Mazmur 12:3

12:3 May the Lord cut off ¹  all flattering lips,

and the tongue that boasts! ² 

Mazmur 21:6

21:6 For you grant him lasting blessings;

you give him great joy by allowing him into your presence. ³ 

Mazmur 57:10

57:10 For your loyal love extends beyond the sky, ⁴ 

and your faithfulness reaches the clouds.

Mazmur 60:12

60:12 By God’s power we will conquer; ⁵ 

he will trample down ⁶  our enemies.

Mazmur 69:16

69:16 Answer me, O Lord, for your loyal love is good! ⁷ 

Because of your great compassion, turn toward me!

Mazmur 103:11

103:11 For as the skies are high above the earth,

so his loyal love towers ⁸  over his faithful followers. ⁹ 

Mazmur 108:4

108:4 For your loyal love extends beyond the sky, ¹⁰ 

and your faithfulness reaches the clouds.

Mazmur 144:7

144:7 Reach down ¹¹  from above!

Grab me and rescue me from the surging water, ¹² 

from the power of foreigners, ¹³ 

[12:3]  ¹ tn The verb form is a jussive, indicating that the statement is imprecatory (“May the Lord cut off”), not indicative (“The Lord will cut off”; see also Ps 109:15 and Mal 2:12). The psalmist appeals to God to destroy the wicked, rather than simply stating his confidence that he will. In this way he seeks to activate divine judgment by appealing to God’s just character. For an example of the power of such a curse, see Judg 9:7-57.

[12:3]  ² tn Heb “a tongue speaking great [things].”

[21:6]  ³ tn Heb “you make him happy with joy with [i.e., “close by” or “in”] your face.” On the idiom “with your face” (i.e., “in your presence”) see Ps 16:11 and BDB 816 s.v. פָּנֻה II.2.a.

[57:10]  ⁴ tn Heb “for great upon the sky [or “heavens”] [is] your loyal love.”

[60:12]  ⁵ tn Heb “in God we will accomplish strength.” The statement refers here to military success (see Num 24:18; 1 Sam 14:48; Pss 108:13; 118:15-16).

[60:12]  ⁶ sn Trample down. On this expression see Ps 44:5.

[69:16]  ⁷ tn Or “pleasant”; or “desirable.”

[103:11]  ⁸ tn For this sense of the verb גָבַר (gavar), see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 17, 19.

[103:11]  ⁹ tn Heb “those who fear him.”

[108:4]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “for great upon the sky [or “heavens”] [is] your loyal love.”

[144:7]  ¹¹ tn Heb “stretch out your hands.”

[144:7]  ¹² tn Heb “mighty waters.” The waters of the sea symbolize the psalmist’s powerful foreign enemies, as well as the realm of death they represent (see the next line and Ps 18:16-17).

[144:7]  ¹³ tn Heb “from the hand of the sons of foreignness.”