Mazmur 89:32

89:32 I will punish their rebellion by beating them with a club, ¹ 

their sin by inflicting them with bruises. ² 

Mazmur 103:12

103:12 As far as the eastern horizon ³  is from the west, ⁴ 

so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actions ⁵  from us.

[89:32]  ¹ tn Heb “I will punish with a club their rebellion.”

[89:32]  sn Despite the harsh image of beating…with a club, the language reflects a father-son relationship (see v. 30; 2 Sam 7:14). According to Proverbs, a שֵׁבֶט (shevet, “club”) was sometimes utilized to administer corporal punishment to rebellious children (see Prov 13:24; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15).

[89:32]  ² tn Heb “with blows their sin.”

[103:12]  ³ tn Heb “sunrise.”

[103:12]  ⁴ tn Or “sunset.”

[103:12]  ⁵ tn The Hebrew term פֶּשַׁע (pesha’, rebellious act”) is here used metonymically for the guilt such actions produce.