The conduct of the psalmist’s enemies is the opposite of his own; when he was in trouble (literally “stumbled,” or “limped” like a wounded animal), “they gathered around (or, against) me”; the verb “gather around” is repeated in the Hebrew text. The picture is that of the psalmist’s enemies surrounding him and making fun of him.

Line c is difficult to understand; the Masoretic text has a word occurring only here in the Old Testament and which is taken to mean “beaters, smiters,” or else, as Revised Standard Version has it, a passive form, “smitten, lamed,” and so “cripples” (so Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).15 Hebrew Old Testament Text Project takes the Hebrew to mean “[as] limping men” and suggests this may designate the psalmist’s enemies as they mockingly imitated the psalmist in distress. Translations differ: New American Bible has “striking me unawares”; New English Bible “nameless ruffians jeered at me”; New Jerusalem Bible understands the wording of the Hebrew to mean “strangers”; New Jerusalem Bible has “wretches”; Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “my assailants took me by surprise.”

It is impossible to say whether the language in line d is a conventional way of talking about slander, criticism, and mockery (so Revised Standard Version and New International Version slandered me without ceasing) or refers to physical abuse (Good News Translation). The verb is used elsewhere of “tearing” clothes; so New American Bible “they tore at me”; New Jerusalem Bible “tear me apart incessantly”; and New Jerusalem Bible “they tear at me without end.” Kirkpatrick, Dahood, and Weiser take it in a figurative sense; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “they mistreated me without ceasing.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .