Mazmur 108:2-6

108:2 Awake, O stringed instrument and harp!

I will wake up at dawn! ¹ 

108:3 I will give you thanks before the nations, O Lord!

I will sing praises to you before foreigners! ² 

108:4 For your loyal love extends beyond the sky, ³ 

and your faithfulness reaches the clouds.

108:5 Rise up ⁴  above the sky, O God!

May your splendor cover the whole earth! ⁵ 

108:6 Deliver by your power ⁶  and answer me,

so that the ones you love may be safe. ⁷ 

[108:2]  ¹ tn BDB 1007 s.v. שַׁחַר takes “dawn” as an adverbial accusative, though others understand it as a personified direct object. “Dawn” is used metaphorically for the time of deliverance and vindication the psalmist anticipates. When salvation “dawns,” the psalmist will “wake up” in praise.

[108:3]  ² tn Or “the peoples.”

[108:4]  ³ tn Heb “for great upon the sky [or “heavens”] [is] your loyal love.”

[108:5]  ⁴ tn Or “be exalted.”

[108:5]  ⁵ tn Heb “over all the earth [be] your splendor.” Though no verb appears, the tone of the statement is a prayer or wish. (Note the imperative form in the preceding line.)

[108:6]  ⁶ tn Heb “right hand.”

[108:6]  ⁷ tn Or “may be rescued.” The lines are actually reversed in the Hebrew text: “So that the ones you love may be rescued, deliver by your power and answer me.”