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Psalm 26[a]

By David.

26 Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have integrity,[b]
and I trust in the Lord without wavering.
Examine me, O Lord, and test me.
Evaluate my inner thoughts and motives.[c]
For I am ever aware of your faithfulness,[d]
and your loyalty continually motivates me.[e]
I do not associate[f] with deceitful men,
or consort[g] with those who are dishonest.[h]
I hate the mob[i] of evil men,
and do not associate[j] with the wicked.
I maintain a pure lifestyle,[k]
so I can appear before your altar,[l] O Lord,
to give you thanks,[m]
and to tell about all your amazing deeds.[n]
O Lord, I love the temple where you live,[o]
the place where your splendor is revealed.[p]
Do not sweep me away[q] with sinners,
or execute me along with violent people,[r]
10 who are always ready to do wrong[s]
or offer a bribe.[t]
11 But I have integrity.[u]
Rescue me[v] and have mercy on me!
12 I am safe,[w]
and among the worshipers I will praise the Lord.

Psalm 27[x]

By David.

27 The Lord is my light[y] and my salvation.
I fear no one.[z]
The Lord protects my life.
I am afraid of no one.[aa]
When evil men attack me[ab]
to devour my flesh,[ac]
when my adversaries and enemies attack me,[ad]
they stumble and fall.[ae]
Even when an army is deployed against me,
I do not fear.[af]
Even when war is imminent,[ag]
I remain confident.[ah]
I have asked the Lord for one thing—
this is what I desire!
I want to live[ai] in the Lord’s house[aj] all the days of my life,
so I can gaze at the splendor[ak] of the Lord
and contemplate in his temple.
He will surely[al] give me shelter[am] in the day of danger;[an]
he will hide me in his home.[ao]
He will place me[ap] on an inaccessible rocky summit.[aq]
Now I will triumph
over my enemies who surround me.[ar]
I will offer sacrifices in his dwelling place and shout for joy.[as]
I will sing praises to the Lord.
Hear me,[at] O Lord, when I cry out.
Have mercy on me and answer me.
My heart tells me to pray to you,[au]
and I do pray to you, O Lord.[av]
Do not reject me.[aw]
Do not push your servant away in anger.
You are my deliverer.[ax]
Do not forsake or abandon me,
O God who vindicates me.
10 Even if my father and mother abandoned me,[ay]
the Lord would take me in.[az]
11 Teach me how you want me to live,[ba] Lord;
lead me along a level path[bb] because of those who wait to ambush me.[bc]
12 Do not turn me over to my enemies,[bd]
for false witnesses who want to destroy me testify against me.[be]
13 Where would I be if I did not believe I would experience
the Lord’s favor in the land of the living?[bf]
14 Rely[bg] on the Lord!
Be strong and confident![bh]
Rely on the Lord!

Psalm 28[bi]

By David.

28 To you, O Lord, I cry out!
My Protector,[bj] do not ignore me.[bk]
If you do not respond to me,[bl]
I will join[bm] those who are descending into the grave.[bn]
Hear my plea for mercy when I cry out to you for help,
when I lift my hands[bo] toward your holy temple.[bp]
Do not drag me away with evil men,
with those who behave wickedly,[bq]
who talk so friendly to their neighbors,[br]
while they plan to harm them.[bs]
Pay them back for their evil deeds.
Pay them back for what they do.
Punish them.[bt]
For they do not understand the Lord’s actions,
or the way he carries out justice.[bu]
The Lord[bv] will permanently demolish them.[bw]
The Lord deserves praise,[bx]
for he has heard my plea for mercy.[by]
The Lord strengthens and protects me;[bz]
I trust in him with all my heart.[ca]
I am rescued[cb] and my heart is full of joy;[cc]
I will sing to him in gratitude.[cd]
The Lord strengthens his people;[ce]
he protects and delivers his chosen king.[cf]
Deliver your people.
Empower[cg] the nation that belongs to you.[ch]
Care for them like a shepherd and carry them in your arms[ci] at all times![cj]

Psalm 29[ck]

A psalm of David.

