Mazmur 31:16

31:16 Smile ¹  on your servant!

Deliver me because of your faithfulness!

Mazmur 89:15

89:15 How blessed are the people who worship you! ² 

O Lord, they experience your favor. ³ 

Mazmur 97:11

97:11 The godly bask in the light;

the morally upright experience joy. ⁴ 

[31:16]  ¹ tn Heb “cause your face to shine.”

[89:15]  ² tn Heb “who know the shout.” “Shout” here refers to the shouts of the Lord’s worshipers (see Pss 27:6; 33:3; 47:5).

[89:15]  ³ tn Heb “in the light of your face they walk.” The idiom “light of your face” probably refers to a smile (see Eccl 8:1), which in turn suggests favor and blessing (see Num 6:25; Pss 4:6; 31:16; 44:3; 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19; Dan 9:17).

[97:11]  ⁴ tn Heb “Light is planted for the godly, and for the upright of heart joy.” The translation assumes an emendation of זָרַע (zara’, “planted”) to זָרַח (zara’, “shines”) which collocates more naturally with “light.” “Light” here symbolizes the joy (note the following line) that accompanies deliverance and the outpouring of divine favor.