Psalms 7:12

7:12 If a person ¹  does not repent, God sharpens his sword ² 

and prepares to shoot his bow. ³ 

Psalms 37:14

37:14 Evil men draw their swords

and prepare their bows,

to bring down ⁴  the oppressed and needy,

and to slaughter those who are godly. ⁵ 

Psalms 76:3

76:3 There he shattered the arrows, ⁶ 

the shield, the sword, and the rest of the weapons of war. ⁷  (Selah)

[7:12]  ¹ tn Heb “If he”; the referent (a person who is a sinner) has been specified in the translation for clarity. The subject of the first verb is understood as the sinner who fails to repent of his ways and becomes the target of God’s judgment (vv. 9, 14-16).

[7:12]  ² tn Heb “if he does not return, his sword he sharpens.” The referent (God) of the pronominal subject of the second verb (“sharpens”) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[7:12]  ³ tn Heb “his bow he treads and prepares it.” “Treading the bow” involved stepping on one end of it in order to string it and thus prepare it for battle.

[37:14]  ⁴ tn Heb “to cause to fall.”

[37:14]  ⁵ tn Heb “the upright in way,” i.e., those who lead godly lives.

[76:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “flames of the bow,” i.e., arrows.

[76:3]  ⁸ tn Heb “shield and sword and battle.” “Battle” probably here stands by metonymy for the weapons of war in general.