29 Acknowledge the Lord, you heavenly beings,[cl]
acknowledge the Lord’s majesty and power.[cm]
Acknowledge the majesty of the Lord’s reputation.[cn]
Worship the Lord in holy attire.[co]
The Lord’s shout is heard over the water;[cp]
the majestic God thunders,[cq]
the Lord appears over the surging water.[cr]
The Lord’s shout is powerful,[cs]
the Lord’s shout is majestic.[ct]
The Lord’s shout breaks[cu] the cedars,
the Lord shatters[cv] the cedars of Lebanon.[cw]
He makes them skip like a calf,
Lebanon and Sirion[cx] like a young ox.[cy]
The Lord’s shout strikes[cz] with flaming fire.[da]
The Lord’s shout shakes[db] the wilderness,
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.[dc]
The Lord’s shout bends[dd] the large trees[de]
and strips[df] the leaves from the forests.[dg]
Everyone in his temple says, “Majestic!”[dh]
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the engulfing waters,[di]
the Lord sits enthroned[dj] as the eternal king.
11 The Lord gives[dk] his people strength;[dl]
the Lord grants his people security.[dm]

Psalm 30[dn]

A psalm, a song used at the dedication of the temple;[do] by David.

30 I will praise you, O Lord, for you lifted me up,[dp]
and did not allow my enemies to gloat[dq] over me.
O Lord my God,
I cried out to you and you healed me.[dr]
O Lord, you pulled me[ds] up from Sheol;
you rescued me from among those descending into the grave.[dt]
Sing to the Lord, you faithful followers[du] of his;
give thanks to his holy name.[dv]
For his anger lasts only a brief moment,
and his good favor restores one’s life.[dw]
One may experience sorrow during the night,
but joy arrives in the morning.[dx]
In my self-confidence I said,
“I will never be shaken.”[dy]
O Lord, in your good favor you made me secure.[dz]
Then you rejected me[ea] and I was terrified.
To you, O Lord, I cried out;
I begged the Lord for mercy:[eb]
“What[ec] profit is there in taking my life,[ed]
in my descending into the Pit?[ee]
Can the dust of the grave[ef] praise you?
Can it declare your loyalty?[eg]
10 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me.
O Lord, deliver me.”[eh]
11 Then you turned my lament into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and covered me with joy.[ei]
12 So now[ej] my heart[ek] will sing to you and not be silent;
O Lord my God, I will always[el] give thanks to you.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 26:1 sn Psalm 26. The author invites the Lord to test his integrity, asserts his innocence and declares his loyalty to God.
  2. Psalm 26:1 tn Heb “for I in my integrity walk.”
  3. Psalm 26:2 tn Heb “evaluate my kidneys and my heart.” The kidneys and heart were viewed as the seat of one’s volition, conscience, and moral character.
  4. Psalm 26:3 tn Heb “for your faithfulness [is] before my eyes.”
  5. Psalm 26:3 tn Heb “and I walk about in your loyalty.”sn The psalmist’s awareness of the Lord’s faithfulness and…loyalty toward him motivates him to remain loyal to the Lord and to maintain his moral purity.
  6. Psalm 26:4 tn Heb “sit.”
  7. Psalm 26:4 tn Heb “go.” The psalmist uses the imperfect form of the verb to emphasize that he does not make a practice of associating with such people.
  8. Psalm 26:4 tn Heb “[those who] conceal themselves.”
  9. Psalm 26:5 tn Heb “assembly, company.”
  10. Psalm 26:5 tn Heb “sit.” The psalmist uses the imperfect form of the verb to emphasize that he does not make a practice of associating with such people.
  11. Psalm 26:6 tn Heb “I wash my hands in innocence.” The psalmist uses an image from cultic ritual to picture his moral lifestyle. The imperfect verbal emphasizes that this is his habit.
  12. Psalm 26:6 tn Heb “so I can go around your altar” (probably in ritual procession). Following the imperfect of the preceding line, the cohortative with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose or result.
  13. Psalm 26:7 tn Heb “to cause to be heard the sound of thanksgiving.”
  14. Psalm 26:7 tn The two infinitival forms (both with prefixed preposition ל, lamed) give the purpose for his appearance at the altar.
  15. Psalm 26:8 tn Heb “the dwelling of your house.”
  16. Psalm 26:8 tn Heb “the place of the abode of your splendor.”
  17. Psalm 26:9 tn Heb “do not gather up my life with.”
  18. Psalm 26:9 tn Heb “or with men of bloodshed my life.” The verb is supplied; it is understood by ellipsis (see the preceding line).
