19:10 They are of greater value 1 than gold,
than even a great amount of pure gold;
they bring greater delight 2 than honey,
than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.
55:23 But you, O God, will bring them 3 down to the deep Pit. 4
Violent and deceitful people 5 will not live even half a normal lifespan. 6
But as for me, I trust in you.
59:11 Do not strike them dead suddenly,
because then my people might forget the lesson. 7
Use your power to make them homeless vagabonds and then bring them down,
O Lord who shields us! 8
1 tn Heb “more desirable.”
2 tn Heb “are sweeter.” God’s law is “sweet’ in the sense that, when obeyed, it brings a great reward (see v. 11b).
3 tn The pronominal suffix refers to the psalmist’s enemies (see v. 19).
4 tn Heb “well of the pit.” The Hebrew term שַׁחַת (shakhat, “pit”) is often used as a title for Sheol (see Pss 16:10; 30:9; 49:9; 103:4).
5 tn Heb “men of bloodshed and deceit.”
6 tn Heb “will not divide in half their days.”
7 tn Heb “do not kill them, lest my people forget.”
sn My people might forget the lesson. Swift, sudden destruction might be quickly forgotten. The psalmist wants God’s judgment to be prolonged so that it might be a continual reminder of divine justice.
8 tn Heb “make them roam around by your strength and bring them down, O our shield, the Lord.”