Psalms 28:3

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

with those who behave wickedly, ¹ 

who talk so friendly to their neighbors, ² 

while they plan to harm them! ³ 

Psalms 55:21

55:21 His words are as smooth as butter, ⁴ 

but he harbors animosity in his heart. ⁵ 

His words seem softer than oil,

but they are really like sharp swords. ⁶ 

Luke 20:20

Paying Taxes to Caesar

20:20 Then ⁷  they watched him carefully and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. ⁸  They wanted to take advantage of what he might say ⁹  so that they could deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction ¹⁰  of the governor.

[28:3]  ¹ tn Heb “workers of wickedness.”

[28:3]  ² tn Heb “speakers of peace with their neighbors.”

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

[55:21]  ⁴ tn Heb “the butter-like [words] of his mouth are smooth.” The noun מַחְמָאֹת (makhma’ot, “butter-like [words]”) occurs only here. Many prefer to emend the form to מֵחֶמְאָה (mekhem’ah, from [i.e., “than”] butter”), cf. NEB, NRSV “smoother than butter.” However, in this case “his mouth” does not agree in number with the plural verb חָלְקוּ (kholqu, “they are smooth”). Therefore some further propose an emendation of פִּיו (piv, “his mouth”) to פָּנָיו (panayv, “his face”). In any case, the point seems to that the psalmist’s former friend spoke kindly to him and gave the outward indications of friendship.

[55:21]  ⁵ tn Heb “and war [is in] his heart.”

[55:21]  ⁶ tn Heb “his words are softer than oil, but they are drawn swords.”

[20:20]  ⁷ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[20:20]  ⁸ tn Grk “righteous,” but in this context the point is their false sincerity.

[20:20]  ⁹ tn Grk “so that they might catch him in some word.”

[20:20]  ¹⁰ tn This word is often translated “authority” in other contexts, but here, in combination with ἀρχή (arch), it refers to the domain or sphere of the governor’s rule (L&N 37.36).