Again the enemies are compared to ferocious, cruel lions (see comments at 7.2; 10.9). In the first line the Hebrew is “his likeness (is) like lion” (the word for “likeness” is found only here in the Old Testament). The word translated eager means “to be pale (with longing, emotion)” (see 84.2; Gen 31.30).

The parallelism of lion and young lion is not an attempt to talk about two different lions or kinds of lions, as Good News Translation shows. Rather the structure of parallel lines often moves from a noun in the first line to a noun phrase in the second line. In terms of line b saying something more than line a, the second line goes beyond the emotion of eager to tear to moving into position for the kill. Although Good News Translation has reversed the two lines, the intensification has been preserved.

For comments on tear see “rend” in 7.2.

The verb translated lurking is the common verb “to live, dwell”; and ambush translates the word for “hiding place,” already seen in 10.8, 9. lurking in ambush may sometimes be rendered “waiting in its hiding place to attack” or “waiting to attack someone who will not see them.”

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 .