Mazmur 37:24

37:24 Even if ¹  he trips, he will not fall headlong, ² 

for the Lord holds ³  his hand.

Mazmur 119:11

119:11 In my heart I store up ⁴  your words, ⁵ 

so I might not sin against you.

Amsal 4:12

4:12 When you walk, your steps ⁶  will not be hampered, ⁷ 

and when you run, ⁸  you will not stumble.

[37:24]  ¹ tn Other translation options for כִּי in this context are “when” (so NASB) or “though” (so NEB, NIV, NRSV).

[37:24]  ² tn Heb “be hurled down.”

[37:24]  ³ tn The active participle indicates this is characteristically true. See v. 17.

[119:11]  ⁴ tn Or “hide.”

[119:11]  ⁵ tn Heb “your word.” Some medieval Hebrew mss as well as the LXX read the plural, “your words.”

[4:12]  ⁶ sn The noun צַעֲדֶךָ (tsa’adekha, “your steps”) and the temporal infinitive בְּלֶכְתְּךָ (belekhtÿkha, “when you walk”) use the idiom of walking to represent the course of life. On that course there will be no obstacles; the “path” will be straight – morally and practically.

[4:12]  ⁷ sn The verb צָרַר (tsarar, “to be narrow; to be constricted”) refers to that which is narrow or constricted, signifying distress, trouble, adversity; that which was wide-open or broad represents freedom and deliverance.

[4:12]  ⁸ sn The progression from walking to running is an idiom called “anabasis,” suggesting that as greater and swifter progress is made, there will be nothing to impede the progress (e.g., Isa 40:31).