Mazmur 93:3-5

93:3 The waves ¹  roar, O Lord,

the waves roar,

the waves roar and crash. ² 

93:4 Above the sound of the surging water, ³ 

and the mighty waves of the sea,

the Lord sits enthroned in majesty. ⁴ 

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

Holiness ⁷  aptly adorns your house, O Lord, forever. ⁸ 

[93:3]  ¹ 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]  ² tn Heb “the waves lift up, O Lord, the waves lift up their voice, the waves lift up their crashing.”

[93:4]  ³ 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]  ⁴ tn Heb “mighty on high [is] the Lord.”

[93:5]  ⁵ 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]  ⁶ sn The rules you set down. God’s covenant contains a clear, reliable witness to his moral character and demands.

[93:5]  ⁷ 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]  ⁸ tn Heb “for your house holiness is fitting, O Lord, for length of days.”