Mazmur 48:11

48:11 Mount Zion rejoices;

the towns ¹  of Judah are happy, ² 

because of your acts of judgment. ³ 

Mazmur 140:9

140:9 As for the heads of those who surround me –

may the harm done by ⁴  their lips overwhelm them!

[48:11]  ¹ tn Heb “daughters.” The reference is to the cities of Judah surrounding Zion (see Ps 97:8 and H. Haag, TDOT 2:336).

[48:11]  ² tn The prefixed verbal forms are understood as generalizing imperfects. (For other examples of an imperfect followed by causal לְמַעַן [lÿma’an], see Ps 23:3; Isa 49:7; 55:5.) Another option is to interpret the forms as jussives, “Let Mount Zion rejoice! Let the towns of Judah be happy!” (cf. NASB, NRSV; note the imperatives in vv. 12-13.)

[48:11]  ³ sn These acts of judgment are described in vv. 4-7.

[140:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “harm of their lips.” The genitive here indicates the source or agent of the harm.