Mazmur 89:16-19

89:16 They rejoice in your name all day long,

and are vindicated ¹  by your justice.

89:17 For you give them splendor and strength. ² 

By your favor we are victorious. ³ 

89:18 For our shield ⁴  belongs to the Lord,

our king to the Holy One of Israel. ⁵ 

89:19 Then you ⁶  spoke through a vision to your faithful followers ⁷  and said:

“I have energized a warrior; ⁸ 

I have raised up a young man ⁹  from the people.

[89:16]  ¹ tn Heb “are lifted up.”

[89:17]  ² tn Heb “for the splendor of their strength [is] you.”

[89:17]  ³ tn Heb “you lift up our horn,” or if one follows the marginal reading (Qere), “our horn is lifted up.” The horn of an ox underlies the metaphor (see Deut 33:17; 1 Kgs 22:11; Ps 92:10). The horn of the wild ox is frequently a metaphor for military strength; the idiom “exalt/lift up the horn” signifies military victory (see 1 Sam 2:10; Pss 75:10; 89:24; 92:10; Lam 2:17).

[89:18]  ⁴ tn The phrase “our shield” refers metaphorically to the Davidic king, who, as God’s vice-regent, was the human protector of the people. Note the parallelism with “our king" here and with “your anointed one” in Ps 84:9.

[89:18]  ⁵ sn The basic sense of the word “holy” is “set apart from that which is commonplace, special, unique.” The Lord’s holiness is first and foremost his transcendent sovereignty as the ruler of the world. He is “set apart” from the world over which he rules. At the same time his holiness encompasses his moral authority, which derives from his royal position. As king he has the right to dictate to his subjects how they are to live; indeed his very own character sets the standard for proper behavior. This expression is a common title for the Lord in the book of Isaiah.

[89:19]  ⁶ tn The pronoun “you” refers to the Lord, who is addressed here. The quotation that follows further develops the announcement of vv. 3-4.

[89:19]  ⁷ tc Many medieval mss read the singular here, “your faithful follower.” In this case the statement refers directly to Nathan’s oracle to David (see 2 Sam 7:17).

[89:19]  ⁸ tn Heb “I have placed help upon a warrior.”

[89:19]  ⁹ tn Or perhaps “a chosen one.”