3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

Other Translations of Psalm 64:3

New International Version

3 They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.

English Standard Version

3 who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows,

The Message

3 Using their tongues as weapons, flinging poison words, poison-tipped arrow-words.

New King James Version

3 Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, And bend their bows to shoot their arrows--bitter words,

New Living Translation

3 They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 64:3

Commentary on Psalm 64:1-6

(Read Psalm 64:1-6)

The psalmist earnestly begs of God to preserve him from disquieting fear. The tongue is a little member, but it boasts great things. The upright man is the mark at which the wicked aim, they cannot speak peaceably either of him or to him. There is no guard against a false tongue. It is bad to do wrong, but worse to encourage ourselves and one another in it. It is a sign that the heart is hardened to the greatest degree, when it is thus fully set to do evil. A practical disbelief of God's knowledge of all things, is at the bottom of every wickedness. The benefit of a good cause and a good conscience, appears most when nothing can help a man against his enemies, save God alone, who is always a present help.