Psalms 64:8

So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves An untenable rendering of an obscure sentence. It is best to render, substantially as R.V., And they are made to stumble, their own tongue being against them. Lit. they make him stumble:the plural subject to the verb suggesting, as in Psalms 63:10, the idea of mysterious agents in God's service, and the singular object regarding -the enemy" (as in Psalms 64:1 b) collectively as a body. For the sense cp. Psalms 140:9; Psalms 7:15 f (note that v. 12 f are parallel to v. 7her e); Psalms 57:6. Their tongue, the weapon with which they sought to destroy others, is turned against themselves. Ahithophel's fate may serve for illustration. Possible, but less satisfactory, is the rendering of R.V. marg.: So shall they against whom their tongue was make them to stumble. The context does not hint that their victims become their executioners.

shall flee away For fear of sharing their fate (Numbers 16:34). But the right rendering certainly is, All that see their desire upon them shall wag the head, in scornful triumph, as Jeremiah 48:27, R.V.; cp. Psalms 22:7. See Psalms 52:6 ff.; Psalms 54:7; Psalms 59:10, and for the light in which such expressions of satisfaction are to be regarded see note on Psalms 58:11.