21 Or “for.”
22 Heb “[who] magnifies against me.” See Pss 35:26; 38:16.
23 It is you. The psalmist addresses the apparent ringleader of the opposition, an individual who was once his friend.
24 Heb “a man according to my value,” i.e., “a person such as I.”
25 Heb “my close friend, one known by me.”
26 Heb “who together we would make counsel sweet.” The imperfect verbal forms here and in the next line draw attention to the ongoing nature of the actions (the so-called customary use of the imperfect). Their relationship was characterized by such intimacy and friendship. See §31.2b.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For it is not an enemy who taunts me—

then I could bear it;

it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me—

then I could hide from him.

But it is you, a man, my equal,

my companion, my familiar friend.

We used to take sweet counsel together;

within God’s house we walked in the throng.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

If an enemy were insulting me,

I could endure it;

if a foe were rising against me,

I could hide.

But it is you, a man like myself,

my companion, my close friend,

with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship

at the house of God,

as we walked about

among the worshipers.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Now it is not an enemy who insults me—

otherwise I could bear it;

it is not a foe who rises up against me—

otherwise I could hide from him.

But it is you, a man who is my peer,

my companion and good friend!

We used to have close fellowship;

we walked with the crowd into the house of God.

NLTNew Living Translation

It is not an enemy who taunts me—

I could bear that.

It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—

I could have hidden from them.

Instead, it is you—my equal,

my companion and close friend.

What good fellowship we once enjoyed

as we walked together to the house of God.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For it is not an enemy that taunts me,

or I could bear it.

It is not one who hates me that magnifies himself over me,

or I could hide myself from him.

But it is you, a man my equal,

my friend and confidant.

We who would take sweet counsel together;

in the house of God

we would walk with the throng.

KJV 1900King James Version

For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it:

Neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:

But it was thou, a man mine equal,

My guide, and mine acquaintance.

We took sweet counsel together,

And walked unto the house of God in company.

Public Domain