Mazmur 105:1--107:43
Konteks105:1 Give thanks to the Lord!
Call on his name!
Make known his accomplishments among the nations!
105:2 Sing to him!
Make music to him!
Tell about all his miraculous deeds!
105:3 Boast about his holy name!
Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
105:4 Seek the Lord and the strength he gives!
Seek his presence continually!
105:5 Recall the miraculous deeds he performed,
his mighty acts and the judgments he decreed, 2
105:6 O children 3 of Abraham, 4 God’s 5 servant,
you descendants 6 of Jacob, God’s 7 chosen ones!
105:7 He is the Lord our God;
he carries out judgment throughout the earth. 8
105:8 He always remembers his covenantal decree,
the promise he made 9 to a thousand generations –
105:9 the promise 10 he made to Abraham,
the promise he made by oath to Isaac!
105:10 He gave it to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as a lasting promise, 11
105:11 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
as the portion of your inheritance.”
105:12 When they were few in number,
just a very few, and resident aliens within it,
105:13 they wandered from nation to nation,
and from one kingdom to another. 12
105:14 He let no one oppress them;
he disciplined kings for their sake,
105:15 saying, 13 “Don’t touch my chosen 14 ones!
Don’t harm my prophets!”
105:16 He called down a famine upon the earth;
he cut off all the food supply. 15
105:17 He sent a man ahead of them 16 –
Joseph was sold as a servant.
105:18 The shackles hurt his feet; 17
his neck was placed in an iron collar, 18
105:19 until the time when his prediction 19 came true.
The Lord’s word 20 proved him right. 21
105:20 The king authorized his release; 22
the ruler of nations set him free.
105:21 He put him in charge of his palace, 23
and made him manager of all his property,
105:22 giving him authority to imprison his officials 24
and to teach his advisers. 25
105:23 Israel moved to 26 Egypt;
Jacob lived for a time 27 in the land of Ham.
105:24 The Lord 28 made his people very fruitful,
and made them 29 more numerous than their 30 enemies.
105:25 He caused them 31 to hate his people,
and to mistreat 32 his servants.
105:26 He sent his servant Moses,
and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
105:27 They executed his miraculous signs among them, 33
and his amazing deeds in the land of Ham.
they did not disobey his orders. 35
105:29 He turned their water into blood,
and killed their fish.
105:30 Their land was overrun by frogs,
which even got into the rooms of their kings.
105:31 He ordered flies to come; 36
gnats invaded their whole territory.
105:32 He sent hail along with the rain; 37
there was lightning in their land. 38
105:33 He destroyed their vines and fig trees,
and broke the trees throughout their territory.
105:34 He ordered locusts to come, 39
innumerable grasshoppers.
105:35 They ate all the vegetation in their land,
and devoured the crops of their fields. 40
105:36 He struck down all the firstborn in their land,
the firstfruits of their reproductive power. 41
105:37 He brought his people 42 out enriched 43 with silver and gold;
none of his tribes stumbled.
105:38 Egypt was happy when they left,
for they were afraid of them. 44
105:39 He spread out a cloud for a cover, 45
and provided a fire to light up the night.
105:40 They asked for food, 46 and he sent quails;
he satisfied them with food from the sky. 47
105:41 He opened up a rock and water flowed out;
a river ran through dry regions.
105:42 Yes, 48 he remembered the sacred promise 49
he made to Abraham his servant.
105:43 When he led his people out, they rejoiced;
his chosen ones shouted with joy. 50
105:44 He handed the territory of nations over to them,
and they took possession of what other peoples had produced, 51
105:45 so that they might keep his commands
and obey 52 his laws.
Praise the Lord!
106:1 Praise the Lord!
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
and his loyal love endures! 54
106:2 Who can adequately recount the Lord’s mighty acts,
or relate all his praiseworthy deeds? 55
106:3 How blessed are those who promote justice,
and do what is right all the time!
106:4 Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people!
Pay attention to me, when you deliver,
106:5 so I may see the prosperity 56 of your chosen ones,
rejoice along with your nation, 57
and boast along with the people who belong to you. 58
106:6 We have sinned like 59 our ancestors; 60
we have done wrong, we have done evil.
106:7 Our ancestors in Egypt failed to appreciate your miraculous deeds,
they failed to remember your many acts of loyal love,
and they rebelled at the sea, by the Red Sea. 61
106:8 Yet he delivered them for the sake of his reputation, 62
that he might reveal his power.
106:9 He shouted at 63 the Red Sea and it dried up;
he led them through the deep water as if it were a desert.
106:10 He delivered them from the power 64 of the one who hated them,
and rescued 65 them from the power 66 of the enemy.
106:11 The water covered their enemies;
not even one of them survived. 67
106:12 They believed his promises; 68
they sang praises to him.
106:13 They quickly forgot what he had done; 69
they did not wait for his instructions. 70
106:14 In the wilderness they had an insatiable craving 71 for meat; 72
they challenged God 73 in the desert.
106:15 He granted their request,
then struck them with a disease. 74
106:16 In the camp they resented 75 Moses,
and Aaron, the Lord’s holy priest. 76
106:17 The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan;
it engulfed 77 the group led by Abiram. 78
106:18 Fire burned their group;
the flames scorched the wicked. 79
106:19 They made an image of a calf at Horeb,
and worshiped a metal idol.
106:20 They traded their majestic God 80
for the image of an ox that eats grass.
106:21 They rejected 81 the God who delivered them,
the one who performed great deeds in Egypt,
106:22 amazing feats in the land of Ham,
mighty 82 acts by the Red Sea.
106:23 He threatened 83 to destroy them,
but 84 Moses, his chosen one, interceded with him 85
and turned back his destructive anger. 86
106:24 They rejected the fruitful land; 87
they did not believe his promise. 88
106:25 They grumbled in their tents; 89
they did not obey 90 the Lord.
106:26 So he made a solemn vow 91
that he would make them die 92 in the desert,
106:27 make their descendants 93 die 94 among the nations,
and scatter them among foreign lands. 95
106:28 They worshiped 96 Baal of Peor,
and ate sacrifices offered to the dead. 97
106:29 They made the Lord angry 98 by their actions,
and a plague broke out among them.
106:30 Phinehas took a stand and intervened, 99
and the plague subsided.
106:31 This brought him a reward,
an eternal gift. 100
106:32 They made him angry by the waters of Meribah,
and Moses suffered 101 because of them,
106:33 for they aroused 102 his temper, 103
and he spoke rashly. 104
106:34 They did not destroy the nations, 105
as the Lord had commanded them to do.
106:35 They mixed in with the nations
and learned their ways. 106
106:36 They worshiped 107 their idols,
which became a snare to them. 108
106:37 They sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons. 109
106:38 They shed innocent blood –
the blood of their sons and daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan.
The land was polluted by bloodshed. 110
106:39 They were defiled by their deeds,
and unfaithful in their actions. 111
106:40 So the Lord was angry with his people 112
and despised the people who belong to him. 113
106:41 He handed them over to 114 the nations,
and those who hated them ruled over them.
106:42 Their enemies oppressed them;
they were subject to their authority. 115
106:43 Many times he delivered 116 them,
but they had a rebellious attitude, 117
and degraded themselves 118 by their sin.
106:44 Yet he took notice of their distress,
when he heard their cry for help.
106:45 He remembered his covenant with them,
and relented 119 because of his great loyal love.
106:46 He caused all their conquerors 120
to have pity on them.
106:47 Deliver us, O Lord, our God!
Gather us from among the nations!
Then we will give thanks 121 to your holy name,
and boast about your praiseworthy deeds. 122
106:48 The Lord God of Israel deserves praise, 123
in the future and forevermore. 124
Let all the people say, “We agree! 125 Praise the Lord!” 126
Book 5
(Psalms 107-150)
107:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
and his loyal love endures! 128
107:2 Let those delivered by the Lord speak out, 129
those whom he delivered 130 from the power 131 of the enemy,
107:3 and gathered from foreign lands, 132
from east and west,
from north and south.
107:4 They wandered through the wilderness on a desert road;
they found no city in which to live.
107:5 They were hungry and thirsty;
they fainted from exhaustion. 133
107:6 They cried out to the Lord in their distress;
he delivered them from their troubles.
107:7 He led them on a level road, 134
that they might find a city in which to live.
107:8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his loyal love,
and for the amazing things he has done for people! 135
107:9 For he has satisfied those who thirst, 136
and those who hunger he has filled with food. 137
107:10 They sat in utter darkness, 138
bound in painful iron chains, 139
107:11 because they had rebelled against God’s commands, 140
and rejected the instructions of the sovereign king. 141
107:12 So he used suffering to humble them; 142
they stumbled and no one helped them up.
107:13 They cried out to the Lord in their distress;
he delivered them from their troubles.
107:14 He brought them out of the utter darkness, 143
and tore off their shackles.
107:15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his loyal love,
and for the amazing things he has done for people! 144
107:16 For he shattered the bronze gates,
and hacked through the iron bars. 145
107:17 They acted like fools in their rebellious ways, 146
and suffered because of their sins.
107:18 They lost their appetite for all food, 147
and they drew near the gates of death.
