Psalms 58:4

58:4 Their venom is like that of a snake, ¹ 

like a deaf serpent ²  that does not hear, ³ 

Psalms 140:3

140:3 Their tongues wound like a serpent; ⁴ 

a viper’s ⁵  venom is behind ⁶  their lips. (Selah)

[58:4]  ¹ tn Heb “[there is] venom to them according to the likeness of venom of a snake.”

[58:4]  ² tn Or perhaps “cobra” (cf. NASB, NIV). Other suggested species of snakes are “asp” (NEB) and “adder” (NRSV).

[58:4]  ³ tn Heb “[that] stops up its ear.” The apparent Hiphil jussive verbal form should be understood as a Qal imperfect with “i” theme vowel (see GKC 168 §63.n).

[140:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “they sharpen their tongue like a serpent.” Ps 64:3 reads, “they sharpen their tongues like sword.” Perhaps Ps 140:3 uses a mixed metaphor, the point being that “they sharpen their tongues [like a sword],” as it were, so that when they speak, their words wound like a serpent’s bite. Another option is that the language refers to the pointed or forked nature of a serpent’s tongue, which is viewed metaphorically as “sharpened.”

[140:3]  ⁵ tn The Hebrew term is used only here in the OT.

[140:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “under.”