A psalm of David.
15:1 Lord, who may be a guest in your home? 2
Who may live on your holy hill? 3
24:3 Who is allowed to ascend 4 the mountain of the Lord? 5
Who may go up to his holy dwelling place?
68:5 He is a father to the fatherless
and an advocate for widows. 6
God rules from his holy palace. 7
68:17 God has countless chariots;
they number in the thousands. 8
The Lord comes from Sinai in holy splendor. 9
68:24 They 10 see your processions, O God –
the processions of my God, my king, who marches along in holy splendor. 11
78:54 He brought them to the border of his holy land,
to this mountainous land 12 which his right hand 13 acquired.
Written by the Korahites; a psalm, a song.
87:1 The Lord’s city is in the holy hills. 15
By David.
103:1 Praise the Lord, O my soul!
With all that is within me, praise 17 his holy name!
111:9 He delivered his people; 18
he ordained that his covenant be observed forever. 19
His name is holy and awesome.
1 sn Psalm 15. This psalm describes the character qualities that one must possess to be allowed access to the divine presence.
2 tn Heb “Who may live as a resident alien in your tent?”
3 sn In this context the Lord’s holy hill probably refers to Zion/Jerusalem. See Isa 66:20; Joel 2:1; 3:17; Zech 8:3; Pss 2:6; 43:3; 48:1; 87:1; Dan 9:16.
4 tn The imperfects in v. 3 are modal, expressing potential or permission.
5 sn In this context the Lord’s mountain probably refers to Zion/Jerusalem (see Isa 2:2-3).
6 sn God is depicted here as a just ruler. In the ancient Near Eastern world a king was responsible for promoting justice, including caring for the weak and vulnerable, epitomized by the fatherless and widows.
7 tn Heb “God [is] in his holy dwelling place.” He occupies his throne and carries out his royal responsibilities.
8 tn Heb “thousands of [?].” The meaning of the word שִׁנְאָן (shin’an), which occurs only here in the OT, is uncertain. Perhaps the form should be emended to שַׁאֲנָן (sha’anan, “at ease”) and be translated here “held in reserve.”
9 tc The MT reads, “the Lord [is] among them, Sinai, in holiness,” which is syntactically difficult. The present translation assumes an emendation to אֲדֹנָי בָּא מִסִּינַי (’adonay ba’ missinay; see BHS note b-b and Deut 33:2).
10 tn The subject is probably indefinite, referring to bystanders in general who witness the procession.
11 tn The Hebrew text has simply “in holiness.” The words “who marches along” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
12 tn Heb “this mountain.” The whole land of Canaan seems to be referred to here. In Exod 15:17 the promised land is called the “mountain of your [i.e., God’s] inheritance.”
13 tn The “right hand” here symbolizes God’s military strength (see v. 55).
14 sn Psalm 87. The psalmist celebrates the Lord’s presence in Zion and the special status of its citizens.
15 tn Heb “his foundation [is] in the hills of holiness.” The expression “his foundation” refers here by metonymy to the
16 sn Psalm 103. The psalmist praises God for his mercy and willingness to forgive his people.
17 tn The verb “praise” is understood by ellipsis in the second line (see the preceding line).
18 tn Heb “redemption he sent for his people.”
19 tn Heb “he commanded forever his covenant.”