107:19 They cried out to the Lord in their distress;
he delivered them from their troubles.
107:20 He sent them an assuring word 148 and healed them;
he rescued them from the pits where they were trapped. 149
107:21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his loyal love,
and for the amazing things he has done for people! 150
107:22 Let them present thank offerings,
and loudly proclaim what he has done! 151
107:23 152 Some traveled on 153 the sea in ships,
and carried cargo over the vast waters. 154
107:24 They witnessed the acts of the Lord,
his amazing feats on the deep water.
107:25 He gave the order for a windstorm, 155
and it stirred up the waves of the sea. 156
107:26 They 157 reached up to the sky,
then dropped into the depths.
The sailors’ strength 158 left them 159 because the danger was so great. 160
107:27 They swayed 161 and staggered like a drunk,
and all their skill proved ineffective. 162
107:28 They cried out to the Lord in their distress;
he delivered them from their troubles.
107:29 He calmed the storm, 163
and the waves 164 grew silent.
107:30 The sailors 165 rejoiced because the waves 166 grew quiet,
and he led them to the harbor 167 they desired.
107:31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his loyal love,
and for the amazing things he has done for people! 168
107:32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people!
Let them praise him in the place where the leaders preside! 169
107:33 He turned 170 streams into a desert,
springs of water into arid land,
107:34 and a fruitful land into a barren place, 171
because of the sin of its inhabitants.
107:35 As for his people, 172 he turned 173 a desert into a pool of water,
and a dry land into springs of water.
107:36 He allowed the hungry to settle there,
and they established a city in which to live.
107:37 They cultivated 174 fields,
and planted vineyards,
which yielded a harvest of fruit. 175
107:38 He blessed 176 them so that they became very numerous.
He would not allow their cattle to decrease in number. 177
107:39 As for their enemies, 178 they decreased in number and were beaten down,
because of painful distress 179 and suffering.
107:40 He would pour 180 contempt upon princes,
and he made them wander in a wasteland with no road.
107:41 Yet he protected 181 the needy from oppression,
and cared for his families like a flock of sheep.
107:42 When the godly see this, they rejoice,
and every sinner 182 shuts his mouth.
107:43 Whoever is wise, let him take note of these things!
Let them consider the Lord’s acts of loyal love!
Mazmur 111:1--118:29
Konteks111:1 Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the assembly of the godly and the congregation.
111:2 The Lord’s deeds are great,
eagerly awaited 184 by all who desire them.
111:3 His work is majestic and glorious, 185
and his faithfulness endures 186 forever.
111:4 He does 187 amazing things that will be remembered; 188
the Lord is merciful and compassionate.
111:5 He gives 189 food to his faithful followers; 190
he always remembers his covenant. 191
111:6 He announced that he would do mighty deeds for his people,
giving them a land that belonged to other nations. 192
111:7 His acts are characterized by 193 faithfulness and justice;
all his precepts are reliable. 194
111:8 They are forever firm,
and should be faithfully and properly carried out. 195
111:9 He delivered his people; 196
he ordained that his covenant be observed forever. 197
His name is holy and awesome.
111:10 To obey the Lord is the fundamental principle for wise living; 198
all who carry out his precepts acquire good moral insight. 199
He will receive praise forever. 200
112:1 Praise the Lord!
How blessed is the one 202 who obeys 203 the Lord,
who takes great delight in keeping his commands. 204
112:2 His descendants 205 will be powerful on the earth;
the godly 206 will be blessed.
112:3 His house contains wealth and riches;
his integrity endures. 207
112:4 In the darkness a light 208 shines for the godly,
for each one who is merciful, compassionate, and just. 209
112:5 It goes well for the one 210 who generously lends money,
and conducts his business honestly. 211
112:6 For he will never be upended;
others will always remember one who is just. 212
112:7 He does not fear bad news.
He 213 is confident; he trusts 214 in the Lord.
112:8 His resolve 215 is firm; he will not succumb to fear
before he looks in triumph on his enemies.
112:9 He generously gives 216 to the needy;
his integrity endures. 217
He will be vindicated and honored. 218
112:10 When the wicked 219 see this, they will worry;
they will grind their teeth in frustration 220 and melt away;
the desire of the wicked will perish. 221
113:1 Praise the Lord!
Praise, you servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
113:2 May the Lord’s name be praised
now and forevermore!
the Lord’s name is deserving of praise.
113:4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations;
his splendor reaches beyond the sky. 224
113:5 Who can compare to the Lord our God,
who sits on a high throne? 225
113:6 He bends down to look 226
at the sky and the earth.
113:7 He raises the poor from the dirt,
and lifts up the needy from the garbage pile, 227
113:8 that he might seat him with princes,
with the princes of his people.
113:9 He makes the barren woman of the family 228
a happy mother of children. 229
Praise the Lord!
114:1 When Israel left Egypt,
when the family of Jacob left a foreign nation behind, 231
114:2 Judah became his sanctuary,
Israel his kingdom.
114:3 The sea looked and fled; 232
the Jordan River 233 turned back. 234
114:4 The mountains skipped like rams,
the hills like lambs. 235
114:5 Why do you flee, O sea?
Why do you turn back, O Jordan River?
114:6 Why do you skip like rams, O mountains,
like lambs, O hills?
114:7 Tremble, O earth, before the Lord –
before the God of Jacob,
114:8 who turned a rock into a pool of water,
a hard rock into springs of water! 236
115:1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us!
But to your name bring honor, 238
for the sake of your loyal love and faithfulness. 239
115:2 Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
115:3 Our God is in heaven!
He does whatever he pleases! 240
115:4 Their 241 idols are made of silver and gold –
they are man-made. 242
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. 243
115:8 Those who make them will end up 244 like them,
as will everyone who trusts in them.
115:9 O Israel, trust in the Lord!
He is their deliverer 245 and protector. 246
115:10 O family 247 of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
He is their deliverer 248 and protector. 249
115:11 You loyal followers of the Lord, 250 trust in the Lord!
He is their deliverer 251 and protector. 252
115:12 The Lord takes notice of us, 253 he will bless 254 –
he will bless the family 255 of Israel,
he will bless the family of Aaron.
115:13 He will bless his loyal followers, 256
both young and old. 257
115:14 May he increase your numbers,
yours and your children’s! 258
115:15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
the creator 259 of heaven and earth!
115:16 The heavens belong to the Lord, 260
but the earth he has given to mankind. 261
115:17 The dead do not praise the Lord,
nor do any of those who descend into the silence of death. 262
115:18 But we will praise the Lord
now and forevermore.
Praise the Lord!
116:1 I love the Lord
because he heard my plea for mercy, 264
As long as I live, I will call to him when I need help. 266
116:3 The ropes of death tightened around me, 267
the snares 268 of Sheol confronted me.
I was confronted 269 with trouble and sorrow.
116:4 I called on the name of the Lord,
“Please Lord, rescue my life!”
116:5 The Lord is merciful and fair;
our God is compassionate.
116:6 The Lord protects 270 the untrained; 271
I was in serious trouble 272 and he delivered me.
116:7 Rest once more, my soul, 273
for the Lord has vindicated you. 274
116:8 Yes, 275 Lord, 276 you rescued my life from death,
and kept my feet from stumbling.
116:9 I will serve 277 the Lord
in the land 278 of the living.
116:10 I had faith when I said,
“I am severely oppressed.”
“All men are liars.”
116:12 How can I repay the Lord
for all his acts of kindness to me?
116:13 I will celebrate my deliverance, 280
and call on the name of the Lord.
116:14 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
before all his people.
116:15 The Lord values
the lives of his faithful followers. 281
116:16 Yes, Lord! I am indeed your servant;
I am your lowest slave. 282
You saved me from death. 283
116:17 I will present a thank offering to you,
and call on the name of the Lord.
116:18 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
before all his people,
116:19 in the courts of the Lord’s temple,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!
117:1 Praise the Lord, all you nations!
Applaud him, all you foreigners! 285
117:2 For his loyal love towers 286 over us,
and the Lord’s faithfulness endures.
Praise the Lord!
118:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
and his loyal love endures! 288
118:2 Let Israel say,
“Yes, his loyal love endures!”
118:3 Let the family 289 of Aaron say,
“Yes, his loyal love endures!”
118:4 Let the loyal followers of the Lord 290 say,
“Yes, his loyal love endures!”
118:5 In my distress 291 I cried out to the Lord.
The Lord answered me and put me in a wide open place. 292
118:6 The Lord is on my side, 293 I am not afraid!
What can people do to me? 294
118:7 The Lord is on my side 295 as my helper. 296
I look in triumph on those who hate me.
118:8 It is better to take shelter 297 in the Lord
than to trust in people.
118:9 It is better to take shelter in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
118:10 All the nations surrounded me. 298
Indeed, in the name of the Lord 299 I pushed them away. 300
118:11 They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me.
Indeed, in the name of the Lord I pushed them away.
118:12 They surrounded me like bees.
But they disappeared as quickly 301 as a fire among thorns. 302
Indeed, in the name of the Lord I pushed them away.
118:13 “You aggressively attacked me 303 and tried to knock me down, 304
but the Lord helped me.
