Psalms 119:89-90
ל (Lamed)
119:89 O Lord, your instructions endure;
they stand secure in heaven. 1
119:90 You demonstrate your faithfulness to all generations. 2
You established the earth and it stood firm.
Psalms 119:160
119:160 Your instructions are totally reliable;
all your just regulations endure. 3
1 tn Heb “Forever, O Lord, your word stands firm in heaven,” or “Forever, O Lord, [is] your word; it stands firm in heaven.” The translation assumes that “your word” refers here to the body of divine instructions contained in the law (note the frequent references to the law in vv. 92-96). See vv. 9, 16-17, 57, 101, 105, 130, 139 and 160-61. The reference in v. 86 to God’s law being faithful favors this interpretation. Another option is that “your word” refers to God’s assuring word of promise, mentioned in vv. 25, 28, 42, 65, 74, 81, 107, 114, 147 and 169. In this case one might translate, “O Lord, your promise is reliable, it stands firm in heaven.”
2 tn Heb “to a generation and a generation [is] your faithfulness.”
3 tn Heb “the head of your word is truth, and forever [is] all your just regulation.” The term “head” is used here of the “sum total” of God’s instructions.