  19. Psalm 26:10 tn Heb “who [have] in their hands evil.”
  20. Psalm 26:10 tn Heb “and their right hand is full of a bribe.”
  21. Psalm 26:11 tn Heb “and I in my integrity walk.” The psalmist uses the imperfect verbal form to emphasize this is his practice. The construction at the beginning of the verse (conjunction + pronoun) highlights the contrast between the psalmist and the sinners mentioned in vv. 9-10.
  22. Psalm 26:11 tn Or “redeem me.”
  23. Psalm 26:12 tn Heb “my foot stands in a level place.”
  24. Psalm 27:1 sn Psalm 27. The author is confident of the Lord’s protection and asks the Lord to vindicate him.
  25. Psalm 27:1 sn “Light” is often used as a metaphor for deliverance and the life/blessings it brings. See Pss 37:6; 97:11; 112:4; Isa 49:6; 51:4; Mic 7:8. Another option is that “light” refers here to divine guidance (see Ps 43:3).
  26. Psalm 27:1 tn Heb “Whom shall I fear?” The rhetorical question anticipates the answer, “No one.”
  27. Psalm 27:1 tn Heb “Of whom shall I be afraid?” The rhetorical question anticipates the answer, “No one!”
  28. Psalm 27:2 tn Heb “draw near to me.”
  29. Psalm 27:2 sn To devour my flesh. The psalmist compares his enemies to dangerous, hungry predators (see 2 Kgs 9:36; Ezek 39:17).
  30. Psalm 27:2 tn Heb “my adversaries and my enemies against me.” The verb “draw near” (that is, “attack”) is understood by ellipsis; see the previous line.
  31. Psalm 27:2 tn The Hebrew verbal forms are perfects. The translation assumes the psalmist is generalizing here, but another option is to take this as a report of past experience, “when evil men attacked me…they stumbled and fell.”
  32. Psalm 27:3 tn Heb “my heart does not fear.”
  33. Psalm 27:3 tn Heb “if war rises up against me.”
  34. Psalm 27:3 tn Heb “in this [i.e., “during this situation”] I am trusting.”
  35. Psalm 27:4 tn Heb “for me to live.”
  36. Psalm 27:4 sn The Lord’s house. This probably refers to the tabernacle (if one accepts Davidic authorship) or the temple (see Judg 19:18; 1 Sam 1:7, 24; 2 Sam 12:20; 1 Kgs 7:12, 40, 45, 51).
  37. Psalm 27:4 tn Or “beauty.”
  38. Psalm 27:5 tn Or “for he will.” The translation assumes the כִּי (ki) is asseverative here, rather than causal.
  39. Psalm 27:5 tn Heb “he will hide me in his hut.”
  40. Psalm 27:5 tn Or “trouble.”
  41. Psalm 27:5 tn Heb “tent.”
  42. Psalm 27:5 tn The three imperfect verb forms in v. 5 anticipate a positive response to the prayer offered in vv. 7-12.
  43. Psalm 27:5 tn Heb “on a rocky summit he lifts me up.” The Lord places the psalmist in an inaccessible place where his enemies cannot reach him. See Ps 18:2.
  44. Psalm 27:6 tn Heb “and now my head will be lifted up over my enemies all around me.”sn In vv. 1-3 the psalmist generalizes, but here we discover that he is facing a crisis and is under attack from enemies (see vv. 11-12).
  45. Psalm 27:6 tn Heb “I will sacrifice in his tent sacrifices of a shout for joy” (that is, “sacrifices accompanied by a joyful shout”).
  46. Psalm 27:7 tn Heb “my voice.”
  47. Psalm 27:8 tc Heb “concerning you my heart says, ‘Seek my face.’” The verb form “seek” is plural, but this makes no sense here, for the psalmist is addressed. The verb should be emended to a singular form. The first person pronominal suffix on “face” also makes little sense, unless it is the voice of the Lord he hears. His “heart” is viewed as speaking, however, so it is better to emend the form to פָּנָיו (panayv, “his face”).
