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Psalm 11:2

For, behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrows on the strings, that they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.

1For the Chief Musician. By David. In the LORD, I take refuge. How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”?
2For, behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrows on the strings, that they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
3If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?
4The LORD is in his holy temple. The LORD is on his throne in heaven. His eyes observe. His eyes examine the children of men.
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← Psalm 11:1Psalm 11:3 →
Notice

Arrows set on bowstrings make the danger deliberate and near: the upright in heart are targets, and their integrity does not shield them from attack.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

What troubles you about the upright in heart becoming targets of these prepared arrows?

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How does the darkness in verse 2 shape your reading of God's watchfulness in verse 4?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

10 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 64:3–5who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and aim their arrows, deadly words,Both passages describe aimed arrows; Psalm 64 identifies its arrows as deadly words, while Psalm 11 depicts an attack in darkness.
Psalm 21:12For you will make them turn their back, when you aim drawn bows at their face.Both passages depict bows drawn against a target, though Psalm 11 describes the wicked attacking and Psalm 21 describes their retreat.
Psalm 37:14The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright on the path.Both passages describe the wicked bending bows to attack the upright; Psalm 37 also names the poor and needy as targets.
Jeremiah 9:3“They bend their tongue, as their bow, for falsehood. They have grown strong in the land, but not for truth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they don’t …Both passages associate bent bows with wrongdoing; Jeremiah uses the bow as a picture of the tongue speaking falsehood.
Acts 24:1After five days, the high priest, Ananias, came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus. They informed the governor against Paul.Both describe people acting against someone; Acts names an accusation against Paul, without mentioning weapons or darkness.
Numbers 35:20If he shoved him out of hatred, or hurled something at him while lying in wait, so that he died,Both passages describe concealed violence: shooting in darkness in the psalm, and hurling something while lying in wait in Numbers.
Matthew 26:4They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit and kill him.Both passages describe preparations to harm someone, with darkness concealing the attack in the psalm and deceit marking the plot against Jesus.
1 Samuel 18:21Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore Saul said to David a …Both passages describe planned harm: arrows prepared against the upright, and Saul arranging a snare so the Philistines would act against David.
1 Samuel 23:9David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him. He said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”Both passages describe danger being prepared against someone; Samuel names Saul as devising mischief against David.
Acts 23:12–15When it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.Both passages describe preparations for violence against a target; Acts names a group bound by an oath to kill Paul.
Where this verse fits

Injustice and anger. fear for the future.

What the Bible says about anger →What the Bible says about fear →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Read Psalm 11:1–4, marking the threat and God's watchfulness

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Encouragement

Being upright in heart does not make you immune to harm. The psalm names the danger without softening it, and its surrounding words affirm that YHWH sees and reigns.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 11:2. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 11 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).