translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: PSA

label: NET translator note

text: The Hebrew noun is an abstract plural. The word often refers metonymically to the happiness that God-given security and prosperity produce (see Pss 1:1, 3; 2:12; 34:9; 65:4; 84:12; 89:15; 106:3; 112:1; 127:5; 128:1; 144:15 ).


text: Heb “in the day of trouble” (see Ps 27:5 ).


text: That is, the one who has been kind to the poor. The prefixed verbal form could be taken as jussive of prayer (“may the Lord deliver,” see v. 2 ), but the preceding parallel line is a declaration of fact, not a prayer per se. The imperfect can be taken here as future (“will deliver,” cf. NEB, NASB) or as generalizing (“delivers,” cf. NIV, NRSV). The parallel line, which has a generalizing tone, favors the latter. At the same time, though the psalmist uses a generalizing style here, he clearly has himself primarily in view.


text: The prefixed verbal forms are taken as jussives in the translation because the jussive is clearly used in the final line of the verse, suggesting that this is a prayer. The psalmist stops to pronounce a prayer of blessing on the godly individual envisioned in v. 1 . Of course, he actually has himself primarily in view. He mixes confidence (vv. 1, 3 ) with petition (v. 2 ) because he stands in the interval between the word of assurance and the actual intervention by God.


label: NET textual note

text: The translation follows the consonantal Hebrew text ( Kethib ), which has a Pual (passive) prefixed form, regarded here as a jussive. The Pual of the verb אָשַׁר (’ ashar ) also appears in Prov 3:18 . The marginal reading ( Qere ) assumes a vav ( ו ) consecutive and Pual perfect. Some, with the support of the LXX, change the verb to a Piel (active) form with an objective pronominal suffix, “and may he bless him,” or “and he will bless him” (cf. NIV).


text: The negative particle אַל (’ al ) before the prefixed verbal form indicates the verb is a jussive and the statement a prayer. Those who want to take v. 2 as a statement of confidence suggest emending the negative particle to לֹא ( lo ’), which is used with the imperfect. See the earlier note on the verbal forms in line one of this verse. According to GKC 322 §109. e , this is a case where the jussive is used rhetorically to “express that something cannot or should not happen.” In this case one might translate, “you will not turn him over to his enemies,” and take the preceding verbal forms as indicative in mood.


text: Heb “do not give him over to the desire of his enemies” (see Ps 27:12 ).


text: The prefixed verbal form could be taken as jussive, continuing the prayer of v. 2 , but the parallel line in v. 3 b employs the perfect, suggesting that the psalmist is again speaking in the indicative mood (see v. 1 b). The imperfect can be understood as future or as generalizing (see v. 1 ).


text: Heb “all his bed you turn in his illness.” The perfect is used here in a generalizing sense (see v. 1 ) or in a rhetorical manner to emphasize that the healing is as good as done.


text: Heb “my enemies speak evil concerning me.”


text: Heb “and his name perish.”


text: Heb “to see.”


text: Heb “he speaks deceitfully.”


text: Heb “his heart gathers sin to itself.”


text: Heb “he goes outside and speaks.”


text: Heb “together against me they whisper, all those who hate me.” The Hitpael of לָחַשׁ ( lakhash ) refers here to whispering to one another (see 2 Sam 12:19 ).


text: The words “they say” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation to make it clear that v. 8 contains a quotation of what the psalmist’s enemies say about him (see v. 7 a).


text: Heb “thing of worthlessness.” In Ps 101:3 the phrase refers to evil deeds in general, but here it appears to refer more specifically to the illness that plagues the psalmist.


text: Heb “is poured out on him.” The passive participle of יָצַק ( yatsaq ) is used.


text: Heb “and he who lies down will not again arise.”


text: Heb “man of my peace.” The phrase here refers to one’s trusted friend (see Jer 38:22 ; Obad 7 ).


text: Heb “has made a heel great against me.” The precise meaning of this phrase, which appears only here, is uncertain. sn The language of this verse is applied to Judas Iscariot in John 13:18 .


text: The cohortative with prefixed vav ( ו ) here indicates purpose or result (“Then I will repay them”) after the preceding imperatives.


text: Or “will.” One may translate the imperfect verbal form as descriptive (present, cf. NIV) or as anticipatory (future, cf. NEB).


text: Heb “shout.”


text: Or “have upheld.” The perfect verbal form can be taken as generalizing/descriptive (present) or as a present perfect.


text: The prefixed verbal form with vav ( ו ) consecutive has the same aspectual function as the preceding perfect. It is either generalizing/descriptive (present) or has a present perfect nuance (“you have allowed”).


text: Heb “and you cause me to stand before you permanently.”


text: Heb “[be] blessed.” See Pss 18:46; 28:6; 31:21 .


text: Heb “from everlasting to everlasting.” See 1 Chr 16:36 ; Neh 9:5 ; Pss 90:2; 106:48 .


text: Heb “surely and surely” ( אָמֵן וְאָמֵן [’ amen vÿ ’ amen ], i.e., “amen and amen”). This is probably a congregational response to the immediately preceding statement about the propriety of praising God.