Mazmur 51:13

51:13 Then I will teach ¹  rebels your merciful ways, ² 

and sinners will turn ³  to you.

Mazmur 144:14

144:14 Our cattle will be weighted down with produce. ⁴ 

No one will break through our walls,

no one will be taken captive,

and there will be no terrified cries in our city squares. ⁵ 

[51:13]  ¹ tn The cohortative expresses the psalmist’s resolve. This may be a vow or promise. If forgiven, the psalmist will “repay” the Lord by declaring God’s mercy and motivating other sinners to repent.

[51:13]  ² tn Heb “your ways.” The word “merciful” is added for clarification. God’s “ways” are sometimes his commands, but in this context, where the teaching of God’s ways motivates repentance (see the next line), it is more likely that God’s merciful and compassionate way of dealing with sinners is in view. Thanksgiving songs praising God for his deliverance typically focus on these divine attributes (see Pss 34, 41, 116, 138).

[51:13]  ³ tn Or “return,” i.e., in repentance.

[144:14]  ⁴ tn Heb “weighted down.” This probably refers (1) to the cattle having the produce from the harvest placed on their backs to be transported to the storehouses (see BDB 687 s.v. סָבַל). Other options are (2) to take this as reference to the cattle being pregnant (see HALOT 741 s.v. סבל pu) or (3) to their being well-fed or fattened (see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 [WBC], 288).

[144:14]  ⁵ tn Heb “there [will be] no breach, and there [will be] no going out, and there [will be] no crying out in our broad places.”