2:10 So now, you kings, do what is wise; 1
you rulers of the earth, submit to correction! 2
18:44 When they hear of my exploits, they submit to me. 3
Foreigners are powerless 4 before me;
18:47 The one true God 5 completely vindicates me; 6
he makes nations submit to me. 7
81:11 But my people did not obey me; 8
Israel did not submit to me. 9
1 sn The speaker here is either the psalmist or the Davidic king, who now addresses the rebellious kings.
2 tn The Niphal has here a tolerative nuance; the kings are urged to submit themselves to the advice being offered.
3 tn Heb “at a report of an ear they submit to me.” The report of the psalmist’s exploits is so impressive that those who hear it submit to his rulership without putting up a fight.
4 tn For the meaning “be weak, powerless” for כָּחַשׁ (kakhash), see Ps 109:24. The next line (see v. 45a), in which “foreigners” are also mentioned, favors this interpretation. Another option is to translate “cower in fear” (see Deut 33:29; Pss 66:3; 81:15; cf. NIV “cringe”; NRSV “came cringing”).
5 tn Heb “the God.” See v. 32.
6 tn Heb “is the one who grants vengeance to me.” The plural form of the noun indicates degree here, suggesting complete vengeance or vindication.
sn Completely vindicates me. In the ancient Near East military victory was sometimes viewed as a sign that one’s God had judged in favor of the victor, avenging and/or vindicating him. See, for example, Judg 11:27, 32-33, 36.
7 tn Heb “he subdues nations beneath me.” On the meaning of the verb דָּבַר (davar, “subdue,” a homonym of דָּבַר, davar, “speak”), see HALOT 209-10 s.v. I דבר. See also Ps 47:3 and 2 Chr 22:10. 2 Sam 22:48 reads “and [is the one who] brings down nations beneath me.”
8 tn Heb “did not listen to my voice.”
9 tn The Hebrew expression אָבָה לִי (’avah liy) means “submit to me” (see Deut 13:8).