Mazmur 15:4

15:4 He despises a reprobate, ¹ 

but honors the Lord’s loyal followers. ² 

He makes firm commitments and does not renege on his promise. ³ 

Mazmur 85:9

85:9 Certainly his loyal followers will soon experience his deliverance; ⁴ 

then his splendor will again appear in our land. ⁵ 

Mazmur 145:19

145:19 He satisfies the desire ⁶  of his loyal followers; ⁷ 

he hears their cry for help and delivers them.

[15:4]  ¹ tn Heb “despised in his eyes [is] a rejected [one].” The Hebrew term נִמְאָס (nim’as, “rejected [one]”) apparently refers here to one who has been rejected by God because of his godless behavior. It stands in contrast to “those who fear God” in the following line.

[15:4]  ² tn Heb “those who fear the Lord.” The one who fears the Lord respects his sovereignty and obeys his commandments. See Ps 128:1; Prov 14:2.

[15:4]  ³ tn Heb “he takes an oath to do harm and does not change.” The phrase “to do harm” cannot mean “do harm to others,” for the preceding verse clearly characterizes this individual as one who does not harm others. In this context the phrase must refer to an oath to which a self-imprecation is attached. The godly individual takes his commitments to others so seriously he is willing to “swear to his own hurt.” For an example of such an oath, see Ruth 1:16-17.

[85:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “certainly his deliverance [is] near to those who fear him.”

[85:9]  ⁵ tn Heb “to dwell, glory, in our land.” “Glory” is the subject of the infinitive. The infinitive with -לְ (lÿ), “to dwell,” probably indicates result here (“then”). When God delivers his people and renews his relationship with them, he will once more reveal his royal splendor in the land.

[145:19]  ⁶ tn In this context “desire” refers to the followers’ desire to be delivered from wicked enemies.

[145:19]  ⁷ tn Heb “the desire of those who fear him, he does.”