Line a of verse 12 says the same thing in two ways; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy reduces to one statement, “They sin in everything they say.” In some languages it is not possible to speak of the sin of their mouths nor to say that “Sin is on their lips.” It is, however, often possible to say, for example, “When they speak they sin,” or “All they say is sinful,” or “The words they speak show what sinners they are.”
In verse 12b the verb trapped is the one used of catching animals in a trap (as in 9.15b; 35.8b). The pride of the wicked comes from their conviction that God will not act (see comments on “pride” in 10.4; 31.18). It is unnatural in some languages to speak of being trapped in their pride. Therefore one must sometimes translate, for example, “may they be caught in their pride, which is like a trap,” or “may the trap which is their pride catch them,” or “may they be caught in their pride as animals are caught in a trap.”
The reason for the psalmist’s next request is their cursing and lies (verse 12c). In this context cursing was not simply the use of profane or obscene language, but the use of certain words which, it was believed, had the power to bring disaster, illness, or death on one’s enemies.
For this reason, in verse 13a-b the psalmist asks God to consume, that is, to destroy his enemies, to destroy them completely. This hardly accords with verse 11a “Do not kill them,” and makes it even more desirable to translate there differently from Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.
The psalmist asks for the destruction of his enemies so that everyone will confess that God’s rule extends from “Israel” (literally Jacob; see comments at 46.7) to the ends of the earth (see 2.8; 22.27 and comments); so Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible. But the text may be taken to mean “that it may be known to the ends of the earth that God does rule in Israel” (New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, Bible en français courant). It is preferable to stay with the majority. The expression to the ends of the earth in some languages may be translated “God rules the entire earth” or “God rules everyone in the world.”
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 .