  48. Psalm 27:8 tn Heb “your face, O Lord, I seek.” To “seek the Lord’s face” means to seek his favor through prayer (see 2 Sam 21:1; Pss 24:6; 105:4).
  49. Psalm 27:9 tn Heb “do not hide your face from me.” The idiom “hide the face” can mean “ignore” (see Pss 10:11; 13:1; 51:9) or carry the stronger idea of “reject” (see Pss 30:7; 88:14).
  50. Psalm 27:9 tn Or “[source of] help.”
  51. Psalm 27:10 tn Or “though my father and mother have abandoned me.”
  52. Psalm 27:10 tn Heb “gather me in”; or “receive me.”
  53. Psalm 27:11 tn Heb “teach me your way.” The Lord’s “way” refers here to the moral principles which he expects the psalmist to follow. See Ps 25:4.
  54. Psalm 27:11 sn The level path refers to God’s moral principles (see the parallel line), which, if followed, will keep the psalmist blameless before his accusers (see v. 12).
  55. Psalm 27:11 tn Heb “because of those who watch me [with evil intent].” See also Pss 5:8; 54:5; 56:2.
  56. Psalm 27:12 tn Heb “do not give me over to the desire of my enemies.”
  57. Psalm 27:12 tn Heb “for they have risen up against me, lying witnesses and a testifier of violence.” The form יָפֵחַ (yafeakh) is traditionally understood as a verb meaning “snort, breathe out”: “for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty” (KJV; cf. BDB 422 s.v.). A better option is to take the form as a noun meaning “a witness” (or “testifier”). See Prov 6:19; 12:17; 14:5, 25; 19:5, 9, and Hab 2:3.
  58. Psalm 27:13 tn In the Hebrew text the sentence is incomplete: “If I had not believed [I would] see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” The words “Where would I be” are supplied in the translation to clarify the intent of the statement.
  59. Psalm 27:14 tn Or “wait.”
  60. Psalm 27:14 tn Heb “be strong and let your heart be confident.”
  61. Psalm 28:1 sn Psalm 28. The author looks to the Lord for vindication, asks that the wicked be repaid in full for their evil deeds, and affirms his confidence that the Lord will protect his own.
  62. Psalm 28:1 tn Heb “my rocky summit.” The Lord is compared to a rocky summit where one can find protection from enemies. See Ps 18:2.
  63. Psalm 28:1 tn Heb “do not be deaf from me.”
  64. Psalm 28:1 tn Heb “lest [if] you are silent from me.”
  65. Psalm 28:1 tn Heb “I will be equal with.”
  66. Psalm 28:1 tn Heb “the pit.” The noun בּוֹר (bor, “pit, cistern”) is sometimes used of the grave and/or the realm of the dead.
  67. Psalm 28:2 sn I lift my hands. Lifting one’s hands toward God was a gesture of prayer.
  68. Psalm 28:2 tn The Hebrew term דְּבִיר (devir, “temple”) actually refers to the most holy place within the sanctuary.
  69. Psalm 28:3 tn Heb “workers of wickedness.”
  70. Psalm 28:3 tn Heb “speakers of peace with their neighbors.”
  71. Psalm 28:3 tn Heb “and evil [is] in their heart[s].”
  72. Psalm 28:4 tn Heb “Give to them according to their work, and according to the evil of their deeds. According to the work of their hands give to them. Return their due to them.” The highly repetitive style reflects the psalmist’s agitated emotional state and draws attention to his yearning for justice.
  73. Psalm 28:5 tn Heb “or the work of his hands.” In this context “the Lord’s actions” and “the work of his hands” probably refer to the way he carries out justice by vindicating the godly and punishing the wicked. (Note the final line of the verse, which refers to divine judgment. See also Ps 92:4-7.) Evil men do not “understand” God’s just ways; they fail to realize he will protect the innocent. Consequently they seek to harm the godly, as if they believe they will never be held accountable for their actions.
  74. Psalm 28:5 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord, who is referred to in the two immediately preceding lines) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  75. Psalm 28:5 tn Heb “will tear them down and not rebuild them.” The ungodly are compared to a structure that is permanently demolished.
  76. Psalm 28:6 tn Heb “blessed [be] the Lord.”
  77. Psalm 28:6 sn He has heard my plea for mercy. The psalmist’s mood abruptly changes at this point, because the Lord responded positively to his petition and assured him that he would deliver him.
