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Psalm 64 · a question people ask

"Surely man’s mind and heart are cunning" (64:6). Is the psalm speaking of the plotters, or of everyone?

In the text

In the WEB the plotters' own words end at "We have made a perfect plan!" (64:6), so the next line is the psalm's comment. In Hebrew man there is ish, a man, and cunning is amoq, deep (tap cunning). The psalm doesn't say whether it means each of the plotters or every person. Proverbs has the same three Hebrew words, deep, heart and man, and uses them of counsel that can be drawn out: "Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out" (Proverbs 20:5). What Psalm 64 says next is that God acts against the plotters (64:7), and that "All mankind shall be afraid" (64:9). These notes don't say more than the verse does.

The verses

“They plot injustice, saying, “We have made a perfect plan!” Surely man’s mind and heart are cunning. But God will shoot at them. They will be suddenly struck down with an arrow.”
Psalm 64:6-7 · World English Bible
“All mankind shall be afraid. They shall declare the work of God, and shall wisely ponder what he has done.”
Psalm 64:9 · World English Bible
“Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.”
Proverbs 20:5 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 64

Psalm 64: But God will shoot at them

Psalm 64 uses the same words for what the plotters do and for what happens to them. They shoot (64:4), and God shoots (64:7): one Hebrew verb. Their arrows (64:3) and God's arrow (64:7) are one word, and suddenly stands in both verses, the only two times the Psalms have it. And the tongue they sharpened like a sword (64:3) is what ruins them (64:8).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions