Psalms

Psalm 37:12–15

¹²The wicked scheme against the righteous

and gnash their teeth at them,

¹³but the Lord laughs,

seeing that their day is coming.

¹⁴The wicked have drawn the sword

and bent the bow

to bring down the poor and needy,

to slay those whose ways are upright.

¹⁵But their swords will pierce their own hearts,

and their bows will be broken.

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The wicked	רָ֭שָׁע	rā·šā‘	Adjective - masculine singular	H7563 wicked, criminal
scheme	זֹמֵ֣ם	zō·mêm	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H2161 consider, purpose, devise
against the righteous	לַצַּדִּ֑יק	laṣ·ṣad·dîq	Preposition-l, Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H6662 just, righteous
and gnash	וְחֹרֵ֖ק	wə·ḥō·rêq	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H2786 gnash or grind the teeth
their teeth	שִׁנָּֽיו׃	šin·nāw	Noun - cdc; third person masculine singular	H8127 tooth, ivory
at them	עָלָ֣יו	‘ā·lāw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H5921 height

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
but the Lord	אֲדֹנָ֥י	’ă·ḏō·nāy	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H136 lord
laughs	יִשְׂחַק־	yiś·ḥaq-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7832 laugh
seeing	רָ֝אָ֗ה	rā·’āh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H7200 see
that	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
their day	יוֹמֽוֹ׃	yō·w·mōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H3117 day
is coming	יָבֹ֥א	yā·ḇō	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The wicked	רְשָׁעִים֮	rə·šā·‘îm	Adjective - masculine plural	H7563 wicked, criminal
have drawn	פָּֽתְח֣וּ	pā·ṯə·ḥū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H6605 open
the sword	חֶ֤רֶב׀	ḥe·reḇ	Noun - feminine singular	H2719 sword
and bent	וְדָרְכ֪וּ	wə·ḏā·rə·ḵū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural	H1869 tread, march
the bow	קַ֫שְׁתָּ֥ם	qaš·tām	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine plural	H7198 bow
to bring down	לְ֭הַפִּיל	lə·hap·pîl	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H5307 fall, lie
the poor	עָנִ֣י	‘ā·nî	Adjective - masculine singular	H6041 poor, afflicted, humble, meek
and needy	וְאֶבְי֑וֹן	wə·’eḇ·yō·wn	Conjunctive waw; Adjective - masculine singular	H34 in want, needy, poor
to slay	לִ֝טְב֗וֹחַ	liṭ·ḇō·w·aḥ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H2873 slaughter, butcher, slay
those whose ways	דָֽרֶךְ׃	ḏā·reḵ	Noun - common singular	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
upright	יִשְׁרֵי־	yiš·rê-	Adjective - masculine plural construct	H3477 straight, right

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
their swords	חַ֭רְבָּם	ḥar·bām	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine plural	H2719 sword
will pierce	תָּב֣וֹא	tā·ḇō·w	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
their own hearts	בְלִבָּ֑ם	ḇə·lib·bām	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine plural	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
and their bows	וְ֝קַשְּׁתוֹתָ֗ם	wə·qaš·šə·ṯō·w·ṯām	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H7198 bow
will be broken	תִּשָּׁבַֽרְנָה׃	tiš·šā·ḇar·nāh	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural	H7665 break, break in pieces