67:2 Then those living on earth will know what you are like;
all nations will know how you deliver your people. 1
68:31 They come with red cloth 2 from Egypt,
Ethiopia 3 voluntarily offers tribute 4 to God.
1 tn Heb “to know in the earth your way, among all nations your deliverance.” The infinitive with -לְ (lamed) expresses purpose/result. When God demonstrates his favor to his people, all nations will recognize his character as a God who delivers. The Hebrew term דֶּרֶךְ (derekh, “way”) refers here to God’s characteristic behavior, more specifically, to the way he typically saves his people.
2 tn This noun, which occurs only here in the OT, apparently means “red cloth” or “bronze articles” (see HALOT 362 s.v. חַשְׁמַן; cf. NEB “tribute”). Traditionally the word has been taken to refer to “nobles” (see BDB 365 s.v. חַשְׁמַן; cf. NIV “envoys”). Another option would be to emend the text to הַשְׁמַנִּים (hashmannim, “the robust ones,” i.e., leaders).
3 tn Heb “Cush.”
4 tn Heb “causes its hands to run,” which must mean “quickly stretches out its hands” (to present tribute).