Mazmur 17:4

17:4 As for the actions of people ¹  –

just as you have commanded,

I have not followed in the footsteps of violent men. ² 

Mazmur 21:7

21:7 For the king trusts ³  in the Lord,

and because of the sovereign Lord’s ⁴  faithfulness he is not upended. ⁵ 

Mazmur 55:6

55:6 I say, ⁶  “I wish I had wings like a dove!

I would fly away and settle in a safe place!

[17:4]  ¹ tn Heb “with regard to the deeds of man[kind].”

[17:4]  ² tn Heb “by the word of your lips, I, I have watched the paths of the violent” (i.e., “watched” in the sense of “watched for the purpose of avoiding”).

[21:7]  ³ tn The active participle draws attention to the ongoing nature of the action.

[21:7]  ⁴ tn Traditionally “the Most High’s.” The divine title “Most High” (עֶלְיוֹן, ’elyon) pictures God as the exalted ruler of the universe who vindicates the innocent and judges the wicked. Note the focus of vv. 8-12 and see Ps 47:2.

[21:7]  ⁵ tn Another option is to translate the imperfect verbal form as future, “he will not be upended” (cf. NRSV “he shall not be moved”). Even if one chooses this option, the future tense must be understood in a generalizing sense.

[55:6]  ⁶ tn The prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) consecutive carries on the descriptive (present progressive) force of the verbs in v. 5.