118:14 The Lord gives me strength and protects me; 305
he has become my deliverer.” 306
118:15 They celebrate deliverance in the tents of the godly. 307
The Lord’s right hand conquers, 308
118:16 the Lord’s right hand gives victory, 309
the Lord’s right hand conquers.
118:17 I will not die, but live,
and I will proclaim what the Lord has done. 310
118:18 The Lord severely 311 punished me,
but he did not hand me over to death.
118:19 Open for me the gates of the just king’s temple! 312
I will enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
118:20 This is the Lord’s gate –
the godly enter through it.
118:21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me,
and have become my deliverer.
118:22 The stone which the builders discarded 313
has become the cornerstone. 314
118:23 This is the Lord’s work.
We consider it amazing! 315
118:24 This is the day the Lord has brought about. 316
We will be happy and rejoice in it.
118:25 Please Lord, deliver!
Please Lord, grant us success! 317
118:26 May the one who comes in the name of the Lord 318 be blessed!
We will pronounce blessings on you 319 in the Lord’s temple. 320
118:27 The Lord is God and he has delivered us. 321
Tie the offering 322 with ropes
to the horns of the altar! 323
118:28 You are my 324 God and I will give you thanks!
You are my God and I will praise you!
118:29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
and his loyal love endures! 325
Mazmur 135:1--136:26
Konteks135:1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the name of the Lord!
Offer praise, you servants of the Lord,
135:2 who serve 327 in the Lord’s temple,
in the courts of the temple of our God.
135:3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good!
Sing praises to his name, for it is pleasant! 328
135:4 Indeed, 329 the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel to be his special possession. 330
135:5 Yes, 331 I know the Lord is great,
and our Lord is superior to all gods.
135:6 He does whatever he pleases
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all the ocean depths.
135:7 He causes the clouds to arise from the end of the earth,
makes lightning bolts accompany the rain,
and brings the wind out of his storehouses.
135:8 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
including both men and animals.
135:9 He performed awesome deeds 332 and acts of judgment 333
in your midst, O Egypt,
against Pharaoh and all his servants.
135:10 He defeated many nations,
and killed mighty kings –
135:11 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
and Og, king of Bashan,
and all the kingdoms of Canaan.
135:12 He gave their land as an inheritance,
as an inheritance to Israel his people.
135:13 O Lord, your name endures, 334
your reputation, O Lord, lasts. 335
135:14 For the Lord vindicates 336 his people,
and has compassion on his servants. 337
135:15 The nations’ idols are made of silver and gold,
they are man-made. 338
135:16 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see,
135:17 and ears, but cannot hear.
Indeed, they cannot breathe. 339
135:18 Those who make them will end up 340 like them,
as will everyone who trusts in them.
135:19 O family 341 of Israel, praise the Lord!
O family of Aaron, praise the Lord!
135:20 O family of Levi, praise the Lord!
You loyal followers 342 of the Lord, praise the Lord!
135:21 The Lord deserves praise in Zion 343 –
he who dwells in Jerusalem. 344
Praise the Lord!
136:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his loyal love endures. 346
136:2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his loyal love endures.
136:3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his loyal love endures,
136:4 to the one who performs magnificent, amazing deeds all by himself,
for his loyal love endures,
136:5 to the one who used wisdom to make the heavens,
for his loyal love endures,
136:6 to the one who spread out the earth over the water,
for his loyal love endures,
136:7 to the one who made the great lights,
for his loyal love endures,
136:8 the sun to rule by day,
for his loyal love endures,
136:9 the moon and stars to rule by night,
for his loyal love endures,
136:10 to the one who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
for his loyal love endures,
136:11 and led Israel out from their midst,
for his loyal love endures,
136:12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his loyal love endures,
136:13 to the one who divided 347 the Red Sea 348 in two, 349
for his loyal love endures,
136:14 and led Israel through its midst,
for his loyal love endures,
136:15 and tossed 350 Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea,
for his loyal love endures,
136:16 to the one who led his people through the wilderness,
for his loyal love endures,
136:17 to the one who struck down great kings,
for his loyal love endures,
136:18 and killed powerful kings,
for his loyal love endures,
136:19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his loyal love endures,
136:20 Og, king of Bashan,
for his loyal love endures,
136:21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
for his loyal love endures,
136:22 as an inheritance to Israel his servant,
for his loyal love endures,
136:23 to the one who remembered us when we were down, 351
for his loyal love endures,
136:24 and snatched us away from our enemies,
for his loyal love endures,
136:25 to the one who gives food to all living things, 352
for his loyal love endures.
136:26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his loyal love endures!
Mazmur 146:1--150:6
Konteks146:1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
146:2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live!
I will sing praises to my God as long as I exist!
146:3 Do not trust in princes,
or in human beings, who cannot deliver! 354
146:4 Their life’s breath departs, they return to the ground;
on that day their plans die. 355
146:5 How blessed is the one whose helper is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
146:6 the one who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who remains forever faithful, 356
146:7 vindicates the oppressed, 357
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord releases the imprisoned.
146:8 The Lord gives sight to the blind.
The Lord lifts up all who are bent over. 358
The Lord loves the godly.
146:9 The Lord protects those residing outside their native land;
he lifts up the fatherless and the widow, 359
but he opposes the wicked. 360
146:10 The Lord rules forever,
your God, O Zion, throughout the generations to come! 361
Praise the Lord!
147:1 Praise the Lord,
for it is good to sing praises to our God!
Yes, 363 praise is pleasant and appropriate!
147:2 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem, 364
and gathers the exiles of Israel.
147:3 He heals 365 the brokenhearted,
and bandages their wounds.
147:4 He counts the number of the stars;
he names all of them.
147:5 Our Lord is great and has awesome power; 366
there is no limit to his wisdom. 367
147:6 The Lord lifts up the oppressed,
but knocks 368 the wicked to the ground.
147:7 Offer to the Lord a song of thanks! 369
Sing praises to our God to the accompaniment of a harp!
147:8 He covers 370 the sky with clouds,
provides the earth with rain,
and causes grass to grow on the hillsides. 371
147:9 He gives food to the animals,
and to the young ravens when they chirp. 372
147:10 He is not enamored with the strength of a horse,
nor is he impressed by the warrior’s strong legs. 373
147:11 The Lord takes delight in his faithful followers, 374
and in those who wait for his loyal love.
147:12 Extol the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
147:13 For he makes the bars of your gates strong.
He blesses your children 375 within you.
147:14 He 376 brings peace to your territory. 377
He abundantly provides for you 378 the best grain.
147:15 He 379 sends his command through the earth; 380
swiftly his order reaches its destination. 381
147:16 He sends the snow that is white like wool;
he spreads the frost that is white like ashes. 382
147:17 He throws his hailstones 383 like crumbs.
Who can withstand the cold wind he sends? 384
147:18 He then orders it all to melt; 385
he breathes on it, 386 and the water flows.
147:19 He proclaims his word to Jacob,
his statutes and regulations to Israel.
147:20 He has not done so with any other nation;
they are not aware of his regulations.
Praise the Lord!
148:1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the sky!
Praise him in the heavens!
148:2 Praise him, all his angels! 388
Praise him, all his heavenly assembly! 389
148:3 Praise him, O sun and moon!
Praise him, all you shiny stars! 390
148:4 Praise him, O highest heaven,
and you waters above the sky! 391
148:5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for he gave the command and they came into existence.
148:6 He established them so they would endure; 392
he issued a decree that will not be revoked. 393
148:7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea creatures and all you ocean depths,
148:8 O fire and hail, snow and clouds, 394
O stormy wind that carries out his orders, 395
148:9 you mountains and all you hills,
you fruit trees and all you cedars,
148:10 you animals and all you cattle,
you creeping things and birds,
148:11 you kings of the earth and all you nations,
you princes and all you leaders 396 on the earth,
148:12 you young men and young women,
you elderly, along with you children!
148:13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty extends over the earth and sky.
148:14 He has made his people victorious, 397
and given all his loyal followers reason to praise –
the Israelites, the people who are close to him. 398
Praise the Lord!
149:1 Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song!
Praise him in the assembly of the godly! 400
149:2 Let Israel rejoice in their Creator!
Let the people 401 of Zion delight in their king! 402
149:3 Let them praise his name with dancing!
Let them sing praises to him to the accompaniment of the tambourine and harp!
149:4 For the Lord takes delight in his people;
he exalts the oppressed by delivering them. 403
149:5 Let the godly rejoice because of their vindication! 404
Let them shout for joy upon their beds! 405
149:6 May they praise God
while they hold a two-edged sword in their hand, 406
149:7 in order to take 407 revenge on the nations,
and punish foreigners.
149:8 They bind 408 their kings in chains,
and their nobles in iron shackles,
149:9 and execute the judgment to which their enemies 409 have been sentenced. 410
All his loyal followers will be vindicated. 411
Praise the Lord!
150:1 Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary!
Praise him in the sky, which testifies to his strength! 413
150:2 Praise him for his mighty acts!
Praise him for his surpassing greatness!
150:3 Praise him with the blast of the horn!
Praise him with the lyre and the harp!
150:4 Praise him with the tambourine and with dancing!
