Mazmur 18:15

18:15 The depths ¹  of the sea ²  were exposed;

the inner regions ³  of the world were uncovered

by ⁴  your battle cry, ⁵  Lord,

by the powerful breath from your nose. ⁶ 

Mazmur 5:10

5:10 Condemn them, ⁷  O God!

May their own schemes be their downfall! ⁸ 

Drive them away ⁹  because of their many acts of insurrection, ¹⁰ 

for they have rebelled against you.

Mazmur 56:2

56:2 Those who anticipate my defeat ¹¹  attack me all day long.

Indeed, ¹²  many are fighting against me, O Exalted One. ¹³ 

Mazmur 52:9

52:9 I will continually ¹⁴  thank you when ¹⁵  you execute judgment; ¹⁶ 

I will rely ¹⁷  on you, ¹⁸  for your loyal followers know you are good. ¹⁹ 

Mazmur 63:11

63:11 But the king ²⁰  will rejoice in God;

everyone who takes oaths in his name ²¹  will boast,

for the mouths of those who speak lies will be shut up. ²² 

[18:15]  ¹ tn Or “channels.”

[18:15]  ² tc Ps 18:15 reads “water” (cf. Ps 42:1); “sea” is the reading of 2 Sam 22:16.

[18:15]  ³ tn Or “foundations.”

[18:15]  ⁴ tn Heb “from.” The preposition has a causal sense here.

[18:15]  ⁵ tn The noun is derived from the verb גָּעַר (ga’ar), which is often understood to mean “rebuke.” In some cases it is apparent that scolding or threatening is in view (see Gen 37:10; Ruth 2:16; Zech 3:2). However, in militaristic contexts this translation is inadequate, for the verb refers in this setting to the warrior’s battle cry, which terrifies and paralyzes the enemy. See A. Caquot, TDOT 3:53, and note the use of the verb in Pss 68:30; 106:9; and Nah 1:4, as well as the related noun in Job 26:11; Pss 9:5; 76:6; 104:7; Isa 50:2; 51:20; 66:15.

[18:15]  ⁶ tn 2 Sam 22:16 reads “by the battle cry of the Lord, by the blast of the breath of his nose.” The phrase “blast of the breath” (Heb “breath of breath”) employs an appositional genitive. Synonyms are joined in a construct relationship to emphasize the single idea. For a detailed discussion of the grammatical point with numerous examples, see Y. Avishur, “Pairs of Synonymous Words in the Construct State (and in Appositional Hendiadys) in Biblical Hebrew,” Semitics 2 (1971): 17-81.

[5:10]  ⁷ tn Heb “declare/regard them as guilty.” Declaring the psalmist’s adversaries guilty is here metonymic for judging them or paying them back for their wrongdoing.

[5:10]  ⁸ tn Heb “may they fall from their plans.” The prefixed verbal form is a jussive, expressing an imprecation. The psalmist calls judgment down on the evildoers. Their plans will be their downfall in that God will judge them for their evil schemes.

[5:10]  ⁹ tn Or “banish them.”

[5:10]  ¹⁰ tn The Hebrew noun used here, פֶּשַׁע (pesha’), refers to rebellious actions. The psalmist pictures his enemies as rebels against God (see the next line).

[56:2]  ¹¹ tn Heb “to those who watch me [with evil intent].” See also Pss 5:8; 27:11; 54:5; 59:10.

[56:2]  ¹² tn Or “for.”

[56:2]  ¹³ tn Some take the Hebrew term מָרוֹם (marom, “on high; above”) as an adverb modifying the preceding participle and translate, “proudly” (cf. NASB; NIV “in their pride”). The present translation assumes the term is a divine title here. The Lord is pictured as enthroned “on high” in Ps 92:8. (Note the substantival use of the term in Isa 24:4 and see C. A. Briggs and E. G. Briggs (Psalms [ICC], 2:34), who prefer to place the term at the beginning of the next verse.)

[52:9]  ¹⁴ tn Or, hyperbolically, “forever.”

[52:9]  ¹⁵ tn Or “for.”

[52:9]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “you have acted.” The perfect verbal form (1) probably indicates a future perfect here. The psalmist promises to give thanks when the expected vindication has been accomplished. Other options include (2) a generalizing (“for you act”) or (3) rhetorical (“for you will act”) use.

[52:9]  ¹⁷ tn Or “wait.”

[52:9]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “your name.” God’s “name” refers here to his reputation and revealed character.

[52:9]  ¹⁹ tn Heb “for it is good in front of your loyal followers.”

[63:11]  ²⁰ sn The psalmist probably refers to himself in the third person here.

[63:11]  ²¹ tn Heb “who swears [an oath] by him.”

[63:11]  ²² tn The Niphal of this verb occurs only here and in Gen 8:2, where it is used of God “stopping” or “damming up” the great deep as he brought the flood to an end.