Psalms 17:12

17:12 He ¹  is like a lion ²  that wants to tear its prey to bits, ³ 

like a young lion crouching ⁴  in hidden places.

Psalms 64:4

64:4 in order to shoot down the innocent ⁵  in secluded places.

They shoot at him suddenly and are unafraid of retaliation. ⁶ 

Psalms 10:8

10:8 He waits in ambush near the villages; ⁷ 

in hidden places he kills the innocent.

His eyes look for some unfortunate victim. ⁸ 

[17:12]  ¹ tn Here the psalmist switches to the singular pronoun; he views his enemies collectively, or singles out a representative of the group, perhaps its leader.

[17:12]  ² tn Heb “his likeness [is] like a lion.”

[17:12]  ³ tn Heb “[that] longs to tear.”

[17:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “sitting.”

[64:4]  ⁵ tn The psalmist uses the singular because he is referring to himself here as representative of a larger group.

[64:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “and are unafraid.” The words “of retaliation” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[10:8]  ⁹ tn Heb “he sits in the ambush of the villages.”

[10:8]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “his eyes for an unfortunate person lie hidden.” The language may picture a lion (see v. 9) peering out from its hiding place in anticipation that an unsuspecting victim will soon come strolling along.