Mazmur 98:1

Psalm 98 ¹ 

A psalm.

98:1 Sing to the Lord a new song, ² 

for he performs ³  amazing deeds!

His right hand and his mighty arm

accomplish deliverance. ⁴ 

Mazmur 110:2

110:2 The Lord ⁵  extends ⁶  your dominion ⁷  from Zion.

Rule in the midst of your enemies!

[98:1]  ¹ sn Psalm 98. The psalmist summons the whole earth to praise God because he reveals his justice and delivers Israel.

[98:1]  ² sn A new song is appropriate because the Lord is constantly intervening in the world as its just king. See Ps 96:1.

[98:1]  ³ tn The perfect verbal forms in vv. 1-3 are understood here as describing characteristic divine activities. Another option is to translate them as present perfects, “has performed…has accomplished deliverance, etc.” referring to completed actions that have continuing results.

[98:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “his right hand delivers for him and his holy arm.” The right hand and arm symbolize his power as a warrior-king (see Isa 52:10). His arm is “holy” in the sense that it is in a category of its own; God’s power is incomparable.

[110:2]  ⁵ tn Since the Lord is mentioned in the third person (note the use of the first person in v. 1), it is likely that these are the psalmist’s words to the king, not a continuation of the oracle per se.

[110:2]  ⁶ tn The prefixed verbal form is understood here as descriptive-dramatic or as generalizing, though it could be taken as future.

[110:2]  ⁷ tn Heb “your strong scepter,” symbolic of the king’s royal authority and dominion.