Praise him with stringed instruments and the flute!
150:5 Praise him with loud cymbals!
Praise him with clanging cymbals!
150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
[105:1] 1 sn Psalm 105. The psalmist summons Israel to praise God because he delivered his people from Egypt in fulfillment of his covenantal promises to Abraham. A parallel version of vv. 1-15 appears in 1 Chr 16:8-22.
[105:5] 2 tn Heb “and the judgments of his mouth.”
[105:6] 3 tn Or “offspring”; Heb “seed.”
[105:6] 4 tc Some
[105:6] 5 tn Heb “his”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[105:6] 7 tn Heb “his”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[105:7] 8 tn Heb “in all the earth [are] his judgments.”
[105:8] 9 tn Heb “[the] word he commanded.” The text refers here to God’s unconditional covenantal promise to Abraham and the patriarchs, as vv. 10-12 make clear.
[105:10] 11 tn Or “eternal covenant.”
[105:13] 12 tn Heb “and from a kingdom to another nation.”
[105:15] 13 tn The word “saying” is supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
[105:15] 14 tn Heb “anointed.”
[105:16] 15 tn Heb “and every staff of food he broke.” The psalmist refers to the famine that occurred in Joseph’s time (see v. 17 and Gen 41:53-57).
[105:17] 16 tn After the reference to the famine in v. 16, v. 17 flashes back to events that preceded the famine (see Gen 37).
[105:18] 17 tn Heb “they afflicted his feet with shackles.”
[105:18] 18 tn Heb “his neck came [into] iron.” The Hebrew term נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh) with the suffix could mean simply “he” or “his life.” But the nuance “neck” makes good sense here (note the reference to his “feet” in the preceding line). See L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 38.
[105:19] 19 tn Heb “word,” probably referring to Joseph’s prediction about the fate of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker (see Gen 41:9-14).
[105:19] 20 tn This line may refer to Joseph’s prediction of the famine in response to Pharaoh’s dream. Joseph emphasized to Pharaoh that the interpretation of the dream came from God (see Gen 41:16, 25, 28, 32, 39).
[105:19] 21 tn Heb “refined him.”
[105:20] 22 tn Heb “[the] king sent and set him free.”
[105:21] 23 tn Heb “he made him master of his house.”
[105:22] 24 tn Heb “to bind his officials by his will.”
[105:22] 25 tn Heb “and his elders he taught wisdom.”
[105:23] 27 tn Heb “lived as a resident alien.”
[105:24] 28 tn Heb “and he”; the referent (the
[105:24] 29 tn Heb “him,” referring to “his people.”
[105:24] 30 tn Heb “his,” referring to “his people.”
[105:25] 31 tn Heb “their heart.”
[105:25] 32 tn Or “to deal deceptively.” The Hitpael of נָכַל (nakhal) occurs only here and in Gen 37:18, where it is used of Joseph’s brothers “plotting” to kill him.
[105:27] 33 tn Apparently the pronoun refers to “his servants” (i.e., the Israelites, see v. 25).
[105:28] 34 tn Heb “he sent darkness and made it dark.”
[105:28] sn He made it dark. The psalmist begins with the ninth plague (see Exod 10:21-29).
[105:28] 35 tn Heb “they did not rebel against his words.” Apparently this refers to Moses and Aaron, who obediently carried out God’s orders.
[105:31] 36 tn Heb “he spoke and flies came.”
[105:32] 37 tn Heb “he gave their rains hail.”
[105:32] 38 tn Heb “fire of flames [was] in their land.”
[105:34] 39 tn Heb “he spoke and locusts came.”
[105:35] 40 tn Heb “the fruit of their ground.”
[105:36] 41 tn Heb “the beginning of all their strength,” that is, reproductive power (see Ps 78:51).
[105:36] sn Verses 28-36 recall the plagues in a different order than the one presented in Exodus: v. 28 (plague 9), v. 29 (plague 1), v. 30 (plague 2), v. 31a (plague 4), v. 31b (plague 3), vv. 32-33 (plague 7), vv. 34-35 (plague 8), v. 36 (plague 10). No reference is made in Ps 105 to plagues 5 and 6.
[105:37] 42 tn Heb “them”; the referent (the
[105:37] 43 tn The word “enriched” is supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
[105:38] 44 tn Heb “for fear of them had fallen upon them.”
[105:40] 46 tn Heb “he [i.e., his people] asked.” The singular form should probably be emended to a plural שָׁאֲלוּ (sha’alu, “they asked”), the vav (ו) having fallen off by haplography (note the vav at the beginning of the following form).
[105:40] 47 tn Or “bread of heaven.” The reference is to manna (see Exod 16:4, 13-15).
[105:42] 49 tn Heb “his holy word.”
[105:43] 50 tn Heb “and he led his people out with joy, with a ringing cry, his chosen ones.”
[105:44] 51 tn Heb “and the [product of the] work of peoples they possessed.”
[106:1] 53 sn Psalm 106. The psalmist recalls Israel’s long history of rebellion against God, despite his mighty saving deeds on their behalf.
[106:1] 54 tn Heb “for forever [is] his loyal love.”
[106:2] 55 tn Heb “[or] cause to be heard all his praise.”
[106:5] 57 tn Heb “in order that [I may] rejoice with the rejoicing of your nation.”
[106:5] 58 tn Heb “with your inheritance.”
[106:6] 60 tn Heb “fathers” (also in v. 7).
[106:7] 61 tn Heb “Reed Sea” (also in vv. 9, 22). “Reed Sea” (or “Sea of Reeds”) is a more accurate rendering of the Hebrew expression יָם סוּף (yam suf), traditionally translated “Red Sea.” See the note on the term “Red Sea” in Exod 13:18.
[106:7] sn They rebelled. The psalmist recalls the people’s complaint recorded in Exod 14:12.
[106:8] 62 tn Heb “his name,” which here stands metonymically for God’s reputation.
[106:11] 67 tn Heb “remained.”
[106:12] 68 tn Heb “his words.”
[106:13] 69 tn Heb “his works.”
[106:13] 70 tn Heb “his counsel.”
[106:14] 71 sn They had an insatiable craving. This is described in Num 11:4-35.
[106:14] 72 tn Heb “they craved [with] a craving.”
[106:14] 73 tn Heb “they tested God.”
[106:15] 74 tn Heb “and he sent leanness into their being.”
[106:15] sn Disease. See Num 11:33-34, where this plague is described.
[106:16] 76 tn Heb “the holy one of the
[106:17] 78 tn Or “the assembly of Abiram.”
[106:18] 79 sn Verses 16-18 describe the events of Num 16:1-40.
[106:20] 80 tn Heb “their glory.” According to an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition, the text originally read “his glory” or “my glory.” In Jer 2:11 the
[106:22] 82 tn Or “awe-inspiring.”
[106:23] 83 tn Heb “and he said.”
[106:23] 84 tn Heb “if not,” that is, “[and would have] if [Moses] had not.”
[106:23] 85 tn Heb “stood in the gap before him.”
[106:23] 86 tn Heb “to turn back his anger from destroying.”
[106:23] sn Verses 19-23 describe the events of Exod 32:1-35.
[106:24] 87 tn Heb “a land of delight” (see also Jer 3:19; Zech 7:14).
[106:24] 88 tn Heb “his word.”
[106:25] 89 sn They grumbled in their tents. See Deut 1:27.
[106:25] 90 tn Heb “did not listen to the voice of.”
[106:26] 91 tn Heb “and he lifted his hand to [or “concerning”] them.” The idiom “to lift a hand” here refers to swearing an oath. One would sometimes solemnly lift one’s hand when making such a vow (see Ezek 20:5-6, 15).
[106:26] 92 tn Heb “to cause them to fall.”
[106:27] 93 tn Or “offspring”; Heb “seed.”
[106:27] 94 tn Heb “and to cause their offspring to fall.” Some emend the verb to “scatter” to form tighter parallelism with the following line (cf. NRSV “disperse”).
[106:27] 95 tn Heb “among the lands.” The word “foreign” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
[106:28] 96 tn Heb “joined themselves to.”
[106:28] sn They worshiped Baal of Peor. See Num 25:3, 5. Baal of Peor was a local manifestation of the Canaanite deity Baal located at Peor.
[106:28] 97 tn Here “the dead” may refer to deceased ancestors (see Deut 26:14). Another option is to understand the term as a derogatory reference to the various deities which the Israelites worshiped at Peor along with Baal (see Num 25:2 and L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 [WBC], 49).
[106:29] 98 tn Heb “They made angry [him].” The pronominal suffix is omitted here, but does appear in a few medieval Hebrew
[106:30] 99 sn The intervention of Phinehas is recounted in Num 25:7-8.
[106:31] 100 tn Heb “and it was reckoned to him for righteousness, to a generation and a generation forever.” The verb חָשַׁב (khashav, “to reckon”) is collocated with צְדָקָה (tsÿdaqah, “righteousness”) only in Ps 106:31 and Gen 15:6, where God rewards Abram’s faith with a land grant.
[106:31] sn Brought him a reward. See Num 25:12-13.
[106:32] 101 tn Heb “there was harm to Moses.”
