The arrogance of the wicked is their proud assumption that they can with impunity persecute and harass the poor. Arrogance as a description of the wicked may in some languages be expressed as “evil men who think big of themselves” or “evil men with swollen hearts.”

The verb translated hotly pursue (Good News Translation “persecute”) is the same one that in 7.13 means “set ablaze.” New American Bible has “harass”; Bible en français courant “exploits”; New Jerusalem Bible “hounds.” “Persecute” must often be rendered as “cause someone to suffer.” Line a may then be “Evil men think big of themselves and cause those to suffer who have nothing.”

Line b of the verse is translated as a plea by Revised Standard Version, New English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible; however, New American Bible, New International Version, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, and Bible en français courant take it as a statement: “they (the poor) are caught in the traps that they (the wicked) have made.” As a request, the thought is similar to that in 9.15. As a direct command it is often necessary to make clear that God is the one who causes this to happen.

The word for schemes is general, meaning plan, device, plot (also in verse 4; 21.11; 139.20); Good News Translation uses the concrete expression “traps” (also Biblia Dios Habla Hoy).

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 .