Mazmur 37:7

37:7 Wait patiently for the Lord! ¹ 

Wait confidently ²  for him!

Do not fret over the apparent success of a sinner, ³ 

a man who carries out wicked schemes!

Mazmur 70:4

70:4 May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you!

May those who love to experience ⁴  your deliverance say continually, ⁵ 

“May God ⁶  be praised!” ⁷ 

[37:7]  ¹ tn Heb “Be quiet before the Lord!”

[37:7]  ² tc The Hebrew text has וְהִתְחוֹלֵל (vÿhitkholel, Hitpolel of חִיל, khil, “writhe with fear, suffer”) but this idea fits awkwardly here. The text should be changed to וְתוֹחֵל (vÿtokhel; Hiphil of יָחַל, yakhal, “wait”). It appears that the Hebrew text is the product of dittography: (1) the initial וה (vav-he) is accidentally repeated from the preceding word (יְהוָה, yÿhvah) and (2) the final lamed (ל) is accidentally repeated (note the preceding lamed and the initial lamed on the following form, לו).

[37:7]  ³ tn Heb “over one who causes his way to be successful.”

[70:4]  ⁴ tn Heb “those who love,” which stands metonymically for its cause, the experience of being delivered by God.

[70:4]  ⁵ tn The three prefixed verbal forms prior to the quotation are understood as jussives. The psalmist balances out his imprecation against his enemies with a prayer of blessing on the godly.

[70:4]  ⁶ tn Ps 40:16 uses the divine name “Lord” here instead of “God.”

[70:4]  ⁷ tn The prefixed verbal form is taken as a jussive, “may the Lord be magnified [in praise].” Another option is to take the verb as an imperfect, “the Lord is great.” See Ps 35:27.