Mazmur 49:12

49:12 but, despite their wealth, people do not last, ¹ 

they are like animals ²  that perish. ³ 

Mazmur 49:20

49:20 Wealthy people do not understand; ⁴ 

they are like animals ⁵  that perish. ⁶ 

Mazmur 63:3

63:3 Because ⁷  experiencing ⁸  your loyal love is better than life itself,

my lips will praise you.

Mazmur 75:5

75:5 Do not be so certain you have won! ⁹ 

Do not speak with your head held so high! ¹⁰ 

Mazmur 76:4

76:4 You shine brightly and reveal your majesty,

as you descend from the hills where you killed your prey. ¹¹ 

Mazmur 94:4

94:4 They spew out threats ¹²  and speak defiantly;

all the evildoers boast. ¹³ 

Mazmur 145:4-5

145:4 One generation will praise your deeds to another,

and tell about your mighty acts! ¹⁴ 

145:5 I will focus on your honor and majestic splendor,

and your amazing deeds! ¹⁵ 

[49:12]  ¹ tn Heb “but mankind in honor does not remain.” The construction vav (ו) + noun at the beginning of the verse can be taken as contrastive in relation to what precedes. The Hebrew term יְקָר (yÿqar, “honor”) probably refers here to the wealth mentioned in the preceding context. The imperfect verbal form draws attention to what is characteristically true. Some scholars emend יָלִין (yalin, “remains”) to יָבִין (yavin, “understands”) but this is an unnecessary accommodation to the wording of v. 20.

[49:12]  ² tn Or “cattle.”

[49:12]  ³ tn The verb is derived from דָּמָה (damah, “cease; destroy”; BDB 198 s.v.). Another option is to derive the verb from דָּמָה (“be silent”; see HALOT 225 s.v. II דמה, which sees two homonymic roots [דָּמָה, “be silent,” and דָּמָה, “destroy”] rather than a single root) and translate, “they are like dumb beasts.” This makes particularly good sense in v. 20, where the preceding line focuses on mankind’s lack of understanding.

[49:20]  ⁴ tn Heb “mankind in honor does not understand.” The Hebrew term יְקָר (yÿqar, “honor”) probably refers here to the wealth mentioned in the preceding context. The imperfect verbal form draws attention to what is characteristically true. Some emend יָבִין (yavin, “understands”) to יָלִין (yalin, “remains”), but this is an unnecessary accommodation to the wording of v. 12.

[49:20]  ⁵ tn Or “cattle.”

[49:20]  ⁶ tn The Hebrew verb is derived from דָּמָה (damah, “cease, destroy”; BDB 198 s.v.). Another option is to derive the verb from דָּמָה (damah, “be silent”; see HALOT 225 s.v. II דמה, which sees two homonymic roots [I דָּמַה, “be silent,” and II דָּמַה, “destroy”] rather than a single root) and translate, “they are like dumb beasts.” This makes particularly good sense here, where the preceding line focuses on mankind’s lack of understanding.

[63:3]  ⁷ tn This line is understood as giving the basis for the praise promised in the following line. Another option is to take the Hebrew particle כִּי (ki) as asseverative/emphasizing, “Indeed, your loyal love is better” (cf. NEB, which leaves the particle untranslated).

[63:3]  ⁸ tn The word “experiencing” is supplied in the translation for clarification. The psalmist does not speak here of divine loyal love in some abstract sense, but of loyal love revealed and experienced.

[75:5]  ⁹ tn Heb “do not lift up on high your horn.”

[75:5]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “[do not] speak with unrestrained neck.” The negative particle is understood in this line by ellipsis (note the preceding line).

[75:5]  sn The image behind the language of vv. 4-5 is that of a powerful wild ox that confidently raises its head before its enemies.

[76:4]  ¹¹ tn Heb “radiant [are] you, majestic from the hills of prey.” God is depicted as a victorious king and as a lion that has killed its victims.

[94:4]  ¹² tn Heb “they gush forth [words].”

[94:4]  ¹³ tn The Hitpael of אָמַר (’amar) occurs only here (and perhaps in Isa 61:6).

[145:4]  ¹⁴ tn The prefixed verbal forms in v. 4 are understood as imperfects, indicating how the psalmist expects his audience to respond to his praise. Another option is to take the forms as jussives, indicating the psalmist’s wish, “may one generation praise…and tell about.”

[145:5]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “the splendor of the glory of your majesty, and the matters of your amazing deeds I will ponder.”