  78. Psalm 28:7 tn Heb “The Lord [is] my strength and my shield.”
  79. Psalm 28:7 tn Heb “in him my heart trusts.”
  80. Psalm 28:7 tn Or “I am helped.”
  81. Psalm 28:7 tn Heb “and my heart exults.”
  82. Psalm 28:7 tn Heb “and from my song I will thank him.” As pointed in the Hebrew text, מִשִּׁירִי (mishiri) appears to be “from my song,” but the preposition “from” never occurs elsewhere with the verb “to thank” (Hiphil of יָדָה, yadah). Perhaps משׁיר is a noun form meaning “song.” If so, it can be taken as an adverbial accusative, “and [with] my song I will thank him.” See P. C. Craigie, Psalms 1-50 (WBC), 236.
  83. Psalm 28:8 tn Heb “the Lord [is] strength to them” (or perhaps, “to him”). The form לָמוֹ (lamo, “to them/him”) probably needs to be emended to לְעַמּוֹ (leʿammo, “to his people”; see P. C. Craigie, Psalms 1-50 [WBC], 236), perhaps due to quiescence of the letter ʿayin (ע; see P. McCarter, Textual Criticism [GBS], 55). Note the reference to the Lord’s “people” in the next verse. Also, a few Hebrew mss, the LXX, and Syriac support לְעַמּוֹ (leʿammo, “to his people”).
  84. Psalm 28:8 tn Heb “he [is] a refuge of help for his anointed one.” The noun מָשִׁיחַ (mashiakh, “anointed one”) refers to the Davidic king, who perhaps speaks as representative of the nation in this psalm. See Pss 2:2; 18:50; 20:6; 84:9; 89:38, 51; 132:10, 17.
  85. Psalm 28:9 tn Or “bless.”
  86. Psalm 28:9 tn Heb “your inheritance.” The parallelism (note “your people”) indicates that Israel is in view.
  87. Psalm 28:9 tn Heb “shepherd them and lift them up.”sn The shepherd metaphor is sometimes associated with royal responsibility. See 2 Sam 5:2; 7:7; Mic 5:2-4).
  88. Psalm 28:9 tn Or “forever.”
  89. Psalm 29:1 sn Psalm 29. In this hymn of praise the psalmist calls upon the heavenly assembly to acknowledge the royal splendor of the Lord. He describes the Lord’s devastating power as revealed in the thunderstorm and affirms that the Lord exerts this awesome might on behalf of his people. In its original context the psalm was a bold polemic against the Canaanite storm god Baal, for it affirms that the Lord is the real king who controls the elements of the storm, contrary to pagan belief. See R. B. Chisholm, Jr., “The Polemic against Baalism in Israel’s Early History and Literature,” BSac 150 (1994): 280-82.
  90. Psalm 29:1 tc Heb “sons of gods,” or “sons of God.” Though אֵלִים (ʾelim) is vocalized as a plural form (“gods”) in the MT, it is likely that the final mem is actually enclitic, rather than a plural marker. In this case one may read “God.” Some, following a Qumran text and the LXX, also propose the phrase occurred in the original text of Deut 32:8.tn The phrase בְּנֵי אֵלִים (bene ʾelim, “sons of gods” or “sons of God”) occurs only here and in Ps 89:6 (89:7 HT). In Ps 89 the “sons of gods/God” are also called “the assembly of the holy ones” and “council of the holy ones.” The heavenly assembly, comprised of so-called “angels” and other supernatural beings, appears to be in view. See Job 5:1; 15:15 and Zech 14:5, where these supernatural beings are referred to as “holy ones.” In Canaanite mythological texts the divine council of the high god El is referred to as “the sons of El.” The OT apparently borrows the Canaanite phrase and applies it to the supernatural beings that surround the heavenly throne.
  91. Psalm 29:1 tn Or “ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.”
  92. Psalm 29:2 tn Heb “ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name.” The Hebrew term שֵׁם (shem, “name”) refers here to the Lord’s reputation. (The English term “name” is often used the same way.)
