Mazmur 32:8

32:8 I will instruct and teach you ¹  about how you should live. ² 

I will advise you as I look you in the eye. ³ 

Mazmur 37:1-6

Psalm 37 ⁴ 

By David.

37:1 Do not fret ⁵  when wicked men seem to succeed! ⁶ 

Do not envy evildoers!

37:2 For they will quickly dry up like grass,

and wither away like plants. ⁷ 

37:3 Trust in the Lord and do what is right!

Settle in the land and maintain your integrity! ⁸ 

37:4 Then you will take delight in the Lord, ⁹ 

and he will answer your prayers. ¹⁰ 

37:5 Commit your future to the Lord! ¹¹ 

Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf. ¹² 

37:6 He will vindicate you in broad daylight,

and publicly defend your just cause. ¹³ 

Mazmur 39:12

39:12 Hear my prayer, O Lord!

Listen to my cry for help!

Do not ignore my sobbing! ¹⁴ 

For I am dependent on you, like one residing outside his native land;

I am at your mercy, just as all my ancestors were. ¹⁵ 

[32:8]  ¹ tn The second person pronominal forms in this verse are singular. The psalmist addresses each member of his audience individually (see also the note on the word “eye” in the next line). A less likely option (but one which is commonly understood) is that the Lord addresses the psalmist in vv. 8-9 (cf. NASB “I will instruct you and teach you…I will counsel you with My eye upon you”).

[32:8]  ² tn Heb “I will instruct you and I will teach you in the way [in] which you should walk.”

[32:8]  ³ tn Heb “I will advise, upon you my eye,” that is, “I will offer advice [with] my eye upon you.” In 2 Chr 20:12 the statement “our eye is upon you” means that the speakers are looking to the Lord for intervention. Here the expression “my eye upon you” may simply mean that the psalmist will teach his pupils directly and personally.

[37:1]  ⁴ sn Psalm 37. The psalmist urges his audience not to envy the wicked, but to trust in and obey the Lord, for he will destroy sinners and preserve the godly. When the smoke of judgment clears, the wicked will be gone, but the godly will remain and inherit God’s promised blessings. The psalm is an acrostic; every other verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

[37:1]  ⁵ tn The verb form is singular (see vv. 3-10 as well, where the second person verbs and pronouns are also singular). The psalmist’s exhortation has a wisdom flavor to it; it is personalized for each member of his audience.

[37:1]  ⁶ tn Heb “over sinners.” The context indicates that the psalmist has in mind the apparent power and success of sinners. See v. 7b.

[37:2]  ⁷ tn Heb “like green vegetation.”

[37:3]  ⁸ tn Heb “tend integrity.” The verb רָעָה (ra’ah, “tend, shepherd”) is probably used here in the sense of “watch over, guard.” The noun אֱמוּנָה (’emunah, “faithfulness, honesty, integrity”) is understood as the direct object of the verb, though it could be taken as an adverbial accusative, “[feed] securely,” if the audience is likened to a flock of sheep.

[37:4]  ⁹ tn Following the imperatives of v. 3 the prefixed verbal forms with vav (ו) in v. 4 indicate result. Faith and obedience (v. 3) will bring divine blessing (v. 4).

[37:4]  ¹⁰ tn Or “and he will give you what you desire most.” Heb “and he will grant to you the requests of your heart.”

[37:5]  ¹¹ tn Heb “roll your way upon the Lord.” The noun “way” may refer here to one’s activities or course of life.

[37:5]  ¹² tn Heb “he will act.” Verse 6 explains what is meant; the Lord will vindicate those who trust in him.

[37:6]  ¹³ tn Heb “and he will bring out like light your vindication, and your just cause like noonday.”

[39:12]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “do not be deaf to my tears.”

[39:12]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “For a resident alien [am] I with you, a sojourner like all my fathers.”

[39:12]  sn Resident aliens were dependent on the mercy and goodwill of others. The Lord was concerned that resident aliens be treated properly. See Deut 24:17-22, Ps 146:9.