Mazmur 118:6

118:6 The Lord is on my side, ¹  I am not afraid!

What can people do to me? ² 

Mazmur 118:8

118:8 It is better to take shelter ³  in the Lord

than to trust in people.

[118:6]  ¹ tn Heb “for me.”

[118:6]  ² tn The rhetorical question assumes the answer, “Nothing!” The imperfect is used in a modal sense here, indicating capability or potential. See Ps 56:11.

[118:8]  ³ 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).