The people remind God that those nations conspiring against Israel are for that very reason his enemies and hate him (verse 2; see the similar expression in 68.1). The initial For lo is a way of calling God’s attention to what the psalmist is about to say. In verse 2b raised their heads is a figure of defiant behavior, parallel with in tumult (in line a), which means “stir themselves up” (Bible en français courant), that is, are in a state of hostility and hatred. New Jerusalem Bible “assert themselves” seems a bit too mild. Both lines of this verse have much the same meaning. However, line b shifts from the common term enemies to the more specific those who hate thee, and tumult in line a is raised in intensity by means of the poetic figure raised their heads. Therefore it is not advisable to reduce the two lines to one, but rather to translate the element of intensification in the movement from line a to line b; for example, “Your enemies are becoming hostile; but even more, the people who hate you are defying you.”

Israel’s enemies have joined forces and are plotting the destruction of Israel (verses 3-4). The purpose is not to kill all Israelites but to conquer the country and reduce it to a vassal state, no longer a free and independent nation. The destruction they plan will be so complete that even the existence of Israel as a country “will be forgotten forever” (see similar language in 9.6).

In verse 3b thy protected ones is parallel with thy people in verse 3a; Dahood, however, takes it as a singular (so Jerome, Symmachus), perhaps a reference to the Temple. This does not seem very likely. The Hebrew verb translated “protect” means “to hide,” and the meaning may be “Your treasured ones” (New Jerusalem Bible), “your treasure” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New English Bible), “those you cherish” (New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version).

In many languages the source of the quote in verse 4 (They say) cannot be inserted into the quote, as in Good News Translation. It may be necessary in some cases to avoid the use of the second pronoun and say, for example, “Come, let us destroy Israel.” Line b must often be recast with an active verb; for example, “so that no one will ever remember Israel.”

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 .