  93. Psalm 29:2 tn That is, properly dressed for the occasion.
  94. Psalm 29:3 tn Heb “the voice of the Lord [is] over the water.” As the next line makes clear, the “voice of the Lord” is here the thunder that accompanies a violent storm. The psalm depicts the Lord in the role of a warrior-king, so the thunder is his battle cry, as it were.
  95. Psalm 29:3 tn The Hebrew perfect verbal form is probably descriptive. In dramatic fashion the psalmist portrays the Lord coming in the storm to do battle with his enemies and to vindicate his people.
  96. Psalm 29:3 tn Traditionally “many waters.” The geographical references in the psalm (Lebanon, Sirion, Kadesh) suggest this is a reference to the Mediterranean Sea (see Ezek 26:19; 27:26). The psalmist describes a powerful storm moving in from the sea and sweeping over the mountainous areas north of Israel. The “surging waters” may symbolize the hostile enemies of God who seek to destroy his people (see Pss 18:17; 32:6; 77:20; 93:4; 144:7; Isa 17:13; Jer 51:55; Ezek 26:19; Hab 3:15). In this case the Lord is depicted as elevated above and sovereign over the raging waters.
  97. Psalm 29:4 tn Heb “the voice of the Lord [is] accompanied by strength.”
  98. Psalm 29:4 tn Heb “the voice of the Lord [is] accompanied by majesty.”
  99. Psalm 29:5 tn The Hebrew participial form draws attention to the durative nature of the action being described.
  100. Psalm 29:5 tn The prefixed verbal forms with vav (ו) consecutive here and in v. 6a carry on the descriptive function of the preceding participle (see GKC 329 §111.u). The verb שָׁבַר (shavar) appears in the Qal in the first line of the verse, and in the Piel in the second line. The verb, which means “break” in the Qal, appears thirty-six times in the Piel, always with multiple objects (the object is either a collective singular or grammatically plural or dual form). The Piel may highlight the repetition of the pluralative action, or it may suggest an intensification of action, indicating repeated action comprising a whole, perhaps with the nuance “break again and again, break in pieces.” Another option is to understand the form as resultative: “make broken” (see IBHS 404-7 §24.3).
  101. Psalm 29:5 sn The cedars of the Lebanon forest were well-known in ancient Israel for their immense size. Here they may symbolize the arrogant enemies of God (see Isa 2:12-13).
  102. Psalm 29:6 sn Sirion is another name for Mount Hermon (Deut 3:9).
  103. Psalm 29:6 sn Lebanon and Sirion are compared to frisky young animals (a calf…a young ox) who skip and jump. The thunderous shout of the Lord is so powerful, one can see the very mountains shake on the horizon.
  104. Psalm 29:7 tn The verb normally means “to hew [stone or wood],” or “to hew out.” In Hos 6:5 it seems to mean “cut in pieces,” “knock down,” or perhaps “hack” (see F. I. Andersen and D. N. Freedman, Hosea [AB], 428). The Ugaritic cognate can mean “assault.” In v. 7 the verb seems to have a similar meaning, perhaps “attack, strike.” The phrase “flames of fire” is an adverbial accusative; the Lord’s shout is accompanied by “flames of fire,” that is, lightning bolts.
  105. Psalm 29:7 sn The Lord’s shout strikes with flaming fire. The short line has invited textual emendation, but its distinct, brief form may highlight the statement, which serves as the axis of a chiastic structure encompassing vv. 5-9: (A) the Lord’s shout destroys the forest (v. 5); (B) the Lord’s shout shakes the terrain (v. 6); (C) the Lord’s shout is accompanied by destructive lightning (v. 7); (B´) the Lord’s shout shakes the terrain (v. 8); (A´) the Lord’s shout destroys the forest (v. 9).
  106. Psalm 29:8 tn The Hebrew imperfect verbal forms are descriptive in function; the psalmist depicts the action as underway.
  107. Psalm 29:8 sn Kadesh. The references to Lebanon and Sirion in v. 6 suggest this is a reference to the northern Kadesh, located north of Damascus, not the southern Kadesh mentioned so often in the OT. See M. Dahood, Psalms (AB), 1:178.
  108. Psalm 29:9 tn The Hebrew imperfect verbal form is descriptive in function; the psalmist depicts the action as underway.
