Mazmur 73:25

73:25 Whom do I have in heaven but you?

I desire no one but you on earth. ¹ 

Mazmur 90:2

90:2 Even before the mountains came into existence, ² 

or you brought the world into being, ³ 

you were the eternal God. ⁴ 

Mazmur 95:4

95:4 The depths of the earth are in his hand, ⁵ 

and the mountain peaks belong to him.

Mazmur 135:6

135:6 He does whatever he pleases

in heaven and on earth,

in the seas and all the ocean depths.

Mazmur 138:4

138:4 Let all the kings of the earth give thanks ⁶  to you, O Lord,

when they hear the words you speak. ⁷ 

[73:25]  ¹ tn Heb “Who [is there] for me in heaven? And besides you I do not desire [anyone] in the earth.” The psalmist uses a merism (heaven/earth) to emphasize that God is the sole object of his desire and worship in the entire universe.

[90:2]  ² tn Heb “were born.”

[90:2]  ³ tn Heb “and you gave birth to the earth and world.” The Polel verbal form in the Hebrew text pictures God giving birth to the world. The LXX and some other ancient textual witnesses assume a polal (passive) verbal form here. In this case the earth becomes the subject of the verb and the verb is understood as third feminine singular rather than second masculine singular.

[90:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “and from everlasting to everlasting you [are] God.” Instead of אֵל (’el, “God”) the LXX reads אַל (’al, “not”) and joins the negative particle to the following verse, making the verb תָּשֵׁב (tashev) a jussive. In this case v. 3a reads as a prayer, “do not turn man back to a low place.” However, taking תָּשֵׁב as a jussive is problematic in light of the following following wayyiqtol form וַתֹּאמֶר (vato’mer, “and you said/say”).

[95:4]  ⁵ tn The phrase “in his hand” means within the sphere of his authority.

[138:4]  ⁶ tn The prefixed verbal forms here and in the following verse are understood as jussives, for the psalmist appears to be calling upon the kings to praise God. Another option is to take them as imperfects and translate, “the kings of the earth will give thanks…and will sing.” In this case the psalmist anticipates a universal response to his thanksgiving song.

[138:4]  ⁷ tn Heb “the words of your mouth.”