After addressing the rulers in the second person (verses 1-2), here The wicked are spoken of in the third person, which may be understood as a general indictment of all evil people, but more probably is a description of the ones addressed in verses 1-2. Those who take “you gods” as the meaning of the word in verse 1 understand that the wicked people spoken of in the rest of the psalm are the human agents through whom the gods work their evil ways.

In exaggerated language (see similar expressions in 51.5) these people go astray from the womb, which translates what is literally “they go astray, the wicked, from the womb they err”; and in line b “from the womb they tell lies” (two different Hebrew words for “womb,” namely, “belly” and “womb”). Good News Translation has expressed the meaning with one verb in line a, “go wrong,” which is the meaning of the two verbs in the Hebrew text; but most translations, like Revised Standard Version, take the first verb (go astray) with line a, the second verb (err) with line b. Some languages speak of a baby being born from the belly or abdomen, not from the organ known in the language as the “womb.”

For the figure of venom (that is, “poison”) as malicious and lying words, see also 140.3.

The figure used in verses 4b-5 of a “deaf cobra” (or adder) that stops its ear is strange. The general sense of the figure is clear enough: these wicked people obstinately refuse to listen to warning or advice. The Hebrew says literally “like the deaf cobra that stops up its ears” (see Revised Standard Version), which one Jewish commentator ingeniously explained by saying that a snake would lay its head sideways on the ground to stop up one ear and with its tail would cover up the other one! (In fact, snakes do not have the sense of hearing that mammals have.)

It will be noticed that there is quite a variety in translating the name of the animal in verse 4: Revised Standard Version serpent … adder; New English Bible “serpents … asp”; New Jerusalem Bible “snake … viper”; New Jerusalem Bible “snake … adder”; Good News Translation, New International Version “snakes … cobra.” In languages where the cobra or asp are unknown, any other poisonous snake can be substituted. The practice of snake charming, however, will be less recognizable and may require a supplementary note.

In verse 5 the cunning enchanter in line b is parallel with the … charmers in line a; such people are also spoken of in Ecclesiastes 10.11; Jeremiah 8.17. By means of his music, chants, and body movements, a snake charmer would try to hypnotize a snake so as to make it docile and harmless. In some languages “snake charmer” may be rendered, for example, “snake man,” “snake show man,” or “snake music man.” Enchanter or “magician” should not be identified with one who practices witchcraft. In this context the reference is to casting spells and charming snakes. If a term for one who casts spells is not available, it may be possible to use a phrase; for example, “one who sings his magic” or “one who controls by repeating words.”

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 .