  109. Psalm 29:9 tc Heb “the deer.” Preserving this reading, some translate the preceding verb, “causes [the deer] to give premature birth” (cf. NEB, NASB). But the Polel of חוּל/חִיל (khul/khil) means “give birth,” not “cause to give birth,” and the statement “the Lord’s shout gives birth to deer” is absurd. In light of the parallelism (note “forests” in the next line) and v. 5, it is preferable to emend אַיָּלוֹת (ʾayyalot, “deer”) to אֵילוֹת (ʾelot, “large trees”) understanding the latter as an alternate form of the usual plural form אַיָּלִים (ʾayyalim).
  110. Psalm 29:9 tn The verb is used in Joel 1:7 of locusts stripping the leaves from a tree. The prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) consecutive here carries the descriptive function of the preceding imperfect. See GKC 329 §111.t.
  111. Psalm 29:9 tn The usual form of the plural of יַעַר (yaʿar, “forest”) is יְעָרִים (yeʿarim). For this reason some propose an emendation to יְעָלוֹת (ye’alot, “female mountain goats”) which would fit nicely in the parallelism with “deer” (cf. NEB “brings kids early to birth”). In this case one would have to understand the verb חָשַׂף (khasaf) to mean “cause premature birth,” an otherwise unattested homonym of the more common חָשַׂף (“strip bare”).sn The Lord’s thunderous shout is accompanied by high winds which damage the trees of the forest.
  112. Psalm 29:9 tn Heb “In his temple, all of it says, ‘Glory.’”
  113. Psalm 29:10 tn The noun מַּבּוּל (mabbul, “flood”) appears only here and in Gen 6-11, where it refers to the Noahic flood. Some see a reference to that event here. The presence of the article (perhaps indicating uniqueness) and the switch to the perfect verbal form (which could be taken as describing a past situation) might support this. However, the immediate context indicates that the referent of מַּבּוּל is the “surging waters” mentioned in v. 3. The article indicates waters that are definite in the mind of the speaker and the perfect is probably descriptive in function, like “thunders” in v. 3. However, even though the historical flood is not the primary referent here, there may be a literary allusion involved. The psalmist views the threatening chaotic sea as a contemporary manifestation of the destructive waters of old.
  114. Psalm 29:10 tn The prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) consecutive here carries the descriptive function of the preceding perfect.
  115. Psalm 29:11 tn The imperfect verbal forms in v. 11 are either descriptive or generalizing.
  116. Psalm 29:11 sn Strength. This probably refers to military power; see the use of the noun in 1 Sam 2:10 and Ps 86:16.
  117. Psalm 29:11 tn Heb “blesses his people with peace.” The Hebrew term שָׁלוֹם (shalom, “peace”) probably refers here to the protection and prosperity experienced by God’s people after the Lord intervenes in battle on their behalf.
  118. Psalm 30:1 sn Psalm 30. The author thanks the Lord for delivering him from death and urges others to join him in praise. The psalmist experienced divine discipline for a brief time, but when he cried out for help the Lord intervened and restored his favor.
  119. Psalm 30:1 tn Heb “a song of the dedication of the house.” The referent of “house” is unclear. It is possible that David wrote this psalm for the dedication ceremony of Solomon’s temple. Another possibility is that the psalm was used on the occasion of the dedication of the second temple following the return from exile, or on the occasion of the rededication of the temple in Maccabean times.
  120. Psalm 30:1 tn Elsewhere the verb דָּלָה (dalah) is used of drawing water from a well (Exod 2:16, 19; Prov 20:5). The psalmist was trapped in the pit leading to Sheol (see v. 3), but the Lord hoisted him up. The Piel stem is used here, perhaps suggesting special exertion on the Lord’s part.
  121. Psalm 30:1 tn Or “rejoice.”
  122. Psalm 30:2 sn You healed me. Apparently the psalmist was plagued by a serious illness that threatened his life. See Ps 41.
  123. Psalm 30:3 tn Or “my life.”
  124. Psalm 30:3 tn Heb “you kept me alive from those descending into the pit.” The Hebrew noun בּוֹר (bor, “pit, cistern”) is sometimes used of the grave and/or the realm of the dead. The translation follows the consonantal Hebrew text (Kethib); the marginal reading (Qere) has, “you kept me alive so that I did not go down into the pit.”
  125. Psalm 30:4 tn A “faithful follower” (חָסִיד) is one who does what is right in God’s eyes and remains faithful to God (see Pss 4:3; 12:1; 16:10; 31:23; 37:28; 86:2; 97:10).
  126. Psalm 30:4 tn Heb “to his holy remembrance.” The noun זֵכֵר (zekher, “remembrance”) here refers to the name of the Lord as invoked in liturgy and praise. Cf. Pss 6:5; 97:12.The Lord’s “name” is “holy” in the sense that it is a reminder of his uniqueness and greatness.
  127. Psalm 30:5 tn Heb “for [there is] a moment in his anger, [but] life in his favor.” Because of the parallelism with “moment,” some understand חַיִּים (khayyim) in a quantitative sense: “lifetime” (cf. NIV, NRSV). However, the immediate context, which emphasizes deliverance from death (see v. 3), suggests that חַיִּים has a qualitative sense: “physical life” or even “prosperous life” (cf. NEB “in his favour there is life”).
  128. Psalm 30:5 tn Heb “in the evening weeping comes to lodge, but at morning a shout of joy.” “Weeping” is personified here as a traveler who lodges with one temporarily.
  129. Psalm 30:6 sn In my self-confidence I said… Here the psalmist begins to fill in the background of the crisis referred to in the earlier verses. He had been arrogant and self-confident, so the Lord withdrew his protection and allowed trouble to invade his life (vv. 8-11).
  130. Psalm 30:7 tn Heb “in your good favor you caused to stand for my mountain strength.” Apparently this means “you established strength for my mountain” (“mountain” in this case representing his rule, which would be centered on Mt. Zion) or “you established strength as my mountain” (“mountain” in this case being a metaphor for security).
  131. Psalm 30:7 tn Heb “you hid your face.” The idiom “hide the face” can mean “ignore” (see Pss 10:11; 13:1; 51:9) or, as here, carry the stronger idea of “reject” (see Ps 88:14).
  132. Psalm 30:8 tn The prefixed verbal forms in v. 8 are probably preterites; the psalmist recalls that he prayed in his time of crisis.
  133. Psalm 30:9 sn The following two verses (vv. 9-10) contain the prayer (or an excerpt of the prayer) that the psalmist offered to the Lord during his crisis.
  134. Psalm 30:9 tn Heb “What profit [is there] in my blood?” “Blood” here represents his life.
  135. Psalm 30:9 tn The Hebrew term שָׁחַת (shakhat, “pit”) is often used as a title for Sheol (see Pss 16:10; 49:9; 55:24 HT [55:23 ET]; 103:4).
  136. Psalm 30:9 tn Heb “dust.” The words “of the grave” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
  137. Psalm 30:9 tn The rhetorical questions anticipate the answer, “Of course not!”sn According to the OT, those who descend into the realm of death/Sheol are cut off from God’s mighty deeds and from the worshiping covenant community that experiences divine intervention (Pss 6:5; 88:10-12; Isa 38:18). In his effort to elicit a positive divine response, the psalmist reminds God that he will receive no praise or glory if he allows the psalmist to die. Dead men do not praise God!
  138. Psalm 30:10 tn Heb “be a helper to me.”
  139. Psalm 30:11 sn Covered me with joy. “Joy” probably stands metonymically for festive attire here.
  140. Psalm 30:12 tn Heb “so that”; or “in order that.”
  141. Psalm 30:12 tn Heb “glory.” Some view כָבוֹד (khavod, “glory”) here as a metonymy for man’s inner being (see BDB 459 s.v. II כָּבוֹד 5), but it is preferable to emend the form to כְּבֵדִי (kevedi, “my liver”). Like the heart, the liver is viewed as the seat of one’s emotions. See also Pss 16:9; 57:9; 108:1, as well as H. W. Wolff, Anthropology of the Old Testament, 64, and M. Dahood, Psalms (AB), 1:90. For an Ugaritic example of the heart/liver as the source of joy, see G. R. Driver, Canaanite Myths and Legends, 47-48: “her [Anat’s] liver swelled with laughter, her heart was filled with joy, the liver of Anat with triumph.” “Heart” is used in the translation above for the sake of English idiom; the expression “my liver sings” would seem odd indeed to the modern reader.
  142. Psalm 30:12 tn Or “forever.”