This verse differs considerably from verses 5-6 of Psalm 14. The first word in Hebrew is “There,” which seems to indicate location (New Jerusalem Bible “There they will…”); but in the context it is so vague that Revised Standard Version has There they are, which no longer refers to a specific place. Good News Translation uses the temporal “then,” connecting it with what follows. The verb itself is translated as present tense by Revised Standard Version, are; it seems better, however, to translate as future tense, as Good News Translation and New Jerusalem Bible have done, connecting it with what follows.

The terror to which the evildoers will be subjected will be greater than any they have experienced before. Instead of such as has not been, one suggested translation has been “they who had not known terror,” which is quite possible; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “Even though there is no reason to tremble” (see also New International Version), which is the meaning preferred by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project proposes “(where) there was (no reason) to fear.”

The next line portrays the complete defeat of Israel’s enemies: God will scatter the bones. The idea is not only that of killing the enemies, but also of leaving their bodies (bones) unburied, an added indignity. Some see here a reference to the total destruction of Sennacherib’s forces as they were besieging Jerusalem (2 Kgs 19.35).

The Hebrew expression translated “the enemies of his people” (Good News Translation) is literally “him who encamps against you (singular).” See Revised Standard Version footnote. Good News Translation has taken this “you” to be a reference to Israel. By a change of form from the verb chanah “encamp” to chanep, Revised Standard Version arrives at the ungodly (literally “alienated from God”). It seems best to follow the Masoretic text (in Hebrew Old Testament Text Project this is an “A” decision), perhaps representing the Hebrew more closely than Good News Translation “the enemies of his people” has done. See New Jerusalem Bible “God has scattered the bones of your besiegers” (see also New Jerusalem Bible).

In some languages the expression God will scatter the bones of the ungodly may cause problems for the reader who will feel that the transition from bodies to bones is lacking. Therefore it may be necessary to say, for example, “God will kill the enemies of his people and scatter their bones.”

In the next line the Hebrew text is “you (singular) will put to shame,” without an object; again Good News Translation has taken this as a promise to Israel. Revised Standard Version has followed the Septuagint the ungodly … will be put to shame. This shame is that of total defeat (see 6.10 and comments).

For the verb rejected see 15.4.

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 .