Mazmur 24:4
Konteks24:4 The one whose deeds are blameless
and whose motives are pure, 1
who does not lie, 2
or make promises with no intention of keeping them. 3
Mazmur 26:6
Konteks26:6 I maintain a pure lifestyle, 4
so I can appear before your altar, 5 O Lord,
Mazmur 73:13
Konteks73:13 I concluded, 6 “Surely in vain I have kept my motives 7 pure
and maintained a pure lifestyle. 8
[24:4] 1 tn Heb “the innocent of hands and the pure of heart.” The “hands” allude to one’s actions, the “heart” to one’s thought life and motives.
[24:4] 2 tn Heb “who does not lift up for emptiness my life.” The first person pronoun on נַפְשִׁי (nafshiy, “my life”) makes little sense here; many medieval Hebrew
[24:4] 3 tn Heb “and does not swear an oath deceitfully.”
[26:6] 4 tn Heb “I wash my hands in innocence.” The psalmist uses an image from cultic ritual to picture his moral lifestyle. The imperfect verbal emphasizes that this is his habit.
[26:6] 5 tn Heb “so I can go around your altar” (probably in ritual procession). Following the imperfect of the preceding line, the cohortative with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose or result.
[73:13] 6 tn The words “I concluded” are supplied in the translation. It is apparent that vv. 13-14 reflect the psalmist’s thoughts at an earlier time (see vv. 2-3), prior to the spiritual awakening he describes in vv. 17-28.
[73:13] 7 tn Heb “heart,” viewed here as the seat of one’s thoughts and motives.
[73:13] 8 tn Heb “and washed my hands in innocence.” The psalmist uses an image from cultic ritual to picture his moral lifestyle. The reference to “hands” suggests actions.