Mazmur 93:2-5

93:2 Your throne has been secure from ancient times;

you have always been king. ¹ 

93:3 The waves ²  roar, O Lord,

the waves roar,

the waves roar and crash. ³ 

93:4 Above the sound of the surging water, ⁴ 

and the mighty waves of the sea,

the Lord sits enthroned in majesty. ⁵ 

93:5 The rules you set down ⁶  are completely reliable. ⁷ 

Holiness ⁸  aptly adorns your house, O Lord, forever. ⁹ 

[93:2]  ¹ tn Heb “from antiquity [are] you.” As the context suggests, this refers specifically to God’s royal position, not his personal existence.

[93:3]  ² tn The Hebrew noun translated “waves” often refers to rivers or streams, but here it appears to refer to the surging waves of the sea (see v. 4, Ps 24:2).

[93:3]  ³ tn Heb “the waves lift up, O Lord, the waves lift up their voice, the waves lift up their crashing.”

[93:4]  ⁴ tn Heb “mighty waters.”

[93:4]  sn The surging waters here symbolizes the hostile enemies of God who seek to destroy the order he has established in the world (see Pss 18:17; 29:3; 32:6; 77:20; 144:7; Isa 17:13; Jer 51:55; Ezek 26:19; Hab 3:15). But the Lord is depicted as elevated above and sovereign over these raging waters.

[93:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “mighty on high [is] the Lord.”

[93:5]  ⁶ tn Traditionally “your testimonies.” The Hebrew noun עֵדוּת (’edut) refers here to the demands of God’s covenant law. See Ps 19:7.

[93:5]  ⁷ sn The rules you set down. God’s covenant contains a clear, reliable witness to his moral character and demands.

[93:5]  ⁸ sn Holiness refers here to God’s royal transcendence (see vv. 1-4), as well as his moral authority and perfection (see v. 5a).

[93:5]  ⁹ tn Heb “for your house holiness is fitting, O Lord, for length of days.”