107:26 They 1 reached up to the sky,
then dropped into the depths.
The sailors’ strength 2 left them 3 because the danger was so great. 4
107:27 They swayed 5 and staggered like a drunk,
and all their skill proved ineffective. 6
1 tn That is, the waves (see v. 25).
2 tn Heb “their being”; traditionally “their soul” (referring to that of the sailors). This is sometimes translated “courage” (cf. NIV, NRSV).
3 tn Or “melted.”
4 tn Heb “from danger.”
5 tn Only here does the Hebrew verb חָגַג (khagag; normally meaning “to celebrate”) carry the nuance “to sway.”
6 tn The Hitpael of בָלַע (vala’) occurs only here in the OT. Traditionally the form is derived from the verbal root בלע (“to swallow”), but HALOT 135 s.v. III בלע understands a homonym here with the meaning “to be confused.”