Psa 11:5 | NETfull | STEP | The Lord approves of the godly, but he hates the wicked and those who love to do violence.

Psalms 11:5

5 The Lord approves of ^{▼▼ Heb “examines,” the same verb used in v. 4b. But here it is used in a metonymic sense of “examine and approve” (see Jer 20:12).} the godly, ^{▼▼ The singular form is used here in a collective or representative sense. Note the plural form “pure (of heart)” in v. 2.}
but he ^{▼▼ Heb “his [very] being.” A נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “being, soul”) is also attributed to the Lord in Isa 1:14, where a suffixed form of the noun appears as the subject of the verb “hate.” Both there and here the term is used of the seat of one’s emotions and passions.} hates ^{▼▼ He hates the wicked. The Lord “hates” the wicked in the sense that he despises their wicked character and deeds, and actively opposes and judges them for their wickedness. See Ps 5:5.} the wicked and those who love to do violence. ^{▼▼ Heb “the wicked [one] and the lover of violence.” The singular form is used here in a collective or representative sense. Note the plural form רְשָׁעִים (r^esha’im, “wicked [ones]”) in vv. 2 and 6.}