Sweep … away in verse 9 translates a verb meaning to gather, to take away. So Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “Do not take away my life.” Or the translation can be “Don’t treat me as you treat sinners.”
The expression Sweep me not away with sinners will be a problem in languages in which it will not be natural to speak of sweeping away people as though they were dirt. However, the figurative expression may be kept by adding a simile; for example, “do not sweep me away with sinners like a woman sweeps her house.” With sinners implies “together with sinners,” and this component may have to be added to avoid unnecessary ambiguity.
In line a the Hebrew for me is “my nefesh,” which is parallel to my life in line b.
Bloodthirsty men may mean “people who are ready to murder,” that is, violent people (New Jerusalem Bible); or, as Good News Translation has it, “murderers” (also Bible en français courant, New Jerusalem Bible). Good News Translation has introduced a verb, “spare,” in verse 9b, otherwise the ellipsis may cause difficulty in understanding. One may also say “do not let me die like men who kill others will die” or “do not take away my life like you will take away the lives of murderers.”
In whose hands are evil devices: “people who are ready to commit crimes,” or perhaps “people who are skilled at committing crimes.” In verse 10b whose right hands are full of bribes does not make clear whether this refers to those who offer bribes or those who take them; perhaps the taking of bribes is what is in focus here (see 15.5b). New Jerusalem Bible translates the verse “who have schemes at their fingertips, and hands full of bribes.” Bribes are often spoken of as “secret money,” “hidden money,” or “money for closing the eyes.”
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 .