In verses 8-9 the psalmist prays for his enemy’s premature death, with its devastating consequences on his family. In verse 8b “his job” (or New Jerusalem Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “his position,” or New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Dahood “his office”) is one possible meaning of the Hebrew word; it can be taken to mean goods (Revised Standard Version, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy) or “hoarded wealth” (New English Bible). In any case, the petition has in view the man’s death. This line is quoted in Acts 1.20b as it appears in the Septuagint (except for a difference in the mood of the verb “take”); the Greek word episkopē means “place of oversight,” “office.” (Because of the application of this line to Judas Iscariot in Acts 1.20, this psalm has been called Psalmus Ischarioticus.)

Verse 9 repeats the request for the man’s premature death, so that his children will become orphans and his wife a widow.

Verse 10 concentrates on the situation of the man’s children after his death. Line b in Hebrew is difficult to understand; it seems to mean “may they seek from their ruins”; New Jerusalem Bible takes it to mean “from their hovels … in search of [bread].” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible has “may they beg outside of their ruins.” But the majority, instead of the Masoretic text “may they search,” prefer to follow the Septuagint “may they be driven from” (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New American Bible, New International Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible); New English Bible manages to represent the Masoretic text by translating the verb “may they seek” by the noun “beggars,” and taking “from their ruins” to mean “driven from their ruins.”8-10 Hebrew Old Testament Text Project (“C” decision) stays with the Masoretic text. The whole line is then to be translated “and may they beg far from their ruins.”

It is uncertain what is the exact force of the ruins in this context; either it is their ruined homes, or else other ruins in which they are forced to live. The following verse makes the second choice the more likely one.

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 .