Mazmur 20:8

20:8 They will fall down, ¹ 

but we ²  will stand firm. ³ 

Yesaya 31:1

Egypt Will Disappoint

31:1 Those who go down to Egypt for help are as good as dead, ⁴ 

those who rely on war horses,

and trust in Egypt’s many chariots ⁵ 

and in their many, many horsemen. ⁶ 

But they do not rely on the Holy One of Israel ⁷ 

and do not seek help from the Lord.

[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.

[31:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “Woe [to] those who go down to Egypt for help.”

[31:1]  ⁵ tn Heb “and trust in chariots for they are many.”

[31:1]  ⁶ tn Heb “and in horsemen for they are very strong [or “numerous”].”

[31:1]  ⁷ sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.