Mazmur 1:2

1:2 Instead ¹  he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord’s commands; ² 

he meditates on ³  his commands ⁴  day and night.

Mazmur 38:12

38:12 Those who seek my life try to entrap me; ⁵ 

those who want to harm me speak destructive words;

all day long they say deceitful things.

Mazmur 71:24

71:24 All day long my tongue will also tell about your justice,

for those who want to harm me ⁶  will be embarrassed and ashamed. ⁷ 

Mazmur 115:7

115:7 hands, but cannot touch,

feet, but cannot walk.

They cannot even clear their throats. ⁸ 

Mazmur 143:5

143:5 I recall the old days; ⁹ 

I meditate on all you have done;

I reflect on your accomplishments. ¹⁰ 

[1:2]  ¹ tn Here the Hebrew expression כִּי־אִם (ki-’im, “instead”) introduces a contrast between the sinful behavior depicted in v. 1 and the godly lifestyle described in v. 2.

[1:2]  ² tn Heb “his delight [is] in the law of the Lord.” In light of the following line, which focuses on studying the Lord’s law, one might translate, “he finds pleasure in studying the Lord’s commands.” However, even if one translates the line this way, it is important to recognize that mere study and intellectual awareness are not ultimately what bring divine favor. Study of the law is metonymic here for the correct attitudes and behavior that should result from an awareness of and commitment to God’s moral will; thus “obeying” has been used in the translation rather than “studying.”

[1:2]  ³ tn The Hebrew imperfect verbal form draws attention to the characteristic behavior described here and lends support to the hyperbolic adverbial phrase “day and night.” The verb הָגָה (hagag) means “to recite quietly; to meditate” and refers metonymically to intense study and reflection.

[1:2]  ⁴ tn Or “his law.”

[38:12]  ⁵ tn Heb “lay snares.”

[71:24]  ⁶ tn Heb “those who seek my harm.”

[71:24]  ⁷ tn Heb “will have become embarrassed and ashamed.” The perfect verbal forms function here as future perfects, indicating future actions which will precede chronologically the action expressed by the main verb in the preceding line.

[115:7]  ⁸ tn Heb “they cannot mutter in their throats.” Verse 5a refers to speaking, v. 7c to inarticulate sounds made in the throat (see M. Dahood, Psalms [AB], 3:140-41).

[143:5]  ⁹ tn Or “ancient times”; Heb “days from before.”

[143:5]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “the work of your hands.”