Boasts of (Good News Translation “is proud”) translates a verb meaning “to praise,” which is used many times in Psalms; here, however, it has a bad sense, as in 5.5, “the boastful.”
Desires translates a word which means wish, appetite, craving (see 78.29-30); of his heart represents what is literally “of his nefesh” (see comments on 3.2). Traduction œcuménique de la Bible translates “The wicked boasts of having achieved his purpose”; Bible en français courant “brags about his ambitions.” Good News Translation has “evil desires,” but it would be better simply to say “desires” or “ambitions.” Boasts refers to a verbal activity, as does curses in line b. In many languages it will be more natural to recast verse 3a into direct address; for example, “Evil men boast and say, ‘The things my heart wishes for are great.’ ” Greedy translates a Hebrew word that focuses upon taking what does not belong to one, and may be rendered as “people who take advantage of others” or “people who make profit from others.”
Curses: this translates a Hebrew verb whose normal meaning is “to bless, praise.” Here, however, it is used as a euphemism for “to curse.” For other instances of the verb used with this meaning, with God as object, see 1 Kings 21.10, 13; Job 1.5, 11. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, however, regards the word as a scribal correction, made in order to soften the language, Such a scribal correction is technically known by its Hebrew name tiqqun soferim. Such changes by the copyists were made usually when they thought the text spoke improperly of God. and takes the meaning to be “he blesses.” New English Bible “in his greed gives wickedness his blessing” and New International Version “he blesses the greedy” are both possible (see American Standard Version footnote) but are not very probable (see Kirkpatrick). It seems best to follow Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and the great majority of translations.
Curses should not be understood in this context as bringing down evil upon God in the sense of invoking an injurious curse, but rather in speaking evil of him; for example, “greedy people use evil words to speak against God.”
Renounces translates a verb that means to belittle, despise, treat without respect (also in verse 13; 74.10, 18). The Septuagint represents a different text: “The sinner is acclaimed for the desires of his heart, and the wicked man is praised” (the two verbs of the Hebrew text were taken to be passive forms). Line b of verse 3 may be rendered in direct address: “men who take advantage of others speak evil words and say, ‘You, LORD, are nothing.’ ”
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 .