Mazmur 120:6

120:6 For too long I have had to reside

with those who hate ¹  peace.

Mazmur 4:2

4:2 You men, ²  how long will you try to turn my honor into shame? ³ 

How long ⁴  will you love what is worthless ⁵ 

and search for what is deceptive? ⁶  (Selah)

[120:6]  ¹ tn The singular participial form probably has a representative function here. The psalmist envisions the typical hater of peace who represents the entire category of such individuals.

[4:2]  ² tn Heb “sons of man.”

[4:2]  ³ tn Heb “how long my honor to shame?”

[4:2]  ⁴ tn The interrogative construction עַד־מֶה (’ad-meh, “how long?”), is understood by ellipsis in the second line.

[4:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “emptiness.”

[4:2]  ⁶ tn Heb “a lie.” Some see the metonymic language of v. 2b (“emptiness, lie”) as referring to idols or false gods. However, there is no solid immediate contextual evidence for such an interpretation. It is more likely that the psalmist addresses those who threaten him (see v. 1) and refers in a general way to their sinful lifestyle. (See R. Mosis, TDOT 7:121.) The two terms allude to the fact that sinful behavior is ultimately fruitless and self-destructive.