Mazmur 1:6

1:6 Certainly ¹  the Lord guards the way of the godly, ² 

but the way of the wicked ends in destruction. ³ 

Mazmur 22:19

22:19 But you, O Lord, do not remain far away!

You are my source of strength! ⁴  Hurry and help me! ⁵ 

Mazmur 37:11

37:11 But the oppressed will possess the land

and enjoy great prosperity. ⁶ 

Mazmur 59:8

59:8 But you, O Lord, laugh in disgust at them; ⁷ 

you taunt ⁸  all the nations.

Mazmur 75:9

75:9 As for me, I will continually tell what you have done; ⁹ 

I will sing praises to the God of Jacob!

Mazmur 115:16

115:16 The heavens belong to the Lord, ¹⁰ 

but the earth he has given to mankind. ¹¹ 

Mazmur 119:51

119:51 Arrogant people do nothing but scoff at me. ¹² 

Yet I do not turn aside from your law.

Mazmur 119:95

119:95 The wicked prepare to kill me, ¹³ 

yet I concentrate on your rules.

Mazmur 119:113

ס (Samek)

119:113 I hate people with divided loyalties, ¹⁴ 

but I love your law.

Mazmur 132:18

132:18 I will humiliate his enemies, ¹⁵ 

and his crown will shine.

[1:6]  ¹ tn The translation understands כי as asseverative. Another option is to translate “for,” understanding v. 6 as a theological explanation for vv. 3-5, which contrasts the respective destinies of the godly and the wicked.

[1:6]  ² tn Heb “the Lord knows the way of the righteous.” To “know a way” means, in its most basic sense, “to recognize/acknowledge a pathway, route, or prescribed way of life” (see Josh 3:4; Job 21:14; Ps 67:2; Isa 42:16; Jer 5:4-5). Here it could refer to the Lord recognizing the behavior of the godly and, by metonymy, rewarding their godliness with security and prosperity (resulting in the translation, “the Lord rewards the behavior of the godly”). The present translation takes the verb in the sense of “mark out” (cf. Job 23:10), which metonymically could mean “watch over, protect, guard.” In this case the “way of the godly” is not their behavior, but their course of life or destiny; a translation reflecting this would be “the Lord protects the lives of the godly” or “the Lord watches over the destiny of the godly” (cf. NEB, NIV, NRSV). The Hebrew active participle יוֹדֵעַ (yodea’, “knows”) has here a characteristic durative force.

[1:6]  ³ tn Heb “but the way of the wicked perishes.” The “way of the wicked” may refer to their course of life (Ps 146:9; Prov 4:19; Jer 12:1) or their sinful behavior (Prov 12:26; 15:9). The Hebrew imperfect verbal form probably describes here what typically happens, though one could take the form as indicating what will happen (“will perish”).

[22:19]  ⁴ tn Heb “O my strength.”

[22:19]  ⁵ tn Heb “hurry to my help.”

[37:11]  ⁶ tn Heb “and they will take delight in (see v. 4) abundance of peace.”

[59:8]  ⁷ sn Laugh in disgust. See Pss 2:4; 37:13.

[59:8]  ⁸ tn Or “scoff at”; or “deride”; or “mock” (see Ps 2:4).

[75:9]  ⁹ tn Heb “I will declare forever.” The object needs to be supplied; God’s just judgment is in view.

[115:16]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “the heavens [are] heavens to the Lord.”

[115:16]  ¹¹ tn Heb “to the sons of man.”

[119:51]  ¹² tn Heb “scoff at me to excess.”

[119:95]  ¹³ tn Heb “the wicked wait for me to kill me.”

[119:113]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “divided ones.” The word occurs only here; it appears to be derived from a verbal root, attested in Arabic, meaning “to split” (see HALOT 762 s.v. *סֵעֵף). Since the psalmist is emphasizing his unswerving allegiance to God and his law, the term probably refers to those who lack such loyalty. The translation is similar to that suggested by L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 131.

[132:18]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “his enemies I will clothe [with] shame.”