Mazmur 11:4

11:4 The Lord is in his holy temple; ¹ 

the Lord’s throne is in heaven. ² 

His eyes ³  watch; ⁴ 

his eyes ⁵  examine ⁶  all people. ⁷ 

Mazmur 14:2

14:2 The Lord looks down from heaven ⁸  at the human race, ⁹ 

to see if there is anyone who is wise ¹⁰  and seeks God. ¹¹ 

Mazmur 102:19

102:19 For he will look down from his sanctuary above; ¹² 

from heaven the Lord will look toward earth, ¹³ 

[11:4]  ¹ tn Because of the royal imagery involved here, one could translate “lofty palace.” The Lord’s heavenly temple is in view here (see Mic 1:2-4).

[11:4]  ² sn The Lord’s throne is in heaven. The psalmist is confident that the Lord reigns as sovereign king, “keeps an eye on” all people, and responds in a just manner to the godly and wicked.

[11:4]  ³ sn His eyes. The anthropomorphic language draws attention to God’s awareness of and interest in the situation on earth. Though the enemies are hidden by the darkness (v. 2), the Lord sees all.

[11:4]  ⁴ tn The two Hebrew imperfect verbal forms in this verse describe the Lord’s characteristic activity.

[11:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “eyelids.”

[11:4]  ⁶ tn For other uses of the verb in this sense, see Job 7:18; Pss 7:9; 26:2; 139:23.

[11:4]  ⁷ tn Heb “test the sons of men.”

[14:2]  ⁸ sn The picture of the Lord looking down from heaven draws attention to his sovereignty over the world.

[14:2]  ⁹ tn Heb “upon the sons of man.”

[14:2]  ¹⁰ tn Or “acts wisely.” The Hiphil is exhibitive.

[14:2]  ¹¹ sn Anyone who is wise and seeks God refers to the person who seeks to have a relationship with God by obeying and worshiping him.

[102:19]  ¹² tn Heb “from the height of his sanctuary.”

[102:19]  ¹³ tn The perfect verbal forms in v. 19 are functioning as future perfects, indicating future actions that will precede the future developments described in v. 18.