Psalm 28/Notes/Verbal.v. 5.356802

• They do not regard (לֹ֤א יָבִ֡ינוּ): Qal and hiphil of בין are indistinguishable in a 3ms and 3mp yiqtol. HALOT and BDB list this instance of the verb as qal.

Yiqtol in a subordinate clause and not clause-initial. The כִּי introduces a causal clause that expresses the reasons the psalmist's enemies will be destroyed; i.e, they (regularly ) disregard YHWH's deeds and the work of his hands.

Yiqtol + no reference point movement suggests habitual aspect prompting a present tense translation in English.

• He will tear them down (יֶ֝הֶרְסֵ֗ם): Indicative is preferred over the jussive in light of the context as well as the support of both ancient and modern translations. Jerome's Hebrew Psalter ("destrues eos et non aedificabis"), the LXX ("καθελεῖς αὐτοὺς καὶ οὐ μὴ οἰκοδομήσεις αὐτούς"), and modern translations (NIV, ESV, CEV, GNT, NET, NRSV, etc.) support this reading. Nevertheless, as Andrason noted, "In numerous cases, the future (presumably indicative) yiqtol and the modal yiqtol coincide, i.e. a single form may be interpreted either as a future tense or as a modal formation." Hence, some modern translations reflect the jussive reading—"May He tear them down, never to rebuild them!" (JPS, 1985)—(cf. also NEB and REB).