Mazmur 84:5

84:5 How blessed are those who ¹  find their strength in you,

and long to travel the roads that lead to your temple! ² 

Mazmur 84:12

84:12 O Lord who rules over all, ³ 

how blessed are those who trust in you! ⁴ 

[84:5]  ¹ tn Heb “[Oh] the happiness [of] the man.” Hebrew literature often assumes and reflects the male-oriented perspective of ancient Israelite society. The principle stated here was certainly applicable to all people, regardless of their gender or age. To facilitate modern application, we translate the gender and age specific “man” with the plural “those.” The individual referred to in v. 5a is representative of followers of God, as the use of plural forms in vv. 5b-7 indicates.

[84:5]  ² tn Heb “roads [are] in their heart[s].” The roads are here those that lead to Zion (see v. 7).

[84:12]  ³ tn Traditionally “Lord of hosts.”

[84:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “[Oh] the happiness [of] the man [who] trusts in you.” Hebrew literature often assumes and reflects the male-oriented perspective of ancient Israelite society. The principle stated here is certainly applicable to all people, regardless of their gender or age. To facilitate modern application, we translate the gender and age specific “man” with the plural “those.” The individual referred to here is representative of all followers of God, as the use of the plural form in v. 12b indicates.