28:4 Pay them back for their evil deeds!
Pay them back for what they do!
Punish them! 1
106:41 He handed them over to 2 the nations,
and those who hated them ruled over them.
115:8 Those who make them will end up 3 like them,
as will everyone who trusts in them.
135:18 Those who make them will end up 4 like them,
as will everyone who trusts in them.
1 tn Heb “Give to them according to their work, and according to the evil of their deeds. According to the work of their hands give to them. Return their due to them.” The highly repetitive style reflects the psalmist’s agitated emotional state and draws attention to his yearning for justice.
2 tn Heb “gave them into the hand of.”
3 tn Heb “will be.” Another option is to take the prefixed verbal form as a prayer, “may those who make them end up like them.”
sn Because the idols are lifeless, they cannot help their worshipers in times of crisis. Consequently the worshipers end up as dead as the gods in which they trust.
4 tn Heb “will be.” Another option is to take the prefixed verbal form as a prayer, “may those who make them end up like them.”
sn Because the idols are lifeless, they cannot help their worshipers in times of crisis. Consequently the worshipers end up as dead as the gods in which they trust.