The psalmist calls down God’s vengeance and punishment on the wicked. Verse 6 has two parallel lines, synonymous in meaning, which Good News Translation has shortened and combined into one line (see Revised Standard Version for the form of the two lines). If a translator prefers to keep the two lines, something like the following can be said: “Break the teeth of these young lions, O God! Pull their teeth out, O LORD!” For lions as a figure for the enemies, see 7.2; 10.9; 17.12; 22.13, 21; 35.17. (Here, as in 34.10; 35.17, New English Bible translates “unbelievers.”)

Verse 7a is reasonably clear in meaning, and most translations have what Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation have. But verse 7b is quite different. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers the Masoretic text (“A” decision). Some take the Masoretic text to mean “When he takes aim, let his arrows be as if blunted”; New Jerusalem Bible has for the Masoretic text (without any marginal note) “let Him aim His arrows and they be cut down,” which makes more sense in the context; New American Bible translates the Masoretic text, “when they draw the bow, let their arrows be headless shafts” (similarly New International Version). As is to be seen, there is much uncertainty, and Good News Translation, like Revised Standard Version, translates an emended text to get “may they be crushed like weeds on a path” (see Anderson). In similar fashion, but with “wither” instead of “be crushed,” are New English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy.

In verses 7, 8, 9 there is a series of similes, all of which are nearly universally known comparisons: water, weeds, snails, and a newly born child.

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 .