[106:33] 102 tn The Hebrew text vocalizes the form as הִמְרוּ (himru), a Hiphil from מָרָה (marah, “to behave rebelliously”), but the verb fits better with the object (“his spirit”) if it is revocalized as הֵמֵרוּ (hemeru), a Hiphil from מָרַר (marar, “to be bitter”). The Israelites “embittered” Moses’ “spirit” in the sense that they aroused his temper with their complaints.
[106:33] 103 tn Heb “his spirit.”
[106:33] 104 tn The Hebrew text adds “with his lips,” but this has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[106:33] sn Verses 32-33 allude to the events of Num 20:1-13.
[106:34] 105 tn That is, the nations of Canaan.
[106:35] 106 tn Heb “their deeds.”
[106:36] 108 sn Became a snare. See Exod 23:33; Judg 2:3.
[106:37] 109 tn The Hebrew term שֵׁדִים (shedim, “demons”) occurs only here and in Deut 32:17. Some type of lesser deity is probably in view.
[106:38] 110 sn Num 35:33-34 explains that bloodshed defiles a land.
[106:39] 111 tn Heb “and they committed adultery in their actions.” This means that they were unfaithful to the
[106:40] 112 tn Heb “the anger of the
[106:40] 113 tn Heb “his inheritance.”
[106:41] 114 tn Heb “gave them into the hand of.”
[106:42] 115 tn Heb “they were subdued under their hand.”
[106:43] 116 tn The prefixed verbal form is either preterite or imperfect, in which case it is customary, describing repeated action in past time (“he would deliver”).
[106:43] 117 tn Heb “but they rebelled in their counsel.” The prefixed verbal form is either preterite or imperfect, in which case it is customary, describing repeated action in past time (“they would have a rebellious attitude”).
[106:43] 118 tn Heb “they sank down.” The Hebrew verb מָכַךְ (makhakh, “to lower; to sink”) occurs only here in the Qal.
[106:45] 119 tn The Niphal of נָחַם (nakham) refers here to God relenting from a punishment already underway.
[106:47] 121 tn Heb “to give thanks.” The infinitive construct indicates result after the imperative.
[106:47] 122 tn Heb “to boast in your praise.”
[106:48] 123 tn Heb “[be] blessed.” See Pss 18:46; 28:6; 31:21.
[106:48] 124 tn Heb “from everlasting to everlasting.”
[106:48] 125 tn Heb “surely” (אָמֵן, ’amen), traditionally transliterated “amen.”
[106:48] 126 sn The final verse (v. 48) is a conclusion to this fourth “book” (or major editorial division) of the Psalter. Similar statements appear at or near the end of each of the first, second and third “books” of the Psalter (see Pss 41:13; 72:18-19; 89:52, respectively).
[107:1] 127 sn Psalm 107. The psalmist praises God for his kindness to his exiled people.
[107:1] 128 tn Heb “for forever [is] his loyal love.”
[107:2] 129 tn Or “let the redeemed of the
[107:3] 132 tn Heb “from lands.” The word “foreign” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
[107:5] 133 tn Heb “and their soul in them fainted.”
[107:7] 134 sn A level road. See Jer 31:9.
[107:8] 135 tn Heb “and [for] his amazing deeds for the sons of man.”
[107:9] 136 tn Heb “[the] longing throat.” The noun נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh), which frequently refers to one’s very being or soul, here probably refers to one’s parched “throat” (note the parallelism with נֶפֱשׁ רְעֵבָה, nefesh rÿ’evah, “hungry throat”).
[107:9] 137 tn Heb “and [the] hungry throat he has filled [with] good.”
[107:10] 138 tn Heb “those who sat in darkness and deep darkness.” Synonyms are joined here to emphasize the degree of “darkness” experienced by the exiles. The Hebrew term צַלְמָוֶת (tsalmavet, “deep darkness”) has traditionally been understood as a compound noun, meaning “shadow of death” (צֵל + מָוֶת [tsel + mavet]; see BDB 853 s.v. צַלְמָוֶת; cf. NASB). Other authorities prefer to vocalize the form צַלְמוּת (tsalmut) and understand it as an abstract noun (from the root צלם) meaning “darkness.” An examination of the word’s usage favors the latter derivation. It is frequently associated with darkness/night and contrasted with light/morning (see Job 3:5; 10:21-22; 12:22; 24:17; 28:3; 34:22; Ps 107:10, 14; Isa 9:1; Jer 13:16; Amos 5:8). In some cases the darkness described is associated with the realm of death (Job 10:21-22; 38:17), but this is a metaphorical application of the word and does not reflect its inherent meaning. In Ps 107:10 the word refers metonymically to a dungeon, which in turn metaphorically depicts the place of Israel’s exile (see vv. 2-3).
[107:10] 139 tn Heb “those bound in suffering and iron.” “Suffering and iron” is a hendiadys (like English “good and angry”), where both words contribute to one idea. In this case the first word characterizes the second; the iron (chains) contribute to the prisoners’ pain and suffering.
[107:11] 140 tn Heb “the words of God.”
[107:11] 141 tn Heb “the counsel of the Most High.”
[107:12] 142 tn Heb “and he subdued with suffering their heart.”
[107:14] 143 tn Heb “darkness and deep darkness.” See the note on the word “darkness” in v. 10.
[107:15] 144 tn Heb “and [for] his amazing deeds for the sons of man.” See v. 8.
[107:16] 145 sn The language of v. 16 recalls Isa 45:2.
[107:17] 146 tn Heb “fools [they were] because of the way of their rebellion.”
[107:18] 147 tn Heb “all food their appetite loathed.”
[107:20] 148 tn Heb “he sent his word.” This probably refers to an oracle of assurance which announced his intention to intervene (see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 [WBC], 59).
[107:20] 149 tn Heb “he rescued from their traps.” The Hebrew word שְׁחִית (shekhit, “trap”) occurs only here and in Lam 4:20, where it refers to a trap or pit in which one is captured. Because of the rarity of the term and the absence of an object with the verb “rescued,” some prefer to emend the text of Ps 107:20, reading מִשַׁחַת חַיָּתָם (mishakhat khayyatam, “[he rescued] their lives from the pit”). Note also NIV “from the grave,” which interprets the “pit” as Sheol or the grave.
[107:21] 150 tn Heb “and [for] his amazing deeds for the sons of man.” See v. 8.
[107:22] 151 tn Heb “and let them proclaim his works with a ringing cry.”
[107:23] 152 sn Verses 23-30, which depict the Lord rescuing sailors from a storm at sea, do not seem to describe the exiles’ situation, unless the word picture is metaphorical. Perhaps the psalmist here broadens his scope and offers an example of God’s kindness to the needy beyond the covenant community.
[107:23] 153 tn Heb “those going down [into].”
[107:23] 154 tn Heb “doers of work on the mighty waters.”
[107:25] 155 tn Heb “he spoke and caused to stand a stormy wind.”
[107:25] 156 tn Heb “and it stirred up its [i.e., the sea’s, see v. 23] waves.”
[107:26] 157 tn That is, the waves (see v. 25).
[107:26] 158 tn Heb “their being”; traditionally “their soul” (referring to that of the sailors). This is sometimes translated “courage” (cf. NIV, NRSV).
[107:26] 160 tn Heb “from danger.”
[107:27] 161 tn Only here does the Hebrew verb חָגַג (khagag; normally meaning “to celebrate”) carry the nuance “to sway.”
[107:27] 162 tn The Hitpael of בָלַע (vala’) occurs only here in the OT. Traditionally the form is derived from the verbal root בלע (“to swallow”), but HALOT 135 s.v. III בלע understands a homonym here with the meaning “to be confused.”
[107:29] 163 tn Heb “he raised [the] storm to calm.”
[107:29] 164 tn Heb “their waves.” The antecedent of the third masculine plural pronominal suffix is not readily apparent, unless it refers back to “waters” in v. 23.
[107:30] 165 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the sailors) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[107:30] 166 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the waves) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[107:30] 167 tn The Hebrew noun occurs only here in the OT.
[107:31] 168 tn Heb “and [for] his amazing deeds for the sons of man.” See v. 8.
[107:32] 169 tn Heb “in the seat of the elders.”
[107:33] 170 tn The verbal form appears to be a preterite, which is most naturally taken as narrational. (The use of prefixed forms with vav [ו] consecutive in vv. 36-37 favor this.) The psalmist may return to the theme of God’s intervention for the exiles (see vv. 4-22, especially vv. 4-9). However, many regard vv. 33-41 as a hymnic description which generalizes about God’s activities among men. In this case it would be preferable to use the English present tense throughout (cf. NEB, NRSV).
[107:34] 171 tn Heb “a salty land.”
[107:35] 172 tn The words “As for his people” are not included in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity. The psalmist contrasts God’s judgment on his enemies with his blessing of his people. See the note on the word “enemies” in v. 39 for further discussion.
[107:35] 173 tn The verbal form appears to be a preterite, which is most naturally taken as narrational. See the note on the word “turned” in v. 33.
[107:37] 174 tn Heb “sowed seed in.”
[107:37] 175 tn Heb “fruit [as] produce.”
