Psalms 28:2-4

28:2 Hear my plea for mercy when I cry out to you for help,

when I lift my hands ¹  toward your holy temple! ² 

28:3 Do not drag me away with evil men,

with those who behave wickedly, ³ 

who talk so friendly to their neighbors, ⁴ 

while they plan to harm them! ⁵ 

28:4 Pay them back for their evil deeds!

Pay them back for what they do!

Punish them! ⁶ 

[28:2]  ¹ sn I lift my hands. Lifting one’s hands toward God was a gesture of prayer.

[28:2]  ² tn The Hebrew term דְּבִיר (dÿvir, “temple”) actually refers to the most holy place within the sanctuary.

[28:3]  ³ tn Heb “workers of wickedness.”

[28:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “speakers of peace with their neighbors.”

[28:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “and evil [is] in their heart[s].”

[28:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “Give to them according to their work, and according to the evil of their deeds. According to the work of their hands give to them. Return their due to them.” The highly repetitive style reflects the psalmist’s agitated emotional state and draws attention to his yearning for justice.