Mazmur 37:16

37:16 The little bit that a godly man owns is better than

the wealth of many evil men, ¹ 

Mazmur 37:27

37:27 Turn away from evil! Do what is right! ² 

Then you will enjoy lasting security. ³ 

Mazmur 118:8-9

118:8 It is better to take shelter ⁴  in the Lord

than to trust in people.

118:9 It is better to take shelter in the Lord

than to trust in princes.

Mazmur 119:65

ט (Tet)

119:65 You are good ⁵  to your servant,

O Lord, just as you promised. ⁶ 

Mazmur 119:68

119:68 You are good and you do good.

Teach me your statutes!

[37:16]  ¹ tn Heb “Better [is] a little to the godly one than the wealth of many evil ones.” The following verses explain why this is true. Though a godly individual may seem to have only meager possessions, he always has what he needs and will eventually possess the land. The wicked may prosper for a brief time, but will eventually be destroyed by divine judgment and lose everything.

[37:27]  ² tn Or “Do good!” The imperatives are singular (see v. 1).

[37:27]  ³ tn Heb “and dwell permanently.” The imperative with vav (ו) is best taken here as a result clause after the preceding imperatives.

[118:8]  ⁴ tn “Taking shelter” in the Lord is an idiom for seeking his protection. Seeking his protection presupposes and even demonstrates the subject’s loyalty to the Lord. In the psalms those who “take shelter” in the Lord are contrasted with the wicked and equated with those who love, fear, and serve the Lord (Pss 5:11-12; 31:17-20; 34:21-22).

[119:65]  ⁵ tn Heb “do good.”

[119:65]  ⁶ tn Heb “according to your word.”