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 8:8

8:8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea

and everything that moves through the currents ⁵  of the seas.

Mazmur 16:2

16:2 I say to the Lord, “You are the Lord,

my only source of well-being.” ⁶ 

Mazmur 34:19

34:19 The godly ⁷  face many dangers, ⁸ 

but the Lord saves ⁹  them ¹⁰  from each one of them.

Mazmur 37:21

37:21 Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt,

but the godly show compassion and are generous. ¹¹ 

Mazmur 107:43

107:43 Whoever is wise, let him take note of these things!

Let them consider the Lord’s acts of loyal love!

Mazmur 112:2

112:2 His descendants ¹²  will be powerful on the earth;

the godly ¹³  will be blessed.

Mazmur 118:4

118:4 Let the loyal followers of the Lord ¹⁴  say,

“Yes, his loyal love endures!”

Mazmur 119:64

119:64 O Lord, your loyal love fills the earth.

Teach me your statutes!

Mazmur 135:11

135:11 Sihon, king of the Amorites,

and Og, king of Bashan,

and all the kingdoms of Canaan.

Mazmur 135:18

135:18 Those who make them will end up ¹⁵  like them,

as will everyone who trusts in them.

Mazmur 148:5

148:5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,

for he gave the command and they came into existence.

[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.”

[8:8]  ⁵ tn Heb “paths.”

[16:2]  ⁶ tn Heb “my good [is] not beyond you.” For the use of the preposition עַל (’al) in the sense of “beyond,” see BDB 755 s.v. 2.

[34:19]  ⁷ tn The Hebrew text uses the singular form; the representative or typical godly person is envisioned.

[34:19]  ⁸ tn Or “trials.”

[34:19]  ⁹ tn The Hebrew imperfect verbal form highlights the generalizing statement and draws attention to the fact that the Lord typically delivers the godly.

[34:19]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “him,” agreeing with the singular form in the preceding line.

[37:21]  ¹¹ tn Heb “an evil [man] borrows and does not repay; but a godly [man] is gracious and gives.” The singular forms are used in a representative sense; the typical evildoer and godly individual are in view. The three active participles and one imperfect (“repay”) draw attention to the characteristic behavior of the two types.

[112:2]  ¹² tn Or “offspring”; Heb “seed.”

[112:2]  ¹³ tn Heb “His seed will be mighty on the earth, the generation of the godly.” The Hebrew term דוֹר (dor, “generation”) could be taken as parallel to “offspring” and translated “posterity,” but the singular more likely refers to the godly as a class. See BDB 189-90 s.v. for other examples where “generation” refers to a class of people.

[118:4]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “fearers of the Lord.” See Ps 15:4.

[135:18]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “will be.” Another option is to take the prefixed verbal form as a prayer, “may those who make them end up like them.”

[135:18]  sn Because the idols are lifeless, they cannot help their worshipers in times of crisis. Consequently the worshipers end up as dead as the gods in which they trust.