1:5 For this reason 1 the wicked cannot withstand 2 judgment, 3
nor can sinners join the assembly of the godly. 4
1:6 Certainly 5 the Lord guards the way of the godly, 6
but the way of the wicked ends in destruction. 7
4:3 Realize that 8 the Lord shows the godly special favor; 9
the Lord responds 10 when I cry out to him.
11:5 The Lord approves of 11 the godly, 12
but he 13 hates 14 the wicked and those who love to do violence. 15
32:11 Rejoice in the Lord and be happy, you who are godly!
Shout for joy, all you who are morally upright! 16
37:16 The little bit that a godly man owns is better than
the wealth of many evil men, 17
37:21 Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt,
but the godly show compassion and are generous. 18
37:33 But the Lord does not surrender the godly,
or allow them to be condemned in a court of law. 19
37:37 Take note of the one who has integrity! Observe the godly! 20
For the one who promotes peace has a future. 21
52:6 When the godly see this, they will be filled with awe,
and will mock the evildoer, saying: 22
55:22 Throw your burden 23 upon the Lord,
and he will sustain you. 24
He will never allow the godly to be upended. 25
64:10 The godly will rejoice in the Lord
and take shelter in him.
All the morally upright 26 will boast. 27
72:7 During his days the godly will flourish; 28
peace will prevail as long as the moon remains in the sky. 29
75:10 God says, 30
“I will bring down all the power of the wicked;
the godly will be victorious.” 31
112:4 In the darkness a light 32 shines for the godly,
for each one who is merciful, compassionate, and just. 33
140:13 Certainly the godly will give thanks to your name;
the morally upright will live in your presence.
149:1 Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song!
Praise him in the assembly of the godly! 35
1 tn Or “Therefore.”
2 tn Heb “arise in,” but the verb is used metonymically here in the sense of “stand”; “endure,” as in 1 Sam 13:14 and Job 8:15. The negated Hebrew imperfect verbal form is here taken as indicating incapability or lack of potential, though one could understand the verb form as indicating what is typical (“do not withstand”) or what will happen (“will not withstand”).
3 tn Heb “the judgment.” The article indicates a judgment that is definite in the mind of the speaker. In the immediate context this probably does not refer to the “final judgment” described in later biblical revelation, but to a temporal/historical judgment which the author anticipates. Periodically during the OT period, God would come in judgment, removing the wicked from the scene, while preserving a godly remnant (see Gen 6-9; Ps 37; Hab 3).
4 tn Heb “and sinners in the assembly (or “circle”) of [the] godly.” The negative particle and verb from the preceding line are assumed by ellipsis here (“will not arise/stand”).
sn The assembly of the godly is insulated from divine judgment (Ps 37:12-17, 28-29).
5 tn The translation understands כי as asseverative. Another option is to translate “for,” understanding v. 6 as a theological explanation for vv. 3-5, which contrasts the respective destinies of the godly and the wicked.
6 tn Heb “the
7 tn Heb “but the way of the wicked perishes.” The “way of the wicked” may refer to their course of life (Ps 146:9; Prov 4:19; Jer 12:1) or their sinful behavior (Prov 12:26; 15:9). The Hebrew imperfect verbal form probably describes here what typically happens, though one could take the form as indicating what will happen (“will perish”).
8 tn Heb “and know that.”
9 tn Heb “that the
10 tn Heb “hears.”
11 tn Heb “examines,” the same verb used in v. 4b. But here it is used in a metonymic sense of “examine and approve” (see Jer 20:12).
12 tn The singular form is used here in a collective or representative sense. Note the plural form “pure (of heart)” in v. 2.
13 tn Heb “his [very] being.” A נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “being, soul”) is also attributed to the Lord in Isa 1:14, where a suffixed form of the noun appears as the subject of the verb “hate.” Both there and here the term is used of the seat of one’s emotions and passions.
14 sn He hates the wicked. The Lord “hates” the wicked in the sense that he despises their wicked character and deeds, and actively opposes and judges them for their wickedness. See Ps 5:5.
15 tn Heb “the wicked [one] and the lover of violence.” The singular form is used here in a collective or representative sense. Note the plural form רְשָׁעִים (rÿsha’im, “wicked [ones]”) in vv. 2 and 6.
16 tn Heb “all [you] pure of heart.” The “heart” is here viewed as the seat of one’s moral character and motives. The “pure of heart” are God’s faithful followers who trust in and love the
17 tn Heb “Better [is] a little to the godly one than the wealth of many evil ones.” The following verses explain why this is true. Though a godly individual may seem to have only meager possessions, he always has what he needs and will eventually possess the land. The wicked may prosper for a brief time, but will eventually be destroyed by divine judgment and lose everything.
18 tn Heb “an evil [man] borrows and does not repay; but a godly [man] is gracious and gives.” The singular forms are used in a representative sense; the typical evildoer and godly individual are in view. The three active participles and one imperfect (“repay”) draw attention to the characteristic behavior of the two types.
19 tn Heb “the
20 tn Or “upright.”
21 tn Heb “for [there is] an end for a man of peace.” Some interpret אַחֲרִית (’akharit, “end”) as referring to offspring (see the next verse and Ps 109:13; cf. NEB, NRSV).
22 tn Heb “and the godly will see and will fear and at him will laugh.”
23 tn The Hebrew noun occurs only here.
24 tn The pronoun is singular; the psalmist addresses each member of his audience individually.
25 tn Heb “he will never allow swaying for the righteous.”
26 tn Heb “upright in heart.”
27 tn That is, about the
28 tn Heb “sprout up,” like crops. This verse continues the metaphor of rain utilized in v. 6.
29 tn Heb “and [there will be an] abundance of peace until there is no more moon.”
30 tn The words “God says” are not in the Hebrew text. They are supplied in the translation to clarify that God speaks in v. 10.
31 tn Heb “and all the horns of the wicked I will cut off, the horns of the godly will be lifted up.” The imagery of the wild ox’s horn is once more utilized (see vv. 4-5).
32 tn In this context “light” symbolizes divine blessing in its various forms (see v. 2), including material prosperity and stability.
33 tn Heb “merciful and compassionate and just.” The Hebrew text has three singular adjectives, which are probably substantival and in apposition to the “godly” (which is plural, however). By switching to the singular, the psalmist focuses on each individual member of the group known as the “godly.” Note how vv. 5-9, like vv. 1-2a, use the singular to describe the representative godly individual who typifies the whole group.
34 sn Psalm 149. The psalmist calls upon God’s people to praise him because he is just and avenges them.
35 tn Heb “his praise in the assembly of the godly ones.”