Mazmur 73:4

73:4 For they suffer no pain; ¹ 

their bodies ²  are strong and well-fed. ³ 

Mazmur 78:18

78:18 They willfully challenged God ⁴ 

by asking for food to satisfy their appetite.

Mazmur 106:3

106:3 How blessed are those who promote justice,

and do what is right all the time!

Mazmur 106:34

106:34 They did not destroy the nations, ⁵ 

as the Lord had commanded them to do.

Mazmur 107:39

107:39 As for their enemies, ⁶  they decreased in number and were beaten down,

because of painful distress ⁷  and suffering.

Mazmur 139:4

139:4 Certainly ⁸  my tongue does not frame a word

without you, O Lord, being thoroughly aware of it. ⁹ 

[73:4]  ¹ tn In Isa 58:6, the only other occurrence of this word in the OT, the term refers to “bonds” or “ropes.” In Ps 73:4 it is used metaphorically of pain and suffering that restricts one’s enjoyment of life.

[73:4]  ² tn Or “bellies.”

[73:4]  ³ tc Or “fat.” The MT of v. 4 reads as follows: “for there are no pains at their death, and fat [is] their body.” Since a reference to the death of the wicked seems incongruous in the immediate context (note v. 5) and premature in the argument of the psalm (see vv. 18-20, 27), some prefer to emend the text by redividing it. The term לְמוֹתָם (lÿmotam,“at their death”) is changed to לָמוֹ תָּם (lamo tam, “[there are no pains] to them, strong [and fat are their bodies]”). The term תָּם (tam, “complete; sound”) is used of physical beauty in Song 5:2; 6:9. This emendation is the basis for the present translation. However, in defense of the MT (the traditional Hebrew text), one may point to an Aramaic inscription from Nerab which views a painful death as a curse and a nonpainful death in one’s old age as a sign of divine favor. See ANET 661.

[78:18]  ⁴ tn Heb “and they tested God in their heart.” The “heart” is viewed here as the center of their volition.

[106:34]  ⁵ tn That is, the nations of Canaan.

[107:39]  ⁶ tn The words “As for their enemies” are not included in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity. Without such clarification, one might think that v. 39 refers to those just mentioned in v. 38 as objects of divine blessing, which would contradict the point just emphasized by the psalmist. The structure of vv. 33-42 is paneled (A-B-A-B). In vv. 33-34 the psalmist describes God’s judgment upon his enemies (perhaps those who had enslaved his people). In vv. 35-38 he contrasts this judgment with the divine blessing poured out on God’s people. (See the note on the word “people” in v. 35.) In vv. 39-40 he contrasts this blessing with the judgment experienced by enemies, before returning in vv. 41-42 to the blessing experienced by God’s people.

[107:39]  ⁷ tn Heb “from the oppression of calamity.”

[139:4]  ⁸ tn Or “for.”

[139:4]  ⁹ tn Heb “look, O Lord, you know all of it.”