Mazmur 20:8

20:8 They will fall down, ¹ 

but we ²  will stand firm. ³ 

Yesaya 30:2-5

30:2 They travel down to Egypt

without seeking my will, ⁴ 

seeking Pharaoh’s protection,

and looking for safety in Egypt’s protective shade. ⁵ 

30:3 But Pharaoh’s protection will bring you nothing but shame,

and the safety of Egypt’s protective shade nothing but humiliation.

30:4 Though his ⁶  officials are in Zoan

and his messengers arrive at Hanes, ⁷ 

30:5 all will be put to shame ⁸ 

because of a nation that cannot help them,

who cannot give them aid or help,

but only shame and disgrace.”

[20:8]  ¹ tn Or “stumble and fall down.”

[20:8]  ² tn The grammatical construction (conjunction + pronominal subject) highlights the contrast between God’s victorious people and the defeated enemies mentioned in the previous line. The perfect verbal forms either generalize or, more likely, state rhetorically the people’s confidence as they face the approaching battle. They describe the demise of the enemy as being as good as done.

[20:8]  ³ tn Or “rise up and remain upright.” On the meaning of the Hitpolel of עוּד (’ud), see HALOT 795 s.v. I עוד. The verbal forms (a perfect followed by a prefixed form with vav [ו] consecutive) either generalize or, more likely, state rhetorically the people’s confidence as they face the approaching battle.

[30:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “those who go to descend to Egypt, but [of] my mouth they do not inquire.”

[30:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “to seek protection in the protection of Pharaoh, and to seek refuge in the shade of Egypt.”

[30:4]  ⁶ sn This probably refers to Judah’s officials and messengers.

[30:4]  ⁷ sn Zoan was located in the Egyptian delta in the north; Hanes was located somewhere in southern region of lower Egypt, south of Memphis; the exact location is debated.

[30:5]  ⁸ tn The present translation follows the marginal (Qere) reading of the Hebrew text; the consonantal text (Kethib) has “made to stink, decay.”