[107:38] 176 tn “Bless” here carries the nuance “endue with sexual potency, make fertile.” See Gen 1:28, where the statement “he blessed them” directly precedes the command “be fruitful and populate the earth” (see also 1:22). The verb “bless” carries this same nuance in Gen 17:16 (where God’s blessing of Sarai imparts to her the capacity to bear a child); 48:16 (where God’s blessing of Joseph’s sons is closely associated with their having numerous descendants); and Deut 7:13 (where God’s blessing is associated with fertility in general, including numerous descendants). See also Gen 49:25 (where Jacob uses the noun derivative in referring to “blessings of the breast and womb,” an obvious reference to fertility) and Gen 27:27 (where the verb is used of a field to which God has given the capacity to produce vegetation).
[107:38] 177 tn The verbal form in this line appears to be an imperfect, which may be taken as customary (drawing attention to typical action in a past time frame) or as generalizing (in which case one should use the English present tense, understanding a move from narrative to present reality).
[107:39] 178 tn The words “As for their enemies” are not included in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity. Without such clarification, one might think that v. 39 refers to those just mentioned in v. 38 as objects of divine blessing, which would contradict the point just emphasized by the psalmist. The structure of vv. 33-42 is paneled (A-B-A-B). In vv. 33-34 the psalmist describes God’s judgment upon his enemies (perhaps those who had enslaved his people). In vv. 35-38 he contrasts this judgment with the divine blessing poured out on God’s people. (See the note on the word “people” in v. 35.) In vv. 39-40 he contrasts this blessing with the judgment experienced by enemies, before returning in vv. 41-42 to the blessing experienced by God’s people.
[107:39] 179 tn Heb “from the oppression of calamity.”
[107:40] 180 tn The active participle is understood as past durative here, drawing attention to typical action in a past time frame. However, it could be taken as generalizing (in which case one should translate using the English present tense), in which case the psalmist moves from narrative to present reality. Perhaps the participial form appears because the statement is lifted from Job 12:21.
[107:41] 181 tn Heb “set on high.”
[107:42] 182 tn Heb “all evil,” which stands metonymically for those who do evil.
[111:1] 183 sn Psalm 111. The psalmist praises God for his marvelous deeds, especially the way in which he provides for and delivers his people. The psalm is an acrostic. After the introductory call to praise, every poetic line (twenty-two in all) begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
[111:2] 184 tn Heb “sought out.”
[111:3] 185 tn For other uses of the Hebrew phrase וְהָדָר-הוֹד (hod-vÿhadar, “majesty and splendor”) see 1 Chr 16:27; Job 40:10; Pss 21:5; 96:6; 104:1.
[111:4] 187 tn Or “did,” if this refers primarily to the events of the exodus and conquest period (see vv. 6, 9).
[111:4] 188 tn Heb “a memorial he had made for his amazing deeds.”
[111:5] 189 tn Or “gave,” if the events of the exodus and conquest period (see v. 6, 9) are primarily in view.
[111:5] 190 tn Heb “those who fear him.”
[111:5] 191 tn Or “he remembers his covenant forever” (see Ps 105:8).
[111:6] 192 tn Heb “the strength of his deeds he proclaimed to his people, to give to them an inheritance of nations.”
[111:7] 193 tn Heb “the deeds of his hands [are].”
[111:7] 194 tn That is, fair and for man’s good.
[111:8] 195 tn Heb “done in faithfulness and uprightness.” The passive participle probably has the force of a gerund. See L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 89.
[111:9] 196 tn Heb “redemption he sent for his people.”
[111:9] 197 tn Heb “he commanded forever his covenant.”
[111:10] 198 tn Heb “the beginning of wisdom [is] the fear of the
[111:10] 199 tn Heb “good sense [is] to all who do them.” The third masculine plural pronominal suffix must refer back to the “precepts” mentioned in v. 7. In the translation the referent has been specified for clarity. The phrase שֵׂכֶל טוֹב (shekhel tov) also occurs in Prov 3:4; 13:15 and 2 Chr 30:22.
[111:10] 200 tn Heb “his praise stands forever.”
[112:1] 201 sn Psalm 112. This wisdom psalm lists some of the benefits of living a godly life. The psalm is an acrostic. After the introductory call to praise, every poetic line (twenty-two in all) begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
[112:1] 202 tn Heb “[Oh] the happiness [of] the man.” Hebrew wisdom literature often assumes and reflects the male-oriented perspective of ancient Israelite society. The individual is representative of a larger group, called the “godly” in vv. 3-4. The principle of the psalm is certainly applicable to all people, regardless of their gender. To facilitate modern application, we translate the gender specific “man” with the more neutral “one.” The generic masculine pronoun is used in the following verses.
[112:1] 204 tn Heb “in his commands he delights very much.” The words “in keeping” are supplied in the translation for clarification. Taking delight in the law is metonymic here for obeying God’s moral will. See Ps 1:2.
[112:2] 205 tn Or “offspring”; Heb “seed.”
[112:2] 206 tn Heb “His seed will be mighty on the earth, the generation of the godly.” The Hebrew term דוֹר (dor, “generation”) could be taken as parallel to “offspring” and translated “posterity,” but the singular more likely refers to the godly as a class. See BDB 189-90 s.v. for other examples where “generation” refers to a class of people.
[112:3] 207 tn Heb “stands forever.”
[112:4] 208 tn In this context “light” symbolizes divine blessing in its various forms (see v. 2), including material prosperity and stability.
[112:4] 209 tn Heb “merciful and compassionate and just.” The Hebrew text has three singular adjectives, which are probably substantival and in apposition to the “godly” (which is plural, however). By switching to the singular, the psalmist focuses on each individual member of the group known as the “godly.” Note how vv. 5-9, like vv. 1-2a, use the singular to describe the representative godly individual who typifies the whole group.
[112:5] 211 tn Heb “he sustains his matters with justice.”
[112:6] 212 tn Heb “for an eternal memorial a just [one] will be.”
[112:7] 213 tn Heb “his heart,” viewed here as the seat of the volition and emotions (see Ps 108:1).
[112:7] 214 tn The passive participle בָּטֻחַ [בָּטוּחַ] (batuakh [batuakh]) expresses a state that results from the subject’s action. See Isa 26:3.
[112:8] 215 tn Heb “his heart,” viewed here as the seat of the volition.
[112:9] 216 tn Heb “he scatters, he gives.”
[112:9] 217 tn Heb “stands forever.”
[112:9] 218 tn Heb “his horn will be lifted up in honor.” The horn of an ox underlies the metaphor (see Deut 33:17; 1 Kgs 22:11; Ps 92:10). The horn of the wild ox is frequently a metaphor for military strength; the idiom “exalt/lift up the horn” signifies military victory (see 1 Sam 2:10; Pss 89:17, 24; 92:10; Lam 2:17).
[112:10] 219 tn The Hebrew text uses the singular; the representative wicked individual is in view as typifying the group (note the use of the plural form in v. 10).
[112:10] 220 tn Heb “his teeth he will gnash.” In Pss 35:16 and 37:12 this action is associated with a vicious attack.
[112:10] 221 tn This could mean that the desires of the wicked will go unfulfilled. Another possibility is that “desire” refers by metonymy to the object desired and acquired. In this case the point is that the wicked will lose what they desired so badly and acquired by evil means (see Ps 10:3).
[113:1] 222 sn Psalm 113. The psalmist praises God as the sovereign king of the world who reaches down to help the needy.
[113:3] 223 tn Heb “from the rising of the sun to its setting.” The extent is not temporal (“from sunrise to sunset”) but spatial (“from the place where the sun rises [the east] to the place where it sets [the west].” In the phenomenological language of OT cosmology, the sun was described as rising in the east and setting in the west.
[113:4] 224 tn Heb “above the sky [is] his splendor.”
[113:5] 225 tn Heb “the one who makes high to sit.”
[113:6] 226 tn Heb “the one who makes low to see.”
[113:7] 227 sn The language of v. 7 is almost identical to that of 1 Sam 2:8.
[113:9] 228 tn Heb “of the house.”
[114:1] 230 sn Psalm 114. The psalmist recalls the events of the exodus and conquest and celebrates God’s kingship over his covenant people.
[114:1] 231 tn Heb “the house of Jacob from a nation speaking a foreign language.” The Hebrew verb לָעַז (la’at, “to speak a foreign language”) occurs only here in the OT.
[114:3] 232 sn The psalmist recalls the crossing of the Red Sea (Exod 14:21).
[114:3] 233 tn Heb “the Jordan” (also in v. 5). The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
[114:3] 234 sn The psalmist recalls the crossing of the Jordan River (Josh 3:13, 16).
[114:4] 235 sn The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. This may recall the theophany at Sinai when the mountain shook before God’s presence (Exod 19:18).
[114:8] 236 sn In v. 8 the psalmist recalls the event(s) recorded in Exod 17:6 and/or Num 20:11 (see also Deut 8:15 and Ps 78:15-16, 20).
[115:1] 237 sn Psalm 115. The psalmist affirms that Israel’s God is superior to pagan idols and urges Israel to place their confidence in him.
[115:1] 238 tn Or “give glory.”
[115:1] 239 sn The psalmist asks the
[115:3] 240 sn He does whatever he pleases. Such sovereignty is characteristic of kings (see Eccl 8:3).
[115:4] 241 tn The referent of the pronominal suffix is “the nations” (v. 2).
[115:4] 242 tn Heb “the work of the hands of man.”
[115:7] 243 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).
[115:8] 244 tn Heb “will be.” Another option is to take the prefixed verbal form as a prayer, “may those who make them end up like them.”
[115:8] sn Because the idols are lifeless, they cannot help their worshipers in times of crisis. Consequently the worshipers end up as dead as the gods in which they trust.
[115:9] 245 tn Or “[source of] help.”
[115:9] 246 tn Heb “and their shield.”
[115:10] 248 tn Or “[source of] help.”
[115:10] 249 tn Heb “and their shield.”
[115:11] 250 tn Heb “[you] fearers of the
[115:11] 251 tn Or “[source of] help.”
[115:11] 252 tn Heb “and their shield.”
[115:12] 253 tn Or “remembers us.”
[115:12] 254 tn Another option is to translate the prefixed form of the verb “bless” in vv. 12-13 as a jussive, “may he bless” (see v. 14).
[115:13] 256 tn Heb “the fearers of the
[115:13] 257 tn Heb “the small along with the great.” The translation assumes that “small” and “great” here refer to age (see 2 Chr 15:13). Another option is to translate “both the insignificant and the prominent” (see Job 3:19; cf. NEB “high and low alike”).
[115:14] 258 tn Heb “may he add to you, to you and your sons.” The prefixed verbal form is jussive, indicating this is a prayer.
[115:16] 260 tn Heb “the heavens [are] heavens to the
[115:16] 261 tn Heb “to the sons of man.”
[115:17] 262 tn Heb “silence,” a metonymy here for death (see Ps 94:17).
[116:1] 263 sn Psalm 116. The psalmist thanks the Lord for delivering him from a life threatening crisis and promises to tell the entire covenant community what God has done for him.
[116:1] 264 tn Heb “I love because the
[116:2] 265 tn Heb “because he turned his ear to me.”
[116:2] 266 tn Heb “and in my days I will cry out.”
[116:3] 267 tn Heb “surrounded me.”
[116:3] 268 tn The Hebrew noun מצר (“straits; distress”) occurs only here, Ps 118:5 and Lam 1:3. If retained, it refers to Sheol as a place where one is confined or severely restricted (cf. BDB 865 s.v. מֵצַר, “the straits of Sheol”; NIV “the anguish of the grave”; NRSV “the pangs of Sheol”). However, HALOT 624 s.v. מֵצַר suggests an emendation to מְצָדֵי (mÿtsadey, “snares of”), a rare noun attested in Job 19:6 and Eccl 7:26. This proposal, which is reflected in the translation, produces better parallelism with “ropes” in the preceding line.
[116:3] 269 tn The translation assumes the prefixed verbal form is a preterite. The psalmist recalls the crisis from which the Lord delivered him.
[116:6] 270 tn Heb “guards.” The active participle indicates this is a characteristic of the
[116:6] 271 tn Or “the [morally] naive,” that is, the one who is young and still in the process of learning right from wrong and distinguishing wisdom from folly. See Ps 19:7.
[116:6] 272 tn Heb “I was low.”
[116:7] 273 tn Heb “return, my soul, to your place of rest.”
[116:7] 274 tn The Hebrew idiom גָּמַל עַל (gamal ’al) means “to repay,” here in a positive sense (cf. Ps 13:5).
[116:8] 276 tn “
[116:9] 277 tn Heb “walk before” (see Ps 56:13). On the meaning of the Hebrew idiom, see the notes at 2 Kgs 20:3/Isa 38:3.
[116:9] 278 tn Heb “lands, regions.”
[116:11] 279 tn Heb “I said in my haste.”
[116:13] 280 tn Heb “a cup of deliverance I will lift up.” Perhaps this alludes to a drink offering the psalmist will present as he thanks the
[116:15] 281 tn Heb “precious in the eyes of the
[116:16] 282 tn Heb “I am your servant, the son of your female servant.” The phrase “son of a female servant” (see also Ps 86:16) is used of a son born to a secondary wife or concubine (Exod 23:12). In some cases the child’s father is the master of the house (see Gen 21:10, 13; Judg 9:18). The use of the expression here certainly does not imply that the
[116:16] 283 tn Heb “you have loosed my bonds.” In this context the imagery refers to deliverance from death (see v. 3).
[117:1] 284 sn Psalm 117. The psalmist tells the nations to praise the Lord for his loyal love and faithfulness.
[117:1] 285 tn Or “peoples” (see Ps 108:3).
[117:2] 286 tn For this sense of the Hebrew verb גָּבַר (gavar), see Ps 103:11 and L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 17, 19.
[118:1] 287 sn Psalm 118. The psalmist thanks God for his deliverance and urges others to join him in praise.
[118:1] 288 tn Or “is forever.”
[118:4] 290 tn Heb “fearers of the
[118:5] 291 tn Heb “from the distress.” The noun מֵצַר (metsar, “straits; distress”) occurs only here and in Lam 1:3. In Ps 116:3 מצר should probably be emended to מְצָדֵי (mÿtsadey, “snares of”).
[118:5] 292 tn Heb “the
[118:6] 294 tn The rhetorical question assumes the answer, “Nothing!” The imperfect is used in a modal sense here, indicating capability or potential. See Ps 56:11.
[118:7] 296 tn Heb “among my helpers.” The preposition may indicate identity here, while the plural may be one of majesty or respect.
[118:8] 297 tn “Taking shelter” in the
[118:10] 298 sn The reference to an attack by the nations suggests the psalmist may have been a military leader.
[118:10] 299 tn In this context the phrase “in the name of the
[118:10] 300 tn Traditionally the verb has been derived from מוּל (mul, “to circumcise”) and translated “[I] cut [them] off” (see BDB 557-58 s.v. II מוּל). However, it is likely that this is a homonym meaning “to fend off” (see HALOT 556 s.v. II מול) or “to push away.” In this context, where the psalmist is reporting his past experience, the prefixed verbal form is best understood as a preterite. The phrase also occurs in vv. 11, 12.
[118:12] 301 tn Heb “were extinguished.”
[118:12] 302 tn The point seems to be that the hostility of the nations (v. 10) is short-lived, like a fire that quickly devours thorns and then burns out. Some, attempting to create a better parallel with the preceding line, emend דֹּעֲכוּ (do’akhu, “they were extinguished”) to בָּעֲרוּ (ba’aru, “they burned”). In this case the statement emphasizes their hostility.
[118:13] 303 tn Heb “pushing, you pushed me.” The infinitive absolute emphasizes the following verbal idea. The psalmist appears to address the nations as if they were an individual enemy. Some find this problematic and emend the verb form (which is a Qal perfect second masculine singular with a first person singular suffix) to נִדְחֵיתִי (nidkheti), a Niphal perfect first common singular, “I was pushed.”
[118:13] 304 tn Heb “to fall,” i.e., “that [I] might fall.”
[118:14] 305 tn Heb “my strength and protection [is] the
[118:14] 306 tn Or “salvation.”
[118:15] 307 tn Heb “the sound of a ringing shout and deliverance [is] in the tents of the godly.”
[118:15] 308 tn Heb “does valiantly.” The statement refers here to military success (see Num 24:18; 1 Sam 14:48; Pss 60:12; 108:13).
[118:17] 310 tn Heb “the works of the
[118:18] 311 tn The infinitive absolute emphasizes the following verbal idea.
[118:19] 312 tn Heb “the gates of justice.” The gates of the
[118:22] 313 tn Or “rejected.”
[118:22] 314 tn Heb “the head of the corner.”
[118:22] sn The metaphor of the stone…the builders discarded describes the way in which God’s deliverance reversed the psalmist’s circumstances. When he was in distress, he was like a stone which was discarded by builders as useless, but now that he has been vindicated by God, all can see that he is of special importance to God, like the cornerstone of the building.
[118:23] 315 tn Heb “it is amazing in our eyes.” The use of the plural pronoun here and in vv. 24-27 suggests that the psalmist may be speaking for the entire nation. However, it is more likely that vv. 22-27 are the people’s response to the psalmist’s thanksgiving song (see especially v. 26). They rejoice with him because his deliverance on the battlefield (see vv. 10-12) had national repercussions.
[118:24] 316 tn Heb “this is the day the
[118:25] 317 sn A petition for deliverance and success seems odd in a psalm thanking God for deliverance, but it is not unique (see Ps 9:19-20). The people ask God to continue to intervene for them as he has for the psalmist.
[118:26] 318 sn The people refer here to the psalmist, who enters the
[118:26] 319 tn The pronominal suffix is second masculine plural, but the final mem (ם) is probably dittographic (note the mem [מ] at the beginning of the following form) or enclitic, in which case the suffix may be taken as second masculine singular, referring to the psalmist.
[118:26] 320 tn Heb “from the house of the
[118:27] 321 tn Heb “and he has given us light.” This may be an elliptical expression, with “his face” being implied as the object (see Num 6:25; Pss 31:16; 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19). In this case, “his face has given us light” = “he has smiled on us,” or “he has shown us his favor.” Another option (the one reflected in the translation) is that “light” here symbolizes divine blessing in the form of deliverance. “Light” is often used as a metaphor for deliverance and the life/blessings it brings. See Pss 37:6; 97:11; 112:4; Isa 49:6; 51:4; Mic 7:8. Some prefer to repoint the form וְיָאֵר (vÿya’er; vav [ו] conjunctive + jussive) and translate the statement as a prayer, “may he give us light.”
[118:27] 322 tn The Hebrew noun חַג (khag) normally means “festival,” but here it apparently refers metonymically to an offering made at the festival. BDB 291 s.v. חַג 2 interprets the word in this way here, citing as comparable the use of later Hebrew חֲגִיגָה, which can refer to both a festival and a festival offering (see Jastrow 424 s.v. חֲגִיגָה).
[118:27] 323 tn The second half of v. 27 has been translated and interpreted in a variety of ways. For a survey of major views, see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 122.
[118:28] 324 sn You are my God. The psalmist speaks again (see v. 21), responding to the words of the worshipers (vv. 22-27).
[118:29] 325 tn Or “is forever.”
[135:1] 326 sn Psalm 135. The psalmist urges God’s people to praise him because he is the incomparable God and ruler of the world who has accomplished great things for Israel.
[135:3] 328 tn Heb “for [it is] pleasant.” The translation assumes that it is the
[135:4] 330 sn His special possession. The language echoes Exod 19:5; Deut 7:6; 14:2; 26:18. See also Mal 3:17.
[135:9] 332 tn Or “signs” (see Ps 65:8).
[135:9] 333 tn Or “portents”; “omens” (see Ps 71:7). The Egyptian plagues are alluded to here.
[135:13] 334 tn Or “is forever.”
[135:13] 335 tn Heb “O
[135:14] 336 tn Heb “judges,” but here the idea is that the
[135:14] 337 sn Verse 14 echoes Deut 32:36, where Moses affirms that God mercifully relents from fully judging his wayward people.
[135:15] 338 tn Heb “the work of the hands of man.”
[135:17] 339 tn Heb “indeed, there is not breath in their mouth.” For the collocation אַף אֵין (’af ’en, “indeed, there is not”) see Isa 41:26. Another option is to take אַף as “nose” (see Ps 115:6), in which case one might translate, “a nose, [but] they have no breath in their mouths.”
[135:18] 340 tn Heb “will be.” Another option is to take the prefixed verbal form as a prayer, “may those who make them end up like them.”
[135:18] sn Because the idols are lifeless, they cannot help their worshipers in times of crisis. Consequently the worshipers end up as dead as the gods in which they trust.
[135:19] 341 tn Heb “house” (here and in the next two lines).
[135:20] 342 tn Heb “fearers.”
[135:21] 343 tn Heb “praised be the
[135:21] 344 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[136:1] 345 sn Psalm 136. In this hymn the psalmist affirms that God is praiseworthy because of his enduring loyal love, sovereign authority, and compassion. Each verse of the psalm concludes with the refrain “for his loyal love endures.”
[136:1] 346 tn Or “is forever.”
[136:13] 348 tn Heb “Reed Sea” (also in v. 15). “Reed Sea” (or “Sea of Reeds”) is a more accurate rendering of the Hebrew expression יָם סוּף (yam suf), traditionally translated “Red Sea.” See the note on the term “Red Sea” in Exod 13:18.
[136:13] 349 tn Heb “into pieces.”
[136:15] 350 tn Or “shook off.”
[136:23] 351 tn Heb “who, in our low condition, remembered us.”
[136:25] 352 tn Heb “to all flesh,” which can refer to all people (see Pss 65:2; 145:21) or more broadly to mankind and animals. Elsewhere the psalms view God as the provider for all living things (see Pss 104:27-28; 145:15).
[146:1] 353 sn Psalm 146. The psalmist urges his audience not to trust in men, but in the
[146:3] 354 tn Heb “in a son of man, to whom there is no deliverance.”
[146:4] 355 tn Heb “his spirit goes out, it returns to his ground; in that day his plans die.” The singular refers to the representative man mentioned in v. 3b.
[146:6] 356 tn Heb “the one who guards faithfulness forever.”
[146:7] 357 tn Heb “executes justice for the oppressed.”
[146:8] 358 tn Perhaps “discouraged” (see Ps 57:6).
[146:9] 359 sn God is depicted here as a just ruler. In the ancient Near Eastern world a king was responsible for promoting justice, including caring for the weak and vulnerable, epitomized by resident aliens, the fatherless, and widows.
[146:9] 360 tn Heb “he makes the way of the wicked twisted.” The “way of the wicked” probably refers to their course of life (see Prov 4:19; Jer 12:1). God makes their path tortuous in the sense that he makes them pay the harmful consequences of their actions.
[146:10] 361 tn Heb “for a generation and a generation.”
[147:1] 362 sn Psalm 147. The psalmist praises the
[147:2] 364 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[147:3] 365 tn Heb “the one who heals.”
[147:5] 366 tn Heb “and great of strength.”
[147:5] 367 tn Heb “to his wisdom there is no counting.”
[147:6] 368 tn Heb “brings down.”
[147:7] 369 tn Heb “sing to the
[147:8] 370 tn Heb “the one who covers.”
[147:9] 372 tn Heb “which cry out.”
[147:10] 373 tn Heb “he does not desire the strength of the horse, he does not take delight in the legs of the man.” Here “the horse” refers to the war horse used by ancient Near Eastern chariot forces, and “the man” refers to the warrior whose muscular legs epitomize his strength.
[147:11] 374 tn Heb “those who fear him.”
[147:13] 375 tn Heb “your sons.”
[147:14] 376 tn Heb “the one who.”
[147:14] 377 tn Heb “he makes your boundary peace.”
[147:14] 378 tn Heb “satisfies you with.”
[147:15] 379 tn Heb “the one who.”
[147:15] 380 tn Heb “the one who sends his word, the earth.” The Hebrew term אֶרֶץ (’erets, “earth”) is an adverbial accusative; one must supply a preposition before it (such as “through” or “to”) in the English translation.
[147:15] 381 tn Heb “swiftly his word runs.”
[147:16] 382 tn Heb “the one who gives snow like wool, frost like ashes he scatters.”
[147:17] 383 tn Heb “his ice.”
[147:17] 384 tn Heb “Before his cold, who can stand?”
[147:18] 385 tn Heb “he sends his word and melts them.”
[147:18] 386 tn Heb “he blows his breath.”
[148:1] 387 sn Psalm 148. The psalmist calls upon all creation to praise the Lord, for he is the creator and sovereign king of the world.
[148:2] 388 tn Or “heavenly messengers.”
[148:2] 389 tn Heb “all his host.”
[148:3] 390 tn Heb “stars of light.”
[148:4] 391 sn The “water” mentioned here corresponds to the “waters above” mentioned in Gen 1:7. See also Ps 104:3. For a discussion of the picture envisioned by the psalmist, see L. I. J. Stadelmann, The Hebrew Conception of the World, 47.
[148:6] 392 tn Or “forever and ever.”
[148:6] 393 tn Heb “and it will not pass away.”
[148:8] 394 tn In Ps 119:83 the noun refers to “smoke,” but here, where the elements of nature are addressed, the clouds, which resemble smoke, are probably in view.
[148:8] 395 tn Heb “[that] does his word.”
[148:14] 397 tn Heb “and he lifted up a horn for his people.” The horn of an ox underlies the metaphor (see Deut 33:17; 1 Kgs 22:11; Ps 92:10). The horn of the wild ox is frequently a metaphor for military strength; the idiom “exalt/lift up the horn” signifies military victory (see 1 Sam 2:10; Pss 75:10; 89:17, 24; 92:10; Lam 2:17). Another option is to take the “horn” as a symbol for the Davidic king, through whom the
[148:14] 398 tn “[there is] praise for all his loyal followers, to the sons of Israel, the people near him.” Here “praise” stands by metonymy for the victory that prompts it.
[149:1] 399 sn Psalm 149. The psalmist calls upon God’s people to praise him because he is just and avenges them.
[149:1] 400 tn Heb “his praise in the assembly of the godly ones.”
[149:2] 402 sn The
[149:4] 403 tn Heb “he honors the oppressed [with] deliverance.”
[149:5] 404 tn Heb “in glory.” Here “glory” probably refers to the “honor” that belongs to the
[149:5] 405 tn The significance of the reference to “beds” is unclear. Perhaps the point is that they should rejoice at all times, even when falling asleep or awaking.
[149:6] 406 tn Heb “[May] praises of God [be] in their throat, and a two-edged sword in their hand.”
[149:9] 409 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the enemies of the people of God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[149:9] 410 tn Heb “to do against them judgment [that] is written.”
[149:9] 411 tn Heb “it is honor for all his godly ones.” The judgment of the oppressive kings will bring vindication and honor to God’s people (see vv. 4-5).
[150:1] 412 sn Psalm 150. The Psalter concludes with a resounding call for praise from everything that has breath.
