In the final verses the psalmist sums up his faith in the LORD’s justice: Yahweh is with the righteous and against the wicked. In verse 20, by means of a rhetorical question, the psalmist declares that Yahweh is in no way on the side of “corrupt judges” (Good News Translation), which translates “throne of destruction.” Revised Standard Version takes this to mean wicked rulers, but as Anderson points out, it is more likely that in this context judges are meant (see Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Bible en français courant). For a translation discussion of “corrupt,” see 14.1. The Hebrew phrase translated by Good News Translation as “You have nothing to do with…” is rendered by Biblia Dios Habla Hoy as “you cannot be the friend of…,” which may serve as a better model for many languages. Revised Standard Version mischief (also New English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) does not seem adequate for the Hebrew word, which indicates rather “wrong, disorder, wickedness”; so Good News Translation “injustice.” The Hebrew phrase translated by statute can be taken to mean “against the law,” as Biblia Dios Habla Hoy translates it. Traduction œcuménique de la Bible and Bible en français courant translate “who create misery by flouting the law.” Good News Translation‘s “who make injustice legal” will often have to be shifted to two clauses; for example, “who do things which the law is against” or “who do wrong acts which the law says people should not do.”

In verse 21a band together translates a verb form found only here in the Old Testament, which is defined as “gather together (against).” Against the life implies that they plan to kill him. Condemn the innocent to death translates “condemn innocent blood” (see similar language in 106.38).

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 .