Psalms 34:13

34:13 Then make sure you don’t speak evil words ¹ 

or use deceptive speech! ² 

Psalms 36:3

36:3 The words he speaks are sinful and deceitful;

he does not care about doing what is wise and right. ³ 

Psalms 52:4

52:4 You love to use all the words that destroy, ⁴ 

and the tongue that deceives.

Psalms 55:11

55:11 Disaster is within it;

violence ⁵  and deceit do not depart from its public square.

[34:13]  ¹ tn Heb “guard your tongue from evil.”

[34:13]  ² tn Heb “and your lips from speaking deception.”

[36:3]  ³ tn Heb “he ceases to exhibit wisdom to do good.” The Hiphil forms are exhibitive, indicating the outward expression of an inner attitude.

[52:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “you love all the words of swallowing.” Traditionally בַּלַּע (bala’) has been taken to mean “swallowing” in the sense of “devouring” or “destructive” (see BDB 118 s.v. בָּלַע). HALOT 135 s.v. III *בֶּלַע proposes a homonym here, meaning “confusion.” This would fit the immediate context nicely and provide a close parallel to the following line, which refers to deceptive words.

[55:11]  ⁷ tn Or “injury, harm.”