The opening cry for help (verses 1-2) is made in four lines, all parallel and synonymous. Three verbs are used: deliver (verses 1a, 2a; see 7.1), protect (see 20.1b), and save (see 12.1). The enemies are described as those who rise up against me (verse 1b), those who work evil (verse 2a; see 28.3), and bloodthirsty men (verse 2b), literally “men of bloods” (see 5.6; 55.23).

Not only is the entire psalm in chiastic arrangement, but verses 1-2, which set forth the major theme, are given emphasis by their particular form. In the Hebrew both verses are built by placing verbs before and after each pair of noun phrases; that is, V1 Np Np V2. Verse 1 uses Deliver and protect respectively before and after enemies and those who rise up against me. Verse 2 repeats the same structure with deliver occurring before those who work evil and save after bloodthirsty men. Translators should not copy these structures but rather determine what devices in their own languages have equivalent stylistic functions. In both verses 1 and 2 there is a step-up of intensity which should be reflected in the translation. Good News Translation has done this to a degree in going from “enemies” in line a to “those who attack me” in line b, and from “evil men” to “those murderers” in line b of verse 2.

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 .