Mazmur 96:5

96:5 For all the gods of the nations are worthless, ¹ 

but the Lord made the sky.

Mazmur 115:4-7

115:4 Their ²  idols are made of silver and gold –

they are man-made. ³ 

115:5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,

eyes, but cannot see,

115:6 ears, but cannot hear,

noses, but cannot smell,

115:7 hands, but cannot touch,

feet, but cannot walk.

They cannot even clear their throats. ⁴ 

Mazmur 135:15

135:15 The nations’ idols are made of silver and gold,

they are man-made. ⁵ 

[96:5]  ¹ tn The Hebrew term אֱלִילִים (’elilim, “worthless”) sounds like אֱלֹהִים (’elohim, “gods”). The sound play draws attention to the statement.

[115:4]  ² tn The referent of the pronominal suffix is “the nations” (v. 2).

[115:4]  ³ tn Heb “the work of the hands of man.”

[115:7]  ⁴ tn Heb “they cannot mutter in their throats.” Verse 5a refers to speaking, v. 7c to inarticulate sounds made in the throat (see M. Dahood, Psalms [AB], 3:140-41).

[135:15]  ⁵ tn Heb “the work of the hands of man.”