10:3 Yes, 1 the wicked man 2 boasts because he gets what he wants; 3
the one who robs others 4 curses 5 and 6 rejects the Lord. 7
17:12 He 8 is like a lion 9 that wants to tear its prey to bits, 10
like a young lion crouching 11 in hidden places.
35:27 May those who desire my vindication shout for joy and rejoice!
May they continually say, 12 “May the Lord be praised, 13 for he wants his servant to be secure.” 14
1 tn The translation assumes כִּי (ki) is asseverative: “indeed, certainly.” Another option is to translate “for,” understanding v. 3 as giving the reason why the wicked so arrogantly seek to destroy the helpless (so NASB, NRSV).
2 tn The representative or typical evildoer is described in vv. 3-11, 13, 15. Since the singular form predominates in these verses, it has been retained in the translation.
3 tn Heb “the wicked [one] boasts on account of the desire of his appetite.” The translation assumes that the preposition עַל (’al) introduces the reason why the wicked boasts (cf. this use of עַל with הָלַל (halal) in Ps 119:164 and Ezra 3:11). In this case, the “desire of his appetite” refers by metonymy to the object desired and acquired.
4 tn The translation assumes the active participle is substantival, referring to the wicked man mentioned in the preceding line. The substantival participle is then understood as the subject of the following verbs. For other examples of the participle of בָּצַע (batsar) used of those who desire and/or acquire wealth through dishonest and/or violent means, see Prov 1:19; 15:27; Jer 6:13; 8:10; Hab 2:9.
5 tn The verb בָּרַךְ (barakh) normally means “to bless,” but in a few cases it exhibits the polarized meaning “to curse” (1 Kgs 21:10, 13; Job 1:5-11; 2:5-9). (Some regard this use of בָּרַךְ as a mere euphemism.) The verb refers to the act of pronouncing or calling down a formal curse upon the object of one’s anger.
6 tn The conjunction “and” is supplied in the translation; it does not appear in the Hebrew text.
7 tn Another option is to translate, “he blesses one who robs others, [but] he curses the
8 tn Here the psalmist switches to the singular pronoun; he views his enemies collectively, or singles out a representative of the group, perhaps its leader.
9 tn Heb “his likeness [is] like a lion.”
10 tn Heb “[that] longs to tear.”
11 tn Heb “sitting.”
12 tn The prefixed verbal forms in v. 27a are understood as jussives (see vv. 24b-26).
13 tn The prefixed verbal form is taken as a jussive, “may the
14 tn Heb “the one who desires the peace of his servant.”