Mazmur 37:9

37:9 Wicked men ¹  will be wiped out, ² 

but those who rely on the Lord are the ones who will possess the land. ³ 

Mazmur 141:7

141:7 As when one plows and breaks up the soil, ⁴ 

so our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

Mazmur 37:34

37:34 Rely ⁵  on the Lord! Obey his commands! ⁶ 

Then he will permit you ⁷  to possess the land;

you will see the demise of evil men. ⁸ 

[37:9]  ¹ tn Heb “for evil men.” The conjunction כִּי (ki, “for”) relates to the exhortations in v. 8; there is no reason to be frustrated, for the evildoers will be punished in due time.

[37:9]  ² tn Or “cut off, removed.”

[37:9]  ³ tn Heb “and those who wait on the Lord, they will possess the land.”

[141:7]  ⁴ tn Heb “like splitting and breaking open in the earth.” The meaning of the statement and the point of the comparison are not entirely clear. Perhaps the psalmist is suggesting that he and other godly individuals are as good as dead; their bones are scattered about like dirt that is dug up and tossed aside.

[37:34]  ⁵ tn Or “wait.”

[37:34]  ⁶ tn Heb “keep his way.” The Lord’s “way” refers here to the “conduct required” by the Lord. In Ps 25 the Lord’s “ways” are associated with his covenantal demands (see vv. 4, 9-10). See also Ps 119:3 (cf. vv. 1, 4), as well as Deut 8:6; 10:12; 11:22; 19:9; 26:17; 28:9; 30:16.

[37:34]  ⁷ tn Heb “and he will lift you up.” The prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) is best taken here as a result clause following the imperatives in the preceding lines.

[37:34]  ⁸ tn Heb “when evil men are cut off you will see.”