Mazmur 96:5

96:5 For all the gods of the nations are worthless, ¹ 

but the Lord made the sky.

Mazmur 115:4-8

115:4 Their ²  idols are made of silver and gold –

they are man-made. ³ 

115:5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,

eyes, but cannot see,

115:6 ears, but cannot hear,

noses, but cannot smell,

115:7 hands, but cannot touch,

feet, but cannot walk.

They cannot even clear their throats. ⁴ 

115:8 Those who make them will end up ⁵  like them,

as will everyone who trusts in them.

Mazmur 135:15-18

135:15 The nations’ idols are made of silver and gold,

they are man-made. ⁶ 

135:16 They have mouths, but cannot speak,

eyes, but cannot see,

135:17 and ears, but cannot hear.

Indeed, they cannot breathe. ⁷ 

135:18 Those who make them will end up ⁸  like them,

as will everyone who trusts in them.

[96:5]  ¹ tn The Hebrew term אֱלִילִים (’elilim, “worthless”) sounds like אֱלֹהִים (’elohim, “gods”). The sound play draws attention to the statement.

[115:4]  ² tn The referent of the pronominal suffix is “the nations” (v. 2).

[115:4]  ³ tn Heb “the work of the hands of man.”

[115:7]  ⁴ 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).

[115:8]  ⁵ 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.”

[115:8]  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.

[135:15]  ⁶ tn Heb “the work of the hands of man.”

[135:17]  ⁷ tn Heb “indeed, there is not breath in their mouth.” For the collocation אַף אֵין (’af ’en, “indeed, there is not”) see Isa 41:26. Another option is to take אַף as “nose” (see Ps 115:6), in which case one might translate, “a nose, [but] they have no breath in their mouths.”

[135:18]  ⁸ 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.