurs only here in the Old Testament; see New Jerusalem Bible “harmless folk”; New English Bible “peaceable folk”; New Jerusalem Bible “the peace-loving people of the land.” Those who are quiet in the land may in some languages be expressed idiomatically; for example, “people whose hearts sit quietly” or “people who have cool hearts.”

In verse 21a “open wide the mouth” may mean shouting (Good News Translation), or else it may portray contempt; Dahood sees it in terms of a ravenous monster, threatening to devour. They falsely accuse the psalmist of a crime: “We saw that you did!” (Good News Translation) or, in idiomatic language, “We caught you red-handed!”

This is preceded by a Hebrew expression of mockery, Aha, Aha! Many languages have exclamatory expressions used in mockery, particularly among young people; for example, “They mock me and say, ‘Bu bu bu bu, we saw what you did!’ ” The translator must make certain that such expressions are acceptable for public reading.

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 .

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