Ayub 38:7

38:7 when the morning stars ¹  sang ²  in chorus, ³ 

and all the sons of God ⁴  shouted for joy?

Mazmur 4:8

4:8 I will lie down and sleep peacefully, ⁵ 

for you, Lord, make me safe and secure. ⁶ 

[38:7]  ¹ sn The expression “morning stars” (Heb “stars of the morning”) is here placed in parallelism to the angels, “the sons of God.” It may refer to the angels under the imagery of the stars, or, as some prefer, it may poetically include all creation. There is a parallel also with the foundation of the temple which was accompanied by song (see Ezra 3:10,11). But then the account of the building of the original tabernacle was designed to mirror creation (see M. Fishbane, Biblical Text and Texture).

[38:7]  ² tn The construction, an adverbial clause of time, uses רָנָן (ranan), which is often a ringing cry, an exultation. The parallelism with “shout for joy” shows this to be enthusiastic acclamation. The infinitive is then continued in the next colon with the vav (ו) consecutive preterite.

[38:7]  ³ tn Heb “together.” This is Dhorme’s suggestion for expressing how they sang together.

[38:7]  ⁴ tn See Job 1:6.

[4:8]  ⁵ tn Heb “in peace at the same time I will lie down and sleep.”

[4:8]  ⁶ tn Heb “for you, Lord, solitarily, securely make me dwell.” The translation understands לְבָדָד (lÿvadad) as modifying the verb; the Lord keeps enemies away from the psalmist so that he is safe and secure. Another option is to take לְבָדָד with what precedes and translate, “you alone, Lord, make me secure.”