Most commentators have read this psalm as a lament of an individual. But in verses 4–6, 9–12 attention is devoted to general classes of people, the wicked and the righteous. Strictly speaking, this is not a psalm of the individual merely. The speaking “I” may, in fact, be a liturgist representing “the righteous.”

Some commentators who regard this psalm as an individual lament have specified it further as a psalm of the falsely accused, where the speaker seeks acquittal at Yahweh’s sacral court. This interpretation looks plausible because the chief fault of the wicked lies in their speech, which is deceitful and cannot be trusted. They tell lies and are intent on destruction. But a literal translation of verse 9b reveals that their words are deceitful